Omicron: Indian scientists advise booster dose for ages 40 and up

As suspected cases of Covid-19 Omicron variant rise, Indian genome scientists have pitched for a booster dose of the vaccines for those above aged 40 and above with a preference for high-risk populations.

A recommendation to this effect was made in the weekly bulletin of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Sequencing Consortium (INSACOG), a network of national testing labs set up by the Indian government to monitor genomic variations of the infection, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

"Vaccination of all remaining unvaccinated at-risk people and consideration of a booster dose for those 40 years of age and over, first targeting the most high-risk/ high-exposure may be considered since low levels of neutralising antibodies from current vaccines are unlikely to be sufficient to neutralise Omicron, although the risk of severe disease is still likely to be reduced," the bulletin issued by INSACOG said.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal government is planning to soon conduct trials of Covid-19 booster shots in Kolkata and has started feasibility tests at different medical establishments, reports our News Delhi correspondent quoting a senior official of the state's health department.