According to scientific assessment by government agencies, widespread exposure to the Omicron variant has led to immune boosting in a vast majority of the population, thus diluting the need for booster jabs of COVID-19 vaccines, said a senior official.

The government will, however, continue to give the precaution dose or third dose of COVID-19 vaccine to people having a high risk of infection and death from COVID-19, including the healthcare and frontline workers and elderly aged above 60 years.

Repeated antigenic exposure boosts the immune system. The vaccine exposes people to the antigen. A senior official said, “….the way Omicron has spread, it has already opened up people to antigen which usually help produce immunity to fight the disease.” (ET Healthworld – TNN, March 3, 2022)