We have a very open and transparent system where decisions are taken on scientific basis. The Covid working group took that decision, with no dissenting voice. This issue was then discused in detail at an NTAGI meeting, again with no disenting notes. The recommendation was that the vaccine interval was that the vaccine interval has to be 12-16 weeks, said Dr NK Arora, chairman of the Cofid-19 working group. The record of minutes of the meetings of the two groups relased by the health ministry shows the Covid-19 working group agreed in favour of a dosing gap of 12-16 weeks. When this suggestion was further discussed by a larger group of experts a dosing interval of "minimum three months" was recommended. The decision to increase the gap was based on scientific studies regarding behaviour  of 'adenovector' vaccines which were seen to function with longer gaps, Dr Arora said. In both the meetings that is the Covid working group and the STSC, no dissent was given by any of three members who have been quoted in a news report by Reuters. It is on record that Varghese hs denied talking to Reuters on the issue of his alleged dissent, "the ministry said. Though the interval between two doses of Covishield has been extended in many countries, it created a stir in India in May as it came amid reports of vaccine shortage. Meanwhile health minister Harsh Vardhan said the issue was being "politicised" referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's tweet on the Reuters report. "Decision to increase the gap between administering two doses of Covishield has been taken in a transparent manner based on scientific data. But in front of rahul gandhi unparalleled wisdom, even Aryabhatta and Aristole will fail, he said. Two other studies showed that breakthrough infection with one dose was around 4% and around 5% with two doses, underlining hardly any difference in efficacy after one or two doses.
