Staying prepared: On scaling up the pace of COVID-19 genome sequencing
- Three years after strict enforcement of its Zero-COVID strategy, China abandoned it abruptly due to which an estimated 250 million people were infected in 20 days overwhelming hospitals and crematoria.
- Based on 30 genome sequences deposited between October & December & 14 genome sequences in December alone from China, BF.7 appears to be the dominant variant.
Achievements of & measures taken by India
- Vaccination of over 90% of the adult population: with booster dose to over one-fourth of adults
- Hybrid immunity from vaccination and natural infection: leading to all Omicron sub-lineages causing only a mild disease.
- Health Ministry urging States to only ramp up genome sequencing: (and not increase testing) to track new variants as the virus evolves.
- 2% random post-arrival sampling of international passengers: and mandatory RT-PCR tests for arrivals from China and four other countries.
- States to ensure operational readiness: by ensuring uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen and conducting a drill in health facilities.
- India’s sufficiency in vaccine availability: With 7 COVID-19 vaccines, including intranasal vaccine, India is vaccine self-sufficient.
- Homologous & heterologous booster dose: to boost the immunity of a mass scale of population.
- On the antiviral front: a company recently received WHO’s prequalification for a generic version of Pfizer’s COVID-19 oral antiviral drug, Paxlovid.