- Seychelles, which has fully vaccinated more of its population against the coronavirus than any other country, has closed schools and canceled sporting activities.
- This swift action is taken following the rise in Covid 19 cases.
- The measures include bans on the intermingling of households and the early closure of bars.
- The ban come even as the country has fully vaccinated more than 60% of its adult population with two doses of Covid 19 vaccines.
A Bloomberg Quint news article published by Kamlesh Bhuckory and Antony Squazzin reveals that World’s Most-Vaccinated Nation Activates Curbs as Cases Rise.
The Indian Ocean archipelago
The Indian Ocean archipelago, which has a population of about 98,000, is dependent on tourism for much of its foreign exchange and acted quickly to begin vaccinations in January using a donation of Chinese vaccines from the United Arab Emirates. It has procured other vaccines since.
By April 12, 59% of the doses administered were Sinopharm vaccines and the rest were Covishield, a version of AstraZeneca Plc’s shot made under license in India.
To date 62.2% of its population is fully vaccinated, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker. That compares with 55.9% for Israel, the next most vaccinated nation.
Global Implications
The number of active cases in the nation rose to 1,068 on May 3 from 612 on April 28, according to the health ministry.
Of those cases, 84% are Seychellois and the rest are foreigners, Daniel Lucey, Clinical Professor of Medicine at Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, said in a blog post.
Just under two thirds of those are either unvaccinated or have only had one dose, and the rest have had two doses, he said.
Data on genetic sequencing not available
While data on genetic sequencing are not yet available for infections in April, the B.1.351 variant, first identified in South Africa late last year, was found in the Seychelles in February, he said.
AstraZeneca’s vaccine appeared to be less effective against that variant in a study, and South Africa halted plans to use it.
A comparison between Sinopharm, Covishield, and unvaccinated infected persons” could be done using genetic sequencing and data on the severity of their infections, Lucey said. “Given the widespread international use of these two vaccines there are global implications to what is happening now in the Seychelles.”
People are taking less precautions
Officials at the press conference gave little detail on what could be behind the infection surge other than to say people were taking fewer precautions against the virus than before and the surge may be due to celebrations after Easter.
Jude Gedeon, Seychelles’ public health commissioner, didn’t answer calls made to his mobile phone or immediately answer a text message.
Other nations that have vaccinated large portions of their populations have seen Covid cases plunge.
In the U.K., where 52% of people have a first dose, cases are down 96% from a recent high in January. In Israel, where 60% have had at least one dose, new cases are down 99%.
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Source :Bloomberg Quint
