Increase Gap To 12-16 Weeks Between Two Doses Of Covishield: Govt Panel

New Delhi: There should be a 12 to 16 weeks gap between two doses of Covishield COVID-19 vaccine to 12-16 weeks, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) recommended after a recent meeting. Pregnant women may be offered the choice to take any vaccine, while no change has been suggested for the dosage interval of Covaxin, The New Indian Express (TNIE) reported quoting PTI.

The NTAGI has also stated that those having laboratory tests proven SARS-CoV-2 illness should defer COVID-19 vaccination for six months after recovery, the sources said.

According to the Union Health Ministry’s current protocol, the vaccine is to be taken four to eight weeks after recovery from COVID-19 infection and pregnant and lactating women are not to be administered the shots.

“Based on the available real-life evidence particularly from the UK, the COVID-19 working group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine. No change in the interval of Covaxin vaccine doses was recommended,” the report added quoting sources.

Currently, the recommended interval between two doses of Covishield is four to eight weeks. The recommendations come amid several states reporting a shortage of vaccines. They will be sent to the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC).

The panel also rejected the proposal for routinely screening all vaccine recipients with rapid antigen testing prior to COVID vaccination.

Recommendations for pregnant women

• All pregnant women visiting for ante natal checkup may be informed about the risks and benefits associated with Covishield and Covaxin.
• Based on the information provided, a pregnant woman may be offered the choice to take any of the COVID 19 vaccines.
• An educational tool comprising information on the risk of COVID 19 infection during pregnancy, benefits associated with the vaccination, and rare complications associated with vaccines like thrombosis and thrombocytopenia (with Covishield) may be developed.
• All lactating women are eligible to receive the COVID 19 vaccines any time after delivery.

Recommendations for those who test COVID-19 positive between two doses

• They should wait for 4-8 weeks after clinical recovery from the illness.

Recommendations for those who have been given plasma

• COVID-19 patients who have been given anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma may defer COVID-19 vaccination for three months from the day of discharge from the hospital.

Recommendations for those with some other illness

Individuals having any other serious illness requiring hospitalisation or ICU care should also wait for 4-8 weeks before getting the next COVID vaccine.