ISLAMABAD: Pakistan health officials have ruled out any imminent resurgence of COVID-19 despite the emergence of fresh waves in China and India, however, the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) has been advised. He is to issue a consultancy agreement to deal with any emergency. JEE News reported.
The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) called a special meeting to discuss the possibility of a resurgence of the virus after its subtype BF.7 was identified, which has infected China and India. The meeting was chaired by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik.
Briefing the session, National Institutes of Health (NIH) officials said more than 90% of the local population has been vaccinated against COVID-19 with a mix-and-match of Western, Chinese and Russian vaccines. However, the authorities are constantly monitoring the situation and preparing to deal with any eventuality.
Emergence of omicron variant subtypes is a normal occurrence and more such variants and subtypes will continue to emerge as viruses evolve to survive, he said, adding that viruses and variants Some wavelets may be possible due to evolution. . Genome sequencing facilities are now available in dozens of research and diagnostic labs across the country.
Besides, a comprehensive surveillance system is in place at international airports and other entry points of the country to detect any new type or subtype of the COVID-19 virus, said an expert affiliated with NIH Islamabad. He added that the country is also prepared to deal with any resurgence in cases of COVID-19 in major hospitals.
The NDMA Chairman directed the federal and provincial authorities to increase the availability of treatment facilities in Intensive Care Units (ICU) and High Dependency Units (HDU) in healthcare facilities across the country. Make sure. He also directed the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) at NIH to issue advisories and guidelines to deal with any emergency.
Explaining herd immunity, an NIH official said that an entire community is protected from an infectious disease when more than 70% to 80% of the population develops immunity through vaccination or exposure to disease. . Once herd immunity is achieved, there is no chance of human-to-human spread of the disease. After herd immunity, the entire community is protected, not just those who are immune.
Pakistan has technically achieved herd immunity because more than 90 percent of its population is vaccinated by age 12 with various Western, Chinese, and Russian vaccines. Besides, a majority of the Pakistani population had developed natural immunity after being infected with one or more viruses over the years, the NIH official said.
International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) Karachi Director Dr Iqbal Chaudhry said that both Pakistan and India are unlikely to be affected much by the emergence of BF.7 and other subtypes as both countries had acquired . Herd immunity through vaccination and infection with different strains of COVID-19.
China’s case is different because it has never allowed immunity to develop in its population. In addition, Chinese citizens are only vaccinated with their own vaccines, which are less effective against emerging strains.
