Covishield’s second dose should be allowed after four weeks, Kerala HC tells Centre

The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the Centre to allow individuals to book the second dose of the Covishield vaccine four weeks after the first shot, PTI reported. The second shot is currently being administered at least 84 days after the first one.

On May 13, the Union health ministry had increased the gap between two doses of the vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India to 12 weeks to 16 weeks from the earlier interval of six to eight weeks.

On Monday, the High Court also asked the Centre to make necessary provisions on the CoWIN portal to allow people to book slots for second doses four weeks after they receive the first jab.

The court was hearing a plea filed by private firm Kitex Garments Limited which sought to administer second doses of the vaccine to its employees before the 84-day gap, Bar and Bench reported. In the petition, the company said that it had arranged for the second doses which it could not use before the stipulated period.

The Centre had opposed the plea saying that the 84-day gap between two doses was announced to increase the vaccine’s efficacy. The Centre also said that its decision was based on inputs provided by the National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group.

In his judgement…

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