Thiruvananthapuram : Order has been issued for conducting sero surveillance study in state, Health Minister Veena George informed on Monday. Sero Surveillance is carried out to determine how many among the vaccinated and recovered patients have attained immunity to Covid-19. The study will also give estimates as to how many people might be prone to catch the infection. This will help to strengthen mitigation measures and lend greater protection to those vulnerable, the minister said.
Nationally, the sero surveillance study has been carried out 4 times and Kerala scored the most impressive record in each of them. The last study found acquired immunity among 42.07 percent of the state's population. Also, Kerala stood out as the state with lowest numbers for people who caught the virus and subsequently recovered – a mark of robust immunity. Later, Kerala also recorded highest rate of vaccinations. In light of all this, the sero surveillance study holds substantial significance for Kerala, said the minister.
The Health Department is carrying out sero prevalence study to find what part of the state’s population have caught and recorvered from the infection. The sero surveillance study will determine the presence of immunoglobin(IgG) antibody present in the blood. IgG would be positively present if a person has had the infection some time in the past. Such individuals are referred to as ‘sero positive’.
Tests will be conducted on ages above 18, pregnant, those between ages 5 and 17, adults in adivasi settlements, coastal regions and slum areas. The study will help determine the immunity level across the state’s population as well as the ratio between infections and death, the minister said..
