The COVID Working Group chaired by Dr N K Arora had recommended the extension of the gap between the first and second doses
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has accepted the recommendation of the COVID Working Group for extending the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks from six to eight weeks.
It was accepted by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), headed by Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog in its meeting on 12th May, 2021.
The COVID Working Group chaired by Dr N K Arora had recommended the extension of the gap between the first and second doses. However, no change was recommended for COVAXIN
Based on the available real-life evidences, particularly from the UK, the COVID-19 Working Group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine. However, no change in the interval of COVAXIN vaccine doses was recommended.
The COVID Working Group comprises Dr N K Arora, Director, INCLEN Trust; Dr Rakesh Agarwal, Director and Dean, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER), Puducherry; Dr Gagandeep Kang, Professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Dr J P Mulliyal, retired professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Dr Naveen Khanna, Group Leader, International Centre For Genetic Engineering And Biotechnology (ICGEB), JNU, New Delhi; Dr Amulya Panda, Director, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi and Dr V G Somani, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), Government of India.