‘92% of HCWs infected with Covid had mild infection’

For many who have received the COVID-19 vaccination, an evidence-based study released by Fortis Healthcare highlights that among 92 percent of fully vaccinated healthcare workers who received a Covid-19 infection after vaccination, Only mild covids developed in them. -19 infections are recovering largely under home care, despite an increase in serious infections during the second wave of the pandemic. The findings of the study, released to understand the role of vaccines and the severity of post-vaccination COVID-19 infection, address vaccine hesitancy and dispel vaccination myths. The study highlights that of those who tested COVID-19 positive post-vaccination, only one percent of fully vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) developed serious illness, In whom ICU care/ventilator support was required. The study assessed nearly 16,000 healthcare workers who were given both the first and second doses of the vaccine between January and May this year. This period also included the peak of the second wave, with India reporting 3.5 to 4 lakh cases every day and HCWs working round the clock, leading the recovery of critically infected patients. The overall findings of the study emphasize that the available vaccines for COVID-19 in India are effective and provide protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Key findings of the study At least 92 percent of healthcare workers (16,000) who received the first and second doses (fully vaccinated) of the two-dose vaccine, He did not suffer severe symptoms requiring ICU care or resulting in mortality. After getting both the doses, only six percent of the staff got infected. Statistics show that of those who became infected after being fully vaccinated, 92 percent had mildly infected cases and seven percent developed moderate disease requiring oxygen support and only one percent developed severe disease, including ICU care and ventilation were required. Ongoing studies suggest another important benefit of vaccination. In addition to the direct effects of reducing the risk of infection and reducing severity, vaccines may also be associated with a reduced chance of home transmission, To prevent the spread of infection to others. A new study by Public Health England (PHE) has shown that a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNtech or AstraZeneca Vaccine) reduces domestic transmission by 50 percent. Commenting on the findings of the study, Dr Bishnu Panigrahi, Group Head, Medical Strategy and Operations Fortis Healthcare, said: “The study clearly brings important conclusions that the vaccines available in India for COVID-19 provide protection against the virus. Health workers who are most at risk and vulnerable to getting infected with the virus. While India has solid vaccine manufacturing capacity at its disposal, A comprehensive and multi-pronged mass education strategy is really needed to achieve last mile delivery. We need to use our research and study findings in a variety of ways and smart data analytics to dispel the rumours, myths and hesitation over inoculation among the population. Evidence is the best tool to help spread awareness and bring authentic information to every citizen of India. We must stop the virus in its transit corridors, intensifying all efforts to protect both lives and livelihoods. Vaccine efficacy is commonly reported as relative risk reduction (RRR). Studies have already demonstrated that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 significantly reduces the risk of getting infected. For example, in clinical trials, A 95 percent efficacy of the vaccine would indicate that vaccinated individuals would be 95 percent less likely to get COVID-19. If 1 percent of the non-vaccinated population develops COVID-19, getting vaccinated will reduce the chance of getting Covid-19 by 95 percent, resulting in an infection rate of 0.05 percent. After the second dose with a follow-up of 14 days, the incidence of infection was 1.6%, PGI Study Professor PVM Lakshmi, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGI, along with two other doctors from the institute, document the data. With regard to the successful infection in a group of healthcare workers at the Institute, who had received the COVID-19 vaccine. The report was published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine. According to the report’s data, out of 12,248 health workers, 7,170 (58. 5 per cent) had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 3,650 (29.8 per cent) had received the second dose as per the guidelines of the central government. Meanwhile, at least 5,078 healthcare workers (41.5 per cent) were not vaccinated. Since the start of the vaccination programme, at least 506 healthcare workers have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Of the 7,170 who received the first dose of the vaccine, 184 (2.6 percent) of healthcare workers tested positive; The median time between receipt of the first dose and testing positive was 44 days. A total of 72 out of 3,650 healthcare workers (2 percent) tested positive after the second dose; The median time from receiving the second dose to testing positive was 20 days. In healthcare workers who received both doses and completed a follow-up of at least 14 days after the second dose, the incidence of breakthrough infection was 1. 6 percent (48 out of 3,000 healthcare workers); The median time from receiving the second dose to successful infusion was 29.5 days. “This was a preliminary study done in April, when the mutant strains were not floating, and now that more than 70-75 per cent of healthcare workers have been vaccinated, another study and analysis to understand the changes in this period is required. Time and accumulated evidence should be reviewed. More medical institutions and hospitals should conduct periodic studies related to infection and vaccination. Currently, Punjab, as a state, is looking at vaccination data to understand more,” says Professor Lakshmi. . And now that more than 70-75 percent of healthcare workers have been vaccinated, a further study and analysis is needed to understand the changes over this period. Time and accumulated evidence should be reviewed. More medical institutions and hospitals should conduct periodic studies related to infection and vaccination. Currently, Punjab, as a state, is looking at vaccination data to understand more,” says Professor Lakshmi. . And now that more than 70-75 percent of healthcare workers have been vaccinated, a further study and analysis is needed to understand the changes over this period. Time and accumulated evidence should be reviewed. More medical institutions and hospitals should conduct periodic studies related to infection and vaccination. Currently, Punjab, as a state, is looking at vaccination data to understand more,” says Professor Lakshmi. .