What Happens If You Delay Second Dose of Vaccination

The aim of Covid vaccines is to generate an immune response in the body in order to fight the Coronavirus and its deadly variants. In simplest terms, these vaccines generate antibodies or fighter cells in your body that fight against the disease-causing viruses. These antibodies flow within your blood and protect you from the harmful effects of the virus in case it enters your body.

As mentioned above, there are two COVID-19 vaccines available in India. One is Covidshield, and the other is Covaxin. Both are effective vaccines and work in twin doses. It means you need to take two doses of the vaccine for a successful vaccination.

The timing for the second dose of both Covid vaccines in India is different. Let us see when should the second dose of each vaccine be taken:

Covaxin Second Dose Time: If you have taken Covaxin, then you should take its second shot 28 days after the first one.

Covidshield Second Dose Time: If you have taken a dose of Covidshield, then you should take the Covidshield 2nd dose after 84 days.

Looking at the disaster caused by Covid-19 in the country, getting fully vaccinated has become the first priority of every individual.

Then why do some people delay the second dose? Here are the three most common reasons behind this and the solutions for the same:

Unavailability of Vaccine: Probably the most common reason why most people miss their second dose of the vaccine is its unavailability. If this is the case, you have no option but to wait for the preferred vaccine to get restocked.

In this scenario, it is recommended to book your slot as soon as the vaccine becomes available. For this, stay updated and keep checking the stock status.

Health Complications: As we all know, just like any other vaccine, the Covid vaccine also results in minor side effects such as fever, chills, muscle cramps, fatigue, etc. This is especially true for the first dose of vaccine.

However, if your health condition is not good or you got infected with Coronavirus after your first shot, your doctor might advise you to wait some time and recover before getting the second shot.

In this case, follow the advice of your doctor and wait for the recommended time before getting your second jab.

Pregnancy: Pregnant women are among the majority of individuals who missed the second dose of Covid vaccine India. The reason is very obvious: lack of information and awareness about whether or not the vaccine should be taken during pregnancy.

When the Covid vaccines were introduced, they were still in their research phase. Hence, only limited information is available. There is no solid evidence or proof suggesting the impacts of Covid vaccine on the mother and the foetus.

In this case, it is strongly advised to consult a trusted obstetrician-gynaecologist before taking the second or even the first dose of vaccination.

The Covid vaccines that are available today are formulated after thousands of trials and errors. The top medical researchers and experts have worked day and night to make these vaccines work. So, it is important to realise that they are designed to be taken in two doses for a strong reason.

Experts suggest that the first dose of the vaccine, regardless of its brand, is designed to prime or prepare your body for the final dose. It means the first dose just makes you familiar with the compositions of ingredients present in the vaccine so that it does not react harshly.

However, to get the actual effects of the vaccine, you must complete the dose by taking the second or final shot. So, if you miss the second dose vaccine or delay it beyond the specified dosage timing, your Covid vaccine might not work as it is intended to.

A few years back, getting treatment for Covid-19 was mentally as well as financially draining due to the high mortality rate and expensive treatment. Fortunately, the arrival of Covid vaccines and the inclusion of Covid in health insurance policies have provided much relief.

Yes, you have read it right.

A Tata AIG health insurance policy comes with coverage for Covid-19. It means the benefits of health insurance from us include financial coverage for Covid-19 treatment and hospitalisation.

Besides offering coverage for Covid-19, we also offer critical illness insurance that covers a range of life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, HIV-AIDS, Alzheimer’s, and more.

So, purchase the right health insurance policy and secure yourself and your family against any unforeseen medical emergency life throws at you.

Vaccination is critical for the prevention of Covid-19. But in order to be fully vaccinated, you must complete both doses of whichever vaccine you have taken.

As discussed above, Covidshield and Covaxin have different timings for the second shots. Hence, take them accordingly.

Besides, do not forget to buy health insurance online from Tata AIG to offer an additional layer of safety for your medical emergencies!

Which is the best vaccine for Covid: Covidshield or Covaxin?

Both Covidshield and Covaxin have proven to be equally effective when it comes to offering prevention against the deadly Coronavirus and its variants.

There is no solid proof available regarding which vaccine is better among the two. Both are clinically tested and proven by higher medical authorities.

Are there any side effects of taking a second dose of Covid vaccines?

No major side-effects have been reported for the second dose of Covid vaccines available in India. Similar to the first dose, the second dose of both Covaxin as well as Covidshield may result in minor symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, chills, fatigue, and so on.

In most cases, these symptoms go on their own without needing any medication. However, it is recommended to get in touch with a trusted physician in case of any discomfort or severity.

Why does the Covaxin vaccine 2nd dose timing earlier as compared to Covidshield?

Both Covaxin and Covidshield have different formulations. They have different chemical compositions that may react differently to the human body. There are also claims of the first dose of Covaxin being milder as compared to Covidshield.

Hence, the second jab is given after a short gap to maintain the immunity. But, these claims should be taken with a dash of salt due to the lack of research studies. Nonetheless, both vaccines are effective irrespective of their dosage timing and hence should be taken without any doubt.