Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, former head of epidemiology and communicable diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), on Tuesday, discounted the need to take the fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine given the current evidence regarding the coronavirus and variants.

"Looking at the current evidence (of variants of the virus), it is not that big that there is any need for the fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. There are many reasons for that. Currently, whatever vaccines are there, the virus makes the escape mutants over them which causes infections," Dr. Gangakhedkar said on the sidelines of a function.