FAZLI RUMI
COLOMBO : In India, a death of a famous doctor, Dr. Anil Kumar from Delhi Saroj Hospital has opened up the debate of the efficiency of the corona virus vaccine. The experts say vaccination, while highly effective, does not fully prevent coronavirus in some people. Not only In India, even in US Covid infection has been reported among fully vaccinated people. However, the non-vaccinated face a higher risk of death than the vaccinated, as per health experts.
No vaccine offers 100% protection at stopping of infection transmissions. When fully vaccinated people get infected,it is called ‘breakthrough infection’ according to medical experts.
Poor previous health, age, lack of immune response may explain why breakthrough infections occur despite vaccination. Another reason for ‘ breakthrough infection’ is due to viral variants that escape immune detection and flourish in vaccinated people.
In Uk, India and even in Sri Lanka, despite efforts to contain the covid 19, the rise of dangerous variants, so called ‘Delta variant or Indian variant, has increased the risk of the infection spread faster into the community, causing governments to impose further and extended restrictions of travel.
“Alpha” the UK variant, “Beta” South African variant, “Gamma” the Brazilian variant, “Delta” the Indian variant all have higher transmission ratio than the original strain of the virus. The spread of ‘delta variant’ is already out of control in UK and in India. How far the current restriction on travel will be extended will depend on how fast this variant is infecting our community? ( The writer is a Lecturer at Fazli Rumi center for Technology and Business and a Colombo Times reporter)
