In a new study conducted by BJ Government Medical College (BJMC) and Sassoon Hospital, Pune, investigators noted high levels of protection against COVID-19 in more than 500 healthcare workers, three to seven months after receiving two doses of the Covishield vaccine.

Considering the high levels of protection noted in the study participants, the investigators came to the conclusion that a booster dose at this point, when a large proportion of the country’s population has not received the second dose, may not be appropriate, stated professor and Head of Community Medicine at BJMC, Dr Muralidhar Tambe.

Among all the categories of 558 healthcare workers included in the study, the antibody prevalence was found to be more than 90% months after the administration of two doses. Antibody prevalence was found to decrease with increase in the duration of interval following two vaccine doses, but the levels continued to be high, said Dr Tambe. Antibody positivity was 96.77% three months after administration of two vaccine doses and increased to 100% at four months. However, it declined to 91.89% at seven months… (ET Healthworld – TNN, December 19, 2021)