In the middle of growing concerns over the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, parliamentary has recommended that the government analyze the effectiveness of Covid vaccines and complete more research to explore the market for champion doses to contain the new strain.
The evaluation of vaccines Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health said it should address concerns with the new pressure-developing immune escape instrument. The committee noted that the healthiness ministry took the actions to prevent the spread of SARS-COV-2 were inadequate and suggested that the focus should be on strengthening health aid, infrastructure, securing an adequate number of mattresses, and collecting oxygen cylinders and required medicines. Government should boost public health. The covid-19 pandemic restricted to urban areas where introduced testing rapidly; the second wave peaked in May and spread widely through rural towns and villages, as said in its report.
In its report, the evaluation of vaccines committee said that it understands rise in mutations in the virus may lead to a more transmittable strain of the Covid virus in the country. The committee, thus, observed that there is an urgent need for improving the geographical distance of testing facilities in rural areas of the nation. It recommended establishing sync between PHCs/CHCs with the VRDLs in the states. It recommended that Union Health Ministry adopt a zero-tolerance Covid-19 policy and closely track Covid cases.
Timely evaluation of vaccines detection and sequestration of potentially infectious people will help in a great way to reduce the impact of the pandemic. Therefore, the panel said that it could not overlook the importance of diagnostic testing. The government must keep increasing the rate of a vaccination program for granting more vaccines, elevating vaccine production, improving delivery capacity, and increasing the vaccination rate. The panel reported that an efficient and widely effective testing mechanism would go a long way in preventing the spread of the infection.
The committee said India’s testing Infrastructure is appalling and highly insufficient because it couldn’t control the second wave that came almost six months after the peak of the first wave. The report stated that India must know its total testing capacity to handle the current pandemic and increase this capacity. The state evaluation of vaccines should ensure that the testing should surpass the growth of the cases to halt the future waves of Covid early. With the new strain of Covid Omicron, especially airports must carry out tracking and testing of Covid instances and must be strengthened. It said there must be rigorous testing and screening of travelers.
The evaluation of vaccines committee is concerned about the present effectiveness of vaccines and the possibility of mutated strains like Omicron evading vaccine immunity. The committee asked the government to conduct more research and examine the need of administering a booster dose of vaccines for containing the newer strain of virus, the committee said in its recommendations.
The evaluation of vaccines committee recommended Indian SARS-CoV-2-Genomic Consortia INSACOG to closely monitor the new strain of the virus and enhance the country’s genome sequencing infrastructure.
WHO designated Omicorn as a “Variant of Concern,” so the government must take immediate measures to prevent the transmission of any newer strains in the country, the committee suggested. Further noting that the North-East region was engulfed during the second wave of the pandemic, the committee said it is high time the ministry takes concrete steps to improve the largely insufficient healthcare facilities in the country’s North-East region.
The committee also sought to be apprised of the “plan of action” concerning the utilization of Rs 64,179.55 crore allocated for strengthening public health infrastructure for pandemic preparedness.
This news was curated by Prittle Prattle News with the help of information provided by PTI.
