The COVID Working Group chaired by N.K. Arora has recommended the extension of the gap between the first and second doses of the Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks.

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The gap between the two doses of the same vaccine is 6-8 weeks at present. The working group, based on the available real-life evidence, particularly from the UK, agreed on increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of the Covishield vaccine. However, there is no change in the interval of Covaxin doses.

The recommendation of the COVID Working Group was accepted by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID -19 (NEGVAC), headed by Dr V K Paul, Member (Health) Niti Aayog in its meeting on May 12. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also accepted this recommendation of the COVID Working Group for extension of the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccine to 12 -16 weeks.