As India gears up for vaccinating three crore health workers from January 16 mega Covid-jab drive, the Government on Tuesday said there would be two doses of the vaccine which will be given at a 28-day interval.
“The effectiveness of the vaccine would begin only after 14 days of receiving the second dose. Hence it is imperative to maintain Covid-19 appropriate behavior even after receiving the coronavirus vaccine,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhsuhan said, explaining the vaccination timeline here at a press conference.
“We also hope States, at the highest level, will exercise continuous oversight and personal involvement in the entire process of the rollout. There is a gap of 28 days between the two doses. Effectiveness begins 14 days after the second dose. Communication must highlight this aspect and Covid-appropriate behaviour,” he said.
The Government Medical Store Department (GMSD) in Karnal, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai will be treated as the four main storage centres for the vaccine rollout, Bhushan said, adding that one regional vaccination store will also be designated in each State but some States may have more.
Bhushan said that there will be a sequential rollout of Covid-19 vaccination.
ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said, “Vaccine dose will be given four weeks apart. Some literature shows it can be given up to six weeks but we’d like to stick to four weeks.”
The top drug regulator had recently granted emergency use authorisation to two vaccines, Oxford’s Covishield being manufactured by Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. Both vaccines, the statement from the Health Ministry said, have established safety and immunogenicity.
Dr V K Paul member, NITI Aayog member, said these two vaccines have been tested in thousands of people, they are the safest and there is no risk of any significance.
“We should have no doubt that the two vaccines approved are the safest of the vaccines. Both the vaccines have been tested on thousands of people and side-effects are negligible. There is no risk of any significance,” he said.
“Healthcare workers (approximately one crore) will be on the top priority, followed by frontline workers (approximately 2 crore) and prioritized age groups (approximately 27 crore). The cost of healthcare workers and frontline workers will be borne by the Central Government,” Bhushan said.
When asked if the States and beneficiaries will be given a choice between Covaxin and Covishield, Bhushan said that in many countries, more than one vaccine is being used. There is no such option available to any of the beneficiaries in these countries.
