Govt panel to look at reducing gap in doses

The National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NTAGI) will look at data emerging from countries including the UK to decide whether the gap between the two doses of Covid-19 vaccines must be reduced with evidence suggesting that a single dose might not provide required protection, the Union ministry of health and family welfare said on Friday.

Covid-19 vaccine is an essential public health commodity with global scarcity and therefore, its wastage must be reduced and kept to a minimum level which will further help inoculate many people, the ministry.

“Any reduction in wastage means inoculating more people and leads to strengthening the fight against COVID-19. Each dose saved means vaccinating one more person,” a ministry statement said.

The statement has come weeks after the government extended the gap between the doses of the double-dose Astrazeneca vaccine, being manufacture by the Serum Institute of India and sold under the brand name Covishield, to 12-16 weeks from the existing six to eight weeks.

Further, all states and union territories have also been advised that each vaccination session is expected to cater to a at least 100 beneficiaries, the statement said.