VACCINATION IS THE BEST STRATEGY FOR CONTROLLING SPREAD OF COVID-19

Vaccination is our best strategy for controlling this viral spread. Although once a person has been vaccinated their chances of getting infected are reduced by 85%-95%, there is still a 15% to 5% chance that they can still get infected with coronavirus.

Researchers have concluded that relaxation of non pharmaceutical interventions, once vaccination of the population has reached a tipping point short of herd immunity can increase the probability of the emergence of a resistant strain that natural selection then favours.

So to counter such a resistant strain pharmacological interventions are of utmost importance at present. Whenever we will let our guard down there will a rise of a new strain as we have all seen in the second wave that had hit India during the months of April to June. This type of pandemic emergencies will keep on rising unless we act and follow the rules of safety.

Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest can be deferred by modern medical science and its accomplishments. But the participation of the common masses is of equal importance. At present vaccine is the only thing standing between us and the covid-19 virus. We have become accustomed to the pandemic and focus on the reduction of spread and deaths from an epidemiological point of view. With time we will gain new perspectives and newer dimensions to our thinking and approach.

Along with vaccination, one must continue all safe practices including sanitization, social distancing and wearing masks. Post-vaccination also a person can become Covid positive and therefore must be careful and vigilant in seeking medical help.

Mainly 3 factors are responsible for the spread of the vaccine-resistant virus –

• Slow rate of vaccination

• A large number of infected people

• Mutation speed of the virus

These can be tackled by nonpharmaceutical interventions pre and post-vaccination also. These include maintaining safe practices and boosting our immunity naturally through methods shown by the AYUSH Ministry of Health. Studies have shown that in a population where almost 60% of vaccination has been achieved, there is stability in the mutation of the virus and the spread of infection. With proper medical intervention, this is possible. So we must continue taking all possible precautions against the Covid 19 virus and must get vaccinated against this disease.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Get Vaccinated at the earliest

Continue all safe practices

Do not delay approaching medical help