Two basic questions on Covid issues that need attention

I have two basic questions on COVID

1) In India we had SARS-COV2 D614G strain in 2020 and the same in most countries

2) Now we have B.1.1.7 (UK Strain) and B.1.617 (Indian Strain) in India.

Questions:
1) If someone gets vaccinated, it may cover D614g and B.1.1.7 but they can still contract B.1.617 (research below says that) because vaccine dowsnt provide protection.

2) The testing kits of Rt-PCR and RAT tests were designed to identify d614G. Can they still catch B.1.617? Is that why RTPCR is not able to catch it. Do testing kits need to be updated ?

Why is our Govt not working on these issues with urgency. Can LocalCircles please escalate to Govt.

Was there in most countries more

Latest Research on Indian Variant B.1.617

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants threatens efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in India have risen steeply in recent weeks and a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant, B.1.617, is believed to be responsible for many of these cases. The spike protein of B.1.617 harbors two mutations in the receptor binding domain, which interacts with the ACE2 receptor and constitutes the main target of neutralizing antibodies. Therefore, the attached research analyzed whether B.1.617 is more adept in entering cells and/or evades antibody responses. B.1.617 entered two out of eight cell lines tested with slightly increased efficiency and was blocked by entry inhibitors. In contrast, B.1.617 was resistant against Bamlanivimab, an antibody used for COVID-19 treatment. Finally, B.1.617 evaded antibodies induced by infection or vaccination, although with moderate efficiency. Collectively, our study reveals that antibody evasion of B.1.617 may contribute to the rapid spread of this variant.

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Darshan Sharma

Gigantic problems need gigantic solutions. Big mouths need shutting. State governments should not bye-pass the Centre and mis-guide the people with divisionary tactics and the PM must exert more to fight Corona and protect the public at large. more

May 12

VAITHEESWARAN SANKARANARAYANAN

We need to understand that carono virus strains mutate since it was first identified. Only period varies and some virus is very contagious and spreads quickly and others not. So it is evolving process in research in identifying the virus strains and its characteristics/behaviour and the same logic needs to be applied in vaccine research as well. But at the same time, reckoning the situation vaccine are released for emergency use across the globe which helps to prevents the spread little slow and victims are affected mildly barring exceptions So it is not fair to say that government is not working as it depends on various channels/platforms which needs to be understood. Policies to combat covid are framed on certain assumptions which may in sometimes go haywire beyond one's control. Nonetheless, government should come out with alternative remedial actions to counter new issues at the earliest. Fine example is covid 2nd wave. However, government has really blundered in scheduling vaccination programme, its procurement and pricing. It should have been universal free vaccination in a graded manner for a population size of ours, thus failed to meet the demand and supply. more

May 12

Tiru Narayan (Retired)

Wear mask, keep distance, be safe. more

May 10

Gopabandhu Mohapatra

Corrective steps should be taken based on study by experts. more

May 09

Deenaz Bulsara

That is why Mr. Adar Poonawalla has tied up for research in the U.K. and people misunderstood him. What I cannot understand is why is there a UK variant, and Indian variant and a South African variant. Could these have developed outside of the countries and been introduced? Why only these countries? It does not make sense to me. It could have been transmitted thru the phone lines or mobile phones. more

May 08

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