New Delhi, Aug 10 : The Centre on Wednesday approved the Biological E’s Corbevax as a heterologous preventive dose for adults over 18 years old for usage with two doses of either Covishield or Covaxin.In a letter addressed to states in a letter to the Secretary of Health for the Union Rajesh Bhushan said: “Corbevax will be available as a preventative dose following the completion of six months or 26 weeks after the date of the administration of the second dose of either Covaxin or Covishield vaccines for those over 18 years of age.”
This allows the this allows the use of Corbevax as an heterologous vaccine for the administration of precautionary doses in the same age range, he said.
The Centre, in the letter also informed of the fact that there would not be any changes in the guidelines currently in place for homologous doses of precaution of Covaxin as well as Covishield vaccine.
“In addition to the current homologous dose of precaution the possibility of a heterologous dose of precaution with Corbevax is open to anyone over 18 years of age,” Bhushan said in the letter.
“All necessary modifications in regards to the administration of heterologous doses of precaution using Corbevax for patients who qualify and are due for a precaution doses, have been posted via the Co-WIN website.This feature will be available on the 12th of August (Friday) 2022.” he said in the letter.
In addition the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also tweeted, “Further strengthening India’s arsenal to fight COVID-19.@MoHFW_India has approved Corbevax as a #PrecautionDose to those older than 18 years old and vaccined with either Covishield or Covaxin at least 6 months, or 26 weeks after the administration of 2 doses.
This option will be available beginning on August 12th”.
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