Decision taken on scientific data, Govt on Covishield dose gap

The decision to increase the gap between two doses of the Covishield vaccine was "transparent" and "based on scientific data". In a tweet health minister Dr Harshvardhan said, India has a robust mechanism to evaluate data. It is unfortunate that such an important issue is being politicised!"

Decision to increase the gap between administering 2 doses of #COVISHIELD has been taken in a transparent manner based on scientific data.

India has a robust mechanism to evaluate data.

It's unfortunate that such an important issue is being politicised!https://t.co/YFYMLHi21L

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) June 16, 2021

He attached a statement from the government that extensively quoted Dr NK Arora, the chief of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), on the subject.In the statement Dr Arora was quoted citing a study by UK health regulator Public Health England that "showed vaccine efficacy varied between 65 per cent - 88 per cent when interval is 12 weeks.

#LargestVaccinationDrive

NTAGI Chair Dr N K Arora: Decision regarding enhancing interval between two doses of #Covishield based on scientific evidence & taken in a transparent manner. There was no dissenting voice among the NTAGI members.@PMOIndia @drharshvardhan @PIB_India https://t.co/ANaOwkkSO7

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) June 15, 2021