97% of Tamil Nadu's elderly have Covid-19 antibodies: What is seropositivity?
A recent serosurvey conducted in Tamil Nadu has revealed that nearly all elderly participants, around 97%, showed seropositivity for Covid-19.This means that most of them had protective antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which indicates either they were previously exposed to the virus or received vaccination.This is the fifth phase of the Covid-19 serosurvey conducted by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) and the State Public Health Laboratory (SPHL).advertisement
The survey was carried out in April 2024 after a three-year gap, the last such study was conducted in December 2021.Blood samples were collected from 3,643 elderly individuals across six districts: Chennai, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchi, Dharmapuri, and Kanniyakumari.What is a serosurvey?Serosurveys are used to detect the presence of antibodies in the blood.
Most of elderly surveyed in Tamil Nadu had protective antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. ()
These antibodies, particularly Immunoglobulin G (IgG), develop after a person is infected with a virus or receives a vaccine.When antibodies are detected through blood tests, the individual is said to be "seropositive."advertisementThis helps scientists and health authorities understand how widely a disease has spread in a community, even among people who did not show symptoms or were never tested.Out of 1,214 samples that were initially tested in this phase, 97% had IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2."In this situation, a non-virulent strain (of SARS-CoV-2) may not cause much impact, but it is important for persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, immune-compromised persons, and the elderly to take precautions while visiting public places," Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian told reporters on Wednesday, pointing to the recent surge in new Omicron variants in India.What is seropositivity?According to the National Cancer Institute, seropositivity generally indicates that the immune system has responded to a virus, such as SARS-CoV-2, by creating antibodies.
When antibodies are detected through blood tests, the individual is said to be
It does not, however, tell us how strong the immunity is or how long it will last. For that, further tests are required to assess the exact nature and strength of the immune response.Interestingly, global studies show that the effectiveness of vaccines in creating antibodies varies. A 2023 analysis found that after the third dose of Covid-19 vaccines, the rate of seropositivity ranged around 67%, and for specific high-risk groups like solid organ transplant recipients, seroconversion rates improved after booster shots.In this context, Tamil Nadu's 97% seropositivity among the elderly stands out as a reassuring sign.Tune InMust Watch
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