Govt to follow expert advice on reducing gap between two Covishield doses
New Delhi, March 25: Days after the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) recommended reduction in the gap between two Covishield doses against Covid 19, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday informed the Lok Sabha that the government would follow expert scientific advice on the matter.
The NTAGI had last week recommended to the government to reduce the gap between the administration of the two doses of Covishield suggesting that the second shot be given between eight and 16 weeks after the first. The current protocol is to administer the second dose at a gap of 12 to 16 weeks after the first one. A similar change of dosing for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin has not been suggested. The two Covaxin doses are given 28 days apart.
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Mansukh Mandaviya, replying to supplementary queries in Lok Sabha Question Hour on Friday said, “We have followed science and expert advice throughout the Covid vaccination drive and will follow expert advice in future also.”
The latest evidence shows that the second dose of Covishield when given eight weeks onwards generates a similar antibody response as generated when administered at a gap of 12 to 16 weeks. The final decision to reduce the gap vests with the Health Ministry.
Meanwhile, India's daily Covid-19 infections witnessed a dip since Thursday with 1,685 new cases being recorded on Friday. As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 1,938 new Covid-19 cases were reported on Thursday. The daily positivity rate and weekly positivity rate slightly declined to 0.24 per cent and 0.33 per cent on Friday from 0.29 per cent and 0.35 per cent on Thursday, respectively.
Notably, the testing was increased to 6,91,425 in the last 24 hours from 6,61,954 tests on Thursday. India's active caseload currently stands at 21,530. It accounts for 0.05 per cent of the total positive cases. The active cases dipped by 897 since Thursday.
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— PTC News
