Booster doses of index virus-based vaccines still effective against all COVID19 variants: WHO

India is now ramping up its vaccine production following a rapid surge in cases caused by the XBB.1.16 strain, a sub-variant of Omicron.

The World Health Organisation said that booster doses of index virus-based vaccines offer protection against all SARS-CoV-2 variants, including contemporary Omicron descendent lineages. Image for representational purpose only. 

World Health Organisation’s Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC) has said that booster doses of index virus-based vaccines continue to confer high levels of protection against severe disease and death caused by all SARS-CoV-2 variants, including contemporary Omicron descendent lineages. 

The recent statement comes at a time when India is witnessing a surge in new COVID-19 cases and is seeing a six-month high with over 10,000 daily new cases coming in for the past week.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/booster-doses-of-index-virus-based-vaccines-stilleffective-against-all-covid-19-variants-who/article66743879.ece