Can take vax 3 mths after Covid recovery, says govt

Can take vax 3 mths after Covid recovery, says govt

Those With Serious Illnesses Should Wait 4-8 Weeks

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:20.05.2021 

Those infected with Covid-19, including people who contracted the infection after receiving the first dose of the vaccine, should take the jab three months after recovering from the disease, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

People with other serious illnesses requiring hospitalisation or ICU care should wait for 4-8 weeks before receiving the Covid vaccine after being discharged from hospital, according to the ministry.

All lactating women can take the vaccine, though a technical advisory group on immunisation is studying data to evaluate if it can be allowed for pregnant women, the ministry said. Blood can be donated after 14 days of either receiving an anti-Covid shot or testing RT-PCR negative, if having suffered from the disease. The decisions were based on recommendations made by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC).

“The suggestions were made keeping in mind the evolving situation of the pandemic, emerging scientific evidence and experience from across the globe,” health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, who also co-chairs NEGVAC, said in a letter to states and UTs.

So far, the government’s advisory was to wait for 4-8 weeks after recovery from Covid-19 symptoms in case of infection before receiving the vaccine. The NEGVAC suggested that those who have received anti-SARS-2 monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma should defer Covid-vaccination by three months from the date of discharge from the hospital.

The health ministry clarified there is no requirement for screening of vaccine recipients by Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) prior to Covid-19 vaccination.

Not aware of vax ramp up plan: Gadkari

A day after his comment that ‘more pharma companies should be allowed to make the Covid-19 vaccine in the country to scale up production’ evoked reactions from opposition parties, Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday clarified that he was not aware that the Centre had spelt out the vaccination ramp-up plan in which different vaccine makers are being invited to boost manufacturing. “Yesterday (Tuesday)... I had made a suggestion to ramp up vaccine production. I was unaware that before my speech, Minister for Chemical and Fertilisers Shri @mansukhmandiya had explained government’s efforts to ramp up,” Gadkari said in a series of tweets.

Make vax plan till June, states told

The Centre advised states to plan for vaccine administration till mid-June and publicise it on CoWin to ensure efficient utilisation of available jabs and avoid overcrowding at centres. The Centre shared information about supply and availability of doses. Between May 1and June15, 5.86 crore doses will be provided to states under the central quota. P14

Jab count falls for sixth day in a row

India administered less than 20 lakh doses of vaccine for the sixth successive day on Wednesday with the CoWin portal showing that as of 9pm barely11.5 lakh had been given a shot on the day. About13 lakh doses were given on Tuesday. Meanwhile, former NSG chief J K Dutt, 72, who had led the fight against the 26/11 terror siege at Mumbai, succumbed to Covid-19. P14

‘Both doses will help in strong immune response’

This is significant as many vaccination centres are insisting that an on-the spot RAT test be conducted prior to vaccination, primarily to ensure the recipient is not Covid positive.

In case of individuals who have received the first dose and contracted the Covid-19 infection before completion of the dosing schedule, the second dose should be deferred by three months after clinical recovery from Covid-19 illness.

According to the ministry, it is advisable to receive both the doses irrespective of past history of Covid-19 infection as this will help in developing a strong immune response against the disease.

The Centre has advised states to ensure effective dissemination of the information to service providers as well as the general public, through use of all channels of information and communication in local languages.