Covid-19 Omicron subvariant BF.7: Will precautionary dose protect against the latest COVID variant?

Covid-19 Omicron subvariant BF.7: China is struggling to control an increase in Covid cases ever since it relaxed the 'Zero Covid Policy' in the country. Despite official statistics painting a totally different picture, a recent rise in Covid-19 infections in China has prompted concerns that the country may experience over a million fatalities in the coming months.

As Coronavirus cases increased in several parts of the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation related to Covid-19 in the country.

So far, India has logged 185 new coronavirus infections and the number of active cases has declined to 3,402, according to health ministry data updated on Thursday.

COVID-19: Omicron subvariant BF.7

Three cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7 have been reported so far in India, as per a PTI report. As a result, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya asserted at a Covid review meeting that continued surveillance is necessary to maintain track of both existing and developing variants. Various states have increased their level of vigilance against the sub-variant.  

In a tweet, Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya stated, “COVID is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are prepared to manage any situation.”

COVID-19 precautionary measures

Amid a surging third wave of coronavirus infections, India had rolled out a third or "precautionary dose" to people aged 60 or more, healthcare workers, and frontline workers after a gap of 9 months from their second vaccine dose. 

Zee Business spoke to Dr Sameer Bhati, Director, Star Imaging & Path Lab, who mentioned that people across the county have received two doses of vaccine which helped them to develop immunity against the virus. But citizens who have underlying diseases need to be more careful, and they need to take a booster dose as a precautionary measure.

He further mentioned that the COVID-19 vaccine was produced to cure COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) which also worked on Delta and Omicron. But there is no confirmation that the vaccine will work on Omicron variant BA.5 or any other sub-variant.  

 
COVID-19 precautionary booster dose

Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals advised all communities, whether vaccinated or not, to immediately take a booster dose. The precautionary booster dose will help in fighting new variants as well as help to decrease the emergence of new variants from current variants.
 
Prof Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director, of George Institute for Global Health, said that so far there is no evidence that the new variant can produce more severe disease, or increase the risk of organ failure or death in individuals who have received the currently available COVID-19 vaccines.

“Every eligible subject should receive the precautionary dose and those who received their last dose a long time ago should receive a further dose, as the vaccine-related immunity wanes over time,” he added.