@COVID19Up: Booster shots are important as countries are likely to see waves of COVID-19 every four to six months, WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan told News18.com.
Emphasizing the importance of booster shots, the former Indian Council of Medical Research chief said “boosters are important to boost waning immunity, especially in the vulnerable age groups.”
“One is likely to see waves every four to six months, the intensity depends on how many susceptible people there are in the population.”
Swaminathan said there are several reasons behind the fresh surge in cases.
“Sub-variants like BA 4 and 5 are more transmissible,” she said, adding the other reason behind “waning immunity.”
Swaminathan added that “people’s behavior” is responsible for the fresh surge. “Crowding with no masks indoors,” she said. When asked what the government can do to increase the uptake of boosters, she said that it just “needs to be explained that three doses are needed for a strong long lasting immunity.”