Covid-19: Leftover doses used as booster shots at some private centres

NAGPUR: Many fully vaccinated beneficiaries, specially health care workers and frontline workers, are taking the third dose of Covid vaccine at some private vaccination centres, though the government is yet to approve booster dose.

Those taking the third dose are relying on the fact that a booster shot has already been approved in the UK and US while it is still under study in India.

Some doctors reiterated their demand for the booster dose to make the third dose valid and also prevent vaccine wastage. Local immunization officials confirmed to TOI that many are taking the third jab using leftover doses at private centres. They said these shots are officially recorded as wastage.

In the last couple of days, the number of wastage doses indicates they are being used for a third dose. At some centres, it is being repeatedly seen that 20 to 30 more vials are opened than the actual requirement, they said. At some places, just one person is vaccinated while nine doses are shown as wastage.

A community medicine professor from a medical college said that the results of Covaxin booster dose study are still awaited. “There are two schools of thought. One feels booster dose is needed after six months. Another says Covid vaccines give immunity for a longer duration. Therefore, the government is yet to formulate any policy on booster dose. Focus is still on completing first and second doses,” he said.

The professor said personally he didn’t see any harm from the booster dose. “It will only increase the immunity level,” he said.

Infectious disease specialist Dr Nitin Shinde wondered why the government was delaying approval for the booster dose. “Recently, those tested positive in Kerala were all vaccinated over six months ago. Even if they didn’t get hospitalized, the risk of long Covid and transmission is always there. Booster dose protects from infection and cuts transmission of the virus,” he said.

Dr Shinde was of the view that all the fully vaccinated persons among healthcare workers, frontline workers or senior citizens who have completed six months must get the booster dose.

He also pointed out that vaccine efficacy against delta has reduced by around 20%.

Vidarbha Hospital convener Dr Anup Marar said that many developed countries have started approving third dose for high risk individuals. “Scientifically, many are propagating the booster dose. In India, the authorities may be withholding the same due to the inequity between availability of doses and pending unvaccinated citizens,” he said.

Dr Marar feels vaccinated and aware citizens will surely like to get the booster dose. “Looking at the near expiry of vaccine stock with private centres, authorities should contemplate approving the third dose utilizing this stock on payment basis so that underhand booster dose, if any, is avoided and those getting jabbed are officially added to the vaccination data,” he said.