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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · South Asian J Cancer 2021; 10(01): 28-31
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1733320
Original Article

Robust Protective Effect of COVID-19 Vaccination in India—Results of Survey in the Midst of Pandemic’s Second Wave

Purvish M. Parikh
1   Mumbai Oncocare Centers, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
,
Udip Maheshwari
2   Department of Medical Oncology, Mumbai Oncocare Centers, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
,
V. M. Krishna
3   Institute of Oncology AIG Hospitals Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
,
S. Gupta
4   Department of Medical Oncology & Hemato Oncology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mohali, Punjab, India
,
T. Patil
5   Department of Medical Oncology, Sahyadri Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
,
S. Mandhaniya
6   Department of Medical Oncology, Mandhanya Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
,
P. Mehta
7   Department of Medical Oncology/Hematoncology/BMT, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Faridabad, Haryana, India
,
S. P. Somashekhar
8   Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Center, Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
,
B. Parekh
9   Department of Oncology, Shalby Cancer & Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
,
R. Singh
10   Department of Medical Oncology, Narayana Health, Delhi NCR, India
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Abstract

Introduction Our objective was to document the incidence of COVID-19 in vaccinated health care professionals and related personnel.

Method We conducted an online survey to ascertain the incidence of COVID-19 symptoms, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positivity, effect on normal activity, need for anti-COVID-19 medication, hospitalization, and death among individuals who had completed both doses of COVID vaccination at least 2 weeks earlier.

Results A total of 351 unique valid responses were received. Among the 340 people who had been vaccinated in India, 5% (17/340) had COVID-19 symptoms, 4.7% (16) became COVID-19 RT-PCR positive, 12 (3.5%) had sickness preventing normal daily activity, 2.65% (9) required anti-COVID-19 medication, and 1.18% (4) required hospitalization. Among family members living with the survey responders, the corresponding incidence was even lower. There was one death in this group.

Discussion Being health care professionals, the responders would be at higher risk of daily exposure to COVID-19. Even in this high risk group, the vaccine efficacy is good. Vulture journalists should stop spreading fake news and misinformation that makes people hesitate taking the vaccine or be afflicted analysis paralysis. Every person who chooses to remain unvaccinated increases the risk for our entire community. We also need to follow universal precautions (wearing mask, physical distancing, handwashing) diligently without letting down our guard.

Keywords

covishield - covaxin - clinical benefit - preventing death - preventing hospitalization - Buridean’s ass - analysis paralysis - vulture journalism - inflammatory fake news


Publication History

Article published online:
21 August 2021

© 2021. MedIntel Services Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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