The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) has been guiding the strategy for Covid-19 vaccination roll-out in the country. Keeping in mind the evolving situation of the pandemic, the emerging scientific evidence and experience from across the globe, NEGVAC has made the following recommendations, which have been accepted by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, regarding Covid-19 vaccination.

1. Deferring the Covid-19 vaccination in the following scenario:
2. In case of individuals having lab test proven SARS-2 Covid-19 illness, Covid-19 vaccination to be deferred by 3 months after recovery.
3. 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.
4. In case of 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 from clinical recovery from Covid-19 illness.
5. 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.

1. An individual can donate blood after 14 days of either receipt of the Covid-19 vaccine or testing RT-PCR negative if suffering from Covid-19 disease.
2. Covid-19 vaccination is recommended for all lactating women.
3. There is no requirement for screening of the vaccine recipients by Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) prior to Covid-19 vaccination.