The constant mutations in the Covid 19 virus have become the evident reality as several mutated viruses of Covid 19 are developing and spreading fastly across the world. The recent one in the list of the viruses is the more transmissible Delta variant of the Sars Covid 19. Also known as lineage B.1.617.2, is a variant of lineage B.1.617 of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
What are mutations?
Simply put, the change in the arrangement of the genome of an organism is a mutation. Most of the viruses tend to change when it multiplies. During the process of replication, the virus fails to produce exact copies or replicas of itself. This results in the emergence of new strains or variants.
Delta variant as Variant of concern
WHO has identified three different variants of SARS Covid 19 virus, an RNA virus, which are alpha, beta along with delta variant. The world health organization has also categorized it as a “variant of concern”.
The classification of a variant as a “variant of concern”, according to WHO, depends on the increase in transmissibility and the nature of the variant, and the degree of its resistance to the vaccines being produced keeping in mind the original virus.
Will vaccines work against the delta variant?
According to Public Health England, different analyses have supported the reduced efficiency of vaccines against the Delta variant compared to other variants. Several studies across the world including in India show that the effectiveness of the vaccine against delta variant after 2 doses is higher than after one dose. But the overall efficacy certainly is lower concerning other variants.
What should be done to protect ourselves against delta variants?
The most important aspect against delta variant and Covid 19 as a whole is to diligently follow covid safety protocols and behavioral changes about the virus. Another significant step is getting vaccinated without a second thought as several health experts have already said that the severity of delta variant against the fully vaccinated person is low compared with a non-vaccinated person.
You can search for vaccine slot availability on the ‘Vaccine Slot Finder’ on the OneDios app. It allows you to have a streamlined and uncomplicated experience while searching for your vaccine slot. You have to simply enter your Pincode to get the relevant information about slot availability. OneDios COVID 19 Vaccine Slot Finder empowers you to efficiently check available vaccine slots in your area by making the process easygoing, painless, and reliable.
You can also track vaccine-related statistics on the “Vaccination Dashboard” available on the OneDios app. The data for the dashboard is sourced from official Co-Win Statistics. Through this dashboard, you can stay informed about the number of sites conducting vaccination and total vaccination doses in real-time. Relevant data and trends are presented in user-friendly graphs, categories, and visual formats for greater access. You can also check updated data by selecting your state or district to know about specific statistics