COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Required If Virus Gets Mutated: Bharat Biotech’s Chairman

New Delhi: People will need booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine would be required if the COVID-19 virus gets mutated, said Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, Dr Krishna Ella. Talking to ANI, Dr Ella said, “If there is a mutated COVID-19 virus and a booster is required. What type of booster would be needed and how do we deliver it on a fast track basis. On that, we are working on various strategies that can be contained. Even if something comes up; we know how to handle situations.”

Also Read: Covaxin For Children Will Take Some More Time For Final Approval: Sources

Commenting on India surpassing the administration of 100 Crore vaccination, Dr Ella said,

India has done an amazing job. I think that is significant and we appreciate the commitment of the government and healthcare workers. Honestly, I salute the citizens of this country and who believe in Indian science and are coming forward to take the vaccine.

On the export of Covaxin, Dr Ella lauded the central government and said,

Right from the beginning of the pandemic, the Indian government has helped other countries. We are already supplying COVID-19 vaccines by the Vaccine Maitri programme and I think the government has a sincere commitment to helping other parts of the world.

Also Read: Zydus Cadila To Supply One Crore Doses Of Its COVID-19 Vaccine To Government At Rs. 265/Dose

Talking about the company’s nasal vaccine candidate, the Bharat Biotech chairman said,

We are the first company in the world to have a nasal vaccine which has gone into phase two completion. Many companies are trying and it took some time for us to understand the immunology of that. So now, we understood the immunology of the nasal. We are retesting immunology now in a different direction.

Dr Ella further said that wearing a mask will prove to be a weapon against the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

All injectable vaccines will only prevent the hospitalisation and not the disease. The infection will happen and that is why we are recommending having a mask. Mask is mandatory because even if you’re vaccinated, you will still get an infection. If everyone wears a mask, naturally the transmission will stop. We’ve been trying hard and now we have figured that out, he added.

Also Read: Covid Booster Dose Effective In Reducing Severe Disease Outcomes: Lancet Study

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity,  that is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.