The Covishield dose gap will remain at 12-16 weeks: Govt

by Medically Speaking March 29, 2022

The Covishield dose gap :

For the time being, the health ministry is not altering the interval between the two doses. When COVID-19 inoculation began in India in January 2021, the interval between two doses of Covishield was 4-6 weeks, then increased to 6-8 weeks. On the proposal of the NTAGI, the government increased the time gap for the most commonly used COVID-19 vaccination in the country from 12-16 weeks to 8-16 weeks in May. This month, the gap was reduced to 8-16 weeks of Covishield, “a central government official familiar with the situation said on condition of anonymity.

On March 20, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization proposed reducing the time between the two Covishield doses from 12–16 weeks to 8–16 weeks.

Another official stated, “There was no immediate perceived need to modify the dosing schedule.” Refusing to be identified Because it is a dynamic issue, there is always the prospect of future policy modification based on what the circumstances justify at the moment. For the time being, the current gap remains.

When the interval between dosages was raised previously, there were suspicions that it was done to cover up a shortfall, which the central government rejected. It was said at the time that the interval was increased for more effectiveness.

Vaccine supplies in India are presently in oversupply.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India under the brand name Covishield. It is one of two COVID-19 vaccinations used in the country’s COVID-19 immunisation programme.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, according to a World Health Organization expert panel, should be administered every 8–12 weeks, according to a World Health Organization expert panel.The strategic advisory committee of immunisation specialists provided these interim recommendations for the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on March 15.

Revising the gap will be ineffective in India, an expert said.

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