Nagpur: In what could bring confidence to people hesitating in taking the jab, AIIMS director Dr R Guleria has said that antibodies developed from Covid vaccine will last for at least eight months.
Two days ago, ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) had said research was underway to understand the duration of immunity provided by the vaccine being administered in the country.
To clear confusion among the masses regarding Covid vaccines, the MoHFW, through Covid India Seva, is replying to queries raised by citizens on its official Twitter handle.
City lawyer Ankita Shah had asked how long the protection offered by two vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin — will sustain in the body. Dr Guleria replied that a good amount of antibodies “will develop about 14 days after the second shot of the vaccine”. “It is not clear how long the protection will last, but it is believed to last for at least eight months or may be longer,” he said.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr Nitin Shinde said, “The statement of Dr Guleria will encourage more health care, frontline workers and even common people to take the jab. It is said that antibodies developed after infection last for 3-5 months or more. If antibodies developed after vaccination protect us for eight months or more, it will be a major success of the vaccination programme. Vaccine of swine flu used to work for one year. There are even chances that immunity developed from the vaccine will sustain for one year or more.”
As reported by TOI, one of the major reasons behind 40% health care workers not taking the jab was lack of clarity on duration of antibodies developed after taking the vaccine.
Dr Guleria added that after two doses, “you are protected. But for protecting others would need you to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour”.
Dr Guleria said people above 50 years of age and those between 20-50 years but with comorbidities will get the vaccine from March.