Extra vaccine dose for new Covid variant JN.1? Here’s what Covid panel chief Dr NK Arora has to say
The number of Covid cases is rising rapidly in India with the new JN.1 variant. Given the increase in cases, do we need an additional vaccine dose for this? This is what Dr. NK Arora, Covid Panel Chief, has to say about it.
New Delhi: Covid19 is back with another variant, JN.1, and the cases of this sub-variant have been found in several states, especially in Kerala. People in India are keeping track of the symptoms and precautions they need to know to protect themselves from the virus and its new variant. An important question in people’s minds is whether the JN.1 Variant requires an additional vaccine dose or not. Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in India and the detection of a subvariant JN.1, the head of the India SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), Dr NK Arora, said there are currently no additional dose of vaccine is needed against the subvariant.
No additional vaccine doses required: INSACOG chief
Speaking to ANI about the current situation in the country, Dr Arora said, “I would say prevention is necessary for anyone who is 60 years or above, who is likely to have co-morbidities and for those who are taking drugs that suppress our immunity. , such as cancer patients. If they have not taken precautions so far, they are advised to take precautions; otherwise, no additional doses are needed.” The head of INSACOG claimed that several sub-variants of Omicron have been reported, but none have increased its severity.
#WATCH | On the new Jn.1 variant of Covid-19, Dr NK Arora, Chairman, INSACOG said, “Within India…from October last week and then till now in the last 8 weeks we have seen 22 cases…there is no evidence that it spreads. very fast…Jn.1 is less than 1% of all isolates to date.… pic.twitter.com/fPyLgoPJrQ
— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2023
“Every week you hear something new emerging in different places, and then it spreads all over India. We have identified a large number of subvariants, over 400 subvariants or mutations of this virus, and fortunately none of these Omicron variants have really been associated with more severe illness or hospitalization,” he said. He explained the main symptoms of JN.1 and emphasized that they are similar to those of other subvariants.
AIIMS is advising people after the emergence of Covid cases
Following a surge in cases of the new COVID subvariant JN.1, doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have advised people not to panic but remain alert and vigilant. “People are getting infected with the new sub-variant of COVID-JN.1 in many states of the country. The patients’ symptoms are mild. Therefore, there is no need to panic, but remain alert,” said doctor Neeraj Nischal. India witnessed a multi-fold increase in the number of new COVID cases in the last 24 hours, with Kerala accounting for the majority of it. The total number of active cases of Covid-19 in the country was recorded at 3,420.
JN.1 Covid variant symptoms
According to Dr. Ujjwal Prakash, Senior Consultant in Chest Medicine, Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, JN.1 Subvariant is a mild variant and causes upper respiratory tract symptoms. Reported symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, fever, sore throat, headache and sometimes gastrointestinal complaints. These symptoms are said to improve within four to five days. Dr. Prakash further said, “The first way forward is to test this new variant of COVID, if possible, and then we have to see if they have COVID or any other viral infection. Symptoms are almost very common with other viral infections. They can be slightly more serious. Some patients may have some symptoms more severe than others, but the infection is more or less the same as any other viral infection.”
(Input from ANI)