News: Vaccine and medicines are still effective against the triple-mutant COVID-19 variant found in India

Covid-19 Vaccine News: On Tuesday, the World Health Organization labelled the B.1.617 variant as a variant of concern, cautioning that the variant might be more resistant to antibodies produced and is more transmissible, but still not affirming anything about vaccine being rendered effective less against this variant.

On the same day, Dr. Roderico H. Ofrin, W.H. O’s representative to India said that vaccines and medicines against the Indian triple mutant variant is still largely effective based on as far as what the WHO knows about the virus. Though cases are increasing in a rapid number of infections, the contribution of this variant in the transmission is unclear yet.

The B.1.617 or triple mutated variant is the fourth variant of sorts to be classified as a variant of concern after the variants found in U.K, Brazil and South Africa. Dr. Maria Van Kherkove, a chief epidemiologist at the W.H.O states that evidence from lab samples examinations shows us that there is an increased transmission ability added to this viral strain.

Also Read: Cipla, Lupin, Sun Pharma get licenses to produce Lilly Pharma’s drug locally in India

Due to this added capability of increased transmission the viral strain has to be classified as variant of concern, Kherkove said. Though there are signs to be seen for decline in daily cases and deaths due to COVID-19, they are too early to feel better about anything.

India continues to record over at least 3,50,000 cases on an average day and deaths remain about 3,500 every day. W.H.O Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan stressed that the government should increase its exercises to report actual numbers as rate of infections are very worrying.

Also Read: India records 4,13,000 cases & 3,980 deaths in a worst ever single day record

She added her concern about the worsening situation especially in India and Southeast Asia region with regards to daily number of cases and deaths. She also said that in many of the nation’s counts of cases and deaths are underestimated to its true number which is worrying.