The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday said there was no decision yet on allowing the mixing of COVID-19 vaccines or reducing the interval between the two doses of Covishield.
“There is no decision yet on reducing the interval time between the Covishield doses. As of now, it will remain at 12-16 weeks. We are still looking at the expert panel’s recommendation that the gap be reduced to 8-18 weeks,’’ a senior Health Ministry official stated.
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha by member Anand Sharma, noted that adequate scientific data was required for the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) to make a recommendation on mixing of vaccines and at present this information was not available.
The national regulator, i.e. the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has granted permissions to conduct clinical trials for administration of mixed vaccine regimen, she said.
The Christian Medical College, Vellore, would conduct the Phase IV study with Covishield and Covaxin to compare the immunogenicity of mixed vaccine regimen. Also, Bharat Biotech’s Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of BBV152 (Covaxin) with BBV154 (Adenoviral Intranasal COVID-19 vaccine) was on.
Deaths
The Minister also informed the House that as reported by the States/UTs, a total of 1,48,738 and 3,32,342 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in the country in 2020 and 2021 respectively. A total of 35,525 deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported by the States/UTs in 2022 (as on March 23). The Union government had been regularly reviewing the pace and coverage of vaccination and issued multiple advisories to the States/UTs to cover eligible beneficiaries with both doses of vaccine.
“Adequate COVID-19 vaccine doses are made available to all the States/UTs to vaccinate all eligible beneficiaries with first and second doses,’’ she said in response to a question in the House by Samir Oraon.
