Covid-19 cases rising: What is the status of India's vaccine stockpile?
As cases of Covid-19 show signs of resurgence, sources in the government have assured that India has enough vaccine stockpile for its citizens and support exports to other countries, if needed.Around 1,010 active cases were recorded as of May 26, with new infections reported from Noida, Lucknow, Karnataka, Mumbai, Arunachal Pradesh, and Varanasi, raising concerns of another potential uptick.Government sources told India Today that there is an ample stockpile of Covid-19 vaccines ready for deployment. "We are fully prepared for any situation. We have enough stockpile to meet the requirements of our citizens. Moreover, if needed, we can even supply vaccines to other countries," the sources said.advertisement
Most of India, nearly 1 billion people, have received at least one dose of Covishield or Covaxin.Covishield, manufactured under licence from AstraZeneca by the Serum Institute of India (SII), ceased its production in December 2021 due to reduced demand.Likewise, Covaxin, India's first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine, developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Virology, stopped production in early 2022.Despite the halt in manufacturing, officials say that vaccine availability is not a concern.
India's existing vaccines were not designed to target these newer subvariants. ()
While doctors attribute this surge to the unpredictable seasonal pattern of respiratory illnesses, global health authorities point to diminishing protection from previous infections and vaccinations that could be playing a role in regional spikes.advertisementIn India, the dominant strains currently in circulation are LF.7, XFG, and JN.1, alongside the new Omicron sub-lineage NB.1.8.1.These variants have overlapping symptoms that closely mimic the common flu: cough, runny nose, sore throat, low-grade fever, headaches, body aches, and, in some cases, gastrointestinal distress.Though the seasonal behaviour of SARS-CoV-2 now mirrors that of other respiratory viruses, driven by periodic mutations, there's a main difference: India's existing vaccines were not designed to target these newer sub-variants.Despite this, health experts maintain that those who have been previously infected or vaccinated, especially within the past year, are still expected to retain some degree of protection against severe illness, even if they contract a mutated version of the virus.
Most of India, nearly 1 billion people, have received at least one dose of Covishield or Covaxin. ()
Whether India will require updated Covid-19 vaccines remains under evaluation. However, emerging research offers reassurance.A recent study by the University of Arizona Health Sciences, published in Nature Immunology, found that prior vaccination continues to provide strong immune protection, even against newer variants like Delta and Omicron.While it may reduce the body's ability to generate variant-specific antibodies, vaccinated individuals still mounted a more robust immune response compared to those who were never vaccinated.Tune InMust Watch
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Covid cases rise in India: Active caseloads hit 3,961, 4 more deaths; Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi worst affected
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NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
India Reports 3,961 Active Covid-19 Cases; When Should You Test For Covid? Health Ministry Shares Guidelines
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First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
Covid-19 now just like any other respiratory illness, predominant in India after recent surge: Expert
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 disease, is just like any other respiratory illness now and there is no possibility of another catastrophic wave like the one driven by Delta variant in 2021, according to Soumya Swaminathan, a former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO). read more At present, 'LF.7' and 'NB.1.8' — both descendants of the 'JN.1' variant — are the main variants of the COVID-19-causing virus circulating in Singapore. AP File Soumya Swaminathan, a former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO), has said that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 disease, is now just like any other respiratory virus and there is no need to panic at the moment. In recent weeks, Covid-19 cases have risen in India. As per the latest information, there are 3,961 active Covid-19 cases in the country, with 203 new cases and four deaths being reported in the previous 24 hours. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In an interview with CNN-News 18, Swaminathan said that the SARS-CoV-2, just like any other virus, is bound to periodic surges every six to eight months and the ongoing spike in cases is a result of such a periodic surge. She went on to compare it with influenza virus. 'It has been around now for five years. It is of course constantly mutating and changing like other viruses. And, just like we get every year a spike of influenza cases at certain seasons, we have also now started seeing that periodically, maybe every six to eight months or so, there is a rise in Covid cases,' said Swaminathan, who also served as the Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) during 2015-17. Swaminathan further said that there was no chance of another catastrophic wave of Covid-19 like the Delta variant's wave of 2021. Swaminathan noted that influenza virus was the predominant respiratory infection for most of the year and it was only in April and May that Covid-19 over influenza. She said that it is likely to happen now as Covid-19 has become just another viral infection now. Swaminathan said, 'It's likely that every few months or once a year, we will see this type of thing happening in the future. The good thing is, of course, that we all have immunity now, both from vaccination and from natural infections that many of us have had in the last few years. And, so, what you're seeing now is a mild disease mostly, even though people are testing and reporting positivity, you find that hospitalisations are very few.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While there is no need to panic, people with higher risk of sickness should take the usual precautions, said Swaminathan. Those with higher risk include people with compromised immune systems, pre-existing health conditions, and older people, according to Swaminathan.
