Recommended gap between two Covishield doses is now 12-16 weeks: COVID Working Group

THE Central Government Thursday extended the gap between two doses of the Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks based on the recommendation of the COVID Working Group.

No change in the interval of the COVAXIN vaccine doses has been recommended.

The COVID Working Group is chaired by Dr N K Arora.

Based on available real-life evidence, particularly from the UK, the COVID-19 Working Group has agreed to increase the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of the Covishield vaccine, a government statement said.

The COVID Working Group comprises the following members:

1. Dr N K Arora- Director, INCLEN Trust
2. Dr Rakesh Agarwal, Director and dean, GIPMER, Puducherry
3. Dr Gagandeep Kang, professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore
4. Dr J P Mulliyal, Retd professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore
5. Dr Naveen Khanna, Group Leader, International Centre For Genetic Engineering And Biotechnology  (ICGEB), JNU, New Delhi
6. Dr Amulya Panda, Director, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi
7. 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 (NEGVAC), headed by Dr V K Paul, Member (Health) Niti Aayog in its meeting on 12th May 2021.