The Odisha government announced on Tuesday that there is a chance of a fourth wave in the nation and state in the second or third week of March, amid the spike in Covid cases in China and numerous other nations. Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, special secretary of the Health and Family Welfare department, stated at a briefing on the state’s Covid issue that a peak is anticipated in China between January 13 and 15.
One model predicted that the fourth wave will most likely reach India by the middle of March given its expansion in certain other nations. Given that roughly 90% of the state’s population has received the double dosage of vaccination and 40% have received the precautionary dose, he added that even if the next wave is unlikely to be severe, people should continue to be prepared. Laxity shouldn’t exist. When entering busy areas, people should wear face masks and behave in a proper manner.
“A majority of the population in the country have achieved immunity due to subclinical infections. While the elderly people are getting infected in Japan and China now, we have the highest coverage of vaccination among the vulnerable groups. We need not panic, but have to be cautious and take precautions to prevent the next wave,” Dr Mohanty said.
There is no need to fear, according to Dr. Mohanty, as those who have received all three doses of the vaccination are unlikely to be impacted, even though instances are currently on the rise in other regions of the world as a result of Omicron sub-variants BF.7 and XBB.
People in China are suffering, possibly as a result of the ineffectiveness of their domestic vaccine, and the problem is getting out of hand because the country’s population hasn’t developed herd immunity for more than two years due to restrictions, the expert added.
The nasal vaccination can be used as a booster for those who have not yet received the preventive dosage. He explained that recipients of the preventive dose do not need to receive the nasal vaccine. Regarding the infection situation, the official stated that 173 instances had been found in the nation in the previous 24 hours, only two of which were from Odisha. Both Khurda and Koraput recorded one case apiece.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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