Studies among healthcare workers have shown that following vaccination the chances of hospitalisation reduce by 75-80 per cent, while oxygen requirement comes down to 8 per cent even after contracting Covid-19, the Government said on Friday.
Addressing a Press conference, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr VK Paul said in these studies, which have been conducted among healthcare workers who fall in the high risk group, also showed that the risk of ICU admission remains only 6 per cent and the protection against infection was 94 per cent.
“Lives of thousands of healthcare workers have been saved by vaccination. Studies show that chances of hospitalisation reduce by 75-80 per cent after vaccination if they contract Covid. The possibility of oxygen requirement is around 8 per cent and the risk of ICU admission is only 6 per cent. The protection is 94 per cent. These are reasonable sample size studies and they have been conducted in age groups where maximum risk is there,’’ he said.
Paul said in one particular study, there was one death out of 7,000 cases and it was also because the person had comorbidities.
“Similar studies in other countries have also shown the protection vaccine gives. I request people to please accept the vaccine and not hesitate... people might get infected even after that but it will not turn severe, lives will not be lost and by vaccination thousands and thousands of lives can be saved,’’ he added.
Paul said the new guidelines for vaccination to be implemented from June 21 under which 75 per cent vaccines will be procured by the Centre and distributed free of cost to States and the role of private sector in procurement of 25 per cent is “well defined’’.
“I want to emphasise the fact that private sector engagement is critical to the success of vaccination programme to reach the possible number of people and we value that and in the present guidelines this system has been streamlined as a partnership in which state governments play a facilitatory role of aggregation and ensuring spread and large and small hospital participation,’’ Paul said.
On reopening schools, he said several factors have to be kept in mind like there are teachers, helpers and also the aspect of social distancing reduces. So that needs to be given a thought and there are many other issues, he said.