84 Days' Gap May Be Contributing To Spike In Covid-19 Cases: Petitioner Seeking Early Administration Of Second Vaccine Dose Tells Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court today continued hearing a plea seeking early administration of the second jab of Covid-19 vaccine to the citizenry.

"The state is witnessing 30,000 cases every day despite 70% of the State population being vaccinated with the first dose. This implies that it is high time to start administering the second dose of the vaccine," the Petitioner argued before Justice PB Suresh Kumar.

The petitioner also sought a clarification from the Centre if the prescribed gap between two doses is merely an optimal time for the efficacy of the vaccine.

The matter will be heard elaborately on Tuesday.

Advocate Blaze K Jose appeared for the petitioner and submitted that the initial medical opinion was that a gap of 28 days between the two jabs of Covid-19 vaccine is sufficient. 

However, this gap was extended to 84 days, possibly considering that a longer gap could improve the efficacy of the vaccine.  

The submission of the petitioner in the matter was that upon administering the first dose itself, an individual was made 50-60% immune to the virus. The medical opinion to increase the gap between the two doses could have been based on the premise that such a gap could further improve the efficacy of the vaccine. 

Nevertheless, pointing to the ongoing unfortunate situation in Kerala, the counsel for the petitioner asserted that if a second dose is administered before the passage of 84 days, a good part of the population could be made more immune to the virus. 

Accordingly, it was submitted that the wait for these 84 days is likely to be contributing to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the State. 

Kitex in its plea has said that it has already vaccinated more than 5,000 of its workers with the first dose and has arranged for the second dose but was unable to administer the same due to the prevailing restrictions.

During a previous hearing, the Court had inquired if this gap was necessary and if it was related to the efficacy of the vaccine, or if it was extended due to the non-availability of the vaccines in the country.

Responding to this, the Centre had submitted that the gap between two jabs was extended based on the technical recommendation given by NEGVAC (National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19) for better protection from the Covid-19 virus.

Standing Counsel Daya Sindhu Shreehari appeared for the Centre, and  Senior Government Pleader V. Manu appeared for the State in the matter. 

Case Title: Kitex Garments Ltd v. State of Kerala