TN has 97% Covid immunity for senior citizens, reveals serosurvey
The fifth edition of the survey targeted elderly persons in districts including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Trichy, Dharmapuri, and Kanyakumari.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Preliminary analysis of 1,214 samples from this group showed protective immunity of 97%, Health Minister Ma Subramaniam said here on Wednesday.
The state public health laboratory tested more than 25,000 samples per phase, selected through population proportionate sampling across the state, utilising techniques for uniform collection.
"We saw a boost in immunity since 2020. The first phase in Oct 2020 showed 32% immunity, which rose to 29% in April 2021 and 70% in Aug 2021.
The same year in Dec, immunity was 87%," he said. Officials at the directorate attributed the increase in immunity to a combination of factors, including effective vaccination implemented during the pandemic and natural infection, leading to high immunity.
High seroprevalence means that a large percentage of people in the sample population have antibodies in their blood, Director of Public Health Dr T S Selvavinayagam said.
This indicates they were exposed to the SARS CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, and carry proteins, antibodies produced by the immune system in response to an infection or vaccination. They are a sign that the body encountered the pathogen and mounted an immune response, often leading to some level of protection against future infections, he said."We vaccinated more than 95% of the population with at least one dose of the vaccine.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Besides this, natural infections due to the circulation of weakened mutations such as Omicron sub-lineages of the virus enhanced antibody development further. This could have contributed to hybrid immunity," he added.
Officials said high seroprevalence correlates with a positive public health outcome. "We know the virus has been largely unable to cause severe illness. We don't see Covid-19 causing deaths in people who are infected," he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
AIIMS-R VRDL gets 1st NABL accreditation for diagnosis of 12 major viral infections
Raipur: The state viral research and diagnostic laboratory (VRDL) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur, has received its first accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). The laboratory, which functions under the Department of Microbiology, was accredited for the diagnosis of 12 major viral infections. These include viral meningitis and encephalitis, COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), swine flu (H1N1), influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and 14 high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) types that cause cervical cancer. The list also includes Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Herpes simplex virus (HSV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Hepatitis B and C viral load, and dengue. Established in 2018, the VRDL provides diagnostic services to patients at AIIMS Raipur and receives samples from across Chhattisgarh. It is involved in testing for COVID-19, Hepatitis A, B, C, E, and dengue. The lab also assists in investigating outbreaks of viral diseases like chickenpox, conjunctivitis, and mumps. The VRDL is the state nodal centre for COVID-19 testing, quality control, and whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2. Lt Gen Ashok Jindal (Retd), Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Raipur, congratulated the team for their achievement, stating that the NABL accreditation is a step towards national recognition for the diagnostic services provided to the people of Chhattisgarh. Prof Dr Anudita Bhargava, who heads the Department of Microbiology, said the recognition was the result of teamwork and dedication by the entire staff. Prof. Dr Sanjay Singh Negi stated that the accreditation, which follows the ISO 15189:2022 standards, reflects the high quality of the diagnostic testing. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
Georgia man blaming COVID-19 vaccine for depression identified as CDC headquarters shooter
A Georgia man who blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his depression and suicidal thoughts was identified as the shooter in a deadly attack on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. read more A lone bouquet sits outside a CVS pharmacy on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, near where police say a man was shooting at the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. AP A Georgia man who had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal has been identified as the shooter who opened fire late Friday on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, killing a police officer. The 30-year-old suspect, who died during the incident, had also tried to get into the CDC's headquarters in Atlanta but was stopped by guards before driving to a pharmacy across the street and opening fire, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The man, identified as Patrick Joseph White, was armed with five guns, including at least one long gun, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation. A union representing workers at the CDC said the incident was not random and 'compounds months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification that CDC staff have endured.' It demanded federal officials condemn vaccine misinformation, saying it was putting scientists at risk. Here's what to know about the shooting and the continuing investigation: An attack on a prominent public health institution Police say White opened fire outside the CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Friday, leaving bullet marks in windows across the sprawling campus. At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said on X. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded while responding. Rose, 33, a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, had graduated from the police academy in March. White was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC campus and died at the scene, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said. He added that 'we do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Georgia Bureau of Investigations said the crime scene was 'complex' and the investigation would take 'an extended period of time.' CDC union calls condemnation of vaccine misinformation and tighter security The American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2883, said the CDC and leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services must provide a 'clear and unequivocal stance in condemning vaccine disinformation.' Such a public statement by federal officials is needed to help prevent violence against scientists, the union said in a news release. 'Their leadership is critical in reinforcing public trust and ensuring that accurate, science-based information prevails,' the union said. Fired But Fighting, a group of laid-off CDC employees has said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is directly responsible for the villainization of CDC's workforce through 'his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust.' Kennedy reached out to staff on Saturday, saying 'no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thousands of people who work on critical disease research are employed on the campus. The union said some staff were huddled in various buildings until late at night, including more than 90 young children who were locked down inside the CDC's Clifton School. The union said CDC staff should not be required to immediately return to work after experiencing such a traumatic event. In a statement released Saturday, it said windows and buildings should first be fixed and made 'completely secure.' 'Staff should not be required to work next to bullet holes,' the union said. 'Forcing a return under these conditions risks re-traumatizing staff by exposing them to the reminders of the horrific shooting they endured.' The union called for 'perimeter security on all campuses' until the investigation is fully completed and shared with staff. Shooter had fixation on COVID-19 vaccine White's father, who contacted police and identified his son as the possible shooter, said White had been upset over the death of his dog and also had become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the law enforcement official. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A neighbor of White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that White 'seemed like a good guy' but spoke with her multiple times about his distrust of COVID-19 vaccines in unrelated conversations. 'He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people,' Nancy Hoalst, told the Atlanta newspaper. 'He emphatically believed that.' But Hoalst said she never believed White would be violent: 'I had no idea he thought he would take it out on the CDC.'
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Mizoram: 39 people tested positive for COVID-19 so far in 2025
Agency: Aizawl, Aug 10 (PTI) Thirty-nine people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mizoram so far this year, officials said on Sunday. Of them, 28 people have recovered from the infection. According to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), 11 people are currently undergoing treatment for COVID-19. All of them are from the Aizawl district Twenty-seven suspected patients were tested on August 8, and one of them was found positive for the infection. On August 5, 10 people tested positive for COVID-19. They are out of danger, officials said. PTI CORR SOM First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
