The government’s scientific advisory groups on COVID-19 immunisation are assessing if doses of different COVID-19 vaccines can be mixed for the precaution dose. A final guideline will be released before January 10, when healthcare and frontline workers and people above 60 years of age with comorbidities will start receiving the jabs.

The director general of ICMR, Dr Balram Bhargava, said that debate is on regarding the vaccines which are available and which of them can be given in terms of safety and efficacy. All the available data is being evaluated. He said that it is also being discussed if it will be same vaccine or is it going to be a different one.

Dr Bhargava stated that the Drugs Controller General of India and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation are meeting and a decision will be taken before January 10.

The clinical trials on mixing of COVID-19 vaccine doses for boosters in India have been inconclusive, but experts are considering international data, said an official… (ET Healthworld – TNN, December 31, 2021)