Covishield Dosage Gap: Based on Science or Vaccine Shortage?

Just seven weeks after it directed state governments to increase the gap between two doses of Covishield vaccines to 6-8 weeks, on 13 May the Union Health Ministry once again announced a further extension of the gap to 12-16 weeks, citing “real-world evidence” in the United Kingdom on vaccine efficacy.

This recommendation was made by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covishield only.

However, the decision comes at a time when the country is facing a severe shortage of vaccines, specifically Covishield which has been used to inoculate the majority of the population so far, the change in vaccine dosage policy has raised a lot of curiosity, with many many wondering if the decision is based on scientific data or is it to cover up the vaccine shortage in the country.

Host and Producer: Himmat Shaligram

Guest: Dr Swapneil Parikh, a clinical researcher at Kastruba Hospital for Infectious Diseases, and Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, a vaccines, public policy and health systems expert.

Editor: Shelly Walia

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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