Up the vax game india should consider relaxing conditions for both third dose for adults and kids’ jabs

Up the vax game india should consider relaxing conditions for both third dose for adults and kids’ jabs

That the precautionary dose will not be a mix and match programme resolves worries of supply constraints. Nearly 90% of vaccine recipients have been jabbed with abundantly available Covishield, and even under-performing Bharat Biotech should have enough for third doses of those double-dosed with Covaxin. Right now, there are 18.4 crore unused doses supplied to states. And SII has said it has no problems stepping up Covishield production.

However, the booster programme could have been more ambitious, instead of restricting eligibility to only those who got their second dose nine months ago. Given comfortable vaccine supply, if the gap was reduced to six months, as many global studies on immunity have suggested it should be, and if the eligible group was 45 and above, many more people would be third-dosed much faster. To take the example of January 10, when the booster programme launches, the nine-month gap makes only 1.26 crore people who received second doses by April 10, 2021 eligible. But relaxing the parameters – to a six-month gap for those 45 years and above – would make as many as 6.8 crore people eligible for the third dose on the exact same day.

GoI has cited studies pointing to immunity lasting for nine months after the second jab. A UK Health Security Agency study shows that a third shot has 88% protection from hospitalisation against the Omicron variant while this drops to 52% for those who got their second jab over six months ago. It may be worth India’s while to reassess the cutoff date and age ceiling soon. One understands the reason behind starting cautiously, but Covid often changes assumptions and priorities.

Similarly, GoI must also look at progressively relaxing the age bar for child vaccination – 1.27 crore children in the 15-18 age group have been jabbed in three days, raising the possibility of covering this cohort very quickly. Covaxin has been approved for those over 12 and trials have been conducted for children over 2. Unless there is a Covaxin production shortage, clearance for vaccinating all children above 12 must come soon. Remember, other countries have moved on to booster doses for children.

In the long run, the booster programme will have a wider bouquet if mix and match trials on BB’s intranasal vaccine and Corbevax are effective and show tolerable reactogenicity. Covovax booster trials will also be key given SII’s proven ability to ramp up production. Given how every surge is hurting economic activities, GoI must widen and deepen the vaccination coverage, and be always prepared to revise guidelines.