NEW DELHI: Dr Samiran Panda, Head of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said that a study to analyse the effectiveness of existing COVID-19 vaccines against the Delta plus variant is underway. He added that the third wave will be not as severe as the second wave which devastated the country in April-May.
Panda said that there is no need to panic and emphasised on the need to step-up the vaccination drive to tackle the future waves of the pandemic. He added that so far, less than 50 cases of Delta plus variant have been reported from 10 states, which does not indicate the onset of the third wave. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has warned states regarding the increased transmissibility of the new variant and its ability to reduce the monoclonal antibody response.
The study, based on mathematical analysis, showed that the new Delta plus variant is unlikely to cause the new wave of COVID-19 pandemic until it causes the loss of immune protection from the previous infection.