Jharkhand may achieve herd immunity against Coronavirus by the time a potential third wave hits the state, experts said on Wednesday, claiming that at least half of the 2.6 crore adult population in Jharkhand may get the protection of at least one dose of vaccine by October, which may help in preventing hospitalization and deaths in case a third wave comes.
“We have already vaccinated 90 lakh residents. If the vaccination pace continues at the same pace, then we will have at least half of the adult population protected against Covid-19 by October. If Covid-appropriate behavior is followed and people are cautious, then the third wave may not have a major impact,” said the State Coordinator of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr. Ajay Singh.
Besides, the fourth sero survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in June found that 61.2 per cent of the population surveyed in three districts of Jharkhand – Pakur, Latehar and Simdega – had Covid antibodies. As per ICMR, of the 1231 people tested, 753 were found to have antibodies against Covid-19.
Dr. Prabhat Kumar, the coordinator of the Covid-19 task force at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), however, said that the government should continue with the current restrictions in order to avert a third wave. “Despite several citizens developing antibodies to fight the virus, Covid restrictions will have to be followed strictly in order to stop the virus from mutating and getting stronger by moving from one body to another,” he said.
Dr. Kumar, who has been treating Covid patients at Jharkhand’s largest State-run hospital since the first wave of the pandemic in 2000, said that the severity of symptoms was also gradually dropping with a drop in cases in the state and a third wave may not have a major impact if Covid protocols are followed.