Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Government has accorded sanction to conduct Seroprevalence study to estimate the population level immunity (level of herd immunity induced by both natural and the COVID vaccines) in the state.
The study aims to get an insight into the dynamics of the COVID pandemic and suggest strategies for prevention and control of the disease, according to the order issued by Principal Secretary (Health) Rajan Namdev Khobragade.
As Kerala faced the second wave of COVID-19 during the months of May and June 2021, the population behaviour, mobility and other factors are changing with the various stages of easing of the restrictions.
The primary objectives of the study are to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS CoV-2 IgG antibodies among ≥18 year old population, antenatal women attending antenatal care clinics, children aged 5 to 17 years, tribal population aged ≥18 yrs in rural parts of districts, people ≥18yrs in coastal areas and people ≥18yrs in slums areas in corporations of Kerala.
The secondary objectives are to study the determinants of seropositivity among the various study populations, among the categories of vaccination status in the study populations and estimate the case to infection ratio and infection fatality ratio in the general population.
(EW correspondent)
