AIIMS study says even fully vaccinated are not safe as Delta variant is highly infectious
As the number of coronavirus cases had drastically increased in the country during the second wave, government officials continue to encourage people to take their vaccine shots as soon as possible. On the other hand, the growing number of variants has also become a cause of concern. The Delta Variant, which was originally detected in India in October last year, is said to be highly infectious. According to separate studies conducted by AIIMS (Delhi) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), it was suggested that the Delta variant can escape antibodies from one or both doses of Covidshield and Covaxin.
What is Delta Variant
The Delta variant, scientifically termed as B.1.617.2 of the COVID-19 infections, refers to the merging of two mutations of a virus strain that go on to form a third, super infectious strain. The B.1.617 variant contains mutations from two separate virus variants, namely E484Q and L452R.
With the help of genome sequencing and sample testing, the first case of double mutation in India was discovered in the state of Maharashtra in October last year. Earlier lab results reported a sharp rise in the E484Q and L452R mutations since December.
Is it more dangerous than the other COVID strains?
Considering the Delta variant carries the genetic code from two other mutations, E484Q and L452R, it becomes all the easier for it to break into the human immune system and invade the organs.
Recent study from the UK indicates that the variant is highly infectious and transmissible. Looking at the data provided by the UK government, the Delta variant went from accounting for 1% of all cases in early April to 70% by mid-May. It is said to be 40% more infectious than the 'Alpha' variant, which was first detected in Kent, UK.
Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) categorised Delta variant as a variant of concern (VOC) and said that it was more dominant than the Alpha variant.
How effective are COVID vaccines against the Delta Variant?
Though there has been no concrete evidence to suggest that the vaccines are ineffective against the variants, two separate studies conducted by AIIMS (Delhi) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have said that the Delta variant can infect people even after they're partially or fully vaccinated with Covishield and Covaxin. Since the new strains of the virus have the ability to evade immune responses, there are chances that the vaccines may not be very effective against them.
However, it is important to note that the studies have not yet been peer-reviewed.
What is Delta Variant
The Delta variant, scientifically termed as B.1.617.2 of the COVID-19 infections, refers to the merging of two mutations of a virus strain that go on to form a third, super infectious strain. The B.1.617 variant contains mutations from two separate virus variants, namely E484Q and L452R.
With the help of genome sequencing and sample testing, the first case of double mutation in India was discovered in the state of Maharashtra in October last year. Earlier lab results reported a sharp rise in the E484Q and L452R mutations since December.
Is it more dangerous than the other COVID strains?
Considering the Delta variant carries the genetic code from two other mutations, E484Q and L452R, it becomes all the easier for it to break into the human immune system and invade the organs.
Recent study from the UK indicates that the variant is highly infectious and transmissible. Looking at the data provided by the UK government, the Delta variant went from accounting for 1% of all cases in early April to 70% by mid-May. It is said to be 40% more infectious than the 'Alpha' variant, which was first detected in Kent, UK.
Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) categorised Delta variant as a variant of concern (VOC) and said that it was more dominant than the Alpha variant.
How effective are COVID vaccines against the Delta Variant?
Though there has been no concrete evidence to suggest that the vaccines are ineffective against the variants, two separate studies conducted by AIIMS (Delhi) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have said that the Delta variant can infect people even after they're partially or fully vaccinated with Covishield and Covaxin. Since the new strains of the virus have the ability to evade immune responses, there are chances that the vaccines may not be very effective against them.
However, it is important to note that the studies have not yet been peer-reviewed.
