Covid-19 vaccination -- A handy guide for all your queries prokerala.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from prokerala.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Updated Jan 13, 2021 | 08:00 IST
A clear conclusion of this discussion was that vaccination is the safest way to build immunity against COVID-19. Can COVID-19 vaccine affect pregnancy and childbirth? Experts demystify risks associated with vaccination | Photo Credit: iStock Images
In a sustained effort to help the population at large understand the use of vaccines in the fight against COVID-19, some important aspects really must be addressed - fear and ignorance about the effectiveness of vaccines, and their impact on developing immunity in the society. These are the most crucial steps for the COVID-19 vaccination programme to succeed.
To help sensitise healthcare providers and the public on the upcoming vaccination drive, public health experts, civic authorities and COVID-19 experts at Fortis Hospital, Mumbai, joined hands to demystify beliefs about the risks associated with vaccines. The team of experts conducted a virtual discussion that en
All you need to know about the new coronavirus strain
Just when we were building hopes about the vaccine for Covid-19, the UK government announced that they found a highly contagious new variant of the Coronavirus circulating in England. Citing the rapid spread of the virus through London and surrounding areas, Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed the countryâs most stringent lockdown.
Dr Rahul Pandit, Director-Critical Care, Fortis Hospitals Mumbai, & Member of Maharashtra s Covid-19 task force said that scientists are worried about these variants but not surprised by them. Like all viruses, coronavirus is a shape-shifter. Some genetic changes are inconsequential. Researchers have recorded thousands of tiny modifications in the genetic material of the coronavirus as it has hopscotched across the world. âThe British variant has affected how the virus locks onto human cells and infects them. These mutations may allow the variant to replicate and transmit more efficiently,
What is the new strain?
“The variant has been named ‘VUI – 202012/01’ (the first Variant Under Investigation in December 2020). It is not uncommon for viruses to undergo mutations; seasonal influenza mutates every year. Variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been observed in other countries, such as Spain. This variant includes a mutation in the ‘spike’ protein. According to researchers, this virus has at least 17 changes of mutation. Changes in this part of the spike protein may result in the virus becoming more infectious and spreading more easily between people,” explains Dr Pandit.
How harmful is it?
“While most mutations are either harmful to the virus or have no effect, a few mutations in this new variant looked as if they could potentially affect how the coronavirus spread. According to reports, the new variant of the SARS-COV-2 could be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the old variant. What’s more worrying is that this strain is affecting people in the age