If you tested Covid +ve, here is how long you should wait for 1st & 2nd dose of vaccine jab

New Delhi: India has entered the third phase of COVID-19 vaccine drive for people with the age of 18-44. But due to alarming surge in coronavirus cases, several people in the eligible criteria are getting infected by the deadly virus. So, in such a situation the most important question is how long one has to wait to get a vaccine jab once they have recovered from the virus.

As per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms “should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation.”

Immunologist Dr Vineeta Bal from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) spoke to The Indian Express and said that it is advisable to wait for 6-8 weeks after recovery from COVID-19 before getting the first dose of vaccine.

If a person tests positive for the virus in the period between their first and second dose then they should wait for at least eight weeks before getting the final dose. Dr. V Ravi, Dr V Ravi, nodal officer for genetic confirmation of SARS-CoV2 in Karnataka, said that the second dose can be given eight weeks after the person tests positive for the infection.

Even after getting both doses it is possible that the person contracts the virus. CDC says that typically the body takes two weeks after vaccination to build protection against the virus, so, there is a chance that a person gets infected after taking both doses of the vaccine

Originally, the gap between the first and second dose of Covidshield is 4-8 weeks and to 4-6 weeks for Covaxin, as per the guidelines of Drug Controller General of India (DGCI).