XE Variant Another Version Of Omicron, Precautions Still Needed: Health Minister Mandaviya

Mandaviya then talked about the vaccine for children below 12 years of age saying that the decision depends on what experts advice.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya | ANI

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday clarified the apprehensions related to the XE variant of covid saying that it is another version of Omicron only.

Mandaviya also asserted that people should still be cautious as the pandemic is not over yet.

Mandaviya was addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Delhi where he discussed the steps taken by the central government to deal with the virus since the inception of the pandemic in 2020.

“One has to take precautions as the pandemic is not over yet,” he said adding, "We cannot predict tomorrow.”

He also added, “The XE variant is a combination or recombinant of both sub-variants -- BA.1 and BA.2 -- of Omicron.”

Mandaviya then talked about the vaccine for children below 12 years of age saying that the decision depends on what experts advice.

Responding to the question of putting a cap on the price of the booster dose at Rs 225, he said that it is the maximum price, and this may still come down due to competition in the future as more vaccine manufacturers enter the market.

The precautionary dose or the booster dose is being administered for free to the population above the age of 60 years, and those below that age have to take it at private facilities.

Mandaviya also highlighted that 97 percent of the eligible population in India has been administered the first dose of the vaccine while 85 percent are fully vaccinated which has boosted India’s fight against the virus.

He also said that the Total Fatality Rate (TFR) has been significantly lower in India as compared to that of other countries. 

India reported 380 deaths per million population compared to the global average of 788 deaths, he said.

India was also able to limit the infection's spread, with 31,383 cases reported per million against 63,458 globally, he further added.