ICMR study claims 2 doses vaccine reduced COVID deaths

New Delhi: An ICMR study claims that two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been successful in preventing 95% of deaths during the second wave of the pandemic in India.

NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr VK Paul cited the study and said that the vaccine doses were effective in saving the lives of "high-risk" policemen when the country was facing a surge in Covid-19 cases driven by the Delta variant.

The study analysed vaccine effectiveness in 1,17,524 police officers in Tamil Nadu, reported The Indian Express. 67,673 of the police officers had received two doses and 32,792 received a single dose. 17,059 of them were not vaccinated at the time of the study.

VK Paul told media in Delhi that 20 of the police officers who were not vaccinated succumbed to the infection. And seven deaths were reported among those who received one dose. Four policemen among those who received both doses died. He added that vaccine effectiveness is 82% in those who received a single dose and 95% in those who received both doses.

The NITI Aayog member said that the next three to four months are "very critical" for the country due to the possibility of a third wave of Covid-19. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target that a third wave should not occur in our country.

"As the vaccination progresses, we will reach a safe zone in the next 3-4 months. But the next 100-125 days are very critical for us. The system and individuals will have to act responsibly," said VK Paul.

Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal told the media that the intensity of the third wave of Covid-19 is more important than the wave itself. He added that the intensity of the wave depends on Covid-appropriate behaviour and vaccination.