Delta variant can infect fully vaccinated individuals: Study
Darpan News Desk IANS, 24 Nov, 2021 12:16 PM
New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS) A study has revealed that the highly transmissible Covid Delta variant can infect individuals who have been fully vaccinated against the virus.
The study was conducted by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research (CSIR) and the National Centre for Disease Control in two Delhi hospitals.
It has revealed that vaccination protects against hospitalisation and the severity of infection but there is also a possible risk of transmission in very vulnerable people.
The researchers from INSACOG and CSIR analysed data on 113 breakthrough infections among healthworkers by constructing a probable transmission network from epidemiological and virus genomen sequence data using computational approach.
The study has highlighted the need for infection control measures even amongst fully vaccinated people.
It also revealed a high probability of potential virus transmission between individuals who has received both doses of vaccines.
Meanwhile, the INSACOG in its last bulletin had said that Delta strain continues to be the main variant of concern (VOC) in India.
"Delta (B.1.617.2 and AY.x) continues to be the main VOC in India. No new VOI or VOC are noted and other VOC and VOI other than Delta are now negligible in sequencing data from India," the INSACOG added.
The Consortium also said that other variants of interest or concern are now negligible in sequencing data from India.
Most experts believe India’s official toll of 414,000 dead was a vast undercount, but the government has dismissed those concerns. A report released Tuesday estimates excess deaths to be 3 million to 4.7 million between January 2020 and this June.
Rejecting all opposition to his elevation, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi appointed Navjot Singh Sidhu as the party's new Punjab unit President along with four Working Presidents.
Calling the reports of alleged snooping on prominent citizens using Israeli Pegasus spyware as "baseless", the ruling BJP on Monday said there is not a single shred of evidence so far that links either the central government or the party to this controversy.
Congress MPs from both Houses had met on Sunday afternoon at Rajya Sabha member Pratap Singh Bajwa's residence to discuss the issues related to Punjab and sought an appointment with Gandhi.
Apart from reviewing the security arrangements in the national capital, the Delhi Police have also strengthened the security in and around the Red Fort ahead of the Independence Day.
Police said acting on a specific information, Budgam Police along with the Army's 53 RR and 43 BN of the CRPF arrested one local terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and recovered incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one Chinese pistol, one magazine, eight live pistol rounds from his possession.