JN.1 COVID-19 variant in India: India is currently witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases. According to doctors and health experts, with the rise in cases, the question of additional vaccine shots looms large.
On Tuesday, India has recorded 412 fresh cases of COVID-19, while the number of active cases of the infection has gone up to 4,170.
According to the ministry’s data updated at 8 am, the death toll due to the viral disease was recorded at 5,33,337 with three new fatalities reported from Karnataka in a span of 24 hours. India’s Covid case tally currently stands at 4,50,09,660.
“With the emergence of variants and breakthrough infections, the efficacy of initial vaccination could wane over time. Health experts stress the importance of enhanced shots to improve immunity and provide greater coverage against the virus. Ongoing studies suggest that doses should be increased “can particularly stimulate the body’s defense mechanisms, especially in the face of new variants,” Dr. Schultz told the Financial Express. com. Neha Rastogi Panda, Infectious Disease Consultant, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram.
As the virus continues to evolve, it becomes very important to keep up with up-to-date vaccines to prevent its spread, Dr. Panda said.
Public fitness officials and fitness professionals are advocating for proactive measures, adding booster shots, to slow the resurgence of the virus and prevent severe illness, Dr. Panda said.
“In the collective effort to achieve widespread immunity and mitigate the effect of the pandemic, Americans are encouraged to stay informed about vaccine recommendations and, if eligible, consider getting booster doses. The changing nature of the pandemic highlights the need for adaptability and ongoing vaccination efforts to protect public health,” he added.
Dr Tushar Tayal, a senior consultant at the Department of Internal Medicine at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, told Financial Express. com that the government has followed a rigorous vaccination protocol whereby we enjoy herd immunity, despite the emergence of new strains of the COVID virus. And then, there’s no new pandemic.
“A new strain of the Covid virus called JN. 1 was recently discovered in India. It is a descendant of the omicron variant and therefore has faster transmissibility and infectivity. It is believed that existing vaccination will also protect us against new viral strains. and that all Americans have received at least 2 doses of the Covid vaccine. Healthcare workers, frontline workers, and others over the age of 60 receive 3 doses of the vaccine,” said Dr. Tayal.
While the previous schedule has been adhered to, there is no advice for revaccination lately, he added.
In addition, the director of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), Dr. NK Arora, stated that there are no more vaccine doses for the new variant.
“I would say prevention is mandatory for everyone over the age of 60, who are more likely to have comorbidities, and for those taking medications that suppress our immunity, such as cancer patients. If they haven’t taken precautions so far, then they’re asked to take precautions; otherwise, no additional dose is needed,” NK Arora quoted the ANI news agency as saying.
The INSACOG chief asserted that they have identified over 400 subvariants of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. However, none of the sub-variants is associated with more severe disease.
“Every week you hear something new coming up in different parts and then it spreads all over India. We have identified a large number of subvariants, over 400 subvariants, or mutations of this virus, and fortunately, none of these Omicron variants have really been associated with more severe disease or hospitalization,” he said as quoted by ANI.
Also that lately there is no evidence that the virus is spreading rapidly.