Not Permissible To Take One Dose Of Covishield And Another Of Covaxin: Centre To Delhi High Court

The Central Government has informed the Delhi High Court that it is not permissible for an individual to take first dose of Covishield and second dose of Covaxin.

Central Government’s standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia told Justice Prathiba M Singh that mixing of two COVID-19 vaccines is not permissible for the first and second dose. However, he said it is allowed for the booster dose.

The court was hearing a plea moved by Madhur Mittal, a cancer patient, in 2021 seeking permission to take Covaxin for second dose instead of Covishield, which was administered to him as the first dose.

It was his case that after being administered the first vaccine, he suffered from various adverse reactions which required specialized treatment. Accordingly, it was prayed that he be allowed to take Covaxin as the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

An affidavit was filed by Union of India on November 17, 2021, stating that mixing of two or more COVID-19 vaccines is not permitted under the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program.

The response further submitted that there is no recommendation from the two expert bodies, National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) and National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-l9 (NEGVAC), regarding safety and efficacy of mixed dose.

“As on date, no evidence has been submitted to CDSCO on safety and efficacy for mixing of 2 doses of Covid- 19 vaccines manufactured by different manufacturers and technology platforms in Indian population,” the affidavit read.

It was also stated that CDSCO had granted permission to conduct Phase-IV clinical trial to M/s Christian Medical College, Vellore for mixing two doses, on August 07, 2021 and that the study was ongoing.

Giving the current status to court on January 17, Ahluwalia submitted that mixing of COVID-19 vaccines is not permissible for the first and second dose even today.

The plea was dismissed as there was no appearance on behalf of the petitioner. Justice Singh noted that nobody had appeared for Mittal on December 17, 2021, and May 12, 2022, as well.

“Under these circumstances, the writ petition is dismissed and all pending applications, are disposed of,” the court said.

Title: MADHUR MITTAL v. UNION OF INDIA

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 88

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