NEW DELHI: The Indian Government has approved use of Bharat Biotech’s nasal vaccine for people aged 18 and above. The vaccine is available as a booster dose and can be booked through the CoWIN website.
Reports of a massive surge in Covid-19 infections in China and apprehensions over the possibility of a spillover effect in India has led to a sharp uptick in the vaccination intake in the country According to media reports, on December 23, more than one lakh vaccinations were administered in the country against an average of between 40,000 and 50,000 doses through most of this month. With the last wave of infections having ended nearly nine months ago, interest in vaccination had been declining.
Data shows that over 92 per cent of the population above the age of 12 years — the eligible group for vaccination in India – have been vaccinated with the primary two doses. In addition, there is a small proportion of people, across all age categories, which have received the first dose but not the second dose.
However, the uptake of booster doses is still quite low. Less than 22 per cent of the eligible population has so far received the booster, or precautionary, dose. This is mainly due to the lack of enthusiasm in the younger population groups amidst a significant decline in the perceived threat from Covid-19. Among the senior citizens – those above 60 years of age – the penetration of booster doses is a healthy 60 per cent
