Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government today announced that online or on-site appointments will not be allowed to beneficiaries for the second dose of Covishield vaccine, if minimum period between 1st and 2nd dose for the vaccine is less than 12 weeks.
Additional Chief Secretary (Health), PK Mohapatra, wrote to all Collectors, Municipal Commissioners and CDMPHOs mentioning that the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is set to make changes in CoWIN to increase the minimum period between 1st and 2nd dose for COVISHIELD from 42 days (6weeks) to 84 days (12weeks).
Hence, no online or on-site appointment will not be allowed for second dose of Covishield, if the gap period is less than 84 days (12 weeks), the letter said.
Besides, the changes will be effective from midnight of 14th May.
Already booked online appointments for 2nd dose are not being cancelled by COWIN. Beneficiaries may be advised through suitable IEC that they should reschedule their appointments. If however, a pre-booked beneficiary chooses to take the 2nd dose of vaccine even if the period for him/her is less than 84 days, COWIN system will allow vaccination of such beneficiaries, it added.
The Health Department said that as the load of beneficiaries due for second dose of the vaccine at district level will be minimal, priority would be given to vaccinate first dose Covishield beneficiaries such as frontline workers and people aged 45 years and above.