Single dose of Covishield sufficient for Covid recovered people: Study

June 14: A new study has claimed that a single shot of the coronavirus vaccine might be enough for the people who have been infected by COVID-19. The researchers of AIG Hospitals, on Monday, stated that the people who had been infected by the virus already have greater antibody response in comparison to those who have had no prior infection, and therefore, a single shot of the vaccine would be enough for them.

The hospital announced on Monday that it conducted a study on 260 healthcare workers who got vaccinated between January 16 and February 5 to assess the immunological memory response in all those patients. All patients were given the Covishield vaccine, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII). Two significant observations came out of the study, which has been published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

The researchers found that those participants who were seropositive showed “higher neutralizing antibody response” as compared to those who had no prior exposure to the coronavirus infection. “All the seropositive or seronegative participants developed neutralizing antibodies by day 28 after the first dose of Covishield. The previously infected group mounted greater antibody response to a single dose of Covishield vaccine compared with the no prior exposure group,” the study noted.

“Individuals who have had COVID-19 and recovered would have adequate protection with a single dose of vaccine. Our results demonstrate evidence to support a single-dose vaccination strategy for previously infected individuals to increase coverage and protect a larger number of populations,” said Dr D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman, AIG Hospitals, and one of the co-authors in the study.

The Union Health Ministry had, however, clarified on June 1 that is not considering to immunise the beneficiaries with only a single dose of the vaccine. “There is absolutely no change in the schedule of Covishield doses; it will be two doses only. After the first Covishield dose is administered, the second dose will be given after 12 weeks,” Niti Aayog member Dr VK Paul had said.