80% of breakthrough infections caused by Delta in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: About 80% of the breakthrough infections detected in Punjab have been caused by highly contagious Delta (B.1.6172), a variant of Covid-19 capable of evading the vaccine-induced immune response.

Of about 80 cases of breakthrough infection, reported by patients who have contracted Covid-19 infection again after having been partially or fully vaccinated, 64 have been caused by Delta lineage of the virus.

A majority of the cases were mild, and no death has been reported in any breakthrough infection in the state. Genomic sequencing and other studies conducted till mid-October show there is no sign of the virus mutating nor has a new variant emerged. And while infections and even breakthrough infections might occur, they are most likely to be mild and the cases few and far between.

The trend in Punjab is in sync with a study done by the Indian Council of Medical Research, in which Delta was found to be behind 86% of the breakthrough infections, pointing at the need for people to continue following the Covid appropriate behaviour even after getting jabbed.

Covid vaccines have been proved safe and effective. However, they do not provide full protection to everyone, leaving individuals with low immunity vulnerable to getting infected.

Punjab has been one of the worst-hit states by the pandemic and accounts for nearly 3.5% of the total variants of concern detected in the country. Nearly 2,400 samples of Punjab examined at Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) have been tested positive for different variants. Of the total, about 1,100 samples are of Delta variant that constitutes about 43% of total variants of concerns found in the state.

As the pandemic situation is easing, no new mutation of the virus has been reported in samples of Punjab, much to the relief of the health experts. The last mutation noted in the state was of Delta Plus (AY.1) variant.

Highlighting the importance of Covid appropriate behaviour, Punjab Covid-19 nodal officer Dr Rajesh Bhaskar said that people should rigorously follow safety norms even after getting immunised. “Vaccination and adherence to safety norms is the only way of keeping yourself protected from the deadly virus,” he advised.


To improve its vaccination cover, the Punjab government is pressing its employees to get themselves vaccinated. Instructions have been passed by the government, asking employees to get vaccinated. If any government employee fails to be vaccinated for any reason other than medical, necessary disciplinary action may be initiated against them. The issue was also taken up in a review meeting chaired by the chief minister. Punjab deputy chief minister O P Soni said they want everyone to get vaccinated and government employees have been asked to get inoculated at the earliest.