KARACHI: To tackle the looming Omicron threat, the Sindh health department on Wednesday broadened its Covid-19 outreach vaccination programme and launched a drive to offer free-of-cost booster doses at all its designated centres in the province.

       In the first phase, booster doses would be offered to front-line health workers, persons with weakened immune systems and people aged above 50 years, who were fully vaccinated against coronavirus six months ago.

       “The six-month interval has been considered (internationally) as the best time for a booster dose. Those who have spent less time with full vaccination still have (enough) antibodies to fight the virus,” explained Dr Samreen Ashraf Qureshi, the provincial focal person for Covid-19 vaccination.

       The booster dose would be offered per availability of the vaccine and choice of the individual.

       “It’s completely safe to have a combination of vaccines. However, our first priority will be to offer the same vaccine (for the booster dose) that had earlier been given to the person,” Dr Qureshi said.

       Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2021