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

‘Near home’ vaccination centres for elderly, differently-abled for simplifying inoculation process

The government has allowed setting up of ‘near home’ vaccination centres for elderly and differently-abled people for simplifying the process of inoculation for them. In a statement, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment highlighted various steps taken by the government to assist the senior citizens during the pandemic.

Sputnik V vaccine will be available in 9 more cities across India

“The Sputnik V vaccine will be available in 9 more cities across India, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Baddi, Kolhapur and Miryalaguda,” Sputnik V tweets.#COVID19 (ANI)

‘Delta plus’ variant, complacency might bring 3rd wave in few months, says Maharashtra Covid task force

Even as the remnants of the second wave of Coronavirus remain an active threat, the Maharashtra Covid-19 task force has said that the third Coronavirus wave might become a reality in the state in a couple of months. The task force warned that if Covid-19 appropriate behaviour was not followed diligently by the residents then the third wave of Coronavirus might begin in 1-2 months riding on the new infectious Delta plus variant.

The government officials across the urban and rural areas of the state to ensure that all vital medicines and medical equipment are stocked at the health centres. While being apprised of the possibility of the third wave of Coronavirus due to Delta plus variant, the number of patients coming in the grip of the third wave could be far higher than that in the second wave.

‘Wonder material’ graphene can help detect COVID variants quickly, accurately: Study

Researchers have successfully used graphene — one of the strongest, thinnest known materials — to detect SARS-CoV-2 in laboratory, a breakthrough which they said can help detect coronavirus and its variants quickly and accurately.

The research team at the University of Illinois Chicago in the US combined sheets of graphene, which are more than 1,000 times thinner than a postage stamp. They applied an antibody to the sheets designed to target the spike protein on the coronavirus, which helps the virus to enter and infect human cells. The researchers then measured the atomic-level vibrations of these graphene sheets when exposed to COVID-positive and COVID-negative samples in artificial saliva.

These sheets were also tested in the presence of other coronaviruses, like Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS-CoV. The study, published in the journal ACS Nano on Tuesday, found that the vibrations of the antibody-coupled graphene sheet changed when treated with a COVID-positive sample, but not when treated with a COVID-negative sample or with other coronaviruses.

Vibrational changes, measured with a device called a Raman spectrometer, were evident in under five minutes, the researchers found.

Graphene is a single-atom-thick material made up of carbon atoms bound by chemical bonds whose elasticity and movement can produce resonant vibrations which can be very accurately measured, the researchers said. When a molecule like a SARS-CoV-2 interacts with graphene, it changes these resonant vibrations in a very specific and quantifiable way.

Modified graphene with an antibody and, in essence, calibrated it to react only with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Using this method, graphene could similarly be used to detect COVID-19 variants.

SII hopes to introduce Covavax in the country by September

Serum Insititute of India (SII) hopes to introduce Covavax in the country by September which is a version of US firm Novavax ’s COVID19 vaccine candidate: Sources (ANI)

Fortis Healthcare says COVID vaccines protected 92% vaccinated healthcare workers

A leading hospital chain, Fortis Healthcare on Thursday said 92 per cent of the fully vaccinated healthcare workers developed only mild COVID-19 infections.

“The evidence-based study highlights that 92 per cent of the fully vaccinated healthcare workers amongst those who acquired infection post-vaccination developed only mild COVID-19 infection, largely recovering under home care, despite a surge in serious infections during the second wave of the pandemic,” Fortis said. (PTI)

Sputnik V shots to be available at Fortis’ Gurgaon, Mohali facilities from Saturday, June 19.

Private hospital chain Fortis Healthcare announced that Sputnik V, the third anti-coronavirus vaccine approved for use in India, will be available at its Gurgaon and Mohali facilities as part of a limited pilot roll-out from Saturday.

The vaccine stock has been procured directly from Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories according to government guidelines, it said. (PTI)

3rd Dose Vaccine (Booster Dose) – Sputnik V makers to offer other vaccine manufacturers booster shot for Delta variant of Covid

Please Refer;
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/3rd-dose-v...

CSIR, Tata MD partner to ramp up Covid testing capacity across tier 2, 3 towns and rural areas

The Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India’s apex scientific research organisation, and Tata MD, the new healthcare venture from the Tata Group, have announced a partnership to ramp up Covid-19 testing capacity across tier 2 and 3 towns as well as rural areas across India.

The CSIR and Tata MD are developing this capacity to manage any future surge in the Covid-19 testing requirements, the Ministry of Science and Technology said in a statement.

The initiative will utilise CSIR’s network of labs across India and help increase testing capacity in smaller locations in the country. The CSIR and Tata MD will jointly develop the testing capacity and the RT-PCR CRISPR test will be done using the Tata MD CHECK SARS-CoV-2 test kits that are powered by FELUDA technology from CSIR-IGIB.

“Apart from vaccination, rapid testing and isolation of SARS-CoV-2 positive persons has emerged as the best strategy in combating Covid. This initiative in partnership with Tata MD, to deploy the RT-PCR CRISPR test across multiple CSIR labs spread across the country is an important step. This will augment the national capacity to test for Covid and detect it locally,” said Dr Shekhar C Mande, Director General, CSIR. (PTI)

Zydus Cadila likely to seek emergency use authorisation for its vaccine next week

Indian pharmaceutical major Zydus Cadila is likely to apply to the central drugs regulator asking for emergency use authorisation for its Covid vaccine ZyCoV-D next week.

If approved, it will be the world’s first DNA vaccine against the virus and the fourth to be available in the country.

“The analysis of the phase-three trial data is almost ready and the company has informed the government that it could apply for emergency use licensure for its COVID-19 vaccine next week,” PTI

Karnataka – Sputnik rollout deferred of over delayed delivery

Delays in the delivery of second doses of Sputnik V vaccine has prompted Manipal Hospitals on Old Airport Road to defer the rollout of the Russian made jab. The launch was planned on Friday.

Unlike Covishield and Covaxin, the two doses of Sputnik V have different compositions. Its manufacturers have recommended that the doses should be administered 21 days apart. “It is unfortunate that owing to unviability of second dose stock, we had to postpone the commercial launch of Sputnik V vaccine at our facility,” Manipal said in a statement.

Urgently trying to work with AstraZeneca, SII, Indian govt to restart COVID-19 vaccine shipments: WHO

The WHO is urgently trying to work with AstraZeneca, Serum Institute of India (SII) as well as the Indian government to restart shipments of Covid-19 vaccines to countries that had to suspend the rollout of second doses of vaccines amid the disruption in supplies, a senior official at the UN health agency has said.

We have a huge number of countries that have had to suspend rollout of their second doses of vaccines," Bruce Aylward, Senior Advisor to World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Friday at a press briefing.

“It’s over 30 or 40 countries that could have been targeted for second doses of AstraZeneca vaccines (but they) will not be able to do that, Aylward said.

We are now urgently trying to work with AstraZeneca itself as well as SII, the Government of India to restart those shipments so that we can get those second doses into those populations because we are running to a longer interval than we would have liked, he said.

COVID-19 third wave inevitable, could strike India in 6 to 8 weeks, says AIIMS chief

Please Refer:
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/covid-19-t...

High hopes for Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine have fizzled in the US

When Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose coronavirus vaccine was authorized for emergency use in late February, ​it was seen as a breakthrough for reaching vulnerable and isolated Americans, a crucial alternative to vaccines that require two shots weeks apart and fussier storage.

It was soon popular on college campuses, in door-to-door campaigns and with harder-to-reach communities that often struggle with access to health care.

But with only 11.8 million doses administered in the United States — less than 4% of the total — the “one and done” vaccine has fallen flat.

States have warned for weeks that they may not find recipients for millions of doses that will soon expire, partly because the vaccine’s appeal dropped after it was linked to a rare but serious blood-clotting disorder and injections were paused for 10 days in April.

The vaccine took another hit last week, when regulators told Johnson & Johnson that it should throw out tens of millions of additional doses produced at a plant in Baltimore because they might be contaminated.

The diminished supply and enthusiasm for the shot mean that its role in the United States is fading fast, even though millions of Americans have yet to be vaccinated.

“It’s just not what I think anybody would have hoped it would be when it came out,” said Dave Baden, chief financial officer of the Oregon Health Authority. Health officials in a number of other states presented a similarly discouraging picture.

The pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, they said, effectively kicked it aside for good; only about 3.5 million doses have been used since the pause was lifted April 23.

KimDeti, a spokesperson for the Wyoming Health Department, said the graph of uptake in her state told the vaccine’s story: a significant climb in the early weeks of its rollout, followed by a plateau that began around the pause.

A Pill to Treat Covid-19? The U.S. Is Betting on It.

A new $3.2 billion program will support the development of antiviral pills, which could start arriving by the end of this year.

Ref;
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/17/health/covid...

Covid Delta Variant Found For First Time In 2 North-East States, Manipur & Mizoram

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https://www.desidime.com/discussions/covid-19-t...

Sputnik V roll out delayed in Delhi

The roll out of Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V at Indraprastha Apollo and Madhukar Rainbow Children’s Hospital in Delhi has been delayed for some days, officials said on Sunday. A spokesperson of Apollo Hospitals said the facility in Delhi will tentatively start administering the two-dose vaccine by June 25.

An official had earlier said the hospital would start giving Sputnik V jabs by June 20. According to an official of Madhukar Rainbow Children’s Hospital, there is a delay on the part of the suppliers.

“We are expecting (roll out) next week,” he said. Fortis Healthcare, which had said it would make Sputnik V available at its Gurgaon and Mohali hospitals from Saturday, also has not started administering the Russian vaccine so far. (With PTI)

Free COVID-19 vaccines for all 18+ citizens, no registration required

As the nation begins the COVID-19 vaccination for all adults, here are some important points to keep in mind before getting inoculated.

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States can make use the facilities of Common Service Centres and Call Centres to help citizens book slots for vaccination.

The Centre will buy 75 per cent of the total vaccine production from vaccine manufacturers and give it free to the state governments.

The central government also bears the responsibility of 25 per cent of the work related to vaccination with the states, an arrangement which was implemented in the weeks following the announcement.

The Centre has also taken additional measures to make the private sector a part of this drive by keeping 25 per cent of vaccines for private hospitals to procure. But they will not be above to overcharge as the price has been capped.

Though prior registration is not required, all vaccinations done by both public and private centres will be documented on the Co-Win portal.

Beneficiaries must ensure that they are registered on-site before getting inoculated.

If you are going to get vaccinated at a government hospital:

Vaccination will be free.

Prior registration on Co-Win is not mandatory, as the government allows on-spot registration starting from June 21.

If you are going to a private hospital:

Prior registration on Co-Win is not needed, on-site registration can be done as well.

Do not pay more than ₹1,410 for Covaxin, ₹790 for Covishield and ₹1,145 for Sputnik V, as the Centre has capped the maximum price of these vaccines at private hospitals.

How to verify a vaccination certificate:

As several cases of vaccine scams are being reported, it is important to check the authenticity of the vaccine certificate after getting inoculated. This is how you can verify the certificate:

Step 1: Go to verify.cowin.gov.in which has an option for Scan QR code.

Step 2: Click on the button that pops up.

Step 3: A notification will prompt you to activate your device’s camera.

Step 4: Point the camera to the QR code on the certificate issued and scan.

Step 5: After verification, it will show the name, age, gender, certificate ID, date of issuance, the name of the vaccination facility etc.

Step 6: If the certificate is not genuine, a ‘certificate invalid’ message will be displayed.

Delta Plus Variant EXPLAINED: What is it & Why it May Trigger a Third Covid Wave in India
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/covid-19-t...

One dose of Covid vaccine 82% effective in preventing death, 2 doses 95% effective: ICMR-NIE study

A single dose of Covid 19 vaccine is effective in preventing deaths, according to a new analysis by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE).Vaccine effectiveness in preventing Covid-19 deaths with one and two doses was 82 per cent and 95 per cent respectively.

The study ‘Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness in preventing deaths among high-risk groups in Tamil Nadu, India’, was published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research on June 21.

The Tamil Nadu police department has been documenting vaccination of its workforce (as aggregate numbers with 0, 1 and 2 vaccine doses), and Covid-19 deaths during the second wave, along with details of the date of hospitalisation and vaccination.

Manufacturing of First Batch of Covavax Begins at SII

A new milestone has been reached; this week we began our first batch of Covovax (a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Novavax) at our facility, here in Pune: Serum Institute India, ANI reports.

Maha Becomes First State to Administer 3 Crore Jabs As Fear of 3rd Wave Looms Large

Maharashtra becomes first State in the country to administer 3 crore covid vaccine doses, total Covid vaccination in Maharashtra 3,00,27,217 at 2 PM, said Dr. Pradip vyas, ACS Health.

In view of Delta, Delta plus variant and Maharashtra govt has issued new orders with respect to levels of restrictions Easing of restrictions won’t be easy now, more focus will need to be given on vaccinations, he added

Sputnik to be administered at govt facilities from July

The Gurugram health department can start administering the Russian-made vaccine against Covid-19, Sputnik V, from the first week of July at the government health centres without any charge, officials said.

IIT-Delhi launches rapid antigen test kit priced at Rs 50

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi has come up with a rapid antigen test kit for Covid which is priced at Rs 50 and gives results within five minutes.

The ICMR approved test kit was launched by Union Minister of State for Education Sanjay Dhotre on Friday.

Gujarat govt sets vaccination deadline for people involved in professional activities

• The Gujarat govt has made it mandatory for the people involved in ‘professional activities’ in the state’s 18 cities and towns, which continue to remain under coronavirus-induced night curfew, to get themselves vaccinated against the virus by June 30.

• The government has set the deadline of July 10 for vaccination of such people in the remaining parts of the state.

• However, the govt is yet to decide what action it would take against those who do not get themselves vaccinated within the stipulated deadline.

Availability of Covid vaccine for kids will pave way for school reopening: AIIMS chief

Dr. Randeep Guleria said the data of phase two and three trial of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin on 2 to 18 years age group is expected by September.

The vaccine can be available for children in India around that time following approval from the drug regulator, he said. “If the Pfizer vaccine gets approval before that, then it can also be an option for children,” Dr Guleria said.

Zydus Cadila vaccine is almost complete*

Trial for Zydus Cadila vaccine is almost complete. By July end or in August, we might be able to start administering this vaccine to children of 12-18 age group: Dr NK Arora, Chairman, COVID working group

Tax exemption on employee’s COVID treatment.

The government said that the amount paid by an employer to employees for COVID-19 treatment would be tax exempt. Also, ex-gratia payment received from employer by family members in case of death of an employee due to COVID-19 would be exempt from income tax.

5 states, with 27% of 18+ population, account for 75% of private vaccine doses

Five states that are home to just over a quarter (27%) of India’s adult population account for three-quarters of private vaccine doses, according to data presented by the government to the Supreme Court.

Not surprisingly, these states are the ones that contain some of largest metros – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bengal, Delhi and Telangana in that order

Fortis Memorial Research Institute Gurugram starts SputnikV trial for general public

Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram starts SputnikV trial run for the general public. (ANI)