Those infected with Covid-19 can take vaccine three months after recovery, the health ministry said in fresh vaccination guidelines issued on Wednesday.
Also, those who have been infected after the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine will be eligible for the second dose three months after clinical recovery from the illness, the ministry said.
The changes to the vaccination guidelines were recommended by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) and were accepted by the Health Ministry.
The NEGVAC recommended vaccination for all lactating women, but held back its views on pregnant women getting the jab saying the matter is still under discussion at the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.
Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to the state governments and union territory administrations about the changes and asked them to implement the same.
“These recommendations have been based on the evolving situation of the Covid-19 pandemic and emerging global scientific evidence and experience,” the ministry said.
The new guidelines also state that vaccination be deferred by three months from the date of discharge from hospital for Covid-19 patients who were given convalescent plasma therapy or monoclonal antibodies.
“Persons with any other serious general illness requiring hospitalisation or ICU care should also wait for 4-8 weeks before getting the Covid-19 vaccine,” the health ministry said.
It also said that an individual can donate blood after 14 days of receiving Covid-19 vaccine or testing RT-PCR negative on recovery from the infectious disease. Earlier, a person could donate blood 28 days after getting a Covid-19 vaccine.
The ministry also said individuals would not be required to undergo a Rapid Antigen Test before Covid-19 vaccination.
Earlier, a Covid-19 person had to wait for four weeks after recovery to be eligible for vaccination. Vaccines were not recommended for pregnant and lactating women as they were not part of the clinical trials.