Gap between Vaccine doses

Gap between Vaccine doses

Subject: Science and Technology

Context: In India’s vaccination programme, the prescribed interval between the two doses of Covishield is 28 days. Whereas various international findings have put this gap to be of up to 3 months.

Concept:

• The second dose of Covid vaccine in India started on February 13 for those who had completed 28 days after the first dose.
• The WHO’s advisory group SAGE on February 10 suggested an 8-12-week interval between doses.
• The Lancet published results of a study that showed a three-month interval between doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine results in higher efficacy than with a six-week interval, with the first dose offering 76% protection in the three months between doses.
• Overall evidence across the world shows there is 20% to 30% greater efficacy by stretching the interval between two doses