COVID-19 | Healthy individuals may not need vaccination booster dose, say doctors
The Hindu
‘Currently our main focus is to ensure that we extend our ongoing vaccination programme to all. Booster doses in case a recommendation comes in would be first offered to those who medically need it,’ says a senior Health Ministry official.
Doctors in India advocating against for all have said that healthy individuals may not need them. The Union Health Ministry also indicated that vaccination coverage for all is their current focus with optional COVID-19 vaccination booster dose to specific individuals needing it for medical conditions.
The indication comes at a time when the World Health Organisation (WHO), with the support of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunisation and its COVID-19 Vaccines Working Group, continues to review the emerging evidence on the need for and timing of a booster dose for the currently available COVID-19 vaccines which have received Emergency Use Listing (EUL).
A senior Health Ministry official speaking about whether the Government plans to roll out booster doses for all said: “Experts are definitely looking into research and suggestions from across the world and we are open to this evolving situation. Currently our main focus is to ensure that we extend our ongoing vaccination programme to all. Booster doses in case a recommendation comes in would be first offered to those who medically need it.”