Coronavirus vaccination and also the second dose should be deferred by 3 months after recovering from the illness, the centre said today.
So far, there was no fixed gap between taking the vaccine shots. Individuals were told by physicians to take the vaccine dose in a gap of two or four weeks depending on the patient’s condition.
The new recommendations have been suggested by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration (NEGVAC) in regards to COVID vaccination which is led by NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul --- which have been accepted by the Union health ministry.
The expert group has also recommended vaccination for lactating women.
Vaccination has also been recommended for all lactating women, however, the ministry will deliberate further information about the vaccine jab for pregnant women later.
- According to the latest changes in guidelines, there is no requirement for screening of the vaccine recipients by rapid antigen test (RAT) before COVID-19 vaccination.
- SARS-2 COVID-19 patients who have been given anti-SARS-2 monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma can also postpone their vaccination by 3 months from the date of discharge from the hospital.
- Persons with any other serious general illness requiring hospitalisation or ICU care should also wait for 4-8 weeks before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
- If infected from the virus, an individual can donate blood after 14 days of either receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine or testing RT-PCR negative.
- Covid vaccination for lactating women has been approved, while with regards to vaccination for pregnant women, the health ministry said that the matter is under discussion and further deliberation by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).
NEGVAC was established to give guidance on all aspects of COVID-19 vaccination including prioritisation of population groups, procurement and inventory management, vaccine selection, vaccine delivery and tracking mechanism etc.
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The gap between two doses of Covishield vaccine from six to eight weeks to 12 to 16 weeks, saying it pushed up the efficacy of the vaccine, which drew strong criticism from the opposition in the backdrop of acute vaccine shortage in the country.