Mumbai: In 13 months since the Covid-19 vaccination drive began in Mumbai, 1.82 lakh people who received one or two shots suffering from “breakthrough” covid infection, according to the latest BMC data.
The term ‘breakthrough infection’ is used to describe the instance where people are infected by viruses despite being vaccinated against it.
Covid breakthrough infections have been well documented throughout the world, but research has shown that all different types of covid vaccines protect against severe infections.
In Mumbai, from 1.82 lakh “vaccination” Covid patients who got Covid, 23,562 got an infection after taking the first shot.
The remaining 1.59 lakh was infected after taking both shots, showing BMC data was calculated until February 7.
However, the additional commissioner BMC Suresh Kakani said the data needed to be interpreted positively.
“Instead of seeing the absolute number of breakthrough infections, we need to understand that only 0.22% (12,562) from 1.05 crore people who took the first infected Covid shot,” he said.
While 87.7 Lakh people in Mumbai have taken two Covid vaccine shots, only 1.81% (1.59 lakh) received a breakthrough infection, Kakani added.
The city has 92.3 adult populations of lakh and 6.12 lakh in the age group 15-17 (Covid vaccination under 15 years has not started in India).
Kakani said that extensive vaccination has ensured that omicron-covid waves which are relatively lighter than previous covid waves in the city.
“The majority of those who are vaccinated are not affected or have mild infections so they have no symptoms,” he added.
Omicron waves have been marked by more than 80% of patients suffering from asymptomatic covid; Their infection was detected only because they underwent a test for the purposes of travel or official or because they were high-risk contacts from a patient.
Omicron variants are known to cause a breakthrough of infection, although most of them need hospitalization are not vaccinated.
On Thursday, Commissioner BMC I Chahal said “Mumbai’s first 114% vaccination dose and the second dose of 95% saved that day for us.” Closer appearance on BMC data shows a productive age group 18-44 experiencing the maximum number of breakthrough infections.
While 53.4 lakh mumbaikars in the 18-44 age group was fully vaccinated with two doses, around 1.51% of them or 80,415 got Covid afterwards.
In the age group 45-59, 39,400 (1.73% of the 22.8 lakh which was fully vaccinated) got a breakthrough infection.
The appropriate number among senior citizens who are fully vaccinated are 39,218, revealing BMC data.