Are Boosters Another Shot In The Dark?

Omicron and newer emerging variants have been portrayed as a cause of concern globally as several low and middle-income countries have not been able to immunise their citizens due to the shortage of COVID-19 vaccines. Notably, it was in the double-vaccinated South African individuals that the Omicron variant was first discovered. The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) had promised two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2021 to a total of 92 low-and middle-income countries that are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX mechanism. But, it has managed to deliver only about 95 million doses as developed nations hoarded surplus doses of the vaccines. Approximately 75 per cent of the 4.5 billion first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that were rolled out, went to affluent countries. Can emerging variants make vaccine inequity a bigger challenge than it already is? Let's unravel.

- Prabhat Prakash

2021 saw the approval of various vaccines and drugs for the treatment of COVID-19, in the new year, we are faced with another mutation of the COVID-19 virus, Omicron that is spreading rapidly across the globe. Omicron as per early research data is capable of escaping the immune response of vaccines adding fuel to the ever-increasing reasoning behind the need for booster doses to help maintain the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines against severe infection and death.

So far approximately 89 countries have reported cases of Omicron with the United Kingdom reporting 12 deaths due to the variant. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 cases are doubling every 1.5-3 days in countries that are dealing with community transmission of the variant. The growth advantage that Omicron has over the Delta variant that caused the second wave in India will soon become the most dominant variant globally.

Addressing vaccine inequity

Omicron and newer emerging variants are a cause of concern globally as several low and middle-income countries have not been able to immunise their citizens due to the shortage of COVID-19 vaccines globally. COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) promised to deliver two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2021 to a total of 92 low-and middle-income countries that are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX mechanism but has managed to deliver about 95 million doses as developed nations hoarded surplus doses of the vaccines. Approximately 75 per cent of the 45 billion first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that were rolled went to the people in affluent countries, emerging variants could make vaccine inequity a bigger challenge than it already is.