Telangana: 30% of Covid-19 vaxxed losing immunity after 6 months, says study

HYDERABAD: About 30% of those who have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine lose their vaccine-acquired immunity after six months, according to a study conducted by AIG Hospitals and Asian Healthcare Foundation to understand the longevity of vaccine immunity in the Indian population with respect to antibody levels.
The study also found that a majority of those in this group were individuals aged over 40 years with co-morbidities like hypertension and diabetes, indicating that such individuals were at higher risk of getting infected despite being double vaccinated and need to be prioritised for a booster dose after six months.

Reduce booster interval, Harish writes to Centre
Cut booster dose interval: Harish
Health minister T Harish Rao has urged the Centre to reduce the interval between the second dose and the precautionary dose from the current nine months to six.
Reduce booster interval, Harish writes to Centre
Health minister T Harish Rao has urged the Centre to reduce the interval between the second dose and the precautionary dose from the current nine months to six, citing 'increasing Covid-19 cases' and concern over safety of citizens.
For healthcare workers, he requested the interval be reduced to three months. Incidentally, the state has administered over five crore doses so far.
In a letter to Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Rao on Tuesday said, "Based on the experience of booster dose policies of countries like the US and the UK, it is requested to kindly consider decreasing the interval between second dose and precautionary dose from nine to six months and examine the possibility of further decreasing it to three months for all healthcare workers. Consider including citizens above 60 years of age for precautionary dose irrespective of comorbidities and consider booster dose for all above 18 years."
The letter said that Covid vaccination has already aided in reducing the overall infection rate and severity. "The state has initiated precautionary dose to the risk groups as per guidelines of the Government of India. Data of Covid infections and hospitalisations has beyond doubt proved that vaccines are highly effective and are preventing severe morbidity, hospitalisation and mortality," it added.
The minister mentioned that based on the experience of booster dose policies in US and the UK, they put forth the proposals.