In a huge relief for Kerala, which currently accounts for the highest number of active Covid cases in the country, the sero-surveillance survey has found that 82.6 per cent of the population in the state in the 18+ category has acquired immunity against Covid-19.
This sero-prevalence is highest in the coastal belt (87.7 per cent), urban slums have registered 85.3 per cent and among the tribal population it is 78.2 per cent, as per the survey carried out across the state in September.
Speaking to THE WEEK a few days ago, Kerala Health Minister Veena George had expressed confidence that the majority of the population had acquired immunity to Covid-19.
“The final tally of the sero-prevalence survey is ongoing. From the initial pointers, we are hopeful that the state has survived the worst. Now there will be only improvements,” she said.
As per the data, the sero-prevalence in Kerala is among the highest observed among the sero-surveys done in India, and implies that a large chunk of the population has antibodies against Covid-19.
According to experts, the high level of sero-prevalence may have been achieved through natural infection, Covid vaccination or by a combination of both (hybrid immunity). “Considering the rapid vaccination coverage in the state, the contribution of vaccination is expected to be substantial,” says the report submitted to the government last week.
Another significant finding is that the lowest sero-prevalence was seen among children aged 5-17 (40.2 per cent). This should be a cause for concern for the government as it had plans to open all educational institutions by November.
The sero-prevalence survey conducted by the ICMR in July had revealed that Kerala had the lowest percentage of sero-prevalence and it had predicted that the caseload would continue to be high in the state over the following months. It had said that only 44 per cent of the population had become immune to the virus.
“The 83 per cent sero-prevalence figure is certainly a relief for us. Now, the numbers will certainly go down,” said a health department official, who requested anonymity. “We need to cover the remaining 17 per cent of the population who are susceptible to the infection. Complete vaccination is the only solution.”
Kerala currently accounts for 52 per cent of the active Covid infections in the country, as per the Union health ministry data. The state has said that 93 per cent of those above 18 have received at least the first dose of the vaccine.
