A booster dose with a COVID-19 vaccine different from the one used for the first immunisation raised antibody levels more than a booster with the same vaccine.
A Covishield booster following a two-dose Covaxin immunisation gave the highest antibody response, compared with a Covaxin booster following two Covishield shots, but these levels, on their own, were no guarantee against protection from a future Omicron infection, Jayprakash Muliyil, member of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), told The Hindu.
Dr. Mulayil was commenting on headline results from a study conducted by the Christian Medical College, Vellore, and commissioned by the Centre to garner evidence on the way ahead for India’s vaccination policy. So far, India has administered more than 191 crore vaccine doses, with nearly 90% of the adults receiving at least one dose. The NTAGI peruses data on vaccination and is one of the expert scientific bodies that recommends approved vaccines for public administration.
