0N APRIL 10, just as several states recorded fresh flareups of novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) following weeks of sharp decline in new cases, India extended access to a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine to all adults who have received the second shot nine months earlier. The vaccine, dubbed a precautionary dose, had been available to those above 60 years and healthcare workers since January 10, this year. With the announcement, India joins some 100 countries that have since July 2021 begun rolling out booster shots.
While India offers the vaccine used for primary shots as the precautionary dose, all other countries have allowed mix-and-match of vaccines based on data that shows this is safe and effective. Some also offer repeated booster shots. Israel rolled out a second booster dose in January, while the US has approved the same for those above 50.
Does this mean, the pandemic now enters the phase where frequent boosters will be needed? If yes, what is the magic number and how frequently should it be given? These are the questions health officials worldwide are scrambling to answer.
Denne historien er fra May 01, 2022-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra May 01, 2022-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
