Dr. Balram Bhargava, former ICMR director general, said the JN.1 SARS-COV-2 virus is unlikely to spread in India. Existing immunizations and crowd masking should be enough to fight the infection, he said.
On Wednesday, former Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) director general Dr. Balram Bhargava said the newly discovered JN.1 variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus is unlikely to spread in the country due to COVID-19 vaccines and masking in crowded places.
“We have most of COVID-19 under control except in Kerala and Karnataka. JN.1 is unlikely to expand nationwide. We do not anticipate a significant issue with JN.1 as some experts believe.If you take the prophylactic dose, these vaccines work, he added.
The government is also considering introducing nano particle-based COVID-19 vaccinations from Serum Institute of India (SII) to the Indian population after they were proved to be effective against JN.1. Covovax, created by US-based Novavax, was approved by the DGCI as a heterologous booster in January 2023.
“Serum Institute exported a nanoparticle vaccine to the US. Bhargava, who presented the Dr MVN Shirodkar Memorial Lecture on India’s COVID Vaccine Saga at the Telangana Academy of Sciences, acknowledged the vaccine’s early promise and effectiveness against JN.1.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that vaccines that operate against a variation can be licensed without a clinical trial.
He emphasized the necessity for vigilance and stated the government is building many surveillance facilities. “If you haven’t had the two doses and booster shot, I recommend it. If you are in crowded areas with cases, consider wearing a mask, he advised.
Despite concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccinations causing heart attacks in children due to hasty development, he noted all vaccines underwent Phase-1, Phase-2, and Phase-3 studies.
These immunizations were not hurried in India or the West. South Asians and Indians have heart diseases and strokes 10 years earlier than westerners because we are genetically more predisposed to them. Diabetes and hypertension are rising nationwide, he added.
Conclusion
The newly discovered JN.1 form of the SARS-COV-2 virus is unlikely to spread in India because to existing vaccinations and masking in crowded settings. Nano particle-based COVID-19 vaccines from Serum Institute of India (SII) have showed potential against JN.1. The government is considering them. As to the WHO, vaccinations that work against a variation can be licensed without a particular clinical trial. However, the government is installing monitoring facilities to emphasize vigilantism. Dr. Balram Bhargava insisted that all COVID-19 vaccines underwent Phase-1, Phase-2, and Phase-3 studies.
