Covid Vaccine Only After 3 Months for Infected Patients: Health Ministry

New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) has recently recommended all the States and Union Territories (UT) to defer Covid vaccination for Covid-19 positive individuals by 3 months after recovery.

Apart from this, the Health Ministry has notified the State authorities about several other recommendations regarding the strategy for Covid-19 vaccination roll-out in the country. These include deferring the second dose of vaccination for patients, who tested positive for the virus after the first dose, recommending Covid-19 vaccination for all lactating women among others.

Also Read: Biocon Chief takes light-hearted jibe at COVID vaccination situation in India

These recommendations were originally made by the National Expert Group Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) considering the evolving situation of the pandemic, the emerging scientific evidence, and experience from across the globe. MOHFW accepted these proposals and recommended the same to the State authorities-

1. Deferring the COVID-19 vaccination in the following scenario:

(i) In case of individuals having lab test proven SARS-2 COVID-19 illness, COVID-19 vaccination to be deferred by 3 months after recovery.

(ii) In case of SARS-2 COVID-19 patients who have been given anti-SARS-2 monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, COVID-19 vaccination to be deferred by 3 months from discharge from the hospital.

(iii) In case of individuals who have received atleast the 1^st dose and got COVID-19 infection before completion of the dosing schedule, the 2^nd dose should be deferred by 3 months from clinical recovery from COVID-19 illness.

(iv) Persons with any other serious general illness requiring hospitalization or ICU care should also wait for 4-8 weeks before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

2. An individual can donate blood after 14 days of either receipt of COVID-19 vaccine or testing RT-PCR negative, if suffering from COVID-19 disease.

3. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all lactating women.

4. There is no requirement for screening of the vaccine recipients by Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) prior to COVID-19 vaccination.

The Ministry has requested the Chief Secretaries of all the States and UTs to direct the concerned officials to take note of the aforesaid recommendations and undertake necessary action for their effective execution.

"You may also ensure effective dissemination of the information to service providers as well as the general public in this regard using all forms of media as well as the local language. The requisite training of the vaccination staff at all levels may also be organized," further mentioned the letter by the Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare department, Rajesh Bhushan.

Also Read: Health Ministry Gazette spells out remuneration of NMC officials