Booster shot should be given in six months says DAK
By: Muzamil Bhat CK
Srinagar
Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Monday has appealed to authorities that they should shorten the timeline of the booster dose from nine months to six months in order to avoid the spread of infection.
Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) said that if the authorities will give the booster dose after six months it would be a big step to stop the new variants of covid-19 to attack the people and make them sick.
According to the DAK statement “Shortening the interval would prevent the emergence of new variants of Covid-19”.
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.
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.
