No scientific data so far to show Delta plus variant adversely impacts vaccine efficacy: Paul

New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI):
It will be unfair to put a date for any COVID wave as the behaviour of coronavirus is unpredictable and a disciplined and effective pandemic response can help the country get away from any significant outbreak, COVID Task Force chief V K Paul said on Monday.
Amid rising concerns over the Delta plus variant of the virus, Paul, who is also a Niti Aayog Member, asserted that there is no scientific data so far to establish that the new variant is highly transmissible or reduces vaccine efficacy. In an interview to PTI, Paul said that another wave of any size would be dependent upon several factors, including overall discipline in terms of COVID-appropriate behaviour, testing and containment strategies, and vaccination rates. “And in addition, the unpredictable behaviour of the virus can also change the pandemic dynamics.
In such a scenario, their complex factor will determine the chain of transmission and outbreak. “Occurrence or non-occurrence of any wave, is in our own hands. To my mind, it is not fair to put any date for any wave,” he said. Daily fresh cases of COVID have come down from four lakhs during the peak of the second COVID wave to around 50,000 in the past few days and the unlock process or lifting of restrictions is underway in many parts of the country.
“If we are determined and disciplined and marshal effective pandemic response, we should be in a position to get away from any significant outbreak,” Paul said.
When asked about the Delta plus variant, Paul said scientific knowledge about it is still in the early stage.
“The so-called Delta plus variant exhibits an additional mutation in the Delta variant and since this is a new variant, scientific knowledge is still in the early stage.
“Whether this additional mutation in the Delta variant is associated with increased transmissibility or excess severity of disease, or any adverse effect on vaccine efficacy is currently not established and we should wait for this information to emerge.
“And we should wait for these aspects to be studied systematically,” he pointed out.
Regarding the effectiveness of Covaxin and Covishield against the Delta variant of the coronavirus, Paul said that based on the scientific evaluation by the ICMR, both vaccines are effective against the coronavirus, including the Delta variant, which is presently the predominant variant in the country.
When asked if India is close to giving indemnity to foreign vaccine makers like Pfizer and Moderna, Paul said the issue has multiple dimensions and it is not wise to give a timeline for such issues.
“The discussion for paving the way for internationally developed vaccines to India, is going on. The issue has multiple dimensions and we are trying to find an agreed way forward at the earliest.
“We are trying to expedite the progress in every possible way,” he said.
However, he did not delve into the indemnity issues with respect to approving the vaccines made by foreign companies.
Indemnity is one of the issues that is still to be sorted out between the authorities and the companies — Pfizer and Moderna — with respect to approving their respective vaccines for use in India.