Government panel recommends 12-16 week gap between Covishield doses, no change for Covaxin

New Delhi: A government panel has recommended a gap of at least 12-16 weeks between two doses of the anti-COVID vaccine Covishield. Currently, the interval between two doses of Covishield is four to eight weeks.

However, the panel did not recommend any change for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.

The recommendations were made by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) which suggested increasing the gap between two doses of Serum Institute of India`s COVISHIELD to 12-16 weeks.

National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has recommended increasing the gap between two doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks; While no change recommended in the interval between two doses of Covaxin, say government sources

— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2021

However, no such changes were recommended in the intervals of Bharat Biotech`s COVAXIN, sources said. "The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) recommends for increasing gap between two doses of COVISHIELD to 12-16 weeks. No change in interval of COVAXIN," the sources said.

This is the second increase in the interval for Covishield in three months. In March, the Centre told states and UTs to increase the gap from 28 days to six to eight weeks for better results.

These recommendations will be sent to NEGVA - the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration - for approval before the changes and suggestions are implemented.

Earlier, a study published in the medical journal "The Lancet" on February 19 claimed a 26.2 per cent increase - from 55.1 per cent to 81.3 per cent - if doses were spaced 12 or more weeks apart.

NTAGI comprises of government representatives from the Department of Women and Child Development, internal finance division in Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Biotechnology, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) besides health experts.

India started the world`s largest vaccination drive on January 16 this year in a phased manner with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated first. 

The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started on February 2. The next phase of Covid-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for those over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. 

India launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 from April 1.