The advisory group on the Covid-19 vaccines – National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) has recommended increasing the gap between two doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks. The recommendations will be implemented after the approval of the Health Ministry.
Currently, the interval between two doses of Covishield is four to eight weeks.

This is the second time in three months Covishield dosage intervals have been widened. Earlier in March states and UTs were told to increase the gap from 28 days to six-eight weeks “for better results”.

No change in dosage interval for Covaxin has been suggested by the panel.

A government panel has also recommended that those testing positive for COVID-19 should defer their vaccination for six months after recovery.
This announcement comes amid acute shortage of vaccines across the country.

Immunologist Dr Vineeta Bal from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) said infection-triggered immunity is likely to last for a few months, and it would be advisable to wait for 6-8 weeks after recovery. Leading vaccine scientist Dr Gagandeep Kang said data from the UK shows there is 80% protection following a natural infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is fine to even wait up to six months, she said. This is in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) which reviewed data and said it was all right to delay vaccination for six months after a natural infection, as natural antibodies are likely to persist in the body until then.

Numerous states with high infection rates, including Maharashtra and Karnataka, have halted vaccination for their population in the age group of 18-44 and diverted all vaccines to cover people above the age to 45.