Unlike earlier sero-surveys, where only the presence or absence of Covid-19 antibodies was detected, this time the BMC will conduct a qualitative check of antibodies to reveal the level of protection after months of vaccination. This will give result of long-term impact of vaccines and help improve vaccination programmes.

The BMC had planned to conduct a regular sero-survey of 10,000 samples in January, but as the third wave hit the city, it was postponed.  Now, with the third wave receding and no new scare in sight, the corporation has planned a year-long sero-survey of healthcare and frontline workers to see the level of antibodies, six and nine months after taking the vaccine. After a Coronavirus infection or a vaccination, the body produces antibodies against the virus’s spike protein. Unlike older antibody tests, which simply detect whether antibodies are present or not, new tests can tell the level of antibodies in the blood.