Duration of vaccine antibodies raise concern among health experts

The latest studies showing six months longevity of antibodies amongst Covid-19 vaccinated people raised serious concern in the health sector with experts in India suggesting a revisit of the vaccination process.

New Delhi: The latest studies showing six months longevity of antibodies amongst Covid-19 vaccinated people raised serious concern in the health sector with experts in India suggesting a revisit of the vaccination process. Taking to ETV Bharat, senior health expert and President of Asian Society of Emergency Medicine, Dr Tamorish Kole said, "We knew long back immunity against SARS-CoV-2 virus maybe lasting up to 6 months. Recently, WHO with the support of the strategic advisory group of experts (SAGE) on immunisation and its Covid-19 vaccine working group, is reviewing the current evidence on the requirement and timing of an additional vaccine dose (booster dose) for the currently available Covid-19 vaccines."

He said that a booster dose in India may be needed. "A booster dose can give wanning protection against infection or disease, in particular severe disease. A booster dose may also be needed for protection against variant(s) of concern (VOC) like Delta. It may also be necessary because of inadequate protection from the currently recommended regimen for some risk groups," said Dr Kole.

Indian experts have concluded that not enough data has been generated locally to decide on the need for a booster dose of the Covid19 vaccine for those fully inoculated. "However, CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. These include people who have been receiving active cancer treatment for tumours or cancers of the blood. People who received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system," said Dr Kole.

He further said that people who received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system may need an additional dose. "People with advanced or untreated HIV infection may also need a booster dose," he said. He informed that booster size may be required even after taking Indian vaccines "as Indian vaccines are no exception."

According to research in Britain, protection against Covid-19 offered by two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines begins to fade away within six months. Another health expert and President of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM), Dr Suneela Garg even suggested a relook on the Indian vaccination strategy. "There can be three strategies including gaping in vaccination, booster and fractional dose of vaccines," said Dr Garg who is also the President of Organised Medicine Academic Guild (OMAG).

Asserting that natural infection is good, Dr Garg said, "if we see anybody is declining, we need to give booster." Dr Garg, however, emphasized maintaining Covid appropriate behaviour. "We must strictly follow Covid appropriate behaviour, till the virus goes out of our life," she said.