Health Ministry accepts NEGVAC recommendations of increasing COVID-19 vaccination gap

For a while now there have been discussion rounds on whether to increase the gap for the COVID-19 vaccination doses. On Wednesday i.e May 19, the Union Health Ministry accepted new recommendations on the vaccination format. As per this recommendation made by the NEGVAC (National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19), the vaccination will be deferred by three months after clinical recovery from the COVID-19 infection.

For the unversed, while talking to TOI recently, Andrew Pollard (Head of the Oxford Vaccine Group) said, “We have very good data showing strong protection for the first three months between the two doses. A three-month interval produces very good protection – this gets even better with a longer interval from three to four months. A longer time gap gets a stronger immune response after the second dose.” 

Now the Health Ministry has finally taken the decision of increasing the gap between the vaccination of two doses. In certain cases, if the person tests COVID-19 positive after receiving the first dose of vaccine, then the second dose to be deferred by three months after his/her clinical recovery from the illness, the NEGVAC recommended to the Health Ministry.

According to ANI, Union Health Ministry stated: New Recommendations of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID19 (NEGVAC) have been accepted & communicated to States/UTs. As per new recommendations, COVID19 vaccination to be deferred by 3 months after recovery from illness.

New Recommendations of National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID19 (NEGVAC) have been accepted & communicated to States/UTs. As per new recommendations, COVID19 vaccination to be deferred by 3 months after recovery from illness: Union Health Ministry pic.twitter.com/EIm9jPjpOB

— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2021

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