Give Booster Dose? Experts Say First Vaccinate Majority

Suggest Trials To Find Out If 3rd Dose Will Up Antibody Levels

- Durgesh Nandan Jha

New Delhi: A majority of India’s population is yet to receive both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. However, a debate has started already on whether those who received both doses need a booster dose. Vaccine manufacturers claim a booster dose may be needed for two reasons: to provide prolonged immunity and to fight off the mutant variants of the novel coronavirus.

Countries like France, Germany and Israel, where a significant population have received both doses of the vaccine, are considering a third dose as are the US and UK.

Public health experts in India, however, say there is no need to follow suit. Dr S K Sarin, director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, told TOI that many healthcare workers and other vaccine recipients approach him complaining that their antibody count is low even after full vaccination. “We tell them that antibody response is just one of the markers of the protection offered by vaccination,” said Sarin. “There are other factors at play too.”

Dr Sarin did add, however, that it would be prudent to start multiple trials at least to assess whether a third, or a booster dose, can help increase the antibody levels.