PM Modi announced Saturday that booster doses would be rolled out from 10 January. Scientific studies have found that protection wanes after the 2nd dose, and recommended boosters.
Centre is yet to recommend booster dose for Covid vaccine & CoWin neither allows registration for third dose nor issues certificate for it. But that appears to be no impediment for some.
No decision has been taken yet on whether booster shots will be given, even as healthcare workers who got fully vaccinated in February near 10 months of vaccination.
The virologists and epidemiologists underlined that booster doses of any vaccine (except live attenuated like oral polio vaccine or OPV, measles) exponentially raise antibody levels.
The findings come as UK accelerates its booster campaign in the face of the heavily mutated variant. Officials expect omicron to become the dominant variant by the middle of December.
Booster shots are like trying to stop a fire by pouring a mug of water repeatedly at one spot. Ensuring everyone is vaccinated is better in the long run.
INSACOG says low levels of neutralising antibodies from current vaccines are unlikely to be sufficient to neutralise Omicron, but adds that the 'risk of severe disease is still likely to be reduced'.
The study looked at safety, immune response and side-effects of seven vaccines — Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Novavax, Janssen, Moderna, Valneva and Curevac.
The efficacy of the third shot was consistent across age groups and among people with pre-existing conditions, Pfizer and BioNTech said in a statement.
On paper, the 21-point plan looks balanced—Palestinian governance, international oversight, reconstruction pledges. But in reality, it is a non-negotiable diktat.
As many as 21 policy reforms are under implementation following Invest Kerala Global Summit, as LDF govt works to change perception that the state is not conducive to businesses.
Amid continued concerns over cross-border terrorism, General Upendra Dwivedi further warned the neighbour that India will not show restraint if there is an Op Sindoor 2.0.
Pakistan’s army has been a rentier force available to a reasonable bidder. It has never come to the aid of any Muslims including Palestinians or the Gazans, except making noises here and there.
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