Rohit Shishodia

The Indian Health Ministry has extended the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccination from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks. The decision was taken by the Covid Working Group chaired by Dr NK Arora.

“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. No change in interval of Covaxin vaccine doses was recommended,” said the ministry in a press release.

The Covid Working Group comprises members Dr N K Arora- Director, INCLEN Trust; Dr Rakesh Agarwal, Director and dean, GIPMER, Puducherry; Dr Gagandeep Kang, professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Dr J P Mulliyil, Retd professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Dr Naveen Khanna, Group Leader, International Centre For Genetic Engineering And Biotechnology  (ICGEB), JNU, New Delhi; Dr Amulya Panda, Director, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi; and Dr V G Somani, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), Govt. of India.

The recommendation of the Covid Working Group was accepted by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid 19 headed by Dr VK Paul, Member (Health) Niti Aayog, in its meeting on May 12, 2021.