ag WHEN TOTAKEDOSE2 Sexplained. | oF covin-i9 VACCINE The Centre’s National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) recommends increasing the gap between first and second doses of Covishield (AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India) to three months owing to “evolving science”. The second dose of Covaxin (by Bharat Biotech Ltd) remains unchanged at 4-6 week gap. Taking both doses are important xWHEN TO TAKE DOSE 1 AFTERTESTING COVID-19 POSITIVE Individuals whose lab tests confirm SARS-2 COVID-19 illness should defer COVID-19 vaccination by three months after recovery. There is no requirement for screening of vaccine recipients by rapid antigen test (RAT) prior to vaccination #QUIXPLAINEDexplained. ~~ DOES TESTING POSITIVE AFTER DOSE 1 AFFECT YOUR DOSE 2 SCHEDULE? Ifyouget infected between two doses, the disease could be mild/moderate. If you were treated for COVID-19 with anti-SARS-2 monoclonal ee antibodies or convalescent second dose of COVID-19 _ plasma, the Union health vaccination by three months ministry's new guidelines after clinical recovery/from recommend deferring the the date of hospital discharge ~-#QUIXPLAINED & 3explained. a OULD YOU WORRY IF DOSE21IS UNAVAILABLEOR MIXTHE TWO VACCINES? Don't panic if Dose 2is delayed, but don’t defer indefinitely, says Dr Shashank Joshi, Maharashtra COVID-19 task-force member. Covishield administered 12 " weeks apart has 81.3% e efficacy, 55.1% when 6 weeks apart (The Lancet). Inactivated vaccines (Covaxin) — 45-day gap— offer 80% protection with 2 doses, says vaccine scientist Dr Gagandeep Kang. Health ministry says, vaccines are not interchangeable - #QUIXPLAINEDOTHER NEGVAC RECOMMENDATIONS Others with serious general illnesses in hospitals/ICU should wait 4-8 weeks for COVID-19 care. Lactating women can be vaccine. Those with severe inoculated. Blood can be donated comorbidities (cancer, etc.) after 14 days of vaccine/negative should not defer, unlessincritical post-infection RT-PCR report TEXT: KAUNAIN SHERIFF, ANURADHA MASCARENHAS; ILLUSTRATION: SUVAJIT DEY - #QUIXPLAINED 5