Allow scheduling 2nd COVISHIELD dose after four weeks from first: Kerala HC to Centre

As of now, one can only get inoculated with the second dose of Covishield after 84 days of the first dose.

covishield

The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the Centre to enable scheduling, on CoWIN portal, of the second dose of the Covishield vaccine after four weeks from the first for those who want to take it early in terms of initial protocols.

As of now, one can only get inoculated with the second dose of Covishield after 84 days of the first dose.

Justice PB Suresh Kumar said that if the central and state governments can permit persons traveling abroad to choose between early and better protection from Covid-19, there is no reason why the same privilege cannot be extended to those here who want early protection in connection with their employment or education, reported PTI.

"The fourth respondent (Centre) is directed to make necessary provisions forthwith in the CoWIN portal, so as to enable scheduling of second dose of Covishiels vaccine after four weeks of the first dose for those who want to accept the second dose after a period of four weeks in terms of the initial protocol of the vaccine," the Kerala HC said.

The court's order came on a plea of Kitex Garments Ltd, represented by advocate Blaze K Jose, seeking permission to administer the second dose of Covishield vaccine to its workers without having to wait for 84 days.

The Centre had opposed the plea by contending that the 84-day gap between two doses of Covishield was fixed to increase the efficacy of the vaccine, as recommended by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) and was also based on the technical inputs provided by the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), PTI report stated.

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