Gap between administering 2 doses of Covishield increased to 4-8 weeks in India

India directed today that the gap between administering the two doses of Covid-19 vaccine Covishield be increased to four to eight weeks from four to six weeks at present in order to ensure maximum efficacy of the jab.

India's federal health ministry issued the directives to different states, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

However, the health ministry made it clear that this decision of revised time gap between two doses was applicable only to Covishield.

Indian Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the health ministry of the Indian government has accepted the recommendations of the committee and accordingly advised states to ensure administration of the second dose of Covishield to beneficiaries within the stipulated interval of four to eight weeks after the first dose.

"In view of the emerging scientific evidence, the interval between two doses of a specific Covid-19 vaccine, ie Covishield, has been revisited by National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) and subsequently by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) in its 20th meeting," he said in a statement.