JAIPUR: With the state reporting 17 cases of the
Omicron variant
of coronavirus, the health experts have suggested that the government should come up with a policy to make booster doses available for people who got vaccinated against the virus a few months ago. They also claimed that six months after vaccination, antibodies reduce and
booster shots
can increase immunity significantly.
The Centre had flagged off the Covid-19 vaccination drive on January 16 targetting high-risk groups first, including frontline workers, healthcare workers, elderly (above 60), and people with comorbidities (45 to 59 years).
By March-end, 7 lakh beneficiaries (at high risk) were completely vaccinated with both doses and by May-end, the figure of fully vaccinated people rose to 32.4 lakh. Since June 1, more than 32 lakh fully vaccinated people have not received any Covid-19 shot.
"As the number of Covid-19 patients is rising in the world, many western countries have started administering booster vaccination to its population. We should also consider giving booster doses to the healthcare workers and the high-risk population," said Dr Ashish Jain, director of critical care at a private hospital.
The health experts said the government should review its vaccination policy and ensure that people have enough antibodies to fight Covid-19. "Booster doses should be given, but tests should be conducted to check that people have enough antibodies. Only if they lack immunity, they should get the booster dose. Also, vaccination for children should be started while focusing on those who are still left out from the inoculation drive," said Dr Lokendra Shamra, senior professor of pharmachology at SMS medical college.
Health officials and the government have been trying hard to vaccinate the 18 + population, but with the emergence of the Omicron variant, the health department has stepped up efforts to inoculate the eligible people with at least the first dose by the end of December.
"A high-level committee will decide whether the booster dose should be given for now or not. A booster dose, in my opinion, is needed since the immunity generated by the vaccines isn’t permanent, after six months the antibody titers go down dramatically and a single dose of booster brings it up," said, Dr Pankaj Anand, senior consultant, critical care and emergency at a private hospital.
He added that the decision should come out by the end of this month. "The booster dose increases the chances of protection against the new Omicron variant," he said.
"I believe the government will come out with guidelines about booster doses soon. The government will set up the protocols whether the booster should be the same as the initial two doses of Covid-19 vaccine or if they could be mixed," said Dr Praveen Kanojia, senior consultant, internal medicine, at a private hospital.