Amid the emergence of new coronavirus variant, Omicron, grips the nation, the Serum Institute of India (SII), manufacturers of the coronavirus vaccine, has sought Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)’s approval for Covishield as a booster dose.
In an application to DCGI, director of government and regulatory affairs at Pune-based SII, Prakash Kumar Singh referred to the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products regulatory agency giving a go-ahead to the booster doses of AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine.
Many countries have started administering booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Indians as well as citizens of other countries who have already been fully vaccinated with two doses of Covishield are also continuously requesting SII for booster dose, Singh was quoted by PTI.
Meanwhile, the pace of immunization program in Mumbai is being stepped up and plans are afoot to give booster doses to those who have received both doses. Therefore, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has urged that the state Covid Task Force and the state government to recommend to the Center for a booster dose.
The civic body says that booster doses need to be given to front line workers for now as it has been 10 months since the start of vaccination drive in Mumbai. Therefore, the effect of antibodies in the body of front line workers is likely to decrease.
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