Centre raises gap between two doses of Covishield for better efficacy

The central government informed the Kerala High Court today, through affidavit, that its decision to delay the second dosage of AstraZeneca’s Covishield Covid-19 vaccine by 84 days was based on the possibility of improved effectiveness and expert scientific advice. Meanwhile, the government intends to shorten the time between Covishield doses.

Yesterday, the Kerala High Court, while hearing a plea from Kochi-based Kitex Garments, questioned the central government about the grounds for an 84-day delay, as well as whether the availability of vaccination was the cause for such a long period.

The firm petitioned the court, seeking that the government order the government to enable early second dose vaccination since it had purchased 12,000 doses to vaccinate all of its staff. Kitex told the court that the purchase was completed before the gap was increased from 45 days to 84 days.
The central government notified the court that present laws in India do not allow the third dosage of the Covid-19 vaccination, in response to the court’s instruction to answer on a different petition that requested for a third dose for travelling overseas. It stated that studies are being conducted and that it has yet to get a direction from experts to authorise the third vaccination.

A resident of Kannur in Kerala had approached the court saying he had two doses of Covaxin but was denied permission to enter Saudi Arabia as the vaccine was not approved in that country. Hence, the court should direct the government, allowing him to take a fresh vaccine with acceptance in Saudi Arabia, demanded the petitioner.