Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Nov 23: As the COVID-19 cases increase across Kashmir, there is a growing demand from the experts as well doctors for the need of administering a third booster dose of COVID-19 to the population that has been already fully vaccinated as well as a policy to govern the same.
Few of the senior doctors who spoke to Excelsior said that the immunity generated by the COVID-19 vaccine wanes off with time which makes the administration of booster dose necessary as the positive cases are seen on the rise for the last few weeks.
Dr Parvaiz Koul who is a reputed name in the Internal and Pulmonary Medicine while quoting a study from Lancet said that there is a need for the India Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to have a look at the need for going for COVID booster doses for the added immunity against the COVID-19 infection.
“It is better to give a booster than waste a near expiry vaccine dose as is being done in the European countries; giving out booster doses makes sense if enough stocks are there,” he said.
The demand is gaining ground despite the ICMR clearly stating that there has not been so far any scientific evidence supporting the need for the same.
Dr Mohammad Salim Khan who is a professor and heads GMC Srinagar’s Community Medicine told Excelsior that the COVID-19 vaccine generates anti-bodies that are not long-lasting and that the same points towards the need for additional doses for furthering the immunity against the COVID-19.
“The Government needs to think about the booster dose to the population that has already been vaccinated 6-7 months ago and in some cases, the process is still on; the booster dose will help in regaining the immunity that wanes off with time,” he said.
He also said that anyone can get infected, however, they have seen less severity in the cases where the patient has been vaccinated. “In such a scenario, giving out booster doses will be a game-changer keeping in view the rising cases,” he said.
Dr Naveed Nazir Shah who is a professor and also heads Chest Medicine GMC Srinagar said that the European countries have already started giving out the booster doses as they started vaccinating the population before India did.
“There is a need for at least giving out the booster doses to the Health Care Workers as well as frontline workers and those falling in the comorbid category as when the vaccination was started, they were the first ones to receive the vaccine jabs; the Govt needs to formulate a policy on the lines of how the booster doses are being given in the European countries,” he said.
He also said that the immunity of the vaccine wanes off with time and amid such a situation, there is a need for the Govt to come up with a decision on the booster doses to the population starting with the HCWs and other high-risk groups.
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