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

The Central Government in the case Madhur Mittal v. Union Of India observed and 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. The standing counsel appearing for Central Government’s Anurag Ahluwalia informed Justice Prathiba M Singh that mixing of two COVID-19 vaccines is not permissible for the first and second dose. However, it has been stated by him that it is being allowed for the booster dose.

In the present case, the court was dealing with a petition moved by one Madhur Mittal, a cancer patient, in 2021, wherein seeking permission to take Covaxin for second dose instead of Covishield, which was being administered to him as the first dose. In the said case, it was stated that after being administered the first vaccine, he suffered from various adverse reactions which required specialized treatment. Before the court, it was prayed that he be allowed to take Covaxin as the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The Union Of India filed an affidavit on 17.11.2021, wherein stating that mixing of two or more COVID-19 vaccines is not permitted under the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program.

Further, it has been submitted in response that there being 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), with regards to the safety and efficacy of mixed dose. It has also been stated that CDSCO had granted permission to conduct Phase-IV clinical trial to M/s Christian Medical College, Vellore for mixing two doses, on 07.08.2021 that the study was ongoing.

It has been submitted by Ahluwalia while giving the current status report on January 17 that mixing of COVID-19 vaccines is not permissible for the first and second dose even today. Accordingly, the court dismissed the appeal that there being no appearance on behalf of the petitioner. The bench headed by Justice Singh noted that nobody had appeared for Mittal on 17.12.2021 and 12.05.2022 as well. The court dismissed all the pending applications and the writ petition and thus, the matter is disposed of.