MoU with IGIB to detect Covid strains

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, April 18

The Haryana Government will sign an MoU with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)’s Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) to identify the Covid-19 strains and variants prevalent in the state.

As per medical experts, genomic sequencing is required to identify the strain of the virus, so as to ascertain which variant is spreading more rapidly and causing damage.

“The process for the signing of MoU between the state and IGIB authorities is in progress and should be accomplished soon,” said Prof Dhruva Chaudhry, State Nodal Officer for Covid-19.

Kerala has already signed an MoU with IGIB for screening, surveillance and genomic sequencing of Covid-19, he said.

“Detecting the variants of virus which spread more rapidly will help in tweaking the vaccines and development of the upcoming ones,” said Dr Chaudhry, Senior Professor and head, department of pulmonary and critical care medicine, Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak.

The process for procurement of genomic sequencing machine for PGIMS, Rohtak, is also under way, the Chaudhry said, adding that the tendering process was already on.

On being questioned about the increasing cases of Covid-19 re-infection and people contracting the infection even after getting vaccinated, the medical expert pointed out that it could be attributed to three factors.

“A person may get infected after taking vaccine as the generation of antibodies takes some time. The efficacy of the vaccines is also limited and the possibility of the vaccinated persons getting infected by some new variant of the virus can also not be ruled out,” he stated, pointing out that the anti-Covid vaccines do give us immunity, but don’t sterilise immunity.

Chaudhry exhorted the people to not let their guard down after getting themselves vaccinated and observe Covid-appropriate behaviour to prevent infection.