DAK seeks to shorten booster shot interval.

Srinagar, Feb 14 : Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Monday has sought to shorten the booster shot interval to 6 months.

Currently, the gap between the second dose and the booster shot in India is 9 months.

“Shortening the interval would prevent the emergence of new variants of Covid-19,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said.

Dr Hassan said while two doses of Covid-19 vaccine protects you from severe disease, but immunity wanes over time. “Various studies have confirmed that Covid-19 vaccine becomes less effective over time,” he said.

The DAK President said analysis from a UK study found that the protection provided by the two doses of Pfizer and Oxford (Covishield) vaccine wanes within six months. “The study revealed that protection after two doses of the Pfizer vaccine decreased from 88% at one month to 74% at five to six months and protection for Oxford decreased from 77% at one month to 67% at four to five months,” he said.

Booster doses of Covid-19 vaccine are being given within 6 months of the second dose in many countries, he said.

General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said booster shots should be extended to all adults to broaden individual’s immune response against the emerging variants of Covid-19. “At the moment booster doses are being given to healthcare workers, frontline workers and people aged 60 with comorbidities,” he said.

“Dubbed as precautionary dose in India, booster shot is the third or the additional dose of Covid-19 vaccine given to ensure the protection is maintained against the new variants,” said Dr Riyaz Ahmad Dagga Spokesperson DAK.

“CDC and FDA have approved booster shots for all adults to be given within six months after the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine,” he said—(KNO)