Gap Reduction For Booster Dose Is Welcome
The India Commentary view
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By Our Editorial Team
First publised on 2022-07-09 07:30:34
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The India Commentary view
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It is good
that the Union health ministry has reduced the gap between the second and third
(booster) dose of the Covid vaccine to 60 days from 90 days. This is in line
with emerging evidence that the effects of the vaccine start waning after 60
days. But just reducing the gap, apart from making more people eligible to take
the booster dose, will achieve little in the absence of a concerted drive to
administer the booster dose to eligible citizens. There has been inexplicable
laxity in giving the booster dose. The government must also look at mix-and-match booster doses and start planning for the fourth dose. This assumes greater importance now as Covid
has started rearing its head once again in several parts of the country. Low
vaccination, coupled with the complete absence of following Covid norms, will
be dangerous. Vaccines are available in abundance, the price has been reduced
substantially and senior citizens are being given the dose free. But since both
the Centre and the states have shown a lack of urgency, the vaccination drive
has petered out.
Statistics
show that less than 31 percent of senior citizens have received the booster
dose and, alarmingly, less than 1 percent in the age group of 18-59 has received
it nationally. It seems that the people have already forgotten the horrors of
the second wave and complacency has set in. Already, there has been an alarming
upsurge in fresh Covid cases in some states. More alarmingly, the positivity
rate is also creeping up. People need to be made aware that despite the fact
that the virus is known to penetrate the vaccine shield it still prevents
serious illness due to Covid. They also
need to be made aware that masking up in public, sanitizing their hands frequently,
staying at home if they have any Covid symptoms (preferably isolating
themselves for a week and getting tested for Covid) and avoiding crowded places
are things they should still be doing. The pandemic has receded; it has not
gone away completely. Any complacency is going to once again put undue pressure
on the health infrastructure of the country and a large number of citizens will
suffer.
