Covid-19: The ICMR and NIV to study if COVID-19 vaccines can neutralize Delta Plus variant
New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV) will conduct the study to see if the new and more potent Delta Plus variant of coronavirus can be neutralized by the existing vaccines in India.
According to the government record, The New Delta Plus variant detected in Ratnagiri and Jalgaon (Maharashtra), Palakkad and Pathanamthitta (Kerala), and Bhopal and Shivpuri (Madhya Pradesh) so far. The nation registered 40 cases of the Delta Plus variant.
Dr.Pragya Yadav – head of the NIV’s Maximum Containment Facility said. “The study is likely to involve Covaxin and Covishield vaccines. The newly emerged Delta Plus variant has possible increased transmissibility, higher binding capacity to the lung cells, and resistance to monoclonal antibody treatment. Delta Plus variant could be a concern, and a high watch should be undertaken and containment of affected zone should be done reduce the transmission.”
“As per earlier data concerning Delta variant, neutralization was happening with the existing vaccines in India. Though neutralization has dropped, it`s enough to protect against Delta variant. Delta Plus should also behave (in a similar manner). We are working in this direction. We have isolated this variant and we are going to conduct a study soon. We will come back with the study,” she said.
All Delta sub-lineages are treated as variants of concern (VOC) and properties of AY.1 are still being investigated. Delta Plus is also known as the ‘AY.1’ variant or B.1.617.2.1.
The variant frequency of AY.1 is low in India. Cases with AY.1 have been mostly reported from nine countries of Europe, Asia, and America.
