84 Days Between Two Covishield Vaccines Prescribed For Better Efficacy: Centre Tells Kerala High Court

The Central government submitted before the Kerala High Court on Thursday that the prescribed 84 days between two doses of Covishield vaccine was based on a technical opinion recommended by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) for better protection from the Covid-19 virus. 

Justice P.B. Suresh Kumar was hearing a plea filed by Kitex stating that it had already vaccinated more than 5,000 of its workers with the first dose and had arranged for the second dose but was unable to administer the same due to the restriction of the prescribed gap between the two jabs.

Advocate Blaze K Jose appeared for the petitioner. and submitted today that unfortunately, the HR manager of the company himself had tested positive. The HR manager represented the company in the matter. 

Central Government Counsel Daya Sindhu Shreehari on the other hand submitted that the gap between two jabs was extended based on the recommendation given by NEGVAC. He asserted that this technical opinion was for the best protection from Covid 19. The Centre was thereby asked to file a statement by Tuesday regarding the same. 

Earlier this week, the Court had sought a response from the Centre regarding the 84 days gap mandated between administering the first and the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The Single Bench in the previous hearing had inquired if this gap was necessary for the efficacy of the vaccine, or if it was extended due to the non-availability of the vaccines in the country.

These questions arose before the Single Bench while hearing a plea filed by Kitex Garments Ltd seeking permission to administer the second dose of Covishield vaccine to its workers as per the State's relaxed vaccination policy before the completion of 84 days.

During the oral proceedings of the matter, it was brought to the attention of the Court that while the Centre had extended the duration between two doses of vaccination from 4 weeks to 12-16 weeks, the State had deviated from the same by relaxing the prevailing protocol for people going abroad.

However, the petitioner contended that there was no violation on the part of the State since the actual minimum period between two jabs of Covishield was 4-6 weeks and this was the protocol followed in respect of frontline workers.

Case Title: Kitex Garments Ltd v State of Kerala