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The centre on Friday affirmed that there is no need to panic on the need for an immediate change in the doses interval of Covishield vaccine considering that reducing the time gap requires a proper scientific study in the Indian Scenario.
According to some media reports on recent studies regarding vaccines suggests that it would be better to reduce the gap between the successive two doses of Covishield vaccine in the view of the variants in circulation . “There is a need to balance such concerns” Dr. VK Paul member (Health) at NITI Aayog commented.
“There is no need for any panic, suggesting need for immediate switchover or change in the gap between the doses. All these decision must be taken very carefully. We must remember that when we increased the gap, we had to consider the risk posed by the virus to those who have received only one dose. But the counterpoint was that more people will then be able to get the first dose, thereby giving a reasonable degree of immunity to more people.” Dr. VK Paul explained while addressing a media briefing on COVID 19.
He further clarified that they need to stabilize these concerns and asked the individuals to remember that they need to necessarily have an in-depth debate and discourse about this issue in the public domain. Later, he too stated that the decision has to be taken by appropriate fora involving eminent people who are knowledgeable on this.
Decision regarding interval between 2 doses of #Covishield has been reviewed & updated based on scientific studies in context of prevailing #COVID19 scenario in our country.
Any changes in future too shall be taken by NTAGI guided by the same principles…https://t.co/XboPUAjU3b pic.twitter.com/q4lzgcpQmW
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) June 12, 2021
In the National Technical Advisory Group of Immunization, Dr. Paul commented that there are almost a very few people who have been a part of WHO panels and committees and are globally renowned and recognized for their eminence. He further enlightened NTAGI is considered as a standard when it comes to global and national immunization programmes. Dr. Paul demanded individuals to respect and welcome their decisions. On a discourse regarding this topic he emphasized on the need for efficient scientific process in concluding at such decisions.
Dr. Paul further expressed that the decision concerning dose interval must be looked into by NTAGI following the due process . He assumed that the UK must have adopted due process and examined data scientifically, to update their previous decision regarding the gap. He clarified that according to the data available to them, the UK had earlier kept the gap at 12 weeks and explained that they did not regard it as safe at that moment.
Dr. VK Paul confirmed that they should entrust this responsibility to the scientific for a and assured that the team might have already addressed the issue. He explained that the scientific for a will initially review it based on the pandemic situation prevailing in the country and prevalence of the delta variant in the country to put a comprehensive view. He again requested that whichever decision is taken by the scientific community one must accept it.