Delhi: August 18: “In future, recommendations for boosters will definitely come”, said Priya Abraham, National Institute of Virology Director.
She added, studies on booster dose have been going on overseas and at least seven different doses have been tried out for booster dose. Now, WHO has put a stop to it till more countries catch up with vaccination.
Speaking on the vaccine for children in an interview with India Science, the OTT channel of the Department of Science & Technology, Priya Abraham said, Phase II and III trials of COVAXIN are going on for children in the age group of 2-18 years. Hopefully, the results are going to be available very soon. The results will be presented to the regulators.
Covid-19 Vaccine for children will start from September
So, by September or just after it, we may have COVID-19 vaccination for children. This apart, Zydus Cadila’s vaccine trial is also going on. This can also be applied for children and will be made available.
Answering a question, ‘what other vaccines can be made available for our citizens?’, she said, Zydus Cadila’s vaccine will be the first DNA vaccine which will be available for use. Besides, there is Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.’s m-RNA vaccine, Biological-E vaccine, Serum Institute of India’s Novovax and, another interesting one – an intra-nasal vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited.
This vaccination does not require a jab and can be delivered through nostrils.
Answering a query, regarding the effectiveness of presently available vaccines on Delta-Plus variant, she said, first of all, the Delta-plus variant is less likely to spread than the Delta variant itself.
Mainly Delta variant is present in over 130 countries. It has spread all over the world and it is this variant which is highly transmissible.
In NIV we have done studies on this variant. We have studied the antibodies produced in the bodies of vaccinated people and checked it against this variant.
It has been found that efficacy of antibodies against this variant has been reduced two to three folds. Yet, the vaccines are still protective against the variants.
They may show a little less efficacy, but Vaccination is very important to prevent serious forms of disease due to which patients may get hospitalized and even die.
So, whatever the variant, vaccination is till now protective against all, including the Delta variant. So, there should not be any hesitancy at all.
Are studies also on for mix and match of vaccines? Will it be beneficial for us?, Directo, NIV answers, there was a situation where inadvertently two different vaccines were given in two doses. We have tested those samples at NIV and found that the patients who received different vaccination in two doses were safe.
No adverse effect was noted and immunogenic was a little better. So, it is definitely not something which will cause a safety issue. We are studying this phenomenon and will be able to give more details in a few days’ time.
Is it possible that no other wave will come?
Her answer was, ‘New variants will keep on coming. We have two weapons which are the biggest protection. These are: wearing mask properly and actively encouraging everyone to get vaccinated. Then even if a wave comes, it will not be a big one’. (PIB)
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