As we are finally seeing some relief from the second wave in India, many people are revisiting their travel plans, whether it is to pursue a new career opportunity in a different state or country, higher education purposes, leisure, or to return to the family. While the Covid-19 safety guidelines still hold good and it is advised to restrict an unnecessary movement to reduce the risk of contracting or spreading the coronavirus, certain reasons may compel people to travel. Travelling is riskier for unvaccinated people as the rate of infection is still high, partly due to the cases of severe viral strains or ‘variants of concern’. It will be a while before we can consider free movement without taking any safety precautions and people who are traveling must take extra care to ensure that their health and that of those around them is safeguarded. The following are some tips and guidelines –

Before Travelling

• Before, during, and after your journey, study the most recent Covid-19 travel prohibitions and Covid-19 testing requirements
• Get a viral test done 1-3 days before your trip
• It is better to carry your own drinks and snacks, avoid standing in lines, and avoid outside food
• If you are flying, using the train, or taking the bus from a region where the Covid-19 incidence is high, the chances of a passenger near you or a group of passengers contracting the disease are greater, hence choose the mode of traveling carefully
• Before traveling, it is a good idea to conduct some research on the location. If the community spread is high where you live or where you are going, reconsider your trip plan

While Travelling:

• Wear a mask, ideally N-95, surgical mask, or double mask through the journey
• Maintain a sense of discipline, stay at least 6 feet apart, avoid crowding and discourage those around you from crowding
• Hands must be washed with soap regularly or sanitized
• Be mindful when coming into contact with public objects, such as ATMs, control machines, escalators, lifts, and other such equipment and surfaces. If possible, use disposable gloves while traveling and clean hands regularly.
• Avoid touching your face. The virus cannot enter the body through the skin, but it can make you sick if you have virus particles on your hands and touch one of your faces mucous membranes such as the mouth, nose, or eyelids

What you should know before flying

• Airlines have begun to acclimatize to Covid-19’s reality. Check if your airline allows for social separation where feasible, enforces the wearing of face masks and offers adequate access to hand sanitizer or hand washing while flying. Remember that getting to the airport during the pandemic, as well as the time you spend at the airport for check-in, security checks, boarding, luggage retrieval, etc. may be riskier than the flight itself, so take safety measures on every leg of your journey

What You Should Know while traveling using public transport

• Keep up to date on mask regulations for public transportation. Seek the latest information on changes in service and process from your local transport authority, particularly if you require special assistance. It is better to consider traveling during non-peak hours when there are likely to be fewer people and if at all possible, skip a row of seats between you and other passengers. Avoid eating or drinking on public transportation. When you’re not among other people and before eating or drinking, as well as before removing your mask or touching your face, apply a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

While traveling by Personal vehicles

• It is vital to limit the number of passengers in the car to only those who are absolutely essential to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus and to improve the vehicle’s ventilation. If at all you have rented an automobile, sanitize the door handles, steering wheel, and other surfaces.

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• The chances of people developing mucormycosis (black fungus) post taking the vaccine are lower
• With herd immunity, the severity of 3^rd wave will be less severe than 2^nd wave
• Delta plus variant remains the cause of concern
• Antibodies produced by the vaccine protect against Covid-19 complications, blood clotting, and secondary infections
• People would require a flu-like booster shot every year to pep-up immunity

India, Friday, July 9, 2021: The panelists at Neuberg Diagnostics’ Panel discussion on ‘Covid-19: Lessons Learnt and Planning Forward’, echoed the sentiment that Delta plus Covid-19 variant continues to be a cause of concern and quick vaccination is the only weapon we have at hand. Immediate vaccination will enable us to achieve herd immunity while also reducing the chances of black fungus, severe health complications, side effects, blood clots, and secondary infections. The panelists also expressed the concern that if we lower our guard, then the third wave is imminent and will likely begin in August and peak in November.

Professor and Padma Shri awardee Dr. Mohan Kameswaran, Otorhinolaryngologist, Founder, Madras ENT Research Foundation, Chennai, said, “We witnessed the first case of Mucormycosis (black fungus – severe and rare fungal infection) in March, the cases peaked from 2 to 3 in March to 10 to 15 cases in May, with a mortality rate of 40 percent to 50 percent. Although high, it is not as high as anticipated. The major issue is the lack of relevant drugs to treat Mucormycosis. In Tamil Nadu area, the spread of Mucormycosis became epidemic within pandemic.”

He added, “60 percent to 70 percent of the patients who came to me with black fungus had not taken the vaccine, 25-30 percent had taken one dose, and less than 5 percent had taken both doses. Thus, people who have taken both doses have a good chance against Covid-19 infection and are much less prone to black fungus.”

On the third wave, Dr. Rajinder Kumar Singal, Senior Director & HOD – Internal Medicine, BLK Max Hospital, New Delhi, said, “We are still not out of the second wave but are ready for the third wave. The third wave is expected to be less severe than the second wave due to increased vaccination. About 21% of the Indian population has received the first dose, and 4% has received both vaccine doses. However, quick vaccination, Covid-19 appropriate behavior and absence of super spreader events will be key to stop the spread of the infection.”

Dr. Bhavini Shah, Director, Neuberg Centre of Genomic Medicine, Ahmedabad, said, “Antibody tests on hundreds of people vaccinated with the second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine indicate that booster shots may be required for the population. The findings were made after checking antibody levels of nearly 30,000 people in Gujarat by us. Out of these numbers, researchers focused on 500 healthcare workers. We found that people would require a flu-like booster shot every year to pep-up immunity.”

Dr. Hemalata Arora, General Physician & Infectious Disease Specialist, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai, said, “Antibodies produced by the vaccine protect against Covid, complications, side-effects, blood clotting, secondary infections; hence one must get vaccinated.”

She added, “Studies are being done on using mRNA vaccines for booster doses rather than taking the same DNA vaccines we took the first and second time. Mixing might be more appropriate, though there may be some side effects. More India-based studies are required on this.”

About Neuberg Diagnostics:

Best-in-class laboratories across India, the USA, UAE & South Africa have united under the banner of Neuberg Diagnostics, to bring the latest technology and techniques within the reach of developing countries. Utilizing their combined strengths, the Neuberg brings capabilities to perform over 6000 varieties of Pathological investigations and promotes Prevention & Early Diagnosis, Focused Wellness Programs, and Structured Disease Management programs for rare diseases using the most advanced technologies assisted by Data science and AI tools.

Today, Neuberg Diagnostics is among the top diagnostics companies of Indian origin and the fastest growing healthcare start-up in India. With 18 approved labs for Covid testing in India, the USA, and South Africa, the group has more than 65000 COVID testing capacity in India. Some of the best Pathologists, Biochemists, Geneticists, Microbiologists, and several other Clinical Lab Professionals from around the world are working closely, sharing knowledge and using the latest generation of diagnostics techniques to take accurate and timely diagnoses to the next level.

Currently, the group has over 120 labs and over 1000 touchpoints across 4 countries. Our Indian Expansion plans include setting up a network of 500 collection centers across the country within the next 12 months. Our overseas expansion plans include establishing a presence in East Africa, West Africa, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, the USA, and Germany.

Neuberg also provides Hospital Laboratory Management Services, Preventive Health Checks, Corporate Wellness, Home Health Services, and Drive through Phlebotomy Services.

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Vaccines are known as one of the greatest inventions of mankind. For more than 200 years vaccines have protected humanity against life-threatening diseases. In the history of medicine, vaccines are considered the single most life-saving innovation. These vaccinations have eradicated critical problems like smallpox, measles and prevented lifelong disabilities, and have also reduced child mortality rates. Even during the pandemic, vaccines have increased the hope of people towards building a healthy nation.

The need for vaccination among adults as well as children Immunization or vaccination is very important for babies to safeguard them from imminent danger. With an increased risk of various health problems, communicable diseases vaccination for infants becomes crucial as a precautionary measure. As per WHO, over 22 million children do not receive proper and complete vaccination; the number is only increasing every year. Approximately 3 million deaths worldwide can be prevented if children receive proper and timely vaccinations against preventable diseases such as tetanus, hepatitis, polio, pneumonia, diarrhea, etc.

It is important to understand that vaccines are not just for infants and young children. While we keep a close watch on the vaccination chart of our babies and kids to ensure they should not fall sick, we usually tend to ignore immunization in adults. Many may be startled to hear that even adults need immunization. As people age, they carry a bigger burden of illness and possible fatality from vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. As we age our immune system gets deteriorated and as a result, the body’s strength to fight against infections reduces. Also, conditions like diabetes, lung problem, kidney disease suppresses the immune the system further making people susceptible to infections. The Covid pandemic has taught all of us the importance of having a good immune system. However, many have missed or postponed children’s or adult’s routine vaccines by putting them at risk of serious diseases. It is important to follow the vaccination chart and get the jab to protect ourselves. Parents should consult the doctors and administer vaccines without any hesitancy for the well-being of the kids. Similarly, avoiding vaccination for adults mainly Covid vaccination may also put people at risk by increasing the vulnerability to get infected. Many healthcare workers, frontline worriers, and other people aged above 45 have already taken vaccination to protect themselves from the infection. As soon as the government makes the vaccine accessible to the people in the respective age bracket it is suggested to take the jab without delaying it.

Important vaccination for kids:
BCG, OPV, Hepatitis B, Pentavalent, Rotavirus Vaccine, PCV, IPV, Measles/MR, JE, DPT, and TT
Important vaccinations for adults:
Influenza, pneumococcal disease, hepatitis A & B, typhoid, human papillomavirus and diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis Influenza vaccine is mostly ignored by adults with a presumption that they are immune to it. In a tropical country like India, influenza is not seasonal. Severe influenza cases among adults are reported every year increasing the mortality rate among them. Therefore, taking vaccination for influenza after a certain age is important. Administering vaccination for pregnant women is also a crucial step to safeguard the health of both mother and baby. For adults, depending on the factors like age, lifestyle, high-risk medical conditions, and the past vaccination plan, immunizations are recommended. What we do not consider is that vaccines are perhaps the best chance of eradicating infectious diseases. Immunization is the best way to protect ourselves, our children, and the future from infectious diseases.

Here are some immunization facts:

• Every year, immunization saves around 3 million lives  More than 1 million infants, as well as young children all over the world, die every year from pneumococcal disease and rotavirus diarrhea. Both of these illnesses can be prevented through vaccination.
• The mortality rate of global measles has been reduced by 74 percent. This has been

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