jpnn.com, INDIA - India does not plan to provide a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
According to them, many Indians have naturally become infected and the government believes two doses of the vaccine are sufficient protection for now.
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As the supply of vaccines increases, some doctors and public health experts in India are urging the government to start a third dose of vaccination in the most vulnerable people as many Western countries have done.
However, the government prefers to focus on vaccinating 944 million adults with two doses by January.
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After that, they will turn their attention to expanding exports, said the sources involved in the vaccine policy discussions.
So far, 81 percent of the adult population in India have received at least one dose, and 43 percent have received the full dose.
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India has not yet started vaccinating people under the age of 18.
"The priority is to fully immunize the adult population," said a source, who asked not to be named because the issue is still being discussed by policymakers.
"A big majority has been naturally infected, and for the two doses are enough. That's why we are seeing that even after recent festivals, cases are not rising."
The source said once most of the adult population had been fully vaccinated, the government would make booster doses an option.
The local health ministry has not yet commented on this.
India reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the world in April-May. Government surveys show that nearly 70 percent of Indians had a natural infection in July.
The country has so far recorded 34.5 million cases of infection, the most after the United States, with 465,000 more deaths.
Although India celebrates the two biggest holidays of Diwali and Durga Puja in October and November, cases of infection have dropped dramatically over the months.
Many Western countries are now expanding booster vaccinations, even to non-immune populations. The policy has been sharply criticized by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Indian vaccine manufacturers such as the Serum Institute of India -- which manufactures licensed versions of the AstraZeneca and Novavax vaccines -- expect the government to allow booster doses early next year.
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories said it was in discussions with India's drug regulatory agency to sell Russia's Sputnik Light vaccine as a booster dose.
Indian states stockpiled more than 216 million doses of the vaccine as of Monday. India's vaccine production has tripled since April to about 300 million doses per month. (ant/dil/mcr20/jpnn)
This news has been broadcast on JPNN.com with the title: Andalkan Imunitas Alami, India Tidak Butuh Booster Vaksin