India is currently dealing with a devastating second Covid-19 wave that has swept through the nation, crushing the country's health infrastructure and overburdening frontline medical workers. To deal with the rising cases speeding up the vaccination drive is said to be the only option.
Vaccination drive is being carried out across the country to inoculate maximum citizens. However many states are facing vaccine shortage due to which at many centers the drive has been suspended. Amid the shortage of vaccine many who have taken first shot are still waiting for their second dose. Vaccine scarcity in many low and middle-income nations has prompted researchers and public health officials to examine strategies such as mixing two different shots.
Dr VK Paul, Niti Aayog while briefing the press on Saturday responded on mixing two different shots. He said,"You asked me if a person can get inoculated with a vaccine different from the one he received in the first dose. Scientifically & theoretically it's possible. But recommending this - is evolving situation. No robust scientific evidence, only time will tell".
The Government of India accepted the recommendation of the COVID working group to extend the gap between the first and second doses of COVISHIELD vaccine to 12-16 weeks. Earlier the gap was between the two doses of the COVISHIELD vaccine is 6-8 weeks. No such changes were recommended for the interval of COVAXIN vaccine doses.
India started the world's largest vaccination drive on January 16 this year in a phased manner with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated first. The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started on February 2.