With sudden rise in COVID cases, should you get an additional COVID vaccine? We answer

COVID cases are increasing in the country. The COVID cases reported, which is 2151 in numbers, in the country in the last 24 hours is the highest in the last 5 months. The rising number of infections is being attributed to the new variant of COVID, the XBB 1.16. Along with COVID, flu rates are also at peak. Amid such a health crisis, the biggest concern is how to prevent the infections, how vaccines are helping and whether they have retained their immunity boosting ability.

Currently, the Indian government has authorized three doses of COVID vaccine. Of these three doses, two are primary vaccine doses and the third one is a precautionary dose which is similar to the booster dose administered in other countries.


Several other countries have authorized their health bodies to give four doses of COVID vaccine; two primary and two booster shots.


As of now, a total of 220.65 crores of vaccine doses have been given in India out of which 95.20 crores are second doses and 22.86 crores are precaution doses). As per the latest update from the union health ministry a total of 11,336 doses of vaccines were administered in the last 24 hours.

While on one hand new COVID variants have fueled the debate around the effectiveness of the COVID vaccine, on the other hand vaccination drives have proved that the vaccine has been beneficial for people.


Emerging sub variants of the coronavirus’ Omicron variant have always posed several questions before people. Consequent to these unresolved and unaddressed queries people hesitate from taking the vaccines.

Aiming to focus on vaccinating those in the highest risk group, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revised the COVID vaccination recommendations.


"The roadmap continues SAGE’s prioritization of protecting populations at the greatest risk of death and severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection and its focus on maintaining resilient health systems. The roadmap considers the cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination for those at lower risk – namely healthy children and adolescents – compared to other health interventions. The roadmap also includes revised recommendations on additional booster doses and the spacing of boosters. The current COVID-19 vaccines’ reduction of post-COVID conditions is also considered but the evidence on the extent of their impact is inconsistent," the WHO has said in a press release on March 28.

The WHO's SAGE or the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts has outlined three priority groups: high, medium and low. "These priority groups are principally based on risk of severe disease and death, and consider vaccine performance, cost-effectiveness, programmatic factors and community acceptance," the report says.


The high priority group includes older adults, younger adults with significant comorbidities like diabetes and heart disease; people with immunocompromising conditions, pregnant people and frontline health workers.


The medium priority group comprises adults aged between 50 and 60 without comorbidities and children and adolescents with comorbidities.


The low priority group includes healthy children and adolescents aged 6 months to 17 years.

For the high priority group, WHO's SAGE recommends an additional booster of either 6 or 12 months after the last dose.


For the medium priority group the SAGE does not recommend a second booster dose.


For low priority groups, primary and booster doses are safe and effective, WHO's SAGE says.

COVID can be prevented by practicing healthy habits like wearing masks, sanitizing hands, covering mouth, nose and eyes, avoiding touching exposed surfaces and if staying indoors then keeping the air in circulation.


It is very important to take care of your health if you come under the highest and medium priority group. If someone you know is in these categories do take care of them.

​Coronavirus: Why are COVID-19 cases suddenly rising so fast?​