'Slots Booked For Second Dose Of Covishield To Remain Valid On CoWIN,' Clarifies Centre

The statement has come after the Centre earlier this week extended the gap between the first and second doses of COVISHIELD vaccine to 12-16 weeks.

'Slots Booked For Second Dose Of Covishield To Remain Valid On CoWIN,' Clarifies Centre

The government of India on Sunday clarified that already booked online appointments for 2nd dose of Covishield will remain valid and will not be cancelled on the CoWIN platform. It however stated that the requisite changes have now been done in the CoWIN digital portal. As a result, further online or on-site appointments will not be possible if the period after 1st dose date for a beneficiary is less than 84 days.

The statement has come after the Centre earlier this week extended the gap between the first and second doses of COVISHIELD vaccine to 12-16 weeks. The Government of India communicated this change to States and UTs and at the same time, reconfigured the CoWIN digital portal to reflect this extension of interval for two doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks.

Post announcement, several media reports emerged suggesting that people who had pre-booked their appointment for the second dose of Covishield vaccine against Covid-19, in less than 84 days on CoWIN are being turned back from vaccination centres. 

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has reiterated to the States and UTs that the online appointments booked for 2nd dose of Covishield prior to this change of the interval between the two doses of Covishield, must be honoured.

Moreover, the States/UTs have been advised that the field staff may be instructed that, if such beneficiaries do come for vaccination, the second Covishield dose must be administered and they must not be turned away. They have also been advised to undertake awareness activities to inform the beneficiaries about this change.