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Dr. VK Paul, member (Health) of NITI Aayog who supervises India’s task force in the pandemic affirmed that the initial data from the COVID 19 vaccination drive among the healthcare workers who are encountering the massive second wave of the pandemic exhibits a declining need for hospitalization, oxygen therapy and ICU admission.
Considering the data from Christian Medical College, Vellore that stated 8,991 vaccinated healthcare workers including the one who received only the first dose, Dr. Paul emphasized the function of vaccine in preventing ICU admission was as high as 94 per cent. He further explained that this outcome shows the role of vaccine is providing protection to the higher risk group against the severe infection.
Dr. Paul further elaborated that there are several studies establishing from India that demonstrates the protection after vaccination. He stated, “There are two such studies on healthcare workers, who are the high risk group. Studies show that after vaccination, the need for hospitalization reduces by 75-80 per cent. He further added that even after one dose of vaccination if an individual gets affected by the infection, the possibility of hospitalization was around 20 per cent according to the data.
Furthermore, he emphasized that the probability to need oxygen was around 8 per cent and the data reveals that serious ICU admission exhibits that the risk was only around 6 per cent. Thereby, the protection provided by the vaccine becomes 94 per cent. Dr. Paul elaborates that this is a powerful data from a reasonable size study as it was carried out on the grounds where the risk of getting infected is the highest. He further revealed that in the study of 7000 individuals only one person who had comorbidities succumbed to death. He clarified that these data displays that vaccines provides protection especially from serious diseases.
Dr. Paul referred to the study that was carried out by CMC that reported incidents of symptomatic COVID 19 infection among the healthcare workers during February 21 and May 19. The study stated, “The protective effect of vaccination in preventing infection, hospitalization, need for oxygen and ICU admission were 65 per cent, 77 per cent, 92 per cent and 94 per cent respectively.”
The results of the study by CMC, Vellore are at par with the surveys directed by other top hospitals of the country. On Wednesday, Apollo, the country’s largest chain of hospitals reported no mortalities in 31,000 vaccinated healthcare workers. The study established that from January 16 to May 31, there were around 1,355 healthcare workers who were infected with COVID 19. Among these infected health workers nearly 90 needed hospitalization and three required ICU care.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi while communicating with doctors across the country stated, “Strategy of starting vaccination programme with the frontline warriors has paid a rich dividends in the second wave.” He further added that about 90 per cent of the healthcare professionals in the country have received the first dose of the vaccine and have ensured the safety of the doctors.
Dr. Paul further explained that vaccination coverage is expanding proportionally in the rural areas. He added that 53 per cent of all vaccine given during May-June are in the rural areas . He affirmed that the spread will further stretch along with the new guidelines and vaccine coverage in the rural areas will be accelerated.