Rush For Omicron Specific Vaccines By Early 2022 As Omicron Resistant To Current Vax: Expert

Kolkata, Dec 28: The major problem the world faces today is the entry of the Omicron variant, which is more transmissible and able to evade the immune system, both antibodies as well as T-cells.

There is no data available that the current vaccines are effective against Omicron.

Omicron is resistant to the current vaccines, and thus the rush from all vaccine manufacturers to produce an Omicron specific vaccine by early 2022, informed Advisor- National Immunisation Programme, Dr Naresh Purohit here on Tuesday.

Visiting Professor at the Kolkata based West Bengal University of Health Sciences, School of Public Health Dr Purohit told UNI that as new cases of Covid-19 have started to escalate in umpteen cities of India since December 20, the Union government announced the 10-point vaccination programme on Christmas day though the epidemiologic picture of Omicron in India appears different from European and North America where 70-85 per cent of new cases are Omicron. This needs to be watched closely because the vaccine efficacies of varied vaccine platforms are different.

He added that mortality due to COVID-19 in susceptible populations is around 1.5 per cent, which means 15,000 deaths per million population.

Through vaccination, we can prevent 80-90 per cent of these deaths, which means that 13,000 to 14,000 deaths per million (population) can be prevented.

Pandemic control Expert Dr Purohit stated that there is inadequate data to prove the efficacy of existing vaccines in preventing infection caused by the Omicron variant. Scientific speculation is pushing for the booster jab in adults and primary vaccination in adolescents.

The nature and severity of disease in infected adolescents is not yet authentically established.

He emphasised that vaccine modification is necessary taking into consideration the new variant. Until then the two-dose programme is necessary.

Acclaimed Epidemiologist Dr Purohit stated that the Indian government seems to have replaced the word booster dose with “precautionary dose’ and will hold it for two categories of people – for healthcare and frontline workers and those aged above 60 years who have co-morbidites – from January 10, 2022.

He said that the government is likely not calling it a booster shot due to the lack of scientific evidence that the third jab will boost essential neutralising antibodies required to block entry of Coronavirus.

Principal Investigator for National Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme Dr Purohit opined that the government’s decision for approving Covaxin for emergency use in children will not yield any additional benefit.

Dr Purohit said that few countries, including the US, started vaccinating children four-five months ago. The data of these countries should be analysed before initiating Covid vaccination for children.

Noted physician explained that there should be a clear-cut objective of any intervention. The objective is to either prevent coronavirus infection or severity or death.

He further said that whatever knowledge we have about vaccines, they are unable to make a significant dent in the infection. In some countries, people are getting infected even after taking booster jabs.

Citing a recent report in the Singapore Journal of Infection Control Dr Purohit said that 50,000 breakthrough infections are being reported per day in the UK. So this proves that vaccination is not preventing coronavirus infection but vaccines are effective in preventing severity and death.

He observed that serious adverse events following immunisation are between 10 to 15 per million population. So, if one does the risk and benefit analysis in adults, it is a huge benefit.

In the case of children, he said, the severity of infection is very low and according to data available in the public domain, only two deaths per million population have been reported.

He stated that Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D – the world’s first DNA-based vaccine injection – which has been approved by DCGI for those aged 12 years and above is a nasal spray that is stable for years when refrigerated at 2-80 degrees Celsius and can withstand months at room temperature.

“The ability to distribute vaccines without cold-chain requirements will allow for more efficient distribution in our country.”