Dr Sujit Singh stressed that vaccination is the biggest protection against corona virus
New Delhi:
A top expert has said that Covid will start becoming endemic in India in the next six months, adding that a new variant alone cannot bring a third wave of infections.
“This pandemic has defied most of our predictions, but in the next six months, we will reach the endemic state,” Sujit Singh, director of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), told NDTV in an exclusive interview.
Dr Singh said that COVID being endemic would mean that the infection would become more manageable and easier on the health infrastructure.
“If the mortality and morbidity are under control, we can manage the disease,” he said, adding that Kerala, which had a large susceptible pool, is also emerging from the raging Covid crisis it grappled with a few weeks ago. Had been.
Dr Singh stressed that vaccination is the greatest protection against coronavirus.
“750 million people have been vaccinated. If the vaccine effectiveness is 70 percent, then about 500 million people in India have got immunity. One dose confers 30-31% immunity. So 300 million people, who got a single dose Yes, vaccination is also done,” he said.
The expert warned that even after vaccination, people need to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour. Dr Singh said that decisive infection, or those who are fully vaccinated, becoming infected, will happen in 20-30 per cent of cases.
“Newer forms also cause transmission of the infection. Scientists say that immunity levels start to drop within 70 to 100 days of vaccination,” he said.
Singh said that more exposure to the virus and vaccination will reduce the infection.
According to the NCDC chief, there is no new version in India. The C1.2 and Mu strains which are currently of concern have not been found in the country.
Dr Singh said, “Just a new variant cannot cause a third wave. The factor would be a mix of behavior and antibodies. There is some concern because of the festive season.”
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