New Delhi: ABP News on Thursday spoke to renowned chest surgeon, Dr Arvind Kumar from Medanta multi-specialty hospital in Gurgaon, on the current scenario of pandemic and potential third Covid wave, and what measures can limit the transmission of the infection if occurs any. 

Speaking on the glum situation that the doctor fraternity and the country have been facing from past 12 to 18 months, Dr. Arvind said, “We as country want to erase the bitter memory of this pandemic era at full pelt”.

Speaking on the preparedness, Dr. Arvind said, “Timely lockdown and extra precautions taken last year curbed the severity of Covid-19. The government took historical step imposing timely lockdown in the country. However, we lack the preparedness to fight second wave this year. And our poor preparedness prior second COVID wave cost us massive life loss in the country,” he said. 

Speaking on the severity of Covid variants occurring due to constant mutation of the viruses, the chest expert said, “We can’t tell how serious could be the third wave as the novel coronavirus bursting out into new variant every time changing its behaviour. So there are two things which could help us to check the severity of third wave: firstly from the public end, people should religiously follow the Covid appropriate behaviour which include the four-step protocol of wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, not gathering as crowd in places and washing hands at frequent intervals. Secondly, it is the duty of our scientific communities and various medical research bodies like ICMR and CSIR to conduct real time monitoring of the virus and share the new scientific information with public as this will help us in strategic preparedness and response plan to new variants of the virus. Besides, Covid restraint and vaccines jabs are the most powerful weapons that we can have to fight against the virus,” the lungs specialist said.

Is Covaxin effective on Delta, Delta Plus, and other variants?

On this, Dr. said, “The final answer on this is yet come from the experts as it is a subject of a research.” Citing a recent U.S. Health Research Institute’s report that says, Covaxin is effective on Delta and Delta plus, he said, “As matter of fact, the vaccine is effective and curbs the severity of viruses, and reduces mortality rate, however, only research will tell if the vaccine is 100% effective. But based on available date on vaccine, it is effective and every single person in the country should get their dose.”

 Being a lung expert, Dr Arvind Kumar also gave tips on breathing techniques. Check out video for details.

On foreign vaccines

Not taking the available vaccine jabs in country and waiting for foreign vaccines is a sheer act of mindlessness. This act simply exposes one to the coronavirus. He said, “My clear cut suggest to people is that, vaccines like Covishield, Covaxin, and Sputnik V are effective and safe with good efficacy. So I request everyone to get any of these vaccines in your vicinity. You can get foreign vaccines later when it arrives to country as a booster dose, but do not skip the available vaccines for waiting for the foreign jabs,” he said.

Finally the chest surgeon said, “We should not assume Covid as the last virus that attacked humanity, we have seen SARS, MERS, and Ebola in past and there are possibility new viruses in coming time too. Accordingly, we need to advance our health sector in order to protect our people from severe Covid variants and other new virus occur in time ahead and protect out new generation.”

The country is celebrating 1st July as Doctors Day to mark gratitude to the life saviours!

New Delhi: Third wave can be vicious than the previous virus, and due to higher population density and lack of Covid-appropriate behaviour in India, it is important for people to get vaccinated, noted reputed Ashok Seth, head of cardiology at Fortis Escorts Hospitals at the India vs Corona 3.0 e-Conclave organised by ABP News.

While Mala Srivastav, Gynaecologist, at the Gangaram Hospital insisted that young mothers should take vaccination because it is the only protection.

ALSO READ: ‘Third Wave Won’t Hit India If People Follow Covid Guidelines’: Dr Navneet Wig, Chairman AIIMS Task Force

Everyone should get vaccinated because it’s the only weapon besides maintaining the protocols. It is seen that people got infected even after two does but the veracity of the infection was not so severe.

 “Pregnant women were infected in the first wave, but not so severely as the second wave. The mortality rate was higher and more patients were admitted in ICU,” said On Doctor’s Day, ABP News connected with the reputed doctors across the country.

The country is prepared to deal with the third wave much better. “We were able to handle it better in the first wave because of the all the measures and the policy directives. The second wave came because there was a lag in genome testing and people became complacent and could not see the warnings,” said Dr Seth. Medical experts were also equally shocked in the second wave.

It will be important going ahead to continue genome testing and scrutinising the variants and other factors.

“The country is still deficient in Covid-appropriate behaviour. Other than this despite the testing, the West also witnessed 5-10 per cent people becoming complacent. However, in India the population density is more and that 10 percent crowd becomes vicious thread of virus compared to the West. Hence the impact will be more on India.”

As a result of poor civic sense among several people in the country, there are more efforts required to ensure double masking, handwashing, social distancing, etc. They  will remain the primary areas of concern.

“I don’t think third wave will be vicious, but such spikes will keep coming until third, fourth and fifth.  Third wave may be vicious than the previous virus. But it is extremely important how to control these bumps or little spikes and help prevent the infection because that’s in our hands,” the cardiologist added .

On Delta plus variants being more riskier, he said, “It’s too early and there is lot of speculations, but there is no evidence yet. If we keep the scrutiny then we will be able to know more about the virus.”

Vaccine is effective against the virus so whichever variant is there we need to adopt to masking and get vaccinated because it will help us deal with the infection and reduce its impact from death.

Speculations are also important, but we also need to keep focus on genoming, testing and vaccination. “During pregnancy immunity is slightly down and pregnant woman needs to take care extreme care. If they are not working then it is better avoid going and meeting strangers besides taking all the precautions. Those who go at work need to take precautions. There is no fear of vaccination for them.”

The first three months in pregnancy can be avoided, but it can be taken in the later stage to give them protection against the virus and there is no fear regarding the child, informed Srivastava.

Lactating mother can transfer the immunity to the child. Incase the mother is Covid positive, then also she should be encouraged for breastfeeding if the condition is mild with all the precautions.

All new mothers can take the vaccination and awareness has to be promoted around this.

They should not be worried about the side effects and they can take Crocin if there is fever. If there is any reaction, they can visit the centre and meet the nodal officer to share their concerns, insisted Srivastava.

On blood cotting, Dr Seth Seth said such a symptom after vaccination are rare and has been witnessed in Astrazeneca Oxford vaccine in the West. However, in India no such reports have been detected. It is so rare that there is nothing much to worry. On other compliactions related to heart attacks Dr Seth said that people should not neglect themselves and resume normal lives soon after recovering from Covid. “It is because more information is emerging about the virus every day. So it is important to understand that heart issues after Covid can come up and may not be very rare. So those recovering should never ignore any such symptoms and opt for Echo and ECG. They should not indulge in exercise immediately after recovering.   The activities should resume gradually over a period of two to three months,” added Dr Seth.
 

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