India is far behind the world in administering booster shots, shows data

The UK and Israel are close to covering half their population with booster shots; even Brazil and Russia have administered a booster shot to 11 and 5 per cent of their population, respectively

Last week, after much deliberations, the government announced that it would be administering a booster dose to its healthcare and frontline workers and for those aged over 60 with co-morbidities.

Although the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) discussions had alluded to a booster dose for people over 45 years, the government narrowed the target group further.

An analysis of countries administering booster shots shows that India is among the few that have not approved boosters for its entire adult population. In the UK, Brazil, South Korea and Germany, boosters have been approved for all people aged 18 and above. The US has approved it for 16 and above, whereas anyone aged 12 years and over can take a booster in Israel. On the other hand, Sri Lanka has approved boosters for its 60+ population.

Although India shall start administering precautionary doses from January 10, Germany, UK and Israel are considering a fourth shot for their vulnerable population.

Moreover, analysis of booster shot administration from Our World in Data indicates that most other countries are way ahead of India in administering booster doses. The UK, for instance, has administered 47.6 doses per 100 people, Bahrain has administered 46.8 doses per 100 people, and Israel has administered 45.3. Brazil has covered 11.8 per cent of the population, whereas Russia has covered 4.7 per cent. 

Sri Lanka has administered 15.8 booster doses per 100 people. There is a rich-poor divide in the administration of booster doses. High-income countries have administered 22.8 booster doses per 100 people, whereas upper-middle-income countries have covered 8.13 doses per 100 people. The coverage in low-middle-income countries was even lower at 0.47 per cent.

India is still far off from administering the second dose to its population. Only 63 per cent of its population has received a second dose.