"Adverse Effects Unlikely If Vaccine Doses Mixed": Centre After UP Mix Up

Earlier this month 20 UP villagers were given Bharat Biotech's Covaxin when they went for their second dose; they were given Covishield on their first visit in early April

Significant adverse effects are "unlikely" if an individual's second Covid vaccine dose is different from the first, the centre said Thursday afternoon, in response to controversy over a group of Uttar Pradesh villagers being given mixed doses at a government hospital in Siddharthnagar district. "This should be looked into. We will have to wait for more scientific understanding... but even if two doses of two different vaccines are given, this should not be a cause of concern," Dr VK Paul, the Chair of NEGVAC (National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19), said. "Any significant adverse effect is unlikely... but we need more scrutiny," he added. Earlier this month 20 UP villagers were given Bharat Biotech's Covaxin when they went for the mandatory second dose. They were administered Covishield on their first visit in early April.