New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Friday said that the coronavirus will reach its endemic stage like influenza after a while. "Mutation is normal for all viruses when they proliferate. The Covid-19 virus will reach its endemic stage like influenza after a while and then vulnerable population may have to take the vaccine shot annually," said Dr Samiran Panda, Head of Epidemiology and Communicable disease division at the ICMR.
Dr Panda also said that breastfeeding mothers should get themselves vaccinated against Covid-19 without any hesitation. "The antibodies that are developed in the mother as a result of the vaccination get passively transferred to the baby while breastfeeding and could be helpful," said Dr Panda while participating in a webinar programme. He said that the vaccines available in India are largely effective against the new variants.
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"Vaccines are not infection preventive, but disease-modifying. Experiments at ICMR have proved that the vaccines presently available in India are effective against the new variants. However, the efficacy may differ for different strains," said Dr Panda. He said that influenza commonly known as flu was a pandemic 100 years ago, but today it is endemic.
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"Similarly, in the case of Covid-19, we expect that it will gradually become endemic from its current state of being a pandemic. As the influenza virus keeps on mutating, we simultaneously make minor changes in the vaccine," added Dr Panda.
Dr Panda further said that people with normal allergies like asthma, dust allergy, allergen of pollen grains etc can take the vaccine. "Patients with co-morbidities can take the vaccine if they are stable. It is advisable for people suffering from diabetes and other immuno-suppressed conditions to get vaccinated because they are at higher risk," said Dr Panda.
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