Booster for Covid can be taken after 2nd dose: ICMR

After nine months of complete immunisation, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) notified a Parliamentary committee that an extra Covid dosage should be administered.

A booster injection can be given nine months after both doses of the Covid vaccination have been given, according to ICMR chairman Balram Bhargava.

The Cabinet Secretariat will hold a review on the Omicron strain, Covid Vaccines and the present Covid situation at 2.30 pm tomorrow.

While in a recent study, a team of ICMR scientists suggested the use of the Covishield Covid-19 vaccine as a booster shot, noting a reduction in efficacy against the Delta derivatives.

“Our findings suggest that Covishield vaccine was able to neutralize Delta derivatives and prevent serious disease and fatality among breakthrough cases. A booster dose vaccination of Covid-19 naïve vaccinees would achieve a protective immune response to fight against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants,” an excerpt from the paper reads.

Earlier in a press conference on the spread of the Omicron variant in India, Balram Bhargava told mediapersons to help not spread panic about the Omicron variant. “Omicron is not burdening the health care system, ” he said.

On the methods of treatment, Bhargav said, “Treatment remains unchanged, regular meetings and scientific evidence is being sought.”

Meanwhile, Health Minister Mansukh Mandavia on booster doses said, “We have two expert groups in the country, who advise us on vaccination. We take advise from the expert group on vaccination and other related issues.”

On India’s vaccination drive, he said, “86% of first doses have already been given, which is a record; around 7 crore doses still lying with states and UT’s.”

On the impact of vaccines on new Covid variants, he said, “This new variant has been reported in more than 50 countries and study is underway to review the impact of vaccine against new variants. We have 36 genome sequencing labs in the country where we can do 36,000 genome sequencing.”