Centre accepts NTGAI's call to raise Covishield COVID vaccine dose interval to 12-16 weeks

In the latest development, the Union Health Ministry has accepted the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group on Immunization's (NTAGI) recommendation to increasing the gap between two doses of Covishield from 6 weeks to 12-16 weeks on Thursday. In March, NTAGI had revised the interval between doses from 4-6 weeks to 4-8 weeks, based on 'emerging scientific evidence'. The panel, however, recommended no change to the interval between two doses of COVAXIN.  

COVISHIELD interval between two doses to increase to 12-16 weeks

Moreover, NTAGI has also recommended deferring vaccination of those testing positive for COVID-19 by at least six months after recovery. The panel has also stated that pregnant women may be offered a choice to take any COVID-19 vaccine and that lactating women were eligible for jabs any time after delivery. These decisions come as the US has announced its plans to lift its export ban on vaccine materials to produce Covishield, which is yet to fructify. Serum Institute of India (SII) has announced that it will ramp up its manufacturing capacity to 10 crore doses per month by August.

Covishield's factsheet

People with a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of the vaccine or have a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of the vaccine have been advised to not take the Covishield vaccine, as per the company. It also advised people to inform the vaccinator if they have any allergies, fever, bleeding disorder or blood thinner, is immunocompromised or on any medicine that affects the immune system, are pregnant, breastfeeding, or received another COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine contains (L-Histidine, L-Histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, Magnesium chloride hexahydrate, Polysorbate 80, Ethanol, Sucrose, Sodium chloride, Disodium edetate dihydrate (EDTA), Water for injection.) COVISHIELD has the following symptoms between 2-14 days after vaccination - fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; diarrhoea.

Covishield - a Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenovirus vector vaccine - has an efficacy of 70.42%, with interim safety and immunogenicity data of Phase-II/III trials submitted to the SEC. While Covaxin - a Whole Virion Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine - 22,500 participants vaccinated in Phase-III trials and was found to be safe as per the data available to date.