Indian govt accepts experts’ recommendation of doubling gap between two Covishield doses
The Indian government today announced that it has accepted the recommendation of its committee of experts to extend the gap between the two doses of Covid-19 vaccine Covishield -- from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks.
The Covid Working Group chaired by Dr NK Arora has recommended extension of the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks. The present gap between the two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab is 6-8 weeks.
"Based on the available real-life evidences, particularly from UK, the Covid-19 Working Group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine," the Indian Health Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said it has accepted the recommendation of the Covid Working Group for extension of the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield to 12 -16 weeks.
It said, however, no change in the interval of India's indigenous vaccine Covaxin doses was recommended by the Working Group.
The Health Ministry statement is silent on the Working Group's recommendations that vaccines can be taken by pregnant and nursing women six months after delivery.
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