Bharat Biotech’s covid-19 vaccine –1-- can effectively neutralise the double mutant strain of SARS-CoV-2 and other mutant variants of the virus, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Wednesday.

The findings come at a time when there are several reports coming of people testing positive for covid-19 despite receiving both shots of the available vaccines and efficacy of the vaccines is being called into question at some level. “—1-- works well against most variants of SARS-CoV-2. These findings together consolidate the position of our indigenous vaccine in the global vaccine landscape,"

Scientists at ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) said they have isolated and cultured the double mutant strain which has E484Q and L452R mutations. The ICMR said that the scientists have isolated and cultured all variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 virus: B.1.1.7 (UK variant); B.1.1.28.2 (Brazil variant) and B.1.351 (South African variant).

Also, analysing the data on post-vaccination “breakthrough infection" in the country, the ICMR on Wednesday said that this percentage is not more than 0.04%. A breakthrough infection is a case of illness in which a vaccinated individual becomes sick from the same illness that the vaccine is meant to prevent.

Getting infection after vaccination is known as Breakthrough Infection. 2-4 per 10,000 breakthrough infections have occurred, which is a very small number.

The ICMR chief said that out of the around1.1 crore recipients, who were administered Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin at least 4,208 (0.04%) were found to be infected after the first dose and 695 (0.04%) contracted the covid-19 after receiving the second dose.

Similarly, of the 11.6 crore of beneficiaries of Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Covi shield at least 17,145 (0.02%) tested positive for covid-19 after receiving the first dose and 5,014 (0.03%) were found to be infected with covid-19 after receiving the second dose.