Even as technical glitches plagued the vaccine registration process of those above 18 years on Wednesday, health experts have said it is unethical to charge the public for the vaccine, especially when a substantial number got their dose free. There are also questions about how many Indians could afford to pay for the jab, and what happens if the pricing deters some from taking the second booster dose. 

Take 2nd dose within a year

Vellore-based acclaimed senior virologist Dr Jacob John said, “We must understand that the first dose of vaccination will always lay the foundation in our body and the booster dose will provide a further protective layer of immune cells. Ideally, there will be a specific period within which to take the second dose. However, virology textbooks clearly say the second dose can be taken any time within a year. So, people need not worry about missing the date for second dose if there is any short supply of the specific first vaccine that they had taken. But if someone hasn’t taken the second dose within the year, they need to repeat the full process of taking two doses. Of course, the chances of getting infected between doses will always remain.”