Sir,
A rapid increase in the number of Omicron COVID-19 variant is imminent, reads the latest European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warning, and the other day World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the large number of patients could overwhelm the health facilities available even if it may not cause too serious a medical condition for majority of the patients. Moreover, it is yet too early to say with certainty that Omicron would not produce serious medical conditions requiring hospitalization.
India needs highest level of alertness since its own think tank NITI Aayog has already admitted only two days ago that our vaccines may become ineffective, and the Omicron may escape impunity triggered by inoculation.
In this scenario, craving for booster doses is wrong. Some countries have resorted to booster rollouts for all over 18 years of age despite a lack of evidence that they will be effective. “WHO is concerned that such programmes will repeat the vaccine hoarding we saw this year, and exacerbate inequality.” Moreover, booster doses for low risk people endangers the lives of the high risk people who are yet to get primary doses chiefly due to supply constraints due to various reasons including production capacity and poverty.
G Pathak
on e-mail
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