Indian experts suggest 'doubling the gap' between two Covishield doses

A committee of experts, set up by the Indian government, has recommended doubling the gap between the two doses of Covishield (Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine produced by Serum Institute of India) -- from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks, official sources said today.

The committee also said that pregnant women may be offered the choice to take any Covid-19 vaccine, and nursing women should be eligible for jabs any time after delivery, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The recommendations have been made by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTGI).

However, the group did not change the interval between the two doses of India's indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin.

The NTGI also suggested that those testing positive for Covid-19 should defer vaccination for six months after recovery, according to the sources.

Ravaged by a severe second wave of Covid-19, India is still facing a shortage of vaccines to inoculate people above the age of 18. The country has so far completed the vaccination of 3.86 crore people.