Fact Check: Will The Gap Between Covishield Doses Be Changed Again?

New Delhi: Will the Union government change the gap between two doses of Covishield yet again?

There have been calls from several quarters to reduce the existing minimum interval of 84 days after the first dose of this COVID-19 vaccine.

When the mass vaccination programme was rolled out in India on January 16 this year, the two doses of Covishield was administered 4 to 6 weeks apart. Then the Centre tweaked the gap to 6-8 weeks. Last month, it was altered a third time – 12 to 16 weeks.

Now, based on recent findings by Public Health England (PHE), many are asking the government to revise the Covishield regime yet again. In England, the second dose of Oxford-Astrazeneva vaccine – which is being manufactured and distributed as Covishield by Serum Institute in India – is currently being administered 8 weeks after first dose. Previously, the gap was 12 weeks.

Addressing the issue, Union Health Ministry said on Friday there is no need to panic, but did not rule out another change.

“This is a dynamic process. There is no hardcore ideology in science. Our experts will go through the latest developments and take a call,” Niti Aayog member (Health) VK Paul said.

According to the PHE study, the first dose of Oxford-Astrazeneca (Covishield) provides 33% efficacy against coronavirus infection by the (Delta) variant first reported in India, while the second dose improves the protection to 60%.