ALERT! Can one become COVID-19 infected even after both doses of vaccination? Check everything you need to know

COVID-19 Latest Update: 23,940 people had contracted the COVID-19 infection even after taking both shots of the Covaxin which has been manufactured by Bharat Biotech. This amounts to 0.13 per cent of the total vaccinated as on May 18, 2021. Again 1,19,172 breakthrough infections were recorded among those who have taken both the doses of Covishield as per a report by Times Now. This amounts to 0.07 per cent of the total. The question that arises in this scenario is that why it is so that some people still get affected with COVID-19 even after taking the vaccine shots. 

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In order to understand why some people may still contract a disease even after getting the vaccination shots, one must understand the fact that the human immune system, encoded in the DNA of each individual varies from person to person as per the Times Now report. In an individual, this variability translates translates to a different level of effectiveness against different germs and pathogens and can be affected by a number of factors including age, poor health and medication. For instance, in case of measles vaccine, the vaccine has been proven to be extremely effective in preventing the infection, nevertheless, some rare cases continue to crop up even in populations that have achieved close to full coverage. Also, in case of seasonal flu vaccines, though the vaccines offer significant protection, mild illness from the disease is still a possibility. 

Another factor which can be cited behind the reason of contracting the disease even after vaccination is older immune systems. It has been observed that older immune systems respond less effectively to foreign substances as it relates to the production of antibodies. Some studies on COVID-19 have also confirmed that some elderly participants develop no neutralising antibodies at all despite receiving both doses.

Also, the researchers must look into the matter that if the breakthrough infections being seen in India and across the world, are being caused by variants with greater immune escape potential than the original COVID-19 strain. In India, the cases of breakthrough infections are being closely monitored by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as informed by Dr VK Paul, Niti Aayog member. He also added, "We want to assure you that a very close watch is being maintained systematically in this regard by ICMR where this information related to testing comes."