HCWs susceptible, must get vaccine: Doctors
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Feb 14: A Sero-Prevalence Study carried by the Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar has stated that around 27 per cent of healthcare workers (HCWs) across Kashmir hospitals show the presence of antibodies against COVID-19.
The presence of the anti-bodies, doctors said, suggests that these healthcare workers were exposed to the COVID-19 at some point of time which makes rest of the 70 per cent of the healthcare workers susceptible to the infection.
The study has been conducted by the GMC Srinagar in collaboration with Directorate of Health Services Kashmir and JK National Health Mission among healthcare providers of Kashmir division in January to detect SARS CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies.
As per the results, a total sample of 2013 was collected from all GMC Srinagar Associated Hospitals, all district hospitals and Police Hospital Srinagar by Department of Community Medicine.
“The blood samples were tested in Abbott Architect i1000SR immunoassay analyser by Department of Biochemistry and 555 blood samples showed IgG antibodies with an overall seropositivity of 27.3%,” the results state.
The further breakup of the results show that a total number of 1002 samples were collected from Srinagar hospitals which include GMC Srinagar Associated Hospital, JLNM Hospital and Police Hospital Srinagar out of which 292 showed a presence of anti-bodies against COVID-19.
Further, the total number of 158 samples were collected from out of which 54 showed the presence of antibodies, 86 samples were collected from DH Bandipora, out of which 20 showed the presence of antibodies, 82 samples from DH Budgam with a presence of antibodies 28 samples, 105 samples from DH Ganderbal out of which 36 had antibodies.
Further, 77 from DH Kulgam out of which 12 had antibodies, 100 samples from DH Pulwama out of which 23 showed the presence of anti-bodies, 153 samples were collected from GMC Hospital Anantnag out of which 39 had antibodies, 64 samples were collected from DH Shopian where 12 had antibodies and 186 samples were collected from DH Kupwara out of which 39 showed a presence of anti-bodies against COVID-19.
As per results, out of total samples 2013, 555 samples showed a presence of showed IgG antibodies against COVID-19.
Dr Muhammad Salim Khan HoD Community Medicine Government Medical College Srinagar and Principal Investigator of the study told EXCELSIOR that the results suggest that the rest of the healthcare workers are also susceptible to the infection and implies the need of vaccination against COVID-19
“The study shows that healthcare providers shall go for COVID vaccination as majority among them are still susceptible to COVID infection and that they should shun away the reluctance in getting vaccinated,” he said.
He said that the study showed a presence of anti-bodies in 555 samples, “there could be many who were not covered in the study; this indicates that the rest of the healthcare workers are susceptible to COVID-19; the vaccine not only protects the recipient but shall facilitate achieving the herd immunity against COVID.”
Notably, the doctors said that no severe or serious adverse events following immunization (AEFI) have been reported among thousands of healthcare providers who received the vaccines in the J&K in the last few weeks.
“It is similar to influenza vaccine, rest it is perfectly safe and the healthcare workers, without any hesitation, should go and get themselves vaccinated,” a doctor at SKIMS said.
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