Emphasising the importance of mass COVID vaccination through easy availability and accessibility, WHO's chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan on 12 August said even though vaccines may not be able to provide absolute protection against different variants of SARS-CoV2, it can certainly reduce the risk of death and complications.

For our comprehensive coverage and latest updates on COVID-19 click here.

The World Health Organisation's chief scientist said there will be a need to be on guard in the months to come as well. She called on Science and Technology Minister and discussed various aspects of the current COVID-19 pandemic as well as a wide range of other issues.

"Even though the vaccine may not be able to provide absolute protection against different variants of the virus, it can certainly reduce the risk of death and complications," a statement quoting Swaminathan said. "In a country as diverse and heterogeneous as India, with multiple beliefs and faiths, it could not have been easy to embark on such a massive vaccination drive," the minister said.