High vaccination, natural infection protected India from Omicron wave: NK Arora

High vaccination coverage and immunity due to natural Covid-19 infection protected Indians from the severe effects of the Omicron variant, NK Arora, chairman of the Covid working group, told ET, as the number of Covid-19 shots administered in the country topped the 2 billion landmark this week.

Arora said the aim is to target everyone who is eligible to get a precautionary dose. "In the days to come, the government will take various initiatives to make vaccines available at your doorstep, so that the eligible population gets covered," he said. "The government has been able to eradicate polio by taking several initiatives. Similar mode will be adopted to make sure that it is made easier for all those who are eligible for the third dose."

According to Arora, in India both the BA.4 and BA.5 variants have not been able to spread rapidly as vaccination coverage was high and worked well. Omicron BA.5 sub-lineage is driving the surge in the US and Europe. However, in India, Arora said it is less than 10%.


The BA.2 Omicron variant continues to be the dominant one in the country, resulting in 85% of the cases, while 33% of the cases are due to BA.2.38, he said.

So far, about 150 cases are due to the newly emerged BA.2.75 variant. "There are reclassification issues and hence the correct number is yet to be ascertained. The bottom line is that vaccines have worked against these sub-lineages and, so far, no increase in deaths or hospitalisation has been seen," Arora said.

He said the country has already seen a 20-25 times increase in the last three to four days ever since the government started the 75-day free vaccination campaign for adults.