Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has requested the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar to conduct a follow-up study on post-COVID vaccination infections and the severity of cases in the state.
The Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Pradipta Mohapatra, made the request in a letter to the RMRC Director, Dr Sanghamitra Pati.
Mohapatra wrote that a number of infections and severity have been found in people who have taken both doses of the vaccine.
He further said despite taking two doses of the vaccine, COVID cases are being reported from various districts
Keeping this in view, a follow-up study is required to assess the hospitalization and severity among COVID-19 positive patients after two doses of vaccination as compared to non-vaccinated COVID positive patients.
Mohapatra stated that the findings could provide valuable insights into the vaccination roadmap of the state in the coming days. He, therefore, requested the RMRC director to undertake this study on a priority basis by collecting the data from the designated COVID hospitals in the state.
Later, the RMRC director told the media that the study will be conducted to ascertain the severity among infected patients after two doses of vaccine, whether the patients were having any symptoms or comorbidity, whether they required oxygen or critical care, and whether they remained in ICU or not.
Dr Pati further said that the study will be conducted to find out whether these patients have strictly adhered to COVID-appropriate behaviour and infected any of their family members.
She also made it clear that as vaccines can only protect people from mortality and severe complications, it is mandatory for them to strictly follow the COVID protocols even after the vaccination.
