Health ministry accepts NEGVAC’s recommendation to defer COVID-19 vaccination by three months after recovery from illness

The Union Health Ministry has written to states and UTs to direct the concerned officials to take note of the recommendations and undertake necessary action for their effective implementation

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) has accepted the recommendations shared with it by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) to defer COVID-19 vaccination by three months after recovery from illness, and the same has been communicated to the states and Union Territories (UTs).

“The COVID-19 vaccination will be deferred by three months after recovery for individuals having lab test-proven SARS-2 COVID-19 illness,” MoH&FW said in a statement.

Further, vaccination for SARS-2 COVID-19 patients who have been given anti-SARS-2 monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma will be deferred by three months from the date of discharge from the hospital.

According to the ministry, for individuals who have received at least the first dose and got 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. Persons with any other serious general illness requiring hospitalisation or ICU care should also wait for four to eight weeks before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

It also said that an individual can donate blood after 14 days of either receipt of COVID-19 vaccine or testing RT-PCR negative, if suffering from COVID-19 disease.

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all lactating women, said the ministry.

However, there is no requirement for screening of the vaccine recipients by rapid antigen test (RAT) prior to COVID-19 vaccination.

Regarding the COVID-19 vaccination of pregnant women, the matter is under discussion and further deliberation by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).

The Union Health Ministry has also written to states and UTs to direct the concerned officials to take note of these recommendations and undertake necessary action for their effective implementation.

That apart, states have been advised to ensure effective dissemination of the information to service providers as well as the general public, through the use of all channels of information and communication in the local languages and to undertake the training of the vaccination staff at all levels.