Two unvaccinated Covid patients die: Both had not taken any dose of the Covid vaccine

SNS, SILIGURI,19 JULY 2022 : Two more persons who had tested positive for Covid-19 died at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in the past 24 hours. According to NBMCH authorities, both of them had been unvaccinated.

Health experts underlined that unvaccinated individuals were at greater risk of severe disease.

An 82-year-old resident of Jalpaiguri died today, while a 72- year-old person suffering from cardiac disease died on Monday, sources said.

"Both had not taken any dose of the Covid vaccine," NBMCH superintendent Dr Sanjay Mallik said.

Medical experts suggested that the vaccines helped people from severe disease even if they contracted the coronavirus, and underlined the importance of continued expansion of the vaccination coverage, including the precaution dose.

"It is evident that vaccination coverage has played an important role in protecting lives in the recent surge. We have been requesting people to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest. Those who are yet to take vaccines and eligible persons should receive the precaution dose. Despite the mutation of the virus, the continued efficacy of the vaccines is around 85 percent 

" We are also advising people to mask up and not let their guard down. They should also maintain proper physical distance," Dr Mallik said.

According to him, there could be a "sporadic spike" in cases due to the mutation of the variants, but that another critical wave was unlikely.

"That is why the number of cases has gone up in different parts of the country, including in West Bengal.

The number will fluctuate, but much will depend on the behaviour of the people - the more people are aware and the more they adhere to the Covid protocol, the less the cases," Dr Mallik added.

Meanwhile, with the recent deaths, six Covid patients have died in the NBMCH in more than two weeks.

A total of 13 patients have been admitted in the 17-bed Covid block-II at the NBMCH as of today, sources said.