Increase Covishield dose interval to 12-16 weeks: NTAGI

New Delhi A government panel has recommended increasing the gap between two doses of Covishield Covid-19 vaccine to 12-16 weeks, official sources said on Thursday. No change has been suggested for dosage interval of Covaxin by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI). It has also suggested that pregnant women may be offered the choice to take any Covid-19 vaccine and that lactating women can be inoculated any time after delivery.

The NTAGI has also stated that those having laboratory test proven SARS-CoV-2 illness should defer Covid-19 vaccination for six months after recovery, the sources said. According to the current protocol, vaccine must be taken four to eight weeks after recovery from Covid-19 infection.