Pune: DR NK Arora, Chairperson of the Covid-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on immunization, on Saturday ruled out any changes in the gap between two covishield doses quoting scientific studies that showed higher vaccine efficacy when the interval between the shot was longer.
“Every further change is only based on scientific evidence and not on random demands,” Arora told Ti on Saturday, emphasizing that the current interval had worked well.
Some states, including Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra, want to reduce the gap between two covishield doses than at this time 84 days.
Arora said the data from the vaccine tracking platform showed that the way the covishield dose is currently given alright.
Therefore, no need to change it until now, he said, adding that the effectiveness of the vaccine in the interval is currently being monitored continuously.
Virologically T Jacob John is slightly different.
He told TII that the gap of the covishield dose could be reduced to four weeks for individuals at high risk and senior citizens.
“They (authorities) at least have to think about it,” he said.
Describing his thoughts, the retirees of the Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Virology and Microbiology Medical College (Vellore) said, “If someone wants early immunity, give a second dose at four weeks.
But if you want the maximum immunity possible, wait 84 days.
Two doses save life.
So, for individuals who are at high risk of severe disease and death, the four-week interval is the best.
For them, delayed protection can mean protection is rejected.
For all the others between 18 and 60 years, the 84-day interval is logical.
“Dr.
Anish TS, Associate Professor at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, also said shorter gaps can be considered for vulnerable groups such as senior citizens and people with comorbidity.
“The effectiveness of a single dose may not be enough to protect them from a clinically severe disease in the context of the Delta variant,” he said.
Dr.
MK Sudarshan, Chairman of the Technical Technical Advisory Committee of the Government of Karnataka, told TII that they recommended the Minister of Health Karnataka to reduce the gap at the time of the covishield dose to around six weeks because there was sufficient second dose vaccine.
“There is enough scientific evidence that the gap one to two months is effective,” he said.
Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, member, the National Indian Medical Task Force at the Corona epidemic, told TI that a longer gap was better for long-term protection.
“At present, it is best to have a longer gap to protect people from severe illness,” he added.
“No need for Vax children to reopen the school ‘do not need to vaccinate children to reopen the school, said the task force Ntagi Dr.
NK Arora.” The important thing is to vaccinate parents, teachers and school staff before the return of the physical class, “He said.
Vaccination of healthy children will begin next year, but the immunization of children with comorbidity will begin next month, said Dr.
Arora.
He said they were completing a list of comorbidity in this age group and it would be ready in 8-10 days In the future.
Virologically DR T Jacob John said the priority of vaccination for non-high and school children must be reopened before the immunization program was launched.