The third wave of Covid is just weeks ahead and is expected to peak in the month of October. Amid the threat of third wave, the vaccination drive is in full swing in the country. However, several cases have been reported in which people who have administer both vaccine jabs are still contracting the infection.
Following this, people's concerns are raised, but a recent study has brought a sigh of relief among people, especially for those receiving AstraZeneca's CoviShield vaccine.
According to the Centre, the COVID-19 vaccine Covishield by Serum Institute of India gives 93 percent protection against coronavirus and a 98 percent decline in mortality. The announcement was made by citing a vaccination efficacy study conducted by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMC).
When India started its immunisation programme against COVID-19 on January 16, 2021, 1.59 million Health Care Workers and Frontline Workers of the Armed Forces were among the first beneficiaries, according to an official announcement. The majority of the men in the research were healthy and had minimal co-morbid conditions. Children and the elderly were not included.
World's largest vaccination efficacy study
The Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) has conducted the world's largest study.
According to researchers, the sample size of all previous studies was less than 10 lakhs. "As a result, we believe the VIN-WIN cohort is one of the biggest vaccination efficacy studies ever conducted."
Oxford-AZD-1222 AstraZeneca's formulation is available in CoveShield, a Made in India version. It's also one of the most common vaccinations used in India to protect against the ongoing Covid-19 infection.
Dr VK Paul, NITI Aayog Member, presented the findings of the research, which involved 15 lakh doctors and frontline workers, at a press conference.
“In those who were given the Covishield vaccination, protection to the extent of 93 percent was found, and this was during the second wave, which was driven by the Delta strain, additionally, 98 percent mortality reduction was seen,” he added.
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Have faith in vaccines
Mr Paul emphasised the importance of vaccinations in the fight against COVID-19, saying that inoculation decreases infection but is not a 100% guarantee.
“Although no vaccination can ensure that an infection will not occur, it can significantly reduce the risk of serious illness. I strongly urge you to be alert, cautious, and confident in our vaccinations in the next weeks and months,” he continued.
How was the vaccine's efficacy calculated?
The authors of the Vin-WIN study calculated the incident rate and incident rate ratio. The one-incident ratio was used to calculate vaccine efficacy.
On a daily basis, both crude and corrected rates were estimated and adjusted for pandemic force, second wave, and changing numbers in the three categories. According to the official announcement, the study was completed at no additional expense by analysing existing data.
The VIN-WIN cohort research used anonymized data from the Armed Forces' existing health surveillance system, which had been upgraded for COVID-19 monitoring.
Single dose of vaccine is over 82% effective
The Indian Council of Medical Research said earlier this month that a single dosage of the vaccine was up to 82 percent effective, according to research performed by the Tamil Nadu Police Department, ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology, and Christian Medical College, Vellore. The efficacy against corona increases to 95% in individuals who take both jabs.
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87.5 percent of hospitalised patients had not been vaccinated
At the same time, research done at 20 government covid clinics in Maharashtra under the Director of Medical Education and Research found that 87.5 percent of individuals hospitalised owing to corona did not receive the vaccination.
The findings of the study will put people's fears about vaccines to rest.
The results of this study, according to Rajat Dutta, co-author of the study and director-general of the Armed Forces Medical Services, "shows the efficiency of the vaccination against corona. If you have any doubts about the vaccination, this study may be able to assist you to get rid of them."
Covid appropriate behaviour is a must, even after getting both jabs of vaccine
While speaking about the importance of vaccination, NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul stated that the vaccine is the sole weapon in the fight against Corona. However, following covid norms like wearing masks, social distancing is also equally important.
As vaccination can not assure 100% protection against virus, the covid appropriate behaviour will save you from contracting the infection, meanwhile also reducing the risk to those who have not administered vaccine yet.
According to a Reuters report, SII's Covishield shot, a variant of the AstraZeneca vaccine, has been used in nearly 88 percent of all vaccination doses delivered in India to far.
The firm is expected to increase the supply of its Covishield vaccine to over 120 million doses in August, according to the ministry.