India Still To Roll Out Booster As Omicron Pressure Builds

While the Omicron variant has sparked a worldwide rush for more vaccines, with the standard two doses feared to be insufficient, India, where Delta wreaked havoc just a few months ago, is yet to decide whether a third dose is needed.

- Stuti Mishra

Early studies show the new variant, discovered in South Africa last month, is not just highly transmissible, but can also evade the protection provided by the standard two doses of vaccines. But its full impact will take time to become apparent.

India has just over 170 cases of the variant, although experts have told The Independent that the figure is just the tip of the iceberg, as real cases are believed to be much more widespread.

A number of recent cases reported in India are not from other countries but from people with no history of travel, indicating community transmission has already started in the densely populated country. Last week Delhi recorded its highest number of daily cases in more than four months, at 85 new infections. On Sunday there were 107.

According to Dr Lalit Kant, an independent public health consultant, “it is likely that within six to eight weeks the number of cases may start to rise and soon may overwhelm the healthcare system.

“The decision to give boosters to high priority populations like the healthcare workers, the elderly and those with comorbidities should be taken now, he adds. “I think the virus is more widespread than is reported.