Coronavirus has caused great destruction across the world. To prevent its spread, a vaccine has also been prepared in record time. But, the ever-changing form of the virus has kept the administrative staff as well as the scientists puzzled. Booster doses are now being advocated to generate stronger immunity against the virus. Studies have also started in many countries regarding this. However, if experts are to be believed, it is too early to say that a booster dose will be needed to control the virus.
Soumya Swaminathan, the chief scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO), says that there is not enough information yet to confirm or rule out the need for a booster dose after vaccination against corona. He said that it cannot be recommended to apply a booster dose as of now, as there is no complete information for this. Information is being collected on this right now.
Swaminathan said that since the first dose is yet to be administered to the people at high risk in the world, it is still immature to talk about booster doses. On the possibility of mixing the vaccine, he said that better results are expected.
What is a booster dose?
Currently, two doses of the vaccine are being administered in the vaccination campaign against the coronavirus. Since there is no concrete information about how long the effect of both doses will last, many countries are considering applying one dose a year, ie booster dose. The cases of delta and alpha variants of the coronavirus are increasing in the UK, so a booster dose is being considered there. In Britain, a booster dose is being studied by applying seven different vaccines to volunteers.
Saudi Arabia made a booster dose of Pfizer vaccine
Saudi Arabia has made the vaccine of Pfizer-BioNtech a booster dose. In Saudi Arabia, people who had previously received a Chinese-made vaccine, are being given the Pfizer vaccine as a booster dose. Bahrain has also allowed people to apply booster doses.
Trial going on in America too
America is also going on trial on booster dose. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) said on June 1 that it has started testing a booster dose on people who have received both doses of the vaccine. The safety and immunity of the booster dose are being evaluated in this trial.