Chennai: Speakers at a panel discussion on ‘Covid-19: Lessons Learnt and Planning Forward’, echoed the sentiment that Delta plus Covid-19 variant continues to be a cause of concern and quick vaccination is the only weapon we have at hand.
Immediate vaccination will enable us to achieve herd immunity while also reducing the chances of black fungus, severe health complications, side effects, blood clots, and secondary infections. The panelists at the discussion organised by Neuberg Diagnostics also expressed the concern that if we lower our guard, then the third wave is imminent and will likely begin in August and peak in November.
Dr Mohan Kameswaran, founder, Madras ENT Research Foundation, Chennai, said, “We witnessed the first case of Mucormycosis (black fungus) in March. Although high, it is not as high as anticipated. In Tamilnadu, the spread of Mucormycosis became epidemic within pandemic.”
He added, “60 percent to 70 percent of the patients who came to me with black fungus had not taken the vaccine, 25-30 percent had taken one dose, and less than 5 percent had taken both doses. Thus, people who have taken both doses have a good chance against Covid-19 infection and are much less prone to black fungus.”
On the third wave, Dr Rajinder Kumar Singal, senior director and HOD – Internal Medicine, BLK Max Hospital, New Delhi, said, “We are still not out of the second wave but are ready for the third wave. The third wave is expected to be less severe than the second wave due to increased vaccination.”