The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday said the vaccination is likely to protect us against newer strains/mutated virus of SARS-CoV-2. "Based on the available data, the mutations are unlikely to make the vaccine ineffective," the Ministry said.
The Ministry said the body responds to vaccination by making more than one type of antibodies to virus parts including spike protein. "Therefore, all vaccines are expected to provide a reasonable amount of protection against the mutated virus also," it added.
Meanwhile, India has administered more than one crore vaccine doses in the 18-44 age group, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 19.60 crore, the Ministry said.
A total of 19,60,51,962 vaccine doses have been administered through 28,16,725 sessions, according to the provisional report till 7 am.
These include 97,60,444 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 67,06,890 HCWs who have taken the second dose, 1,49,91,357 FLWs who have received the first dose, 83,33,774 FLWs who have taken the second dose and 1,06,21,235 beneficiaries in the 18-44 years age group who have received the first dose.
Besides, 6,09,11,756 and 98,18,384 beneficiaries aged 45 to 60 years have been administered the first and second dose respectively, while 5,66,45,457 and 1,82,62,665 beneficiaries of more than 60 years old have taken the first and second dose.
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh account for 66.30 per cent of the total doses given so far in the country.
(With PTI inputs)
