The BA.2.75, the new Covid-19 sub-lineage has been detected in India and is said to have unique mutations, which increase the risk of infection in people. With the emergence of the new Omicron sub-lineage, the experts are calling for an update in booster policy in India, citing that the current policy is not making the best use of evidence and available vaccine choices. 

Experts who had earlier reviewed the Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore data had decided against the mix and match regimen of vaccines. Mr. Shahid Jameel, Virologist, University of Oxford stated that Covishield is far superior to Covaxin but India continues to use 3rd dose Covaxin in people who have been administered with 2 prior Covaxin doses. The immunity increases by 5-6 times when the booster dose is of the same vaccine as the first two doses. However, according to clinical data, a sharp increase in the antibody levels by 58 times has been seen, when the third dose of Covishield is given after two doses of Covaxin.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jameel added that several global data have shown that protein vaccines produce better results after two doses of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine than the 3rd dose of the AZ vaccine.

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/policy/current-booster-policy-needs-to-be-updated-experts/92687425 )