India has no plans for Covid booster dose

Published October 13, 2021

India currently has no plans to give booster doses as some nations have begun doing, the government's chief Covid-19 adviser said as the country nears the milestone of one billion vaccine injections.

Doctor Vinod K. Paul said with the country's vaccine makers ramping up production and domestic needs diminishing, India should be able to resume being a major exporter of jabs from next year.

More than 15 countries worldwide have begun issuing third doses of coronavirus vaccines to older citizens, including in Israel and in European Union nations such as France, Italy and Germany, AFP reports.

But Paul, part of the Indian government's advisory body NITI Aayog, said there is no clear guidance on whether a third dose is necessary, including from the World Health Organisation.