India on Thursday reported its first two cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 from Karnataka in a South African national and a Bengaluru doctor with no travel history and both men have been fully vaccinated. Both the patients had mild symptoms. It is learnt that five contacts of the doctor have also tested positive and their samples have been sent for genomic sequencing. The fact that the two men have contracted the virus even though they have been fully vaccinated raises the question whether a booster dose is necessary to protect one from the new variant of Covid-19. It is understood that the scientific reasoning for the booster vaccine doses is under examination and the priority is to complete the task of receiving both the jabs. It may be necessary to reduce the time gap between the Covishield vaccines so that people can get the booster dose if the need arises. The issue of vaccination of children also needs to be given top priority. While according to the scientific community it’s too early to tell how vaccines will hold up against omicron, many experts across the globe doubt that a new formula to fight off the variant will be needed. Existing vaccines, plus the overall boost in antibodies from a booster shot for many people, could ultimately be enough according to experts. The higher antibody response to the virus one has after a booster shot might also provide broad protection against different variants, including omicron the medical experts across the world feel.
