JN.1 Covid strain: Do we need a new vaccine? Ex-AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria, ‘Need a new jab that…’
ANI, “It is more transmissible, it is spreading more rapidly, and it is gradually becoming a dominant variant. It is causing more infections but the data also suggests that it is not causing severe infections or hospitalisations.
Most of the symptoms are predominantly in the upper airways, like fever, cough, cold, sore throat, running nose and body aches." Speaking on requirement of a new vaccine, Guleria says, “...We need a vaccine which covers a broader type of the virus. We have had multiple mutations.
Jn.1 is sub lineage of Omicron. So a vaccine that is made against Omicron will be effective against this variant also." “We need more data first to show what the current immunity in the population, and the protection that have based on the previous vaccination that we've got, based on that, only can we decide we need a new vaccine, that covers the current circulating strain, and that is something that has to be done regularly because variants will keep changing…" On Saturday, India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) chief Dr NK Arora, meanwhile, said that no additional dose of vaccine is needed against the subvariant at present.
Speaking to ANI about the current situation in the country, India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) chief Dr NK Arora said, "I would say prevention is required for all those who are 60 years of age or older, who are likely to have comorbidities and those who are on drugs that suppress our immunity, like cancer patients. If they have not taken precaution so far, then they are advised to take precaution; otherwise, there is no need for any additional doses." A descendant of the Omicron virus, the JN.1 strain has been classified as a ‘variant of interest’ by the World Health
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