The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) has issued fresh recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccination with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has accepted the following recommendations:
I. Deferring the COVID-19 vaccination in the following scenario:
- Individuals having lab test proven SARS-2 COVID-19 illness: COVID-19 vaccination to be deferred by 3 months after recovery.
- 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 the date of discharge from the hospital.
- Individuals who have received at least the 1st dose and got COVID-19 infection before completion of the dosing schedule: the 2nd dose should be deferred by 3 months after clinical recovery from COVID-19 illness.
- 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.
II. 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.
III. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all lactating women.
IV. There is no requirement for screening of the vaccine recipients by rapid antigen test (RAT) prior to COVID-19 vaccination.