While the drop is considerable according to the daily figures released, the Health Minister, Kailesh Jagutpal has focused on the amendment of the status of ‘Fully Vaccinated’ in the Vaccination Status Regulations. The third/booster dose will thus become a necessity for those who wish to access those places that will require declaring one’s vaccination status.
A third dose to maintain status
As from 15 January, having two doses will not mean being duly vaccinated if the date of the second inoculation exceeds four months. This applies to all AstraZeneca, Covaxin, Covishield, Pfizer, Sputnik and Sinopharm vaccines. The individual will need to be inoculated within a maximum of two months of the ‘expiry date’ of their second dose in order to maintain the necessary antibody levels to fight the virus and the Covid 19 variants. However, for the individual who has contracted the virus even after two doses, “the Ministry will take into consideration the date on which he tested positive and will consider him fully vaccinated for a further four months. He will then have to proceed to his third dose as soon as possible,” said the Minister.
As for those inoculated with the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the fully vaccinated status could also change. “According to a WHO report, those inoculated with Janssen are not free from waning immunity and will need a second inoculation with the same vaccine. A report from the immunisation committee on the issue should be ready soon,” the Minister said, adding that the situation with Omicron is under review.
As for vaccination, the Minister said that it is progressing but that a slowdown should be expected during the holiday season. Thus, 942,722 people have received their first dose, i.e. 74.5%, 909,170 people the second dose, i.e. 71.8%, and 174,854, the Booster dose. For the 12 to 17 age group, 40,931 students received a first dose of Pfizer and 31,768 both. For Rodrigues, 28,442 people or more than 65% has received the first dose, 26,178 or more than 60% has their second doses and 1,357 the booster doses.
224 positives and 32 deaths in 7 days
This is the total number of cases recorded in the various hospitals, including ENT Hospital. The Minister pointed out that 102 were imported cases. 14 patients were admitted to the New ENT Hospital, 5 on ventilators, 5 on oxygen and 4 under observation. In the Covid Wards of the regional hospitals, 156 patients were admitted. As Minister Jagutpal said, “in recent weeks, we have seen a decrease in the number of infected patients.”
However, the country has recorded 32 deaths for the period 16-22 December. The minister said “4 patients were under 60 years of age and 31 had co-morbidities. Since 5 March, we have recorded 756 deaths,” he lamented.
Although the figures are already public, he went back to the 100 samples sent to the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) in South Africa. “Out of the 100 results, 90 cases are of the Delta variant where 78 are local and 12 imported. The remaining 10 are Omicron variant cases. 8 cases are local and 2 are imported,” he said. He nevertheless did not remain silent in the face of this WHO report which says that there are more than 700 cases of the Omicron variant in circulation in our island. He was keen to reassure the press that this is not the case. “Dr. Mussango reassured me that this would only be an error and that it should be rectified by WHO soon. To date, the total number of cases of this variant is 24.”
Surfing over a wave of questions
Dr Jagutpal was face to determined journalists to get him to respond to the scandals and controversies that are currently taking over all news. He cleverly sidestepped any indication of anything that might remotely involve him and his responsibilities, his ministry and his trusted officers. He said to “let ICAC do its investigation. I cannot give my views on an ongoing case. If I am summoned, I will answer all questions.” However, he acknowledged that the deadline for the receipt of Tocilizumab, which was scheduled for 21 December, had to be extended at the request of the importer and maintained what he said on the 07th December in Parliament on the purchase of the drug of Molnupiravir directly from Reddy Laboratories. But he insisted that he could not assume a responsibility that was not his and that no minister could interfere in a procurement process.
