Covid-19: Why technical advisory panel wants booster dose to be different than first two vaccines

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If and when the recommendation for a booster is made, beneficiaries vaccinated with Covishield, Sputnik V, and are likely to have multiple options. (File) A Covid-19 booster dose, when administered, should be of a vaccine based on a different platform than the first two doses, according to preliminary consensus reached by India’s top technical advisory … Read more

Biden’s COVID Vaccine Mandates: Where Do They Stand?

[MUSIC PLAYING] SPEAKER: How does a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine work? COVID vaccines are now available. Some of the COVID-19 vaccines are mRNA vaccines, but what does this mean? mRNA vaccines are different from traditional vaccines. mRNA vaccines don’t expose you to any real virus instead, they’re made with messenger Ribonucleic Acid or mRNA. This is … Read more

Drop in COVID Vaccine Effectiveness Suggests Need for Boosters

Dec. 10, 2021 — The effectiveness of the two most common COVID-19 vaccines declined over time in an older group of patients, suggesting that booster doses may be needed to protect recipients over the long term, according to a new study. Also seen in that group of U.S. veterans, who had a median age of … Read more

WHO warns fears of omicron could spark new vaccine hoarding

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The World Health Organization expressed concerns Thursday that rich countries spooked by the emergence of the omicron variant could step up the hoarding of COVID-19 vaccines and strain global supplies again, complicating efforts to stamp out the pandemic. The U.N. health agency, after a meeting of its expert panel on vaccination, reiterated its advice to … Read more

Covid-19: ASSOCHAM calls for booster dose to mitigate pandemic impact amid spike in Omicron cases

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The Omicron variant has emerged as a ‘variant of concern’ following its detection in southern Africa late last month. (File/Reuters) The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) called for a higher pace of vaccination amid a spurt in Covid-19 cases led by the Omicron variant. ASSOCHAM CSR Council Chairman Anil Rajput also called for … Read more

Covid-19: Union Health Minister reviews testing facility at Delhi airport amid spurt in Omicron cases

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India reported 17 cases of the new Covid-19 variant on Sunday — nine in Jaipur, seven in Pune district, and one in Delhi. (File) Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed the RT-PCR testing facility at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday as India’s tally of Omicron cases skyrocketed past 21. India reported 17 cases … Read more

Covid-19: Could the Omicron variant cause milder illness?

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There are other theories that the variant evolved from an animal host. (Representative image) The coronavirus’ Omicron variant that has now been detected in over 30 countries has prompted fears it could significantly undermine the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines. Yet, amid a race to understand the consequences of the variant, some scientists are also looking … Read more

Covid-19: Botswana scientist who sequenced Omicron variant worried by pace of mutation

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Looking at the previous lineages — the Alpha, the Beta — the mutations accumulated over time, Moyo said. (Representative image) The pace at which the coronavirus’ Omicron variant accumulated its unusual pattern of mutations is cause for concern, Sikhulile Moyo, the scientist who detected the new strain, said. The speed of the mutations also raises … Read more

Omicron threat in India: Insacog recommends booster dose for above 40

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Booster doses should first target the most high-risk/high-exposure segment as the low levels of neutralising antibodies from current vaccines was unlikely to be sufficient to neutralise Omicron, Insacog said. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium, Insacog, has suggested booster shots of the Covid-19 vaccine for those above 40 years to deal with the threat of the … Read more

Pfizer Plans to Seek Booster Approval for 16- and 17-Year-Olds

Nov. 30, 2021 — Pfizer and BioNTech plan to apply for FDA authorization this week for a booster COVID-19 vaccine for 16- and 17-year-olds. “We expect to share updates on this soon,” Kit Longley, a Pfizer spokesman, told The Washington Post. The FDA could authorize the extra dose within a week. If approved, the additional … Read more