‘Antibodies induced by Covishield and Covaxin gradually increase and decrease’: NTAGI

According to the ministry of health guidelines, India has decided to change its Covid vaccination policy in light of the recent global surge in Covid cases, detection of the Omicron variant, scientific evidence, and inputs and suggestions from the ‘COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation’ (NTAGI), as well as the ‘Standing Technical Scientific Committee’ of NTAGI. Vaccinations for 15-18 year olds will begin on January 3rd.

‘For such beneficiaries, vaccination option would be ‘Covaxin’ only,’ the guidelines noted.

A senior government official said this was done according to advice from the NTAGI, which has not recommended the Zydus Cadila vaccine for use on those under 18 years.

Health care workers, frontline workers, and people above 60-years of age with co-morbidities who have received two doses of Covid vaccines, a third shot would be provided from January 10.

‘The prioritisation and sequencing of this precaution dose would be based on the completion of 9 months, — 39 weeks from the date of administration of 2nd dose,’ the guidelines said.

This implies that someone who completed her/his second dose in April this year would be eligible for their third shot in January 2022. Demand for the third dose would, thus, grow gradually. Vaccination for senior citizens was opened in March this year.

Only after the completion of nine months after the second dose can one register on Co-WIN to get the third dose.

Nearly 30 million health care and frontline workers would be eligible for a third shot of the vaccine in January.