New Delhi, Jan 20 (FN Representative) Comparison between the second and third wave of Covid-19 shows a drastic reduction in death despite a high number of cases owing to the increasing vaccination cover, the union health ministry said on Thursday. In a press briefing, the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan highlighted through a presentation, that close to 90 per cent fewer deaths occurred amid the current wave compared to the drastic second wave of summer 2021. “In April last year, 3.86 lakh new cases were reported every day during the second surge while around 3,000 deaths were recorded. Nearly a similar situation in case positivity is happening now. 3.17 lakh cases were reported in the last 24 hours. However, the deaths have been limited to 380 now,” he said.
“During the period of April 1 to April 30, only 2% in the country were vaccinated. At present, 72% have been completely vaccinated,” Bhushan added. According to Bhushan, high vaccination coverage helped in preventing deaths to a large extent in the current wave. “Two aspects emerge from this comparison: compared to the second surge, the number of deaths proportional to the active cases is significantly low; second, there is an impact of vaccination. In the fully vaccinated, the disease is mild or moderate. That’s why those who haven’t been vaccinated must get it,” the union health secretary said. Meanwhile, the Union Ministry also informed that 94 per cent of adults have received the first dose while 72 per cent of the eligible population are fully vaccinated now. In adolescents (15-18 years), 52 per cent of the population has received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, it added.