New Delhi: The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) expert, Dr Samiran Panda on Friday (July 9, 2021) mentioned that the coronavirus may attain its endemic stage after a whereas, similar to influenza. Dr Samiran Panda, who’s the pinnacle of the Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, additionally added that this will simply imply that the susceptible inhabitants may need to take the vaccine shot yearly.Â
“The COVID-19 virus will reach its endemic stage like Influenza after a while and then vulnerable population may have to take the vaccine shot annually,” Dr Panda mentioned.Â
“Influenza, commonly known as flu, was a pandemic 100 years ago but today it is endemic. Similarly, in the case of COVID-19, we expect that it will gradually become endemic from its current state of being a pandemic. Currently, we recommend the elderly to take annual flu shots. As the influenza virus keeps on mutating, we simultaneously make minor changes in the vaccine. So, there is no need to panic,” he added.
The specialists revealed that the mutations of the virus are regular, and there’s nothing to panic about.
While addressing the issues over the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines towards the newer strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in India, Dr Panda mentioned, “The vaccines available now largely are effective against the new variants. Vaccines are not infection preventing, but disease-modifying. Experiments at ICMR have proved that the vaccines presently available in India are effective against the new variants as well. However, the efficacy may differ for different strains.”
Additionally, De panda urged all of the residents to take the vaccine out there in India proper now, relatively than ready for different COVID-19 vaccines to reach within the nation.
“Please understand that while people may be waiting for other vaccines which they may consider more convenient or superior, the virus is not waiting. The virus is still spreading in the country. What if you get infected, while you wait?” he mentioned.
Dr. Panda mentioned it’s futile to go for anti-body checks as immunity doesn’t rely solely on anti-bodies.
“The anti-bodies that are seen using the commercial kits available in the market are not necessarily the anti-bodies that can protect from COVID disease. Whenever a person gets vaccinated, two types of immunity emerge. One is known as neutralizing anti-body or anti-body mediated immunity. The second one is cell-mediated immunity. The third and the most important one is immune memory. Immune memory is generated after vaccination and is present in cells and whenever the virus enters the body, this gets activated,” he defined.
(With ANI inputs)
