Omicron variant is the dominant variant in the country presently. Whole genome sequencing for Omicron variant is done for all RTPCR positive samples from international travellers arriving since November 28, 2021. Further, for in-country sequencing RT-PCR positive samples having CT-value of less than 25 are referred from sentinel sites in various states regularly, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Friday.
Vaccine effectiveness of 99.3 per cent has been seen in individuals fully inoculated against coronavirus according to the data uploaded on India Covid-19 Tracker till January 2, the Minister told the Lok Sabha.
Responding to a question, Mandaviya said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has developed the India Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker, by merging mainly three national databases -- CoWIN, National Covid-19 Testing database and Covid-19 India portal.
The tracker depicts vaccine effectiveness against death -- the ability of vaccines to reduce death -- using person time analysis from April 12, 2021 to January 2, 2022.
"The tracker is updated periodically and displays the effectiveness of partial and full vaccination against Covid-19.
"The latest data analysed and uploaded till January 2, 2022 depicts vaccine effectiveness of 99.3 per cent in fully vaccinated individuals against Covid-19," Mandaviya said in a written reply.
The data is analysed and presented as per the reports submitted by respective state governments.
The Government has been supporting states in their endeavour to manage Covid-19 since the beginning of pandemic. Given the emergence of mutated variants with variable impact on transmissibility, virulence and effectiveness of vaccines, likelihood of resurgence of Covid-19 trajectory in the country is monitored by various expert committees under ICMR, Directorate General of Health Services and other relevant Ministries/Departments, he said. The Ministry continues to keep a close watch over Covid-19 situation across the country and globally, the minister said adding that the all the States and Union Territories guiding principles for imposition of restrictions or allowing relaxation in context of coronavirus is based on Covid-19 testing confirmation rates and hospital bed occupancy rates.