- A national survey found that two-thirds of India’s population has developed some immunity to Covid-19.
- Health authorities said this represents the country’s hope, but warned that one-third of Indians are still vulnerable to the virus.
- According to the survey, 67.6% of the 28,975 people tested had Covid-19 antibodies.
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According to the country’s latest national serum survey, two-thirds of the Indian population has developed antibodies against Covid-19, indicating a certain degree of immunity to the coronavirus.
The result of the study is “the light of hope” A country where the virus is raging, Said Balram Bhargava, Director of the Indian Medical Research Council Tuesday.
But he also warned that India must continue to adopt Covid-19 measures and not be complacent, because one-third of Indians — 400 million of its total population of 1.38 billion — are still vulnerable to infection.
The survey was conducted by the health authorities from the end of June to the beginning of July and tested 28,975 people over the age of 6 in 70 districts in 21 states. Local media reportsAmong them, 67.6% of people were found to have antibodies, which is a significant increase from 25% in the previous survey conducted in India December 2020 to January this year.
According to the antibody CDC“They are proteins produced by your immune system that help you fight infection. They are made after you are infected or vaccinated.”
Although it is not clear how long the Covid antibody lasts, a study published in the journal on Tuesday Nature Communications, The report stated that within 9 months of infection, nearly 99% of study participants found antibodies.
India faces two brutal waves of Covid-19, claiming More than 418,000 lives and approximately 31 million infections. Its second wave in May was particularly catastrophic because Delta variant,Push The national healthcare system is on the brink of collapse with Overwhelming crematorium The speed of burning the body is not fast enough.
Indian health officials said there are two reasons for the increase in antibodies in the Indian population: the second wave of infections and vaccination campaigns. Times of India.
But there are still people who worry that the third wave may sweep the country. Dr. VK Paul, a member of the Indian National Institute for Reform of the Indian Government, said that India has not yet reached herd immunity and the country is still vulnerable to the surge in infections. last Friday.
“The next 100 days will be critical to fighting Covid-19 in India,” he said.
Recently, several state governments have also come under fire for relaxing restrictions to allow large-scale religious activities. After the Supreme Court of India intervened, some local authorities decided to cancel the relaxation of the annual events held this week. Bakried Muslim Festival, Or Eid al-Fitr, and Hindu pilgrimage of Kanwar Yatra.
