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This is an archive article published on December 18, 2021

Quixplained: Can booster doses fight Omicron variant of Covid-19?

What are booster doses, and why take one? Does it offer more protection? Can it fight the Omicron variant?

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Booster shots help people maintain their level of immunity for longer. (Illustration: Suvajit Dey)Booster shots help people maintain their level of immunity for longer. (Illustration: Suvajit Dey)

Most Covid-19 vaccines are administered in two doses, with a few given as a single dose. A booster is an additional shot given after the protection provided by the original shot(s) has begun to decrease over time, so that people can maintain their level of immunity for longer. While India is not administering booster shots yet, other countries such as the United States have asked their citizens to get additional doses.

So, what are booster doses, and why take one? Does it offer more protection? Can it fight the Omicron variant? Take a look:

What are booster doses? Why booster doses? Can booster doses fight the Omicron variant? What does a booster dose offer better protection?
Quixplained | Why Omicron is high risk, what you should do

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