Pune: Elderly worry about efficacy as wait for second vaccine dose increases

PUNE: Unable to register for their second dose of vaccination within the prescribed time limit, many senior citizens are now concerned about their protection against the deadly virus.

The prescribed time limit for the second jab of Covishield vaccine is eight weeks from the first dose. It is six weeks from the first dose for Covaxin.

Pramod Agarwal (70) said, “My wife and I took our first dose on March 5. For last 10 days, we have been trying to book a slot for our second dose, but in vain. Now, we are into the eighth week since the first dose and with acute shortage of vaccines we are very worried as we are not able to get it at nearby hospitals or vaccination centres.”

Former MLA Medha Kulkarni has written letters to the municipal commissioner, collector, and head of health department at PMC, highlighting the issues faced by senior citizens. “I have proposed a system of putting up a schedule at the hospitals with names of people, dates and time slots.”

City immunisation officer Vaishali Jadhav, said, “The second dose of Covishield vaccine can be delayed up to eight weeks from the first dose. However, when it comes to Covaxin, the second dose needs to be taken between four to six weeks.” Prasad Kulkarni, Serum Institute of India’s vaccine researcher, clarified that the second dose of Covishield can be delayed up to 12 weeks or even thereafter.

“Oxford university study has shown excellent antibody response when the second dose is taken at 12 weeks or even thereafter,” he said.