Registration for Covid-19 vaccination for 18 to 44 years age group began - Direct Link: selfregistration.cowin.gov.in

Tamil Nadu is likely to get 1,26,270 doses of Covaxin by 10am and 3,00,000 doses of Covishield by 5.20pm today, says DPH

Spread of infectious diseases via inter-state travel: ‘Well-connected’ Indian metros rank high on risk map

A hazard map of Indian cities, accounting for the potential of spreading infectious diseases from typical outbreak locations through inter-city travel, has placed Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jhansi, Pune and Jaipur in top positions.

Researchers at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, after studying 446 cities with over one lakh population, have linked the transport modes and its usage frequency to understand the spread of infectious diseases from a host city reporting an outbreak and its spread.

A drive-through COVID-19 vaccination camp started at MGM Healthcare in Chennai

• MGM Healthcare began a ‘drive-thru’ COVID-19 vaccination camp for people aged 45.

• Residents can book their vaccination appointments in advance and there is on-the-spot registration too.

The hospital said people can drive through a specially-designated area set up in the hospital premises, get the shot without exiting their vehicles, wait for 30 minutes to check for any reaction and then drive back home.

The idea behind the ‘drive-thru’ vaccination camp is to offer a convenient way for residents to get vaccinated without the hassle of stepping into the hospital.

Assam forms 2,000 teams to vaccinate 3 lakh people daily

The state government has formed 2,000 teams to vaccinate three lakh people every day provided an adequate number of doses are available. He said the state administration has an adequate stock of Covaxin for administering the second dose to people in the 18-44 years age group.

Claims of Co-WIN system hacking, data leak ‘baseless’: Govt

The government on Saturday dismissed the claims of hacking of the Co-WIN system and data leak as “baseless”.

In a statement, the Health Ministry said the matter of the alleged hacking of the Co-WIN system has been investigated by the Computer Emergency Response Team of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Dr R S Sharma, Chairman of the Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration, has clarified that “the claims of so-called hackers on the dark web, relating to alleged hacking of the Co-WIN system and data leak, is baseless”.

“We continue to take appropriate steps as are necessary, from time to time, to ensure that the data of the people is safe with Co-WIN.” Co-WIN portal facilitates the national COVID-19 vaccination drive. —PTI

GST Council approves rate reduction for Remdesivir from 12% to 5% & Nil GST on Tocilizumab, Amphotericin (black fungus medicines) till 30th Sept, 2021

The Council cuts tax rate from 12% to 5% on medical grade oxygen, BiPaP machines, high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) devices, oxygen concentrators, ventilators, pulse oximeter, masks, covid testing kits, electric cremation furnaces, ambulances, temperature checking devices, hand sanitisers and others.

The GST rate on anti-coagulants like Heparin has been lowered from 12% to 5%.

These rates will be applicable till 30th September, 2021.

GST Council agrees to stick to 5% GST rate on vaccine.

Kerala launches largest COVID inoculation drive for IT professionals

Kerala IT Parks and the Technopark Employees Cooperative (TEC) Hospital here, in collaboration with various IT Companies, launched the largest Covid19 vaccination drive for the state’s software professionals and their family members.

The vaccination programme was inaugurated at a facility set up by the H&R Block in Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram.

Experts flag drastic drop of immunisation of kids during Covid second wave

Expressing concern over drastic drop of routine immunisation among children specially during the second wave of COVID19, healthcare experts have warned that there may be a risk of the children contracting vaccine preventable diseases which may reemerge as a potential challenge.

According to officials, an estimated 20 lakh to 22 lakh children across the country, under the age of one, are targeted for vaccination under national programmes every month which translates into approximately 260 lakh children per year.

Delhi – Sputnik V vaccine to be available at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital from June 15

Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V is likely to be available in Delhi from next week at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, with the tentative roll-out date scheduled for June 15.

Double mask is the new safety buzzword

While there is no scientific evidence which proves two masks are better than one when it comes to protection, doctors say that amidst lack of proper mask use and mask hygiene, double masks indeed offer better protection.

“Common cloth masks are not worn properly most of the time. We do recommend that people wear two masks to ensure protection from the virus.” say health department authorities

When wearing two masks, it should always be a cloth mask over a surgical mask.. “It should not be two surgical masks or two cloth masks". There is no need to double mask if one is wearing an N-95 mask.

Delhi begins vaccination for those travelling abroad for studies

Starting Monday (June 14), those travelling abroad for studies, work can get 2nd Covishield dose at Delhi government centre.

The centre, set up at Navyug School, Mandir Marg, has been organised by the Delhi government for those who need to travel internationally before August 31.

The doses will be available for students who need to travel abroad for their education, those who need to ‘take up jobs in foreign countries, and athletes and accompanying staff of the Indian contingent to the Tokyo Olympics.

People who come under the above categories will be able to get their second vaccine dose at the camp under special provisions after a gap of 28-84 days from the date of their first shot.

A 3D-printed Mask that kills Corona – Pune-based start-up develops reusable mask that inactivates novel coronavirus.

Refer:
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/pune-based...

New Covid variant identified, experts say no cause of concern for now

The highly transmissible Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 has mutated further to form the ‘Delta plus’ or ‘AY.1’ variant but there is no immediate cause for concern in India as its incidence in the country is still low, scientists here said.

The new Delta plus variant has been formed due to a mutation in the Delta or B.1.617.2 variant, first identified in India and one of the drivers of the deadly second wave.

Though there is no indication yet of the severity of the disease due to the new variant, Delta plus is resistant to the monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment for COVID-19 recently authorised in India.

Single dose of vaccine sufficient for already infected people: Study

A single dose of COVID-19 vaccine is sufficient for an infected person as there was a greater antibody response when compared with those who have had no prior infection, according to a study released by AIG Hospitals on Monday.

The city-based AIG Hospitals recently published a study conducted on 260 healthcare workers, who got vaccinated between January 16 and February 5, in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases (a peer-reviewed journal).

Novavax set to arrive with SII as manufacturing partner

The uncertain path to authorisation in the US for Novavax despite passing the efficacy test with an impressive score of 90.4% might see India emerge as its major hub with the Serum Institute of India as manufacturing partner.

The large Novavax trials conducted on 29,960 persons in the US and Mexico have delivered results that equal the Pfizer and Moderna jabs and do better than Johnson and Johnson, but regulatory clearance appears distant as an overflowing vault of vaccines has diminished the need for emergency use approvals.

Under the US law, there is no need for additional EUAs once there are enough doses to cater to domestic needs.

Co-WIN registration for Covid vaccine NOT compulsory, clarifies govt

Pre-registration for vaccination through online registration and prior booking of appointment is not mandatory to avail of vaccination services.

Clarifying that registering on the CoWIN app is “one of the many modes of registration”. Anyone, aged 18 years or more, can directly go to the nearest vaccination Center where vaccinator performs the on-site registration and provides vaccination in the same visit. This is also popularly known as “walk-ins”.

The facilitators such as health workers or ASHAs, also mobilize beneficiaries in rural areas and those residing in urban slums, for on-site registration and vaccination directly at the nearest vaccination centers.

The facility for assisted registrations through the 1075 Help Line has also been operationalized."

Sputnik V more effective on Delta Covid-19 variant than any other vaccine, says RDIF

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said that the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine is more efficient against the Delta variant of the virus, first identified in India than any other vaccine so far.

Sputnik V’s efficacy is better on the Delta variant than any other vaccine that published results on the strain so far.

We didn’t back doubling of vaccine dosing gap, say Indian scientists

The Indian government doubled the gap between the two doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine without the agreement of the scientific group that it said recommended the increase, three members of the advisory body told Reuters.

The ministry of health announced the decision to change the gap from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks on May 13, at a time when supplies of the shot were falling short of demand and infections were surging across the country.It said the extended gap was recommended by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), based on real-life evidence mainly from the United Kingdom.

Yet the NTAGI scientists, classified by the government as three of the 14 “core members”, said the body did not have enough data to make such a recommendation. M.D. Gupte, a former director of the state-run National Institute of Epidemiology, said the NTAGI had backed increasing the dosing interval to 8-12 weeks – the gap advised by the World Health Organization. But he added that the group had no data concerning the effects of a gap beyond 12 weeks. – Reuters

In Maharashtra, CoWin shows 1 lakh duplicate registrations for 2nd jab

A massive data scrubbing exercise is under way on CoWin to find and remove names of people who registered twice on the system—under different phone numbers— to get their second vaccine dose.

Public health officials said an assessment has shown that Maharashtra has at least 1 lakh beneficiaries (mostly healthcare and frontline workers) with completed two-dose schedules still showing as due for their second doses.

It’s unclear how many such beneficiaries there are in other states.

Facilitators ensured there was no CoWin digital divide: Govt

Use of CoWin for India’s vaccination programme might have raised some questions around ‘digital divide’ in the country, but data released by the health ministry on Tuesday shows that the platform didn’t deter those eligible as there were enough facilitators to help them out for on-site registration and walk-in vaccinations.

Refer;
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/registrati...

Two vaccine doses can prevent hospitalisation from Delta variant, says UK study

Fresh analysis from the UK showed for the first time that two doses of COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalisation from the Delta variant, first identified in India last year.

The analysis suggests AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is 92% effective against hospitalisation after two doses, while the corresponding figure after both doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96%.

This assumes significance as the Delta variant is believed to be responsible for the lethal second wave in India, and has been categorised as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organisation.

Punjab CM orders vaccination of teachers, students & other priority groups from June 21

👉 Punjab Chief Minister directed the health authorities to start vaccination of teachers, non-teaching staff and students in the 18-45 age group from all schools and colleges from June 21, to enable educational institutions in the state to open safely.

👉 The CM directed the department to ensure that all persons with co-morbidities as well as disabilities, and government employees, are vaccinated on priority.

👉 Staff in hospitality industry, parlours, service outlets including shops, restaurants, gyms etc

👉 Judicial officers and Lawyers should also be prioritized so that normal court functioning can safely resume.

👉 While asking the health department to reach out proactively to nursing mothers, who have been clarified to be eligible for vaccination.

👉 Expressing concern over the gender gap in vaccination, he directed the health experts to identified the reasons and rectify the situation.

👉 The Chief Minister also ordered ward wise and village wise campaigns in cities/towns/rural areas that saw higher positivity/ mortality, in order to prioritise them for vaccination.

Novavax vaccine efficacy data promising, encouraging: Govt

Union Health Ministry said the efficacy data of Novavax vaccine against Covid-19 is promising and encouraging and its clinical trials are in an advanced stage of completion in India.

Addressing a press conference, NITI Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul said the data available in public domain also indicates the vaccine is safe and highly effective.

“What we are learning from the available data is that this vaccine is very safe and it is highly effective but what makes this vaccine relevant for today is the fact that this vaccine will be produced in India by Serum Institute,” he was quoted as saying by PTI

There is preparatory work already accomplished by the Serum Institute and they are also conducting a bridging trial which is in advanced stages of completion, he added.

Novavax Inc on Monday annnounced that its vaccine was highly effective with 90.4 per cent efficacy overall and also showed high efficacy against predominantly circulating variants.

Risk of death following vaccination negligible compared to dying of Covid: Health Ministry

The Union Health Ministry said the risk of dying following vaccination is negligible as compared to the known risk of dying due to Covid-19. -PTI

Exposure to common cold can help combat Covid-19: Study

Exposure to the rhinovirus, the most frequent cause of the common cold, can protect against infection by the virus which causes Covid-19, researchers have found.

The study by Yale researchers found that the common respiratory virus jump-starts the activity of interferon-stimulated genes, early-response molecules in the immune system which can halt replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within airway tissues infected with the cold.

Exposure to the virus that causes common cold can provide protection against infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus behind COVID-19, according to a study.

The research, published on Tuesday in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, found that rhinovirus, the common respiratory virus, jump-starts the activity of interferon-stimulated genes.

These genes trigger early-response molecules in the immune system which can stop reproduction of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, within airway tissues infected with the cold, the researchers said. Triggering these defences early in the course of COVID-19 infection holds promise to prevent or treat the infection, said senior study author, Ellen Foxman, assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine in the US.

One way to do this, Foxman said, is by treating patients with interferons, an immune system protein which is also available as a drug. “But it all depends upon the timing,” she said. Previous work showed that at the later stages of COVID-19, high interferon levels are associated with worse disease outcomes, and may fuel overactive immune responses. (PTI)

Most drugs for treating adult Covid patients not recommended for kids: Govt guidelines

About the treatment of children, the guidelines by the Union Health Ministry said most drugs used in adults such as ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, favipiravir and antibiotics such as doxycycline or azithromycin have not been tested on children for prevention or treatment of Covid infection among them. “Therefore, these are not recommended in children.” (PTI)

95 pc of vaccinated healthcare staff got protection against Covid, finds Apollo hospitals study

Covishield, Covaxin cut infection risk in 95% healthcare workers in India

A multi-centre study on a cohort of over 31,000 vaccinated healthcare workers of a leading private facility, spanning across the country, has found that Covid vaccine provided protection against infection in “95 per cent” of the beneficiaries, hospital authorities claimed on Wednesday.

The study by Apollo Hospitals took place over four and a half months, from January 16 to May 30 and covered 31,621 healthcare workers who had received either both doses or the first dose of Covishield or Covaxin, a hospital spokesperson said. (PTI)

Sputnik V vaccine soft launch scaled up to Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, says Dr Reddy’s

Soft launch of the Sputnik V vaccine in India, which was initiated in Hyderabad, has been scaled up to many cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai among others.

Registration on CoWIN not open to the public yet, will be open at the time of commercial launch – (ANI)

https://www.firstpost.com/health/novavax-vaccin...

Pharma companies and maybe also the Nations behind it , to get there piece of cake , giving Efficiency Certificate , Authenticity is doubtful of this certificate. .
GREED is been seen in such times also .