SOPs on Administration of Second Dose of Covishield Vaccine

Presently, based on the recommendations by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NÉGVAC), the schedule of Covishield vaccine under National Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy is to administer the 2nd dose at 12-16 weeks interval (i.e. after 84 days), after administration of 1st dose.

The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has received several representations for allowing administration of second dose of Covishield for such persons who have only taken first dose of Covishield and are seeking to undertake international travel for educational purposes or employment oppurtunities or for part of India’s contingent for Tokyo Olympic games, but whose planned travel dates fall prior to complettion of the currently mandated minimum interval of 84 days from the date of first dose.

The matter has been discussed in Empowered Group 5 (EG-5) and appropriate recommendations have been received. In this context, with a view to provide full coverage of vaccination and facilitating international travel for such geninue reasons, following procedure shall be followed for administration of second dose of Covishield vaccine for such beneficiaries –

This special dispensation will be available to –

• Students who have to undertake foreign travel for the purposes of education.
• Persons who have to take up jobs in foreign countries.
• Athletes, Sportspersons and accompanying staff of Indian contingent attending International Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo.

States/UT governments shall designate a comptent authority in each District for according permission for such administration of second dose of Covishield.

The competent authority shall check the following before according a permission for administration of second dose before the period of 84 days after the date of first dose –

• Whether a period of 28 days has elapsed after the date of first dose.
• Genuineness of the purpose of travel based on documents related to –
  • Admission offers or associated formal communications for the purpose of education.
  • Whether a person is already studying in a foreign educational institution and has to return to that institution for contnuing his/her education.
  • Interview calls for a job or offer letters for taking up employment
  • Nomination to participate in the Tokyo Olympic games.

It is advised that vaccination may be availed in such cases through Passport which is one of the permissible ID documents as per the current guidelines, so that the passport number is printed in the vaccination certificate. However, if Passport was not used at the time of administration of first dose, the details of the photo ID Card used for vaccination will be printed in the vaccination certificate and mention of the Passport in the vaccination certificate is not to be inisted upon. Wherever necessary, the competent authority may issue another certificate linking the vaccination certificate with the passport number of the beneficiary.

This facility shall be available to those who need to undertake international travel for these specified purposes in the period up to 31st August, 2021.

All technical protocols as prescribed in the Guidelines of the Ministry regarding COVID Vaccination Centres and AEFI management etc. shall have to be followed.

It is clarified that Covishield, produced by the Serum Institute of India and approved by the DCGI, is one of the vaccines recognised by the WHO for emergency use as on 3rd June 2021. The relevant entry is at S.No. 4 of the WHO EUL, Mention of vaccine type as “Covishield” is sufficient and no other qualifying entries are required in the vaccination certificates.

The Co-WIN system will soon provide the facility for administration of 2nd dose in such exceptional cases.

This is to clarify that these SoPs have been issued specifically only for Covishield because only the time interval between the 2 doses of Covishield has been increased from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks. The period for COVAXIN has remained the same i.e. 4-6 weeks and hence there was no need for any special dispensation for 2nd dose of COVAXIN. It is also clarified that complete vaccination with COVAXIN is also sufficient for foreign travel.

Source : Ministry of Health and Family Welfare