India is crushed by a double mutation of coronavirus. The country has banned the export of vaccines

In samples taken from infected virologists in recent days, they have identified various variants of coronavirus, including British and South African. Of particular concern, however, is their mutual mutation. However, the Ministry of Health stated that a sufficient number of samples had not yet been tested to link the “double mutant” to the increase in infections in the country.

The new variation was first found in the state of Maharashtra with the 14 million metropolis of Mumbai. Most cases of double mutation come from here. Hygienists have now even begun randomly testing people at airports, train stations and markets. Entry to shopping centers is possible only with a negative test. The contagion is growing so fast that Mumbai and the capital, Delhi, have banned celebrations of the traditional Holi festival, which is known for its dense crowds sprinkled with colored powder. However, the traditional Hindu pilgrimage Kumbh Mela, which is to take place in April in Haridwar at the confluence of sacred rivers in northern India, has not yet been canceled. It is held every four years and attracts tens of millions of pilgrims from all over the country.

Three percent of the people were vaccinated

So far, 47 million people in India have been vaccinated, which is 3.3 percent. According to the plan, the national vaccination program should accelerate to 85 million doses per month in April, and 600 million people are to be vaccinated by September. “As of April 1, anyone over the age of 45 will be able to be vaccinated,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to the BBC, referring to sources from the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, India has suspended the export of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the country since Thursday. The Serum Institute in Pune, West Coast, is the largest vaccine factory in the world and produces about 2.5 million doses of AstraZeneka daily. Gradual restrictions on exports have been taking place since the middle of the month. The vaccination office first stopped deliveries to Brazil, and a few days later to the United Kingdom.

Export restrictions are expected to last until the end of April. The reason is simple. By vaccinating faster than originally planned, the infection of the double variant in India will stop. Officially, however, neither the factory nor the ministry commented on the decision.

The most affected decision by the Indian government will be the World Health Organization’s Covax program, which distributes vaccines to the world’s poorest countries. He has been promised 200 million doses from the Serum Institute plant. The last step of the Indian government will almost stop its activities for at least a month.

Last week, the Indian version of AstraZeneca was also approved by the Hungarian regulatory authority. But even the Hungarians will have to wait for the first delivery. Other European Union countries do not import this vaccine, nor have they planned to do so yet.

Double mutation

According to the Indian Ministry of Health, the new option may increase the risk of infection and make vaccines more resistant.

A double mutation can be described as two mutations that occur together on a single virus. This can allow the virus to evade the immune system and spread more easily.

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