One dose of COVID-19 vaccine is 96.6 percent effective in prevention of death against the disease while with the two doses the effectiveness is 97.5 percent. Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr Balram Bhargava said, this protective effectiveness of vaccine was revealed in an analysis done through synergizing the data from Co-WIN, COVID-19 India portal and COVID-19 testing portal. He said this vaccine protective effects against death were observed in all age groups from above 60 years and 45 to 59 years olds to 18 years and above. Dr Bhargava said the data was analyzed between 18th April to 15th August this year.
Dr Bhargav added that data has revealed that death among the non-vaccinated people is high while mortality rate after two doses is nearly zero. The ICMR DG said the government is developing a COVID-19 vaccine tracker with synergised data giving a week by week update of doses. He said, it will be up on the Health Ministry’s website in a few days time. Dr Bhargava said, low-key celebrations of festivals should be encouraged to avoid the spread of COVID-19 and responsible travel rather than revenge travel should be practiced.
Member Health in NITI Aayog, Dr V. K. Paul said, the vaccinating children is not a condition for reopening schools. He said, this criterion is not acceptable anywhere in the world, no scientific body, epidemiological evidence suggests it as a condition.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, the pace of vaccination and coverage is rapidly increasing in the country. He said, the average per-day dose administered has increased from 20 lakhs in May to 78 lakhs in September this year. The Secretary said, this number is expected to climb even higher. Mr Bhushan said, 18 per cent of India’s adult population has received both doses of COVID vaccine and 58 per cent have been administered at least one dose. He added that, in Sikkim, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Himachal Pradesh all people above 18 years got at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
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