Booster Covid shot not on the anvil for Indians yet, say sources

India is not considering a booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine as yet, people in the know told ET. National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) and National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid (NEGVAC), which have been deliberating over scientific evidence related to dose schedule of the shots, have indicated that they do not see the need for a booster shot as yet.

“The issue has been discussed in the expert groups,” a senior government official said.

“The priority of the government right now is that every adult should get two doses.”


The experts are awaiting results of two ongoing studies in India that will determine whether a booster dose is needed or not. “As of now, nobody in the groups are advocating the same,” the official said.

“At the moment there is no need for a booster dose because of the high background of spread of the infection,” the person said. “The seropositivity is high as shown by various studies and hence there is no need for a booster dose right now.”

As mutations of the Covid-19 virus emerge, many countries are considering booster doses across all eligible groups. The US administration on Wednesday said Americans will be eligible for booster shots eight months after receiving their second doses while Israel has already started offering booster doses to older people.

Serum Institute of India (SII) chairman Cyrus Poonawalla on Wednesday said a third or booster dose of Covishield is needed six months after the second dose of the vaccine and that he and close to 8,000 SII employees have taken a third dose as they noticed that the antibodies go down after six months.

“For those who have completed the second dose, it is my request to take a booster dose (third dose) after six months,” Poonawalla was quoted as saying by a news agency.

Public health experts, however, cautioned against advising a booster dose without proper studies.

“Advocating for booster doses without evidence is not only wrong but also worsens the inequities in health access,” senior epidemiologist Giridhara Babu said. “Currently, many people do not have access to one dose and to advocate for booster dose in such circumstances is problematic at many levels.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also indicated that there is no need for a booster shot, and asked wealthy countries to defer distributing booster doses until September end as many poorer countries are facing a vaccine shortage.