A Third Booster Dose of Covid vaccine needed within 12 months. Image Courtesy – Quint Fit
Scientists say that a third Booster Dose of Covid vaccine is needed within 12 months from the 2nd dose to get complete protection. Many people have not yet received the first vaccine of Coronavirus, but the discussion on giving a third dose to the people has already started.
It is being called the big booster dose against Coronavirus. The Indian company, Bharat Biotech has prepared a trial for the booster dose of their vaccine ‘Covaxine’.
But, why the scientists are talking about the third booster dose? How many days to take it? Why it is necessary to take? We have tried to analyze the answers to such important questions.
What does it mean by a Booster Dose?
As the name itself suggests, its job is to ‘boost’, it means to increase the strength of what has been given. There is also another interesting physical mechanism behind the booster dose. When a booster dose is given after the first dose, the body knows that it is the same vaccine that was given earlier.
After this, the vaccine in the body affects many times faster. This is called immunological memory. The same is being done in the corona vaccine. The vaccine created in a hurry and was launched for the emergency trial. In this case, its efficacy could not be tested in the same way as the rest of the vaccines.
Years of hard work were settled in months. The characteristic of the coronavirus is such that it is changing its genome through mutation. That is why we are currently facing a new strain of the virus. The highly mutated coronavirus is now neutralizing the power of vaccines by changing its appearance. Similarly, scientists are also changing their strategies to block the infection. In this way, scientists found a way for a booster dose.
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That means after giving one dose, the effect will be increased by giving another dose. To increase this effect further, scientists are now ready to give the third dose of vaccine. That means three doses of the vaccine will have to be taken now.
Usually, after 14 days of receiving the corona vaccine, the body starts developing its ability to defeat the virus. A booster dose has to be given after this. This helps the body to generate the power to fight infection. This dose cannot be taken before 28 days of the first vaccine but can be taken up to 10 days after that. Now there is a plan to add one more booster dose to it.
How many days it will take to give the third booster dose?
The system of booster dose may vary for different pharma companies. A panel of experts has given permission for the third dose of ‘Covaxine’, a product of Bharat Biotech. The third booster dose will be given 6 months after the second dose. But it may differ for other vaccines.
Is there any benefit of having it?
The first advantage is that there will be protection from coronavirus for a long time. Apart from this, immunity will also remain against different types of new viral strains. If the time of vaccination could be increased by a booster dose, it would be cheaper in terms of cost. The process of vaccination will also become very easy. You may have to take a booster dose once in a year or twice, and you will become tension-free.
How long will this effect last?
Bharat Biotech had proposed to the government that after the third dose, the immunity of the body against coronavirus would increase for many years. It means, after receiving the booster dose, only one vaccine has to be taken every year. The booster dose will work just like the Hepatitis B vaccine in children. After the second dose of Hepatitis B, the third dose is given after a long gap. This gives immunity against Hepatitis B for many years or, you can say for a lifetime.
Status of the booster dose trial
Currently, Bharat Biotech has received permission for its trial in India. Those who took part in the second phase of the Corona vaccine trial will now be divided into two groups. One group will be given a booster dose and the other will be injected with a placebo.
Scientists will observe how the ability to fight with the coronavirus develops in those who have been given booster doses. A confirmed decision about the proper timing of the booster dose will be taken after observing the clinical trial result.
When will it come into effect?
You can make an assumption for at least 6 months to get it implemented. Booster dose will be given first to those who have been given a second dose of ‘Covaxin’ in the month of September or, October last year (2020). Everyone is waiting to see that one dose of vaccine covers this highly infectious disease for a long time. So, a third Booster Dose of Covid vaccine is yet to come in the process of the vaccination program.
Reference: The Wire, CNBC, Lallantop
