[size=5]The Delta variant, or the B.1.617.2 lineage first discovered in Maharashtra
is dominant not just in India but also in several other countries.
The Delta variant is now present in at least 170 countries.]
compared to the original virus, the Delta variant was 8 times
more likely to cause breakthrough infections among vaccinated people
and 6 times more likely to re-infect people who have recovered
from previous infections
[“Vaccines are still effective. The Delta variant is just less sensitive to neutralising antibodies.
It means that it would require five to eight times more antibodies
to elicit the same kind immune response as against the original virus
during the first wave to block the Delta variant,”
The UK study, for example, showed reduced effectiveness
of the AstraZeneca vaccine in a period when the Delta variant
as the most dominant in the country
compared to when the Alpha variant was dominant there.
Balram Bhargava said vaccination prevents deaths
adding that most deaths in the second wave of Covid-19 in April-May:
[size=6]were recorded among the unvaccinated.