Dr VK Paul on Tuesday informed that India Has Sent COVID Vaccines To 24 Countries So Far.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr Paul noted that India can draw huge satisfaction over the progress made so far in the vaccination programme, with close to 9 million vaccine doses being delivered in the country.
Dr Paul also informed that the South African and Brazilian variants of the coronavirus have entered the country through foreign travellers.
“We are reporting to you today that the South African and Brazilian variant has entered in some form into our country through travellers and we already have the UK variant in our country. These variants will not cause a catastrophic situation in our country hopefully. This shows that the vigil to contain this disease must continue,” he said.
He advised that contact tracing of all positive and quarantine measures must continue as usual.
It should not become complacent and take suitable measures against the virus urged Dr Paul.
Earlier, Dr Balram Bhargava, DG, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) informed that the South African strain of COVID-19 has been detected in four returnees from South Africa and all travellers and their contacts have been tested and quarantined.
It was also informed by him that 187 patients with the UK variant were confirmed, who have been quarantined and tested, adding that the strain can be neutralised with India’s vaccine.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian strain of the virus has been successfully isolated and cultured at ICMR-NIV-Pune and experiments to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine against the strain are underway, said Dr Bhargava.
