Shivangi Prakash –
Published on: September 4, 2021, at 10:10 IST
The Central Government maintained in a counter-affidavit filed in the Kerala High Court on Friday that the 84-day interval between the first and second doses of the Covishield vaccination provides the best protection against COVID-19.
The affidavit is in response to a writ suit filed by Kochi-based Kitex Garments Ltd, in which the firm requested that the Government allow it to administer the second dosage of Covishield vaccination to its workers before the 84-day period expired.
“India`s National COVID Vaccination Program was built on scientific and epidemiological evidence, World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and global best practices,” Centre stated in the affidavit.
The dose interval between the two doses of the Covishield vaccine had undergone a number of adjustments under the guidance of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19, according to the affidavit, based on available and emerging scientific knowledge.
“Based on the recommendations by NEGVAC, the schedule of the Covishield vaccine under the National Covid-19 Vaccination Programme is to administer the second dose at 12-16 weeks after administration of the first dose. This is based on the technical opinion that the duration of 84 days between 1st and 2nd doses of Covishield is providing the best protection against COVID-19,” the affidavit stated.
“To provide full vaccination coverage and facilitate international travel for genuine reasons, it was decided to allow the second dose before the prescribed time period of 12-16 weeks. As per the evidence available, the immunity provided by two doses of the Covishield vaccine with intervals less than 12-16 weeks would be better than partial vaccination. The decision to increase the Dose interval of the Covishield vaccine was based on scientific evidence and expert opinion as per available efficacy data,” it further stated.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued in the Kerala High Court that the 84-day gap requirement could not be applied to funded vaccines.
The Counsel also noted that the Covishield manufacturer’s medical plan allowed for a 28-day gap between the first and second doses of the vaccine.