New Delhi, March 22
The Centre today advised states to increase the gap between two doses of Covishield from the current 28 days (4 weeks) to up to eight weeks, noting that the protection was better when the booster dose was given at a gap of 6-8 weeks from the first dose.
At 47K, highest 24-hr surge in four months
The country saw the worst single-day rise in cases (46,951) since November 12, 2020, when 47,905 cases were logged over 24 hours. Daily deaths rose to 212 on Monday, taking the total toll to 1,59,967
"Emerging global evidence shows protection from Covishield is greater when the second dose is given between six and eight weeks, but not later than eight weeks," the government said on a day when India saw the worst single-day rise in cases (46,951) since November 12 when 47,905 cases were logged over 24 hours. Daily deaths also rose to 212 today, the worst in nearly 70 days, with the toll rising to 1,59,967.
In a letter to state chief secretaries, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, "In view of the emerging scientific evidence, the interval between the two doses of Covishield has been revisited by the National Advisory Group on Immunisation and subsequently by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC). This decision is applicable only to Covishield and not Covaxin."
States have been urged to instruct officials to undertake steps and widely disseminate the message of revised dosing interval. — TNS
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2NFVx8u
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