Medical practitioners from AIIMS and members of the COViD-19 National Task Force have recommended that inoculation for those having contracted COVID-19 may result in undesirable new mutant strains of the virus. Hence, there is no need to give vaccines to those individuals who have contracted the disease in the first place.

A study conducted by doctors at the National Institute on Immunology and AIIMS also suggests that a single dose of immunization may be sufficient for protecting patients recovered from a mild COVID-19 infection.

As the Nation looks at vaccinating all eligible persons (above 18) before the end of the year, the scientists/doctors, who have participated in the above studies’, suggest an alternative approach.

Immunization of all eligible persons should be prioritized keeping the vulnerable and those at risk under the initial purview. Mass inoculation would drain resources and the current situation demands that the logistics and epidemiological data should define the approach rather than mass approach.

Mass vaccination of all adults in the given timelines will not catch up with the pace of natural infection in the young population, as per the study and recommendations. The report also suggested reducing the gap between two doses for susceptible and high risk both, as per demographics and geography.

Vaccines should neither be withheld nor be used indiscriminately as the country is in the grip of the pandemic and availability of vaccines is limited.

Media Reports