A task force of India’s top health experts is advising the Indian government to only recommend COVID vaccines to certain high-risk population groups, saying that natural infection provides superior immune protection than any of the current vaccines alone can offer.
“There is some evidence that suggests that natural infection may even provide lifelong immunity,” the experts said. “There is no evidence to the contrary, that is, vaccination alone provides better immunity than natural infection.”
The joint task force, formed in 2020, consists of 20 medical specialists from three leading national health organizations: the Indian Public Health Association, Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, and Indian Association of Epidemiologists. Its job is to advise New Delhi on pandemic response.
“It is high time to declare [an] end to COVID pandemic, reassure population at large and, at the same time, institute mechanism for preventing misuse of COVID and any other similar disease in future by pharmaceutical and vaccine industry in cahoots with self-styled public health experts and scientists,” the experts wrote in the report.
When it comes to vaccines, the experts said it appears that those who have recovered from natural COVID infection won’t get any “additional benefits” from either two primary vaccine shots, a booster dose, or any additional doses.
“Vaccination should be recommended for those having co-morbidities or never had COVID-19,” they argued, adding that “unnecessary” and “irrational” use of vaccination against the virus will “divert resources and attention from other pressing public health tasks.”
Instead of pushing vaccines on those who don’t necessarily need the jab, the freed-up money and manpower can be better used for strengthening public health care facilities, the experts said. “This would help deal not only with the current pandemic but be useful for any other future epidemics.”
The Supreme Court of India, the South Asian country’s top judiciary institution, outlawed vaccine mandates in May 2022. To honor the decision, the task force said proof of having recovered from natural infection should be considered the same as proof of COVID vaccination whenever the latter is demanded.
“This will help in reducing needless burden on already stretched health system as well as unnecessary harassment of common man,” they said.
The report comes as India sees a decline in the daily number of new COVID cases. It also comes as the country’s public health authorities keep an watchful eye on China, where the abrupt end of the so-called “zero COVID” policy was followed by an explosion of infections and deaths.
The Indian government has made it mandatory for travelers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand to provide a negative test result. It has also ordered random testing of 2 percent of passengers on every international flight arriving at Indian airports.
