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COVID Vaccine Booster Shots: Do You Need One?

This year, India and the world have been going full throttle to vaccinate people and immunize the population against COVID-19. Two shots of all the approved COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective, safe and teach your immunity to protect you from the coronavirus. 

However, recent research has thrown light on an uncomfortable fact. There are thoughts that COVID vaccine efficacy starts to dwindle a few months after the second shot is administered. For example, Pfizer efficacy drops to 77% after 4 months and Moderna efficacy remains 92% for about 5 months after which it may start declining. Antibody levels drop and does this mean, your immunity against COVID-19, especially more dangerous variants like Delta declines?

In this context, the medical community is discussing the importance of the COVID-19 booster shot. This is where the ‘3rd dose’ of the COVID vaccine comes into play. 

Why are booster shots needed?

Booster shots are the same vaccines that are being administered to fight COVID-19. Since antibody levels become quite low about 6 months after complete vaccination, booster shots can amp up the waning immune system. Research has also revealed that when people are given mRNA booster shots, then their immunity can increase up to 10 times! You will need lots of antibodies to shield you from Delta or any other highly contagious COVID variant. 

When should booster doses be administered?

This depends on how long the vaccine maintains its efficacy in your body. Some vaccines continue being highly effective up to 6 months after the 2nd dose whereas some start losing their effectiveness after about 4 months. As soon as the antibody count starts to drop, it will be time to get booster shots. 

Who will need booster shots?

Eventually, everyone will possibly need booster shots to give a boost to their flagging immunity against COVID-19. But, as with the rollout of the vaccination programme, there will be priority groups who will be first in line to the booster shots:

How can the booster shots be available?

Many countries have announced booster shots for selected populations. As of now, there is no such declaration about the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in our country. It is fair and essential to focus on the completion of the two-course vaccination drive going at present and then plan and prepare for the third dose if established vital by studies.

What should be done in the meantime?

Until the Union government and the state governments come to a decision about the execution of the 3rd dose of COVID-19 vaccines, you can’t really avail of the booster shots. In the intervening time, make sure you get both the first and second shots of the vaccine and follow COVID-appropriate behaviour to keep yourself and the community safe.

Also Read: Omicron Variant & Vaccine Efficacy

Conclusion

There are limited studies and data on the long-term efficacy of vaccines. Some experts also opine that one should not worry about the decline in the number of antibodies after both doses of the vaccine because your immunity keeps a memory of the response needed and is capable of producing more antibodies when required. However, we need more studies and data to confirm this scenario. Till the time all you can do is to get both shots of vaccine and stay calm but not careless. The threat of COVID-19 has not gone away. Even if you are fully vaccinated, remember, there is still a possibility that you may contract COVID-19 unless you are careful. So, continue wearing masks, avoid crowded places, sanitize your hands and wash up thoroughly after coming home.

Also Read: Omicron Variant: Risk & Precautions

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

Why Has The Efficacy Of COVID-19 Vaccines Dropped?

The debate surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines seems to be never-ending. During the first outbreak last year there was much hype and concern on whether we will ever have a vaccine in time to put a stop to the spread given the unknown nature of the novel virus. Once that question was put to an end with an array of vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Modern, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Covaxin, Sputnik V, Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen) being released into the market worldwide, there was another matter of concern and controversy; does taking the vaccine put your life at risk? This subsequently led to a significant degree of vaccine hesitancy amongst the older as well as the younger generation causing a delay in the vaccination drive.

Upon successful assurance and expedition of the drive, now there is another disheartening revelation – COVID vaccine efficacy seems to be dropping down.

This fact became evident when about two months ago (in July) Israel recorded a steep decline in the efficacy rate of their inoculated Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Ynet News reported that the COVID vaccine efficacy had dropped down to a startling 60% from June as it was failing to curtail the infection rates in the face of the Delta variant wave and the associated easing of COVID restrictions. 

Why is it Dropping? 

As per reports published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers monitored how the effectiveness of the vaccine dropped to 96% between May June and then to about 60% in July. Researchers as well as doctors after careful consideration of the situation came to three possible conclusions. 

  1. The immune response to mRNA based vaccines starts to dwindle over time. Longer the gap from the time when you have first vaccinated the faster the decline in neutralizing antibodies your immunity might have had. This means that with a compromised COVID immunity the efficacy of the vaccine is also lowered.
  1. Another point that determines the vaccine effectiveness is the surrounding infection rate. If the infection spread in your community is extremely high, your vaccine will not be able to protect you 100%. So masking up and maintaining social distancing still stands as the standard COVID-19 safety protocols no matter if you are vaccinated or not. 
  1. The third factor pointed out by doctors is that your vaccine efficacy will alter depending on the type of infection raging in your community at a given time. A contagious delta variant infects people aggressively therefore a variation in efficacy can be seen.

Do booster shots actually help? 

As per the current trend, fully inoculated people are getting infected with a percentage in some places as worrisome as 50%. The COVID-19 virus is constantly evolving and coming back stronger in each wave. So, in order to really take things up a notch and boost up our immunity doctors are saying that booster shots might be the need of the hour. But how do these shots work?

A vaccine is made up of inactive or weakened viruses or bacteria. When you get yourself the booster dose it prepares your immunity to combat the foreign invasion in the same way as it would for the original infection. This aids your body to create a memory of the virus. If you are exposed to the virus or bacteria again the antibody will be able to detect and finish it off before it can bring about severe damage. You can get booster shots a few weeks, months or even years after your vaccine shot depending upon the guidelines issued in your country.

However, the current government focus in India is to complete the vaccination of the Indian population as that was most necessary. Although many western countries are emphasizing the need for a booster shot drive right away, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is only concerned with getting as many adults vaccinated as possible. So, though a booster shot might be effective in giving your better protection against future COVID-19 infections it is not the agenda of the Health Ministry as of this moment.  

Also Read: Omicron Variant & Vaccine Efficacy

Conclusion 

Although the majority of COVID-19 hospitalization cases have been seen amongst unvaccinated people (especially during the Second Wave in India), there is no guarantee how strong the next viral strain might be and to what extent the vaccine can shield you from possible future infection. Additionally, with the drop in COVID vaccine efficacy over time, the need for booster shots might be essential eventually to not only keep your immunity strong against further COVID-19 infections. A complete vaccination does protect you from getting severely infected but it may not be able to provide you 100% safety from re-infection. Therefore it is important to get vaccinated and also follow COVID-appropriate behaviour for your own safety and the safety of others.

Also Read: Omicron Variant: Latest News & Updates

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

Do Indians Need A Third Dose Of The COVID-19 Vaccine? Read To Know

With the COVID-19 cases rising once again in many parts of the country, the speculations regarding the need for a booster vaccination dose against the virus have intensified. Everyone is concerned if they should get the third dose or not.

To make things even more intriguing, the United States has decided to administer their people with the third dose from September onwards. They have decided to inoculate the vulnerable group of people first with the third dose.

There are a few more countries thinking about administering the third dose to eliminate the possibility of another deadly wave of COVID-19.

Does India need a third COVID dose?

As per the experts, India surely is going to need a booster dose in the later stages. The government, however, has maintained that the need for the third dose of the vaccine is being closely monitored.

What is a Booster Shot?

A booster dose is administered to enhance the antibody levels in the body when they start lowering after a certain period of time following the second shot of the vaccine.

What do experts have to say?

The director at the National Institute of Virology, Dr Priya Abraham recently explained that studies have been under process in several foreign countries on the requirement of booster shots and at least seven vaccines have already been tried out. In the days to come, the booster dose will surely become a recommendation for everyone.

The director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Dr Randeep Guleria has also pointed out that booster doses are definitely going to become a necessity looking at the mutating variants of the deadly virus. He also claimed that the immunity tends to fall as time passes. It happens because of waning immunity.

He said that it still has to be found out if a yearly dose would be required or not and if it would be mandatory for everyone or not.

On the other hand, European Medicines Agency has notified that it is too early to claim that there was any need for an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine, apart from the pre-defined two doses. It said that they were certain that the current regimen was sufficient for COVID-19 prevention.

Some other experts have suggested that the authorities around the world should focus more on the first round of vaccination as when enough people would be inoculated, the mutated versions of coronavirus would take time to pop up again.

Did you know?

  • The CDC recommends a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for certain immunocompromised individuals. Source: cdc.gov
  • A third dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is effective in preventing severe COVID-19-related outcomes in Israel. Source: ncbi
  • The effectiveness of the third dose is estimated to be 93% in preventing COVID-19-related hospital admissions. Source: ncbi

Why is WHO against the third dose?

Currently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is stopping the countries from going ahead with the third dose as there are plenty of poor countries where the inoculation rate is very alarming. 

WHO has said that the high-income countries should not go ahead with the third dose administration drive till the low-income countries catch up with a healthy inoculation rate.

Moreover, WHO chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan also highlighted recently that the data available right now does not suggest any need for a third dose for anyone.

On the other hand, the United States health officials have been claiming for a long time now that people might require a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccines just like they do for other vaccines.

What does the Serum Institute of India recommend?

Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) chairman Cyrus Poonawalla, recently revealed that he has already taken the third dose of the vaccine and also appealed to everyone, who have already completed their course of two vaccines, to go ahead and take the third dose once it has already been six months.

Furthermore, he said that he has already got about seven to eight thousand SII employees inoculated with the third dose.

Covaxin booster dose trials

According to the media reports, the results of trials of the third booster dose of Covaxin developed and manufactured by Bharat Biotech and the National Institute of Virology, are expected to come by November 2021.

The booster dose of the “Made in India” vaccine was first introduced in May this year. It has been under trial ever since then at 12 different centres including AIIMS in Delhi and Patna. 

The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) had granted permission to run clinical trials for the third dose of Covaxin back in April this year. The results of the first trials carried out in April are expected in August, while the result of the second trial is scheduled to arrive in November this year.

The results of these trials will define the immunogenicity, reactogenicity, safety and tolerability of the booster dose of Covaxin.

Takeaway

As far as Indian and US experts are concerned, they both seem to be on the same page in terms of the need for the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while WHO has something else to suggest. The government may soon take a decision on the issue as the cases of Delta plus variant are rapidly increasing in some parts of India and may spread across states very quickly.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

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