Why You Shouldn't Worry If Your Covishield Vaccine Gap Has Been Increased From 4 To 8 Weeks
In March, the government decided to increase the interval between the first and second doses of Covishield to up to eight weeks in its vaccination drive against COVID pandemic.
In March, the government decided to increase the interval between the first and second doses of Covishield to up to eight weeks in its vaccination drive against COVID pandemic.
Covishield vaccine is Serum Institute of India¡¯s version of AZD1222 ¨C Developed by AstraZeneca in collaboration with the University of Oxford.
Larger interval increases vaccine efficacy
Many citizens whose second dose was the Covishield vaccine was due in four weeks have been asked to get the jab in another four weeks, making it an interval of eight weeks, which is said to be most effective against COVID.
The Centre revised the time window within which the 2nd dose of Covishield vaccine can be taken, asking all states and Union Territories to administer it between 4-8 weeks instead of 4-6 weeks.
Reuters
"In view of the emerging scientific evidence, the interval between two doses of a specific COVID-19 vaccine i e. Covishield, has been revisited by National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) and subsequently by NEGVAC in its 20th meeting during which the recommendation has been revised to provide 2nd dose of Covishield at 4-8 weeks' interval after 1st dose instead of earlier practiced interval of 4-6 weeks,¡± the Union Health Ministry had said.
In a letter written to the chief secretaries of states and UTs on Monday, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the ministry has accepted the recommendations of NTAGI and NEGVAC.
Reuters
¡°¡and has thereafter advised the states and UTs to ensure the administration of 2nd dose of Covishield to beneficiaries within this stipulated time interval of 4-8 weeks after the 1st dose," he said.
Keeping the existing scientific evidence in view, it appears that protection is enhanced if the second dose of Covishield is administered between 6-8 weeks, but not later than the stipulated period of eight weeks.
The four-week dosing gap for Covaxin, India¡¯s homegrown Covid-19 vaccine, remains unchanged.
