Private hospitals are currently hesitant to acquire Covid-19 vaccines and are waiting for clarity from the government. Despite a surge in Covid-19 cases raising concerns, senior executives from major private hospitals have indicated that they currently have no vaccine stocks and do not have immediate plans to procure them. Their decision is influenced by the perception that the rise in cases is linked to a mild variant of the virus.
After the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and the identification of the JN.1 variant in India, Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant has issued a letter urging states and union territories to stay vigilant. While acknowledging collaborative efforts in reducing infection rates, he emphasized ongoing efforts to combat public health challenges.
India reported 260 new COVID cases, including one death in Kerala, where the JN.1 subvariant was recently detected. The center issued an advisory for heightened vigilance, emphasizing increased testing and genome sequencing. INSACOG Chief Dr. NK Arora clarified the Kerala death, attributing it to underlying health conditions. He assured the public about the JN.1 subvariant, underscoring INSACOG s monitoring efforts.