Do you need extra shots of the vaccine for COVID-19 if you are fully vaccinated?
Most people who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus are relatively protected from severe illness and death from COVID-19. However, even highly effective vaccine’s immunity often fades over time. Early studies on vaccines that use mRNA to protect against coronavirus, such as those conducted by Pfizer and Moderna, have shown that they work regardless of the virus variant (such as alpha, beta, or delta). A new vaccine, called a booster, a few months after the first dose can help make the vaccine more effective, research suggests.
In case of Pfizer-BioNTech
Who has to get a booster?
Everyone (12 years and older)
When to get a booster?
At least five months after finishing your number one COVID-19 vaccination series
Which booster?
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are favored in most situations.Teens 12–17 years antique may also simplest get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster.
In case of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen*
Who needs to get a booster?
Adults 18 years and older
When to get a booster?
At least 2 months after receiving your J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination
Which booster must you get?
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are desired in most* situations
What else does research say about COVID-19 boosters?
Boosters are only a kind of vaccine, and scientists already recognise that vaccines are presently the excellent protection in opposition to COVID-19, mainly its maximum critical effects. That’s why it’s critical to get vaccinated proper away in case you qualify, as maximum human beings five and older do.Research additionally has discovered that, in general, antibodies from vaccines decline over time.Higher antibody degrees from vaccines appear to make the common individual much less probably to get unwell from the coronavirus (vaccine efficacy).Booster pictures of mRNA coronavirus vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) boom antibodies with the aid of using approximately 10 times.Boosters can offer you similarly safety in opposition to the Omicron variation. Early information indicates that this version is extra transmissible than different variants. (Source : https://www.cdc.gov)
Nepal started giving COVID-19 vaccine booster recently as coronavirus infections surged because of the unfold of the Omicron variant. The booster dose has been limited to frontline employees by the Health Ministry which will gradually be provided elderly in coming months. Nepal, a herbal buffer among China and India, has double-vaccinated 39.9% of its 30 million population in a marketing campaign that started early last year. The authorities have banned big public gatherings and urged one and all to strictly follow COVID-19 safety protocols. Authorities have additionally made it obligatory for the general public to provide evidence of complete vaccination to apply for public offerings.
At the time when the country is bracing for the possible third wave of COVID-19 as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is rapidly spreading across the globe, Ratopati talked to the Minister for Health and Population, Birodh Khathiwada regarding the preparations being made by the government to combat the situation:
As Nepal has already detected the cases of Omicron Variant of COVID-19 and the variant is spreading rapidly in our neighbouring and other countries, what sort of preparations are being made by the government to combat the possible outbreak?
It is a fact that Nepal is currently in a more comfortable position than previous days regarding the COVID-19 management. The best possible ways to combat the pandemic is maintaining social distance, wearing masks and washing hands time and often.
We have banned air travel to and from nine countries where the Omicron variant is rapidly spreading. Besides, those travelling from these countries via transit are mandatorily being tested for COVID-19 and kept in quarantine facilities for seven days even if they test negative for the virus. We have stopped providing visas on arrivals to foreign nationals for now.
Similarly, health desks are under operation at all 16 transit points of Nepal and India. Of them, quarantine facilities have been set up at eight transit points.
Likewise, six isolation wards (1000-bed capacity) of the Nepal Army are ready to provide services in case of COVID-19 outbreak. The number of COVID-19 Laboratories, ICUs and Hospitals have been expanded all across the country. Besides, compared to earlier days, we increased our ventilators, ICUs and Oxygen capacities by 60 percent.
Also, Both the people testing positive for the Omicron variant have already recovered and tested negative.
Public health experts have claimed that it is inappropriate to begin administering booster doses at a time when Nepal is yet to inoculate COVID-19 vaccine to all the eligible population. What do you say?
I have no idea on what basis those experts made their claim. So far 53.7 percent of the total population of the country have received their first dose while 44.5 percent have been fully vaccinated.
It might take another one year to vaccinate all the eligible population. Providing booster doses doesn’t mean halting or delaying the COVID-19 vaccination drive. Both the vaccine and booster doses will be administered simultaneously.
When will the government begin administering the booster doses?
In our early days of COVID-19 vaccination drive, we had begun by inoculating the vaccine to frontline workers. In this view, the booster will also be administered firstly to the as many as 900,000 frontline workers including health workers, journalists, security personnel and sanitation workers. Afterwards, the booster doses will be administered gradually to the general public.
And, in case of initiation, the government and stakeholders are currently under discussion and a decision will be made soon.
The government has set a target to fully vaccinate the eligible population by mid-April next year. Will the government meet its target on time?
It sure will. The government had earlier set a target to provide COVID-19 vaccine to eligible groups i.e people aged above 18 years and progress is being made accordingly.
When will children aged between 12 to 18 years get their COVID-19 vaccine?
The government will now begin administering COVID-19 vaccine to children aged between 12 to 18 years in their schools. The government has already sent money to buy 10 million doses of vaccine for this group. We are expecting the consignment by late December this year or early January next year. Once the vaccine arrives in Nepal, we will begin inoculating 5 million children.
Similarly, the government will also make arrangements for vaccines for children aged below 12 years soon after the World Health Organization approves the vaccine.
The erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led government had inaugurated the establishment of 5 to 19-bed hospitals in all the local levels. What are its progress?
The erstwhile government inaugurated the establishment of hospitals in the local level from Baluwatar without allocating budget and making required preparations. We have no map, no DPR and even no lands for the construction.
Even Though, after I assumed the office here, we are gradually making preparations. Firstly, land for construction will have to be acquired, then DPR maps are to be finalized, budget is to be mobilized, and then only tenders for the constructions can be announced.
KATHMANDU, June 7: The government is preparing to administer the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as an alternative to the booster dose the Covishield vaccine.
The government ‘s decision comes after the Serum Institute of India, the manufacturing company of Covishield vaccine and the COVAX Facility expressed inability to supply additional quantities of Covishield vaccines to Nepal for the time being.
The Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) is planning to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine for those waiting for the booster shot of Covishield as both vaccines are similar in nature and composition.
Director of Family Welfare Division, Department of Health Services, Dr Taranath Pokhrel said that AstraZeneca will be provided to those receiving the first jab of Covishield as both vaccines were developed by the same company being based on the same formula and methodology and it would make no difference in giving the AstraZeneca as an alternative to the Covishield.
The vaccination schedule is yet to be fixed. The booster or second dose is to be taken after 12-16 weeks of getting the first shot.
\Around 1.4 million people above 65 years of age were provided the first shot of Covishield from 7th March to 23rd March. They are waiting for the final shot as the Serum Institute of India expressed its inability to supply one million doses of vaccines that Nepal had procured from the company for the time being in view of the increasing infections rate in India.
So far in Nepal, the number of the population receiving the first shot of COVID-19 jab stands at 2.13 million while 691,184 have received the full course. The government is administering the China –manufactured Vero Cell to the people from 60-64 age group from tomorrow, Tuesday.
KATHMANDU, Jan 20: Nepal is all set to receive COVID-19 vaccine from its neighboring country, India, within a few days, according to the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Service.
