Covishield dose gap decision based on experts’ view: Govt

Covishield dose gap decision based on experts’ view: Govt

Decision Not Taken Under Pressure Or Due To Shortage: Dr V K Paul

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:16.05.2021 

The government said that the decision to increase the gap between first and second dose of Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks was based on assessment of experts and no controversy be created over suspected shortages of the shots.

The government stood by the decision even as UK decided to shorten the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield to eight weeks. The government said the vaccine expert group’s assessment is that even a single dose of vaccine is 60-85% effective in disease prevention (collectively for mild, moderate and severe) and inhibits transmissibility.

Officials did say the government will study the basis of the decision taken by UK while reversing the interval to eight weeks. The Centre had said the experience of UK based on actual vaccinations rather than limited studies was the basis of the Indian decision to increase the interval from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks.

“They are taking decisions based on their situation, mutant, pandemic...We have taken it as per our risk epidemiology. We are driven by science. It is a dynamic process,” Niti Aayog, member-health Dr V K Paul said, adding, “If the science changes tomorrow we will move forward accordingly.”

UK on Friday reversed the gap between the first and second dose of Covishield to eight weeks from12 for all those over the age of 50 and the clinically vulnerable. UK cited concerns regarding B.1.617 variant, detected first in India, behind its decision.

Dr Paul also refuted that the decision to increase the time interval between two doses of Covishield vaccine to12-16 weeks was taken under any pressure or due to shortage.

“Independent scientists in our institutes have taken these decisions after studying the data to reduce the risk of infection in the Indian population,” Dr Paul said, referring to the recommendations of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

NEED OF THE HOUR: Despite heavy rain due to cyclone Tauktae, hundreds of people wait for vaccination in Mangaluru on Saturday