Pune: Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, former head of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said that in view of the available evidence about the corona virus and its forms, the fourth dose of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine is not needed. Gangakhedkar said on the sidelines of an event on Tuesday that if a person has taken the third dose of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine, it means that his ‘T-cell’ immune response has been trained three times.
“The main virus (Covid-19) has not changed enough to require a new vaccine, so rely on our ‘T-cell’ immune response,” he said. Looking at this, it is not so serious that the fourth dose of anti-Covid-19 vaccine is needed. ’ According to Dr. Gangakhedkar, the elderly and people already suffering from any disease should continue to take precautionary measures like wearing masks.
No need to think about fourth dose now
He said, ‘There is no need to think about the fourth dose now because any new form will not be related to SARS-COV2. It could be a complete redesign and we’ll think about that when it comes because our genomic surveillance is still going on. There is no need to worry now.’ Dr Gangakhedkar made the statement on the sidelines of a book discussion on ‘Braving a Viral Storm: India’s COVID-19 Vaccine Story’ organized by the Pune International Centre.
