People infected with COVID-19 should go for vaccination six months after recovery, according to India's National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) that held a meeting recently.

Further, those who have been tested positive after the first dose of the vaccine should wait for four to eight week before the second dose of the vaccine, the panel recommended.

COVID-19 patients who received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma should wait for three months from the day they are out of the hospital for the vaccine shots.

People who have been hospitalised for other illnesses should also wait for four to eight weeks before the jab.

The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) will take the final call on these recommendations.

The panel has rejected the proposal to regularly test all vaccine recipients with rapid antigen testing before vaccination, IBNS said. 

The panel also recommended an increase in the gap between the first and second doses of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, to 12-16 weeks.

The panel said pregnant women can choose their vaccine and lactating women will be eligible for the vaccine anytime after delivery.

This is the second time in three months the gap between the doses of Covishield has been increased.

The recommendation came at a time India, which is known for its vaccine productions, is facing an acute shortage of vaccines in the face of a massive spike in COVID-19 cases.

Slamming the government over the repeated change in the intervals between the doses, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted, "First, it was 4 weeks for the 2nd dose, then 6-8 weeks and now we are told 12-16 weeks. Is this because there are not enough stocks of the vaccines for all who are eligible or because professional scientific advice says so? Can we expect some transparency from the Modi Govt?"