National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India (NTAGI), a central government panel, has recommended increasing the gap between the two doses of Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks, reported news agency PTI quoting sources. It added that there was no change in Covaxin dosage interval.

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The Centre had earlier revised the 28-day gap of Covishield to 6-8 weeks. Covishield is AstraZeneca/Oxford University’s COVID jab, being manufactured at Pune’s Serum Institute.

The latest development came as the country is witnessing an acute shortage of vaccine doses. Several states have suspended vaccinations for those in the 18 to 45 age group so that they can be given to those who have already been administered the first dose. They’re also set to float global tenders to get vaccines from foreign manufacturers. 

The panel has also recommended that vaccination for COVID-19 patients should be deferred for six months after recovery. 

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Among the other recommendations were that pregnant women should be offered a choice between the two vaccines and that lactating mothers should be eligible to get the jab any time after delivery.

The NTAGI’s recommendations will now be sent to the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19.