Serum Institute of India has announced its initiation of efforts to develop a vaccine specifically tailored to counter the Omicron variants. In response to the Union Health Ministry's directive for states to be prepared for a potential surge in COVID-19 cases following the emergence of the new variant JN.1, senior health officials clarified that there is currently no recommendation for administering a vaccine booster dose in India.
N.K. Arora, the chief of India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), emphasized that there is no necessity for an additional fourth booster dose amid the rise in cases and the detection of the JN.1 sub-variant. He stated that only individuals over 60 years of age with comorbidities and high-risk patients in this age group may opt for a precautionary third dose if they haven't received one already.
Dr. Arora emphasized the importance of precaution rather than panic, noting that various new variants, sub-variants, and mutations are being reported globally. Fortunately, none of the Omicron variants, including JN.1, has been associated with more severe disease or hospitalization. Symptoms of the JN.1 subvariant include fever, nasal discharge, cough, occasional diarrhea, and severe body aches, with recovery typically within a week.
The Serum Institute of India (SII) confirmed its intention to obtain licensure for the XBB1 COVID variant vaccine, closely resembling the JN.1 variant, for use in India. SII emphasized the need for caution, especially for the elderly, as the winter approaches. Currently, the list of approved and available vaccines in India includes Covaxin, Covishield, and Sputnik-V.
SII's announcement aligns with the global context, where the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a 52% increase in new COVID-19 cases during the period from November 20 to December 17, 2023. While the number of new deaths decreased by 8%, the WHO highlighted the emergence of JN.1 as a separate variant of interest due to its rapid increase in prevalence. The global efforts to combat the evolving situation reflect the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
