Kolkata: The 60-plus population remains the most susceptible to Covid – especially when new variants like Omicron are in prey – and need a ‘third’ prevention ‘dose immediately, feeling doctors and experts in Kolkata.
Apart from almost 95% of them have several co-morbidity, their immune system is weaker and makes it vulnerable to infection, especially those who are very transmitting, such as Omicron, they show.
Thousands of senior citizens in Kolkata have signed Covid during the first and second waves when a large number of them cannot be vaccinated or only receive one shot.
“Those with kidney disease, lungs and heart are the most affected and many dead, some even after multiple vaccination.
So we need to protect it with an additional dose without delay,” Arinda’s internal drug consultant said.
He quoted a case of many patients who got a virus and had severe illness despite staying at home.
“Those who have co-morbidity have a high mortality rate during the first wave,” Biswas said.
It would be wrong to go with a lower omicron virulence and consider it harmless, said Amri hospital internal medical consultant Joydeep Ghosh.
“It can turn virulent with transmission, which now occurs at a rapid level, and affects senior citizens more than others.
Their immune system changes weaker and cannot produce enough antibodies to fight viruses.
Their organs are more likely to be affected if Infections such as omicron and, as a result, they will become the first victim.
So they need a booster dose quickly, “Ghosh said.
‘Risk-based approach’ on vaccination is correct, according to the Institute of Post-Postgraduate Medical & Research (IPGMER) Professor Diplipendra Sarkar.
The above 60 is the most vulnerable, along with health workers, because they are the first to receive JAB and, therefore, suffer from antibody depletions, said Sarkar.
“According to this approach, the frontline workers and senior citizens are fulfilled first.
Statistics show a 60-plus group has become the most vulnerable to Covid and has the highest number of deaths.
We see more senior citizens die in the first wave, when they have not received vaccines .
During the second wave, the 40-50 age group surpassed them in terms of deaths because they were not vaccinated, “said Sarkar.
Although there are no government guidelines, the booster dose can be most effective if taken after six months of the second shot.
“Most health workers and the majority of the 60-plus group have crossed the period.
We come with close contact with patients so that the fear is logical.
A large number of doctors are above 60 years too.
This will allow them, many of which have co-morbidity And vulnerable to infection, to return to work, “said RTIICS Intensive Sauren Panja.
“Studies show that antibodies spend in six eight months.
So we can assume that those who receive the second dose between April and June will now qualify,” said Sarkar.
“At least 50 members of Banchbo – an organization that works with senior citizen health services – has registered with us so we can help them with the procedure to get a booster dose.
More questions come.
Most of our members have completed vaccination in April,” said Doctor Dhires Kumar Chowdhury.