As per the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), those who recovered from COVID-19 should not go for vaccination for up to six months. The panel also recommended that the gap between the two doses of the Covishield vaccine is increased from 12 to 16 weeks and that pregnant women choose their vaccine.
As per the current protocol of the Union Health Ministry, the vaccine must be taken 4-8 weeks after recovery from an infection, while pregnant and lactating women must not be administered the shots.
Those who contract the infection after receiving the first dose must wait for 4-8 weeks after recovery to avail the next dose, the panel reportedly said. Those patients who receive monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma can also defer vaccination by three months after recovery.
The advisory group's recommendations will be sent to the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC).