'Researchers unsure of real-time implications of mass vaccination'

Dr Rajan Shankarnarayanan of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad said that scientists are still figuring what percentage of the population must be vaccinated to bring down R-Value of COVID-19.

Bengaluru (Karnataka): As the world awaits a vaccine against COVID-19, India too is patiently waiting. But scientists are still figuring what percentage of the population must be vaccinated to bring down R Value of COVID-19.

R-value is a key parameter to determine the rate of spread of virus infection.

"Some believed during initial stages of Covid outbreak in India, herd immunity could be achieved to solve the problem. But if that would have been done it could have been a disaster," said Dr Rajan Shankarnarayanan, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), when asked what percentage of Indians must be vaccinated to bring down R-Value of COVID-19.

"In similar ways, there are going to be serious issues during the vaccine implementation program. And we need to handle it very well, It may take months to years. On the first place, we need to know the effectivity of vaccines."

There are some rough guidelines from the central government regarding the priority of vaccination. Dr Rajan Shankarnarayanan said it is nearly impossible to say what percentage of the population must be vaccinated to bring down R-Value.