The Centre is considering reducing the gap between two doses of Covishield, NDTV reported, quoting government sources.

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India (NTAGI) will decide on the dosage gap, NDTV reported.

At the beginning of the immunisation campaign in India, the recommended gap was 4-6 weeks. It was then increased to 6-8 weeks.

In May, the Health Ministry accepted the recommendation of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), headed by Dr V K Paul, to extend the gap to 12-16 weeks based on 'real world evidence from the UK' of vaccine efficacy.

The decision to increase the gap between the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine was met with questions over shortage of vaccine supplies. The government, had however, cited evidence from studies in the UK that showed that longer gap produced more antibodies.

Earlier this month, Dr NK Arora, chairman of the Covid-19 working group, had said that the government may reduce the gap between the two doses of Covishield, for those aged 45 and older.

The NTAGI had earlier recommended a randomized trial of varying dosage intervals of Covishield and other vaccines and asked the Serum Institute of India (SII), to study the effects of varying gaps.

(With inputs from NDTV.)