Indian scientists believe that the new variant of the coronavirus that caused COVID-19 is not going to reduce the effect of the vaccine.
They have given various reasons for believing so. The common one is that viruses are known to undergo mutation. In this virus’ case, its mutation rate is very low. To beat the vaccine it needs to mutate a lot. At present, this mutated variant of the COVID-19 causing virus is believed not to impact the vaccine. If the virus evolves, the vaccine could also be updated. Scientists are advising not to panic but follow standard operating procedures and health safety measures like washing hands, wearing masks etc.
The new variant that was discovered in UK is spreading to various parts of the World, but as of now it is not known whether it is in India. Few passengers who departed from Britain and reached India’s different places on Monday have been tested positive for COVID-19. But it is not yet officially confirmed whether the new coronavirus is present in them.
Nodal officer for COVID-19 at Delhi airport reportedly said “Five out of 266 passengers and crew members of a flight, which arrived at Delhi airport from London last night, have tested positive for COVID-19. Their samples have been sent to NCDC for research and they have been sent to a care centre,”
Like this, two passengers from the United Kingdom to Kolkata were found to be COVID-positive, when they were tested at the airport on Sunday. Also, a passenger, who returned from the UK via Delhi to Chennai, has tested positive for coronavirus.
Regarding this, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan said, “We are testing for Covid-19 passengers of flights originating or halting in UK. One such passenger tested positive yesterday. It’s incorrect to presume that he is infected with UK variant of COVID. We’ll send his samples to NIV, Pune.”
Flights to and from UK have been suspended till December 31 in India, and precautionary measures are put into effect.