Vax booster may be needed to beat COVID variants: Dr Randeep Guleria
In an interview to a news agency Dr Guleria said, “It seems that we probably need the booster dose because with passage of time, immunity tends to wane. We would like to have the booster dose that will also protect against the emerging variants.”
FollowNew Delhi: With more mutations of the Covid-19 coronavirus possibly emerging in the near future, there might be a need for India to adopt a booster dose with second-generation Covid vaccines, said Dr Randeep Guleria, director, AIIMS.
In an interview to a news agency Dr Guleria said, “It seems that we probably need the booster dose because with passage of time, immunity tends to wane. We would like to have the booster dose that will also protect against the emerging variants.”
The AIIMS director said, “Second-generation vaccines will be better in terms of the immunity they give against the emerging variants and better overall efficacy. The trials of booster vaccine shots are already going on. Once the entire population is vaccinated, then the next step will be to administer a booster dose.”
Dr Guleria also expected Bharat Biotech's Covaxin trials for children, currently under way with results expected to be released by September, to pave the way for vaccines for children. He pointed out that Zydus Cadila too had included data for children in its vaccine data when applying for emergency use authorization. He said that in the coming weeks or by September, children’s vaccines should be available. “We should then start schools in a graded manner after vaccinating the students as we have been doing for the 18-45-year population," he said.
As for the delay in procuring vaccines despite the Indian government holding talks with vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer, the AIIMS chief said, “There can be multiple reasons for the delay. I think two or three things need to be kept in mind. One is collaboration and the understanding with the government on the doses. The companies also must have extra doses to give us because we know they have pre-booked orders from many countries and are obliged to provide vaccines to those countries. Unless these obligations are met, they cannot spare doses for countries like India.”
India has been in discussions with the two firms on issues like indemnity waiver. Dr V K Paul, member (health), NITI Aayog, had earlier said India was trying to resolve the contractual and commitments issues with the two companies.
(With inputs from agency)
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