Centre Launches Study to Assess Need for Booster Shots as Omicron Cases in India Rise ; 3000 people to get booster shots ; 6 months prior vaccinated people

The researchers want to enrol 3,000 individuals in the trial, divided into four groups: people over 40, people under 40, people who were infected with Covid-19 before immunisation, and people with comorbid diseases

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According to News18.com, the Narendra Modi administration has begun a research to determine the necessity for booster doses against Covid-19 in India.

The multi-center trial, led by the Department of Biotechnology's flagship institution Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), intends to enroll more than 3,000 people who got the Covid-19 vaccination for the second time six months ago. DBT supported the research, which looked at three vaccinations used in India: Covishield, Covexin, and Sputnik V.

The emergence of Omicron, a novel coronavirus mutation, has prompted requests for booster doses throughout the nation. A booster dose's goal is to restore vaccination efficacy. However, it is unclear if the vaccine-induced immunity in India has begun to wane or whether supplemental doses are required urgently.

“It is an academic study where the idea is to understand the duration of immunity in the real-world scenario. Blood samples have been drawn to assess the cell-mediated immunity,”a senior official in charge of one of the study's participating locations.

“We will analyze the T and B cell response and antibodies, and what is the protection level after six months of receiving the second dose. This will enhance our understanding on the requirement of booster doses in India,” the official said.

Booster doses have still to be decided by the national government. The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), which was constituted by the Modi administration, is expected to convene shortly to make a decision on the matter.

How is the research being conducted?

Persons over 40 years of age, people under 40 years of age, people infected with Covid-19 previous to immunization, and people with comorbid illnesses are all included in the research. 

Blood samples are being collected at study hospitals in Delhi-NCR, Gurugram, and Faridabad.“A simple questionnaire has been created to collect the information on their medical history, vaccination status and other clinical information,” the source said.

The locations will produce a report on blood samples as well as an analysis of the booster dose necessary in India.
“We will submit the report on the requirement of boosters in India. Meanwhile, we have been conducting weekly discussions with DBT’s THSTI and sending the blood samples.”


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