92 per cent fully vaccinated health workers got only mild Covid-19: Study

A healthcare worker gets vaccinated at Bhabha hospital in Bandra in January. File pic

A study by a leading private chain of hospitals found that 92 per cent fully vaccinated healthcare workers (HCW) developed only a mild Covid-19 infection. The study involved 16,000 healthcare workers who received the vaccine between January and May. Vaccinated HCWs did not need severe outcomes like ICU care.

The study showed that only six per cent HCWs got infected after taking both doses, while seven per cent who got infected post-vaccination developed moderate illness requiring oxygen support, only one per cent got severe illness requiring ICU care.

"The study clearly shows important findings that the vaccines available in India for Covid-19 do provide protection against the virus even in healthcare workers who are at highest risk. While India has sound vaccine manufacturing capacity at its disposal, what is really needed is a comprehensive and multi-pronged mass education strategy to achieve last-mile delivery," said Dr Bishnu Panigrahi, Group Head - Medical Strategy and Operations, Fortis Healthcare Ltd.

He said research and study findings related to vaccination, should be used in varied ways and smart data analytics must bust rumours, myths and fight hesitancy.
"Evidence is the best means to spread awareness and help authentic information reach people. We have to stop the virus in its transit corridors, ramp up all efforts to protect both life and livelihood," said Dr Panigrahi.

Explaining vaccine efficacy, Dr Panigrahi said it is generally reported as relative risk reduction (RRR).

"Studies have already demonstrated that being vaccinated significantly reduces the risk of infection. For example, in clinical trials, a 95 per cent vaccine efficacy would indicate vaccinated individuals will be 95 per cent less likely to get Covid-19. If 1 per cent of the unvaccinated population develops Covid-19, getting the vaccine would reduce chances of getting Covid-19 by 95 per cent, resulting in a 0.05 per cent infection rate," he said.

mid-day recently reported on how data analysed by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Covid-19 facility at SevenHills Hospital (SHH) showed similar results. The analysis showed that vaccinated people got milder Covid-19 and their hospital stay was shorter than those not vaccinated.

Moreover, people who had taken both shots and had crossed the four-week mark - time it takes for antibodies to be fully effective - after the second dose, were found to be asymptomatic after getting the infection.

6 per cent
Proportion of people with Covid-19 after both doses