Covid 19 Booster is important in this situation
It is worth mentioning that this subset of population like doctors and healthcare workers have been vaccinated at the initial outset of vaccination drive across the country and by this time, a considerable period of six to seven months have elapsed with an anticipated drop in protective immunity.
The developed countries like UK, US have documented the same and initiated to offer booster dose to all healthcare workers at a time when our country is sitting idle on the issue,” he added. “We have requested of chief minister to take initiative so that all doctors and other health workers can get the booster doses in our state,” he said.
On the other hand, the Union Health Ministry has also indicated that vaccination coverage for all is their current focus with optional Covid vaccination booster dose to specific individuals needing it for medical conditions.
The indication comes at a time when the World Health Organisation (WHO) with support of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunisation and its Covid-19 Vaccines Working Group, continues to review the emerging evidence on the need for and timing of a booster dose for the currently available Covid-19 vaccines which have received Emergency Use Listing (EUL).
A senior Health Ministry official, speaking about whether the government plans to roll out booster doses for all, recently said: “Experts are definitely looking into research and suggestions from across the world and we are open to this evolving situation. Currently, our main focus is to ensure that we extend our ongoing vaccination programme to all. Booster doses, in case a recommendation comes in, would be first offered to those who medically need it.”
At present, the number of active Covid cases in our country is low and under this circumstance on behalf of the medical fraternity, we appeal to you and your good office to issue an early advisory to commence the booster dose vaccination programme for Covid-19 for all healthcare workers and frontline warriors as early as possible,” the body further said.
However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has objected to countries opting for boosters saying several low- and middle-income nations are yet to vaccinate their populations with a first dose. It has also expressed its concerns about global equitable vaccine distribution amid more advanced economies opting for boosters.
Meanwhile, concerns about vaccine efficacy among healthcare workers have been around for a while now, given that healthcare workers in the country were the first group to be prioritised for the national inoculation drive against Covid-19 that began back in January this year. However, earlier in September director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Balram Bhargava had said that the immunisation programme should rather focus on administering two doses to all eligible populations than booster doses.
I think, currently I would say that the talk of booster (doses) is not pertinent and I said this last time also. The call of the hour is to give the two-dose vaccination, which we call as full vaccination, covering the entire adult population,” the ICMR chief said on September 30 when asked about booster doses for HCWs.
The Union ministry of health and family welfare on the day said that the cumulative number of doses administered under the country's Covid vaccination drive crossed the 108-crore mark.
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