No Need Of Covid Booster Dose For Now, Scientific Aspects Being Deeply Examined: Health Experts

Over the recent past, the discussion about booster dose has gained momentum among top health experts as they recommend it to people with comorbidities and healthcare workers.

(File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing deliberation over need for Covid-19 booster shot, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul on Tuesday said that the decision on a third dose should be based on science and India will administer the doses when all scientific aspects are "deeply examined".

"There are studies being done on boosters, we are going through data and research. This is work in progress," he said, underlining the completion of the second dose for India's adult population.

While speaking at the launch of a book "Going Viral: Making of Covaxin - The Inside Story", authored by ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava, Paul also noted that currently, the priority of the government is on those who have not taken second dose of vaccine.

He also said the pandemic is not over and it won't be extinguished in future but might reach an endemic form.

If the virus at all chooses to change its characteristics and take a different dimension all our preparations could be dented, Paul said.

"But definitely we are in a much better prepared position now be in terms of health infrastructure. But we can't afford to lower our guard and should continue with following Covid appropriate behaviour," he advised.

Even All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Randeep Guleria said that India does not need booster dose at this time.

Guleria said that there is no surge in cases as such at the moment which suggests that vaccines are still protecting against the coronavirus.

"It is unlikely that a third wave of Covid-19 of a magnitude comparable to the first and second will hit India. With time the pandemic will take an endemic form. We'll continue to get cases but the severity will be highly reduced," he added.

Over the recent past, the discussion about booster dose has gained momentum among top health experts as they recommend it to people with comorbidities and healthcare workers.

Recently, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that a decision on booster dose would be taken based on the expert recommendation only, adding that, the priority is to complete the adult vaccination programme with both doses at the earliest.

(With inputs from agencies.)