"No Scientific Data": Dr VK Paul On Vaccine's Efficacy On Delta Plus Covid Variant

Daily fresh cases of Covid have come down from four lakhs at the peak of the second wave of the pandemic to around 50,000 in the past few days and the unlock process is underway in many parts of the country.

India's Covid Task Force chief VK Paul today said it will be unfair to put a date for any Covid wave as the behaviour of the virus is unpredictable and a disciplined and effective pandemic response can help India get away from any significant outbreak. Amid rising concerns over the Delta Plus variant of the virus, Dr VK Paul, who is also a NITI Aayog Member, asserted that there is no scientific data so far to establish that the new variant is highly transmissible or reduces vaccine efficacy. In an interview to news agency PTI, Dr Paul said that another wave of any size would be dependent on several factors, including overall discipline in terms of Covid-appropriate behaviour, testing and containment strategies, and vaccination rates. "And in addition, the unpredictable behaviour of the virus can also change the pandemic dynamics. In such a scenario, their complex factor will determine the chain of transmission and outbreak.