NTAGI, India’s apex body on immunization, has recommended the second dose of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine Covishield between eight and 16 weeks after the first dose.
Official sources gave this information on Sunday.
Currently, the second dose of Covishield is administered between 12-16 weeks after the first dose as part of the National COVID-19 Immunization Strategy.
The recommendation is not yet implemented in the vaccination schedule
The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) has so far not suggested any change in the duration of Bharat Biotech’s Covaccine dose, with the second dose given 28 days after the first dose. Is.
The recommendation regarding Kovidshield has not yet been implemented in the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program. “The latest NTAGI recommendation is based on recent global scientific evidence derived from programmatic data,” an official source said.
“Accordingly, when the second dose of Kovishield is given after eight weeks, the antibody response generated is almost identical to that of doses given at intervals of 12 to 16 weeks,” the source said.
Due to this decision, the remaining six to seven crore people will get the second dose of Kovishield amidst increasing cases of -19.
The gap between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccine was increased on 13 May 2021, the government increased the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks based on the recommendations of the NTAGI.
NTAGI provides guidance and advice to the Union Health Ministry on immunization services regarding effective control of vaccine-preventable diseases in the country.
