Blanket approaches equivalent to full restrictions on the motion of individuals and journey restrictions could backfire in containing COVID in a rustic like India, mentioned Roderico H Ofrin, WHO’s India consultant, advocating focused, risk-based methods to fight the pandemic. Said occurred.
Emphasizing the necessity to defend each lives and livelihoods, he mentioned that public well being motion in India and around the globe ought to be guided by proof on 4 consecutive key questions – how a lot is communicable, the severity of the illness brought on by it, How nicely the vaccine protects towards prior SARS-CoV-2 an infection and the way most of the people understands the danger and follows management measures.
“WHO does not recommend a blanket travel ban, nor a complete ban on the movement of people. In many ways, such blanket approaches can be counterproductive. India with its diversity in population distribution and geographic spread, a risk-based approach to combating a pandemic is sensible public health practice,” Ofrin advised PTI in an e-mail interview.
Based on the epidemiological state of affairs, obtainable public well being capabilities and the social and financial context, governments ought to tailor their measures to stop and management transmission, a Delhi-based official mentioned as an Omron-driven surge boosted India’s Covid tally. 3,76,18,271 (37.6 Million/3.76 Crore) on Tuesday.
“WHO advises governments to adopt a subtle, targeted and risk-based approach that includes layered containment measures, minimizing the risks associated with travel and transmission,” Ofrin mentioned.
If all of the dos and don’ts are adopted, there is no such thing as a want for a lockdown.
“In the current scenario, existing tools and solutions remain effective, cutting the chain of transmission by expanding vaccination coverage, using masks, maintaining hand hygiene, maintaining physical distancing, ventilation of indoor spaces and avoiding crowds. helps in. If these are followed, there will be no need for the lockdown,” Offrin mentioned.
He added that the emergence of a brand new model of the coronavirus of this magnitude is “beyond expectation” and it’s clear that “Omicron has a growth advantage when it spreads rapidly across delta states and territories”.
According to the Union Health Ministry, 2,38,018 new coronavirus infections have been registered within the nation on Tuesday. With this, the energetic instances have risen to 17,36,628 (1.7 million/17.3 lakh), the best in 230 days, whereas the dying toll has risen to 4,86,761 with 310 contemporary deaths.
While it isn’t potential to sequence the genome of each pattern, consultants agree that the present wave is being pushed largely by the Omicron variant.
Elaborating on the methods to deal with the present COVID state of affairs, he joined as WHO’s India consultant in July 2020, emphasizing that it isn’t solely the accountability of the federal government however of each particular person.
“It is the same virus/disease with a different form. Mitigation measures imposed against earlier variants are still recommended to counter Omicron. Strategies for testing, detection and treatment as well as strengthening surveillance and health systems; Expanding vaccination coverage, maintaining essential health services, and community-level prevention measures effectively underpin response efforts to tackle the pandemic,” he mentioned.
Asked whether or not the Indian authorities had delayed the choice to offer booster doses to docs, and different well being care and frontline staff, the WHO India chief mentioned, “The major advice of the WHO is to supply for susceptible populations and people in want. continues to prioritize entry to vaccines for many who haven’t but been vaccinated. Your dosage is full, and the deployment of the booster is secondary. This has additionally been India’s vaccination technique.
“The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) recommends that boosters remain in place for people who are immunocompromised, those with chronic diseases, especially the elderly.”
Implementing a blanket booster program, whereas giant sections of the inhabitants stay unvaccinated, is prone to lengthen the pandemic and miss giant populations it goals to guard, Ofrin defined.
He mentioned that retaining in view the epidemiological and social context of India, vaccination for kids ought to be began after a correct research on baby security.
“Although most COVID-19 vaccines are solely accepted to be used in adults 18 years of age and older, an growing variety of vaccines are actually being approved to be used in youngsters as nicely. A vaccine will be launched for this age group solely after a radical research and deliberation of the proof on the protection of kids in response to the epidemiological and social context of the nation. ,
“India is already vaccinating the age group of 15-18 years. The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) and the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) are deliberating on scientific proof associated to the appropriateness of vaccines to youngsters underneath 15 years of age.
Discussing WHO’s position in serving to the Indian authorities cope with the pandemic, Ofrin mentioned it’s offering technical and on-ground help via a community of two,600 area officers and personnel positioned in 23 states and all states. and reaching as much as Union Territories (UTs).
“Our people deployed in programs including vaccination, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, etc. have been redeployed to work with health officials at all levels to respond to the pandemic.”
Will the present pandemic finish in 2022?
“It is very difficult to fix a date for the end of the pandemic. Remember that as the virus continues to transmit, new forms are likely to appear that may be more transmitted or severe. It is possible to bring this virus under control by ensuring the availability and strategic use of the equipment we have.” Ofrin replied.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
