The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) has recommended reducing the gap between the first and second dose of COVID vaccine Covishield to 8 to 16 weeks in view of the ongoing Omicron pandemic, said a source on March 20.

Presently, the second dose of Covishield is being administered 12-16 weeks after the first dose under the national vaccination drive. India's apex body on immunisation now recommends this be curbed to ramp up the administration of the second dose of Covishield to the remaining population amid rising cases in European nations and some other countries.

The government had on May 13, 2021, extended the gap between the first and second doses of the Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks, based on the recommendations by NTAGI that provides guidance to the Union Health Ministry on the immunisation.

However, India continues on the downward trend of new COVID cases. A total of 1,761 fresh COVID cases were recorded nationwide on Sunday which is the lowest in around 688 days. Following a continuous downward trend, India's active caseload has also declined to 26,240, constituting 0.06 per cent of total positive cases.