Small, medium hospitals urge Centre to allow booster doses for the eligible – ET HealthWorld

The AHPI director general Girdhar Gyani said that they have proposed to the government to utilise the surplus vaccine for booster shots. The representatives of AHPI met the Union health minister on Tuesday.

“APHI has taken the matter of surplus vaccine lying with private sector, with honorable minister and requested for government to take it and utilise as appropriate,” Gyani told ET. The APHI has also written to the government recommending that booster doses be considered keeping in view the uncertainty regarding the duration of protection being offered as a result of probable waning away of antibodies.

“The scientific committee of AHPI, having deliberated on this issue, has come up with the following recommendation: the government may consider allowing the eligible population to have the booster dose on a voluntary basis.

Ample stock of Covid-19 vaccines available with the private sector may be effectively utilised,” said the letter dated November 12.

JA Jayalal, National president Indian Medical Association (IMA) told ET that “now that we have adequate quantity of vaccines available, the government should consider allowing booster doses to the healthcare workers to begin with”.

With Covid-19 cases surging across many European countries, several countries have started inoculating a section of population with booster dose.
“There is increasing realisation that Covid-19 infections occur even after full vaccinations, and these may increase as immunity against vaccination declines. Boosters can increase immunity higher than anytime previously. It is apt time to introduce these, starting with people with very low immunity,” said Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis C-DOC, a Delhi-based hospital.

The clamour grows in India as new data from England showing that booster doses do not merely top up immunity they elevate protection well above the peak level from two doses.

“There is now compelling data that the elderly, vulnerable will be benefit from #BoosterShots.
Have been saying this since August. There is no #Covid_19 #vaccine shortage now. Slight rise in cases has begun. What are we waiting for?” tweeted Ambrish Mithal, chairman, endocrinology and diabetes, Max healthcare.

Describing Covid-19 vaccine discrimination a ‘scandal’, the WHO this week called for the practice to be stopped.
The WHO chief said more people are receiving booster doses as against those receiving primary doses.

The officials in the government say that their priority and target is to inoculate all adults this year, even as they are examining the issue of booster doses.

“We have initiated some studies to weigh if there’s any need for booster doses or not. Meanwhile, the priority is to inoculate everyone in the country this year and we are focused on that. Right now, we don’t think there’s any need for booster. However, if the studies indicate that there’s any need for booster shots, we will do it next year,” said a senior government official.

Britain recently expanded the booster programme for Covid-19 vaccinations to younger people after scientists gave their go ahead on Monday.

Over 36 countries are currently administering booster doses of the covid vaccine.