Million Indians get COVID vaccine boosters, hospitalisation low

More than 1 million Indians received their third COVID-19 vaccine dose on Monday as the country rolled out boosters for frontline workers and vulnerable elderly, with the Omicron variant fuelling an eight-fold rise in infections in 10 days. The health ministry said only 5% to 10% of the infected have sought hospitalisation, compared with 20% to 23% during the Delta-driven last wave that peaked in May. Authorities say most people have shown no or only minor symptoms and have recovered quickly at home. 'The situation is dynamic and evolving, therefore, the need for hospitalisation may also change rapidly,' Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote in a letter to state authorities asking them to regularly review staffing levels