The Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department on Friday informed all Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, and Chief District Medical and Public Health Officers (CDMPHOs) across the State regarding the modifications made in the CoWIN portal to increase the minimum period between the first and second dose of Covishield vaccine.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) had on Thursday widened the gap between two doses of Serum Institute of India’s Covidshield vaccine from 42 days (6 weeks) to 84 days (12weeks). The changes in the CoWIN portal will be effective from midnight of 14th May.
"Further online or on-site appointments will not be possible if the period after first dose date for a beneficiary is less than 84 days (12 weeks)," wrote the State H&FW Department in a letter to the concerned officials.
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Already online booked appointments for the second dose are not being canceled 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 the vaccine even if the period for him/her is less than 84 days, CoWIN system will allow vaccination of such beneficiaries, added the Health Department.
In the current scenario, the load of second dose Covishield due beneficiaries at the district level will be minimal. Hence priority shall be given to vaccinate first dose Covishield beneficiaries i.e. Health Care Workers (HCW), Frontline Workers (FLW), and 45 years and above.
The Department also directed the concerned officials to widely publicize and communicate the changes to all program officers, program managers, vaccinators, verifiers and citizens about the changes.