While India’s vaccine-related decisions are based on scientific evidence, the shortage of jabs will extend for at least six weeks from now, Dr NK Arora, chairman of the government panel National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), said.

“We use scientific evidence and make the best use of vaccines which we are using at the moment. We are not just trying to have the best efficacy but also trying to see that the country is protected from various variants and waves of corona going forward. We know corona will stay for some time and we want to ensure that the people are adequately protected. Here, I must also say that the vaccine shortage is only for the next six weeks,” Dr Arora said, according to news agency ANI.

As per NTAGI recommendations, there are two studies – one from the United Kingdom and the other from the United States of America – which suggest that after a person gets infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the host develops antibodies and the chances of reinfection drop by 84-91% in the subsequent 6-7 months.

Hence, there is evidence to prove that if a person has been infected, there is a reasonable protection from reinfection.

Arora said that India’s decision is backed by studies of the data of 1.400 individuals, which showed that the risk of reinfection after 102 days is only 4.5%.

“We know from July onwards the manufacturing of Covaxin and Covishield will increase 20-25 crore doses per month. In addition, we will be having other vaccines also Like Zydus Cadila, Sputnik V, Johnson & Johnson in coming months,” he said.

NTAGI had earlier this month recommended that the natural Covid-19 infection should be used as a boost to the effectiveness of the vaccines, and that persons having proven Covid-19 illness should defer vaccination by 12 weeks after recovery.

The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) had on Wednesday recommended that vaccinations should be deferred by three months after clinical recovery of the infection.