Govt: Jab gap related to efficacy, not availability

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union government on Thursday told the Kerala high court that the 84-day gap between two doses of Covishield vaccine is related to efficacy and has nothing to do with shortage of doses.

On Tuesday, while hearing a petition filed by Kitex Group (a Kochi-based apparel making giant) to expedite the vaccine drive, justice PB Suresh Kumar sought a clarification from the Centre whether the gap was necessary and if it was related to the efficacy or due to shortage of doses. The Centre’s counsel sought two days’ time to respond.

On Thursday, the counsel for the Union government Daya Sindhu Sreehari informed the court that the gap between the two Covishield jabs was based on a scientific study and the gap was necessary for effectiveness of vaccine.

The Centre told the court that all the decisions regarding the vaccination programme are taken by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) and technical inputs are given by the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG).

It added that “based on the recommendation of NEGVAC, the schedule of Covishield vaccination was to administer the second dose after 12 to 16 weeks. i.e. after 84 days from the first dose”. “This provides the best protection against Covid-19,” the Centre said and added “the decision was taken based on efficacy and not availability of the vaccine”.