ICMR focus on two-dose vax, is fine with current Covishield gap

ICMR focus on two-dose vax, is fine with current Covishield gap

Nisha.Nambiar@timesgroup.com

Pune:  12.12.2021

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has advised against suddenly introducing a third Covid vaccine dose or recommending any change in the time gap of Covishield shots in the wake of Omicron cases.

Dr Samiran Panda, head of ICMR’s epidemiology department, told TOI that as of now the apex biomedical research body would underscore the importance of attaining greater coverage with two-dose vaccination. “With Omicron cases being mild not only in India but the world over, there should not be any knee-jerk reaction like introducing a third dose or recommending any change in the interval of Covishield doses,” he said.

“A decision on whether a third dose would be required for immunocompromised individuals would be taken later,” Dr Panda said.

He said scientific evidence of booster dose for the Indian terrain was being evaluated and the technical advisory group would make an announcement regarding it. Dr Panda said public health focus should be on double vaccination and completing the adult immunisation programme now because the two-dose vaccine strategy seemed to be working well in the Indian context.

On the demand from states like Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka to reduce the gap between the two Covishield doses, the ICMR scientist said scientific evidence from incountry reality was showing that the interval was fine.

Virologist Dr Shahid Jameel said a booster shot would increase the number of circulating antibodies and it had shown to increase the protection against symptomatic infection with Omicron. “We don’t know how well two doses continue to protect against severe disease. In the UK, those who got the AstraZeneca vaccine are getting a booster of the mRNA Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. A third dose of AstraZeneca will not be very effective because of its nature,” he said.

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