Niti Ayog Member (Health) Dr VK Paul has said that the government has no plans to approve ‘Covid-19 booster‘ shots for now. He also said that no such recommendations had been made by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).
The head of the country’s COVID task force told the news agency that “The science of the need and the timing of shots are still evolving. Different vaccines may have different schedules. It is being closely watched and studied.”
As of now, the Indian government is focused to provide two vaccine doses to India’s adult population. Moreover, he added to his statement that “We are watching the emerging data in this regard continuously and would be guided by the NTAGI in this regard.”
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Previously, the Serum Institute of India (SII) Chairman Cyrus Poonawala stated that a third or booster dose of Covishield is needed six months after the second dose of the vaccine. Poonawala said that “After six months, the antibodies go down and that is why I have taken the third dose. We have given the third dose to our seven to eight thousand SII employees. For those who have completed the second dose, it is my request to take a booster dose (third dose) after six months.”
Israel already has approved a booster for people over 50 and was vaccinated five months ago. Additionally, Germany and France and European Medicines Agency also plan to offer booster shots if needed.
