Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 14: Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar conducted a seroprevalence survey of healthcare providers across all the hospitals in Kashmir division ahead of COVID-19 vaccination set to start from January 16.
“Seroprevalence survey has been conducted across all associated hospitals of GMC Srinagar, all districts hospitals of Kashmir division and associated hospitals of GMC Anantnag and Baramullah for SARS COV-2 specific IgG antibodies ahead of COVID Vaccination of health care providers,” a statement said.
It said that over two thousand blood samples were collected while data was collected using Epicollect5, customised mobile data platform.
“This is the first study on health care providers across all districts of Kashmir division to know their antibodies status whether they have been exposed to SARS COV-2, a virus causing COVID disease,” Dr S. Muhammad Salim Khan HOD Community Medicine Government Medical College Srinagar and principal investigator of the study said.
GMC said that the study conducted by Departments of Community Medicine and Biochemistry Government Medical College Srinagar with the full support of respective medical Superintendents and nodal officers across Kashmir and in collaboration by National Health Mission Jammu and Kashmir shall also help us to have a baseline data before COVID Vaccination.
“Later we may check their antibody status once they are immunised with a full course of COVID vaccines comprising two doses few weeks apart, which elicit IgG antibody response,” it said.
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