Given the current evidence regarding the coronavirus and its variants, Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, the former head of epidemiology and communicable diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), rejected the necessity to receive the fourth dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday.
“Looking at the current evidence (of variants of the virus), it is not that big that there is any need for the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. There are many reasons for that. Currently, whatever vaccines are there, the virus makes the escape mutants over them which causes infections,” Dr. Gangakhedkar said on the sidelines of a function.
A person’s T-cell immune response has been trained three times, according to him, if they have received a third dosage of the anti-COVID-19 vaccination.
“The core virus (of COVID) has not been changed so much that a new vaccine would be needed so try and have trust in our T-cell immune response,” he added.
He stated that elderly persons and others with chronic illnesses should continue to use protective measures, such as masks.
“For the fourth dose, I think, there is still time to think, because if any new variant comes, it would not be from the SARS-COV2 family. It could be a completely new variant and when it comes, we will think about it as our genomic surveillance is still going on. No need to get worried now,” he said.
Dr. Gangakhedkar has advised people to do two things: take a precautionary dose and take all necessary precautions for those who are members of a vulnerable group.
He was addressing outside of a Pune International Center-hosted lecture on the book “Braving a Viral Storm: India’s COVID-19 Vaccine Story.”
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