Fully Vaccinated Yet Infected With Covid? Study Says Delta Variant Responsible For Breakthrough Infections

INSACOG also pointed out that vaccination continues to be an effective way of reducing severe infection and death related to Coronavirus. 

Travelers wait in a queue for their body temperature check at a railway station in Mumbai. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The Delta variant of the novel Coronavirus was predominantly responsible for 'breakthrough infections' in the country, warned INSACOG, a genome sequencing government consortium of laboratories, in its latest study. 

Breakthrough Covid infections are infections among people who have tested positive for Covid-19 despite being fully vaccinated.

The study highlighted that the continuous outbreaks of Coronavirus across the country are attributable to the Delta variant, a susceptible population and reduced vaccine effectiveness in blocking transmission. 

The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG), in its latest bulletin, also pointed out that vaccination continues to be an effective way of reducing severe infection and death related to Coronavirus. 

"As of now, sequencing of vaccination breakthroughs in India is also showing a very high proportion of Delta variant. Investigations for any new variants are ongoing," INSACOG said.

It also stated that of the 30,230 samples of Variants of Concern and Variants of Interest sequenced by the INSACOG, 20,324 were of Delta variant of Coronavirus. 

The Delta variant of Coronavirus is currently a big reason of concern for several countries including India, China, Korea and others. Korea has reported that the new surge is due to Delta plus K417N mutation.

Several studies point out that the Delta variant was one of the largest contributors to the second wave of Coronavirus in the country which created havoc between March to May collapsing country's healthcare infrastructure. 

In India, new cases of AY.1, AY.2, AY.3 (Delta Plus) are being seen in July samples from Maharashtra at a frequency of about 1 per cent. However, at this time none of these sub-lineages has been found to have a growth advantage over the Delta parent lineage, INSACOG noted.

61 samples of Delta Plus variants have been detected in the country so far.

Meanwhile, daily coronavirus cases have seen a significant plunge since the second wave which peaked in May.

According to Health Ministry data, active cases of Coronavirus have dipped down to 3,63,605, the lowest in 150 days, and comprise 1.12 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March 2020. Over 57 crore jabs have been administered in the country so far. 

(With inputs from PTI)