Months after Serum Institute of India (SII) urged the Government to consider reducing the gap between the second and the precaution dose of Covishield from current nine months to three, sources said here that the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation is expected to meet and discuss the issue threadbare.

The sources said that the several international studies, including by the ICMR, have suggested that antibody level wanes after six months generally. A source said that the Government may reduce the gap between the second Covid vaccine doses and the precaution  dose from the current nine months to six months, and the recommendation may be

made by the NTAGI at its meeting.

Reducing the precaution doses gap to six months can repotedly increase the immune response in the individual. India began administering precaution doses of vaccines to healthcare and frontline workers and 60 plus population from January 10 this year. It allowed all those above 18 years of age to get the precaution doses after the completion of 9 months of their second doses from April 10..

The Pune-based firm had in February written to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, is learnt to have stated that the third dose of Covid-19 vaccine is being administered within 6 months of the second dose in various countries and this schedule is giving very good results to control the infection.

The firm also mentioned that private companies, educational institutions, social organisations, central government organisations as well as public undertaking companies are continuously requesting the firm for the third dose of Covishield for their staff members and families.