Second Covishield dose can be given between 8-16 weeks after first dose says NTAGI reducing gap
New Delhi Mar 20 PTI Indias apex body on immunisation NTAGI has recommended administering the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield between eight and 16 weeks after the first dose official sources said on Sunday Presently the second dose of Covishield is given between 12-16 weeks after the first dose under the National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation NTAGI has not yet suggested any change in the schedule of Bharat Biotechs Covaxin whose second dose is administered 28 days after the first dose The recommendation for Covishield is yet to be implemented in the national COVID-19 vaccination programmeThe latest recommendation of NTAGI is based on recent global scientific evidence derived from programmatic data said an official sourceAccording to it when the second dose of Covishield is given eight weeks onwards the antibodyresponse generated is almost similar when administeredat an interval of 12 to 16 weeks the source explainedThe decision will lead to accelerated administration of the second dose of Covishield to the remaining six to seven crore individuals amid rising cases in several countries the source said The government had on May13 2021 extended the gap between the first and seconddosesofthe Covishieldvaccinefrom 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks based on the recommendations by NTAGI NTAGI provides guidance and advice to the Union Health Ministry on immunisation services for the effective control of vaccine-preventable diseases in the country PTI PLB RT
New Delhi Mar 20 PTI Indias apex body on immunisation NTAGI has recommended administering the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield between eight and 16 weeks after the first dose official sources said on Sunday Presently the second dose of Covishield is given between 12-16 weeks after the first dose under the National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation NTAGI has not yet suggested any change in the schedule of Bharat Biotechs Covaxin whose second dose is administered 28 days after the first dose The recommendation for Covishield is yet to be implemented in the national COVID-19 vaccination programmeThe latest recommendation of NTAGI is based on recent global scientific evidence derived from programmatic data said an official sourceAccording to it when the second dose of Covishield is given eight weeks onwards the antibodyresponse generated is almost similar when administeredat an interval of 12 to 16 weeks the source explainedThe decision will lead to accelerated administration of the second dose of Covishield to the remaining six to seven crore individuals amid rising cases in several countries the source said The government had on May13 2021 extended the gap between the first and seconddosesofthe Covishieldvaccinefrom 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks based on the recommendations by NTAGI NTAGI provides guidance and advice to the Union Health Ministry on immunisation services for the effective control of vaccine-preventable diseases in the country PTI PLB RT
