Pune: A policy on the dose of booster is likely to be announced at the end of this month, but its priority is to complete the earliest adult vaccination program, said a member of the Senior National Task Force on Saturday.
The National Technical Advisory Group concerning Immunization (Ntagi), the Government Advisory Agency of Immunization, will complete the policy.
“Comprehensive policies are likely to be out based on Indian epidemiology and the situation of the pandemic in the country and are not based on other countries.
Meeting must be held in the next two weeks,” said a member of the Task Force on developments.
He said even when the policy was being purchased, encouragement would, however, accelerate and complete an adult vaccination program.
The focus is to ensure that at least all adult beneficiaries are given the first dose on December 31.
At present, more than 80% of adult populations have received at least the first dose of vaccines, and more than 41% have obtained both.
shot.
In a recent meeting, most countries demanded Booster Shots for health workers.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope, too, has been given to the same thing.
Dr.
Samiran Panda, Head of the Epidemiology Division and Infectious Disease in the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR), said that in discussions about the dose of booster or third shots, it is important that someone is not transferred from the two-dose public health program.
“Discussions around the third dose are related to those who, because immunosuppression conditions, cannot install enough immunity,” he told toi.
Meanwhile, experts say that health authorities must consider that early recipients – citizens, people with comorbidity or health workers and front lines – get their two shots in a six-week period with an ideal 84 day period.
When the initial recipient is fully vaccinated in a short time, the level of their antibodies will be dipped now and they need a booster shot immediately, the experts said.
“I have the feeling that India will only launch the third dose for a vulnerable and very open transmission after the transmission starts skyrocketing again.
It will be late,” said Public Health Specialist Dr.
Swapneil Parikh, added that we had to start immediately.
(Input from Mumbai)
Booster-dose policy is likely at the end of the month: NTagi members
