NTAGI, the scientific advisory group on Covid-19, is deliberating and considering scientific evidence related to the need and justification of booster doses.
The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) is likely to meet early next week to review data on the Omicron Covid-19 variant, assess the role of booster shots and frame a strategy to tackle any surge in coronavirus infections, people in the know said.
"Some parts of the country have started reporting an uptick in the number of cases and there's a need to review the situation: both global and national," said one of the persons cited earlier. "NTAGI will meet next week to deliberate on certain issues important in view of Covid-19."
India is yet to decide on whether it will administer a booster dose to those who have already received their Covid-19 jabs. NTAGI, the scientific advisory group on Covid-19, is deliberating and considering scientific evidence related to the need and justification of booster doses.
NTAGI is also hopeful that this week the National Institute of Virology (NIV) will be able to culture the virus and may know how the existing vaccines are working against the Omicron variant.
"NTAGI is also waiting for the report from NIV to firm up decision on the need for a booster dose, additional dose for immunocompromised people and vaccination of children," said the person cited earlier. "We are hopeful that we may have some answers this week on it."
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The NIV is working to isolate the Omicron strain from the sample. Thereafter, it will assess the efficacy of vaccines against the lab-grown strain. The institute has received samples of a person from Dombivali, in Maharashtra, who got infected with Omicron.
NTAGI had met earlier this month but did not take a final view on these key issues. Group members said they could not arrive at a consensus because there were different opinions and hence.
