Vaccine’s effectiveness against the new version will most likely be known next week

People familiar with the situation informed ET that the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, which is attempting to isolate and cultivate the Omicron strain in order to test vaccine effectiveness, may have some answers by next week.

According to the same persons, India’s Covid-19 advisory committee is hoping that by next week, NIV would be able to culture the virus and determine how well current vaccinations are functioning.

The scientific advisory group on Covid-19 will take a final decision on the need for a booster dose, additional dose for immunocompromised people and vaccination of children after the National Institute of Virology (NIV) submits its report on whether existing vaccines are effective against the heavily mutated Omicron, even as some preliminary studies have found that omicron reduces the efficacy of two-dose Covid vaccines, but a booster shot can restore protection.

Experts in India say that there is no hurry and a decision on booster dose will be taken after there is appropriate evidence. “The effectiveness studies that are appearing so far from other countries cannot be applied to India as a blanket. We will wait for our study to take the key decisions on the need for booster doses. We are hoping that by next week, NIV will have some answers ready and we will have some clarity,” said a member of the Covid-19 advisory group.