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

Hope to resolve issues faced by Indians vaccinated with Covishield travelling to EU soon

‘I realise that a lot of Indians who have taken COVISHIELD are facing issues with travel to the E.U., I assure everyone, I have taken this up at the highest levels and hope to resolve this matter soon, both with regulators and at a diplomatic level with countries,’ tweets Adar Poonawalla

Last month, the government extended the gap between two doses of Covishield from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks.

“As of now, their decision is to continue with the present dose schedule,” – COVIDTASK FORCE CHIEF V K PAUL

New device can accurately distinguish SARS-CoV-2 from other coronaviruses

Researchers have developed a tablet-sized device that can distinguish between antibodies produced in response to SARS-CoV-2 and four other coronaviruses with 100 per cent accuracy.

The team at Duke University in the US demonstrated that the easy-to-use and energy-independent device can reliably detect multiple COVID-19 antibodies and biomarkers simultaneously. (PTI)

Second wave of Covid-19 has still not subsided as 80 districts in the country still have high positivity.

Dr. Balram Bhargava, Secretary (Health Research) & DG (ICMR) also cautioned that the second wave of Covid-19 has still not subsided as 80 districts in the country still have high positivity.

He advised against any laxity at this stage. He also explained that vaccines have been found effective against the alpha, beta, gamma and delta variants of Covid-19.

Sharing details about various coronavirus variants of concern, officials told the panel that it includes the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants.

These variants have been traced in 174 districts of 35 states and Union Territories, with the maximum reported from Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab, Telangana, West Bengal and Gujarat, the parliamentary panel was informed.

45-week gap between 2 Covishield doses boosts immunity, Oxford study finds

Delayed doses of AstraZeneca jab boost immunity

Delayed second and third doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine boost immunity against Covid-19, a study by Oxford University, which developed the jab with the British-Swedish firm, said on Monday.

An interval of up to 45 weeks between the first and second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine led to an enhanced immune response, rather than compromising immunity, the study said

Giving a third dose of the jab more than six months after the second dose also leads to a “substantial increase” in antibodies and induces a “strong boost” to subjects’ immune response, said the pre-print study, meaning that it has yet to be peer-reviewed.

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Union ministry of health issues guidelines for vaccination of pregnant women.

Covid-19 vaccines available are safe & vaccination protects pregnant women against Covid-19 illness/disease like other individuals.

All pregnant women need to register themselves on CoWINportal or may get themselves registered on-site at Covid-19 vaccination centre.

Approval to Covishield would be considered should we receive marketing authorisation application: EU agency

The Covishield vaccine “does not currently have a marketing authorisation” in Europe and the matter would be considered when an application is received for it, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Monday.

People vaccinated with Covishield, manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), are unlikely to be eligible to travel to the European Union member states under the ‘Green Pass’ scheme as the vaccine is yet to be cleared by the EMA

Moderna gets ok for India entry as DCGI clears Cipla’s proposal – Vaccine will be administered in 2 doses

New drug permission has been granted to Moderna, the first internationally developed vaccine. This new drug permission is for restricted use: Dr. VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog -PTi

Sputnik V shot around 90% effective against Delta variant – RIA

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is around 90% effective against the Delta variant of coronavirus, the RIA news agency cited Denis Logunov, deputy director of the Gamaleya Institute that developed the vaccine, as saying on Tuesday.

The shot was previously found by the researchers to be almost 92% effective against the original strain of coronavirus. Logunov said the Delta variant efficacy figure was calculated based on information from digital medical records and on vaccination records. (Reuters)

Domestic pharma majors join hands for clinical trial of Molnupiravir for COVID-19 treatment

Leading drug makers Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Cipla, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Torrent Pharmaceuticals have decided to collaborate for clinical trial of the investigational oral antiviral drug Molnupiravir for the treatment of mild COVID-19.

The five pharma companies have entered into a collaboration agreement, wherein the parties will jointly sponsor, supervise and monitor the clinical trial in the country, according to regulatory filings by Dr Reddy’s and Cipla. (PTI)

How effective Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V, Moderna & Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are against Delta plus variants?

Please Refer;
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/how-covish...

Mixing AztraZeneca and Pfizer Covid vaccines produces strong immune response: Study

Alternating doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines generate robust immune response against COVID-19, according to a study led by researchers from the University of Oxford in the UK.

The yet-to-be-published study found that both mixed schedules — Pfizer followed by AstraZeneca, and vice versa — induced high concentrations of antibodies against the SARS-CoV2 spike protein when doses were administered four weeks apart.

The spike protein helps the virus to infect and enter the human cells, and current vaccines are targeted against it. – PTI

Maharashtra to start home vaccination for bedridden people

Maharashtra to start home vaccination for bedridden people; won’t wait for Centre’s approval: Govt to HC – PTI

Confident of getting EMA’s approval in a month for Covishield, says SII’s Poonawalla

Vaccine major Serum Institute of India is confident of receiving approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for its COVID-19 vaccine Covishield in a month, company’s chief executive officer Adar Poonawalla said on Wednesday. He also said the issue of vaccine passports should be on the basis of reciprocity between the countries.

“The EMA is absolutely correct in asking us to apply, which we have through AstraZeneca, our partners, a month ago, and that process has to take its time. An approval process even with UK MHRA, WHO took its time and we have applied to the EMA,” Poonawalla said at India Global Forum 2021.

“We are quite confident that in a month EMA will approve Covishield. There is no reason why not to, because it is based on AstraZeneca data and our product is identical to AstraZeneca more or less and it has been approved by WHO, UK MHRA. So it’s just a matter of time. It is not really going to hinder anything,” he added.

But the reason why it was flagged is because if the issue is not addressed now, and when India gets off the red list and when citizens want to travel they should not be refused in a given country just because they have a Covishield certificate. On the issue of vaccine passports, Poonawalla said that it was a slightly different issue.

“The issue with vaccine passports is slightly different. What I am trying to say is that let us take a manufacturer outside of India. Let’s say they have been approved by WHO and everyone in that country gets vaccinated taking that product and now when those citizens need to travel, what good is their vaccine certificate if it is not acknowledged and reciprocity is not there between the countries,” Poonawalla said. (PTI)

India requests EU member states to consider Covishield, Covaxin vaccines under Green passport scheme

As the European Union relaxes travel restrictions under its ‘Green Passport’ scheme, India has requested the members of the 27-nation grouping to individually consider allowing Indians who have taken Covishield and Covaxin vaccines to travel to Europe, sources said.

The sources said India has requested the EU member nations to accept the vaccination certificate issued through the CoWIN portal. The European Union’s Digital COVID certificate framework to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic is to come into effect on Thursday.

Under this framework, persons who have taken vaccines authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be exempted from travel restrictions within the EU. The individual member states have the flexibility to also accept vaccines that have been authorised at the national level or by the World Health Organisation.

“We have requested EU member states to individually consider extending similar exemption to those persons who have taken COVID-19 vaccines in India, that is Covishield and Covaxin, and accept the vaccination certificate issued through the CoWIN portal,” said a source.

The sources said the genuineness of such vaccination certification can be authenticated on the CoWIN portal. (PTI)

Gujarat extends deadline till July 10 for COVID-19 vaccination of commercial unit owners, staff

The Gujarat government extended the deadline by ten days for the owners, operators and employees of commercial units in the state’s 18 cities to get compulsorily vaccinated against COVID-19.

The state home department said in a notification that its earlier deadline for the owners, operators and employees of commercial units in 18 cities, and others involved in trade activities with all such facilities, to get vaccinated till June 30 has been extended by ten days to July 10.

The government’s decision comes as a large number of people involved in commercial units in the 18 cities are yet to be inoculated against coronavirus due to a short supply of vaccines. (PTI)

India’s Zydus Cadila applies for emergency use nod

Indian drugmaker Zydus Cadila said on Thursday it has applied to the country’s drug regulator for emergency use approval of its COVID-19 vaccine and that it plans to manufacture up to 120 million doses of the shot annually.

Dr Reddy’s Labs denied approval for Phase 3 trial of Russia’s Sputnik Light (single dose) vaccine

The expert panel, set up by the government, has denied approval to Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories for conducting Phase 3 trials of the Russia’s Sputnik Light Covid-19 vaccine in India.

The expert committee has denied permission to Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories for conducting Phase 3 trials of the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik Light in India.

The Subject Expert Committee (SEC), set up by the government, on Wednesday discussed Dr Reddy’s application seeking to carry out trials in India. According to sources, the expert committee did not find any scientific basis to conduct phase-3 trials and hence did not consider Dr Reddy’s application seeking to conduct final trials of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Sputnik Light is a one shot vaccine from the makers of Sputnik V and is yet to be approved in India.

Sputnik V is a two-dose vaccine made from two components — recombinant adenovirus 26 or Ad26 and adenovirus 5 or Ad5. The first dose (Ad26) is the main vaccine and the second (Ad5) is a booster shot. The Sputnik Light vaccine is made from first component only — Ad26, which is also the first part of the Sputnik V vaccine.

Dr Reddy’s wanted to test the immunogenicity of the vaccine. Based on the result of the earlier trials of Sputnik V, the immunogenicity data on both the doses (components) was noted. Sources said the immunogenicity data with single-dose vaccine was not so great and hence the SEC did not find any rationale to conduct the trial again.

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories is working with Indian regulators to bring the single-dose Sputnik Light coronavirus vaccine to the country, said CEO (API and Services), Deepak Sapra

“I hope that once Sputnik Light is brought to India, it will be a shot in the arm for the country’s vaccination programme. The most important part is, instead of two doses, a single-dose vaccine will be able to give 80 per cent efficacy,” Sapra had said earlier.

If approved for use in India, the Sputnik Light vaccine is likely to be priced around $10 (approx Rs 730).

Meanwhile, Sputnik V, a two-dose vaccine, received the nod for emergency use in India in April this year. The DCGI approval to Russia’s Sputnik V was given based on a “very strong immunogenicity data” shown by the vaccine.

Sputnik V vaccine is currently being manufactured in India by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories and Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) had applied to the DCGI seeking permission to manufacture the Covid-19 vaccine in the country, sources had said.

Govt panel recommends against allowing SII to conduct trial of Covovax on children aged 2-17 yrs

An expert panel of the country’s central drug authority recommended against granting permission to the Serum Institute of India (SII) to conduct the phase 2/3 trial of Covid-19 vaccine Covovax on children aged two to 17 years, sources said.

The government panel has asked Serum Institute of India to complete trials of Covavax Covid-19 vaccine on adults first: Sources

Odisha: Bhubaneswar-based Care hospital starts administering Sputnik V doses

“We’re first in Odisha to procure it. As per our MoU, we’ve to first vaccinate employees of Dr Reddy’s. We opened 20 slots for people on June 29&June 30&response is good,” a hospital official said

We expect to produce 1 crore vaccine doses per month from Aug onwards: Cadila Healthcare

We expect to produce 1 crore vaccine doses per month from August onwards and 5 crore doses by December this year. Our target is to produce 10 crore vaccine doses in a year: Sharvil Patel, MD, Cadila Healthcare on ZyCoV-D

Delhi’s Indraprastha Apollo has started the administration of the Sputnik V vaccine from June 30th

As of today, around 1000 persons have been administered the said vaccine, said the hospital

Single-shot COVID19 vaccine generates strong response, says Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson announced data that demonstrated its single-shot COVID19 vaccine generated strong, persistent activity against the rapidly spreading Delta variant and other highly prevalent SARS-CoV-2 viral variants.

In addition, the data showed that the durability of the immune response lasted through at least eight months, the length of time evaluated to date. The two preprint study summaries have been submitted to bioRxiv. – ANI

Mumbai’s BMC says COVID vaccination will take place only for 3 hours today, July 2

• Maharashtra: BMC says COVID vaccination will take place only for 3 hours (2pm-5pm) at a limited number of its centres in Mumbai today

• Covaxin will be given only for second dose & Covishield to only people above 45 years of age, it says.

• Mumbai: Vaccines for people above 18 years of age will also be available only for 3 hours (2 pm-5 pm) today at certain centres. – ANI

Fortis, Apollo roll out Sputnik V at two hospitals in Delhi-NCR; over 3,000 vaccinated

Private hospital chains Fortis Healthcare and Apollo Hospitals have started administering Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V at two hospitals in Delhi-NCR, officials said.

Indraprastha Apollo in Delhi has started administering Sputnik V in a staged manner from June 30. Around 1,000 people have been vaccinated so far, a spokesperson said.

“On-spot registration and walk-in facility for Sputnik V is currently restricted, and we are encouraging beneficiaries to take appointments through the CoWin app,” the official said. (PTI)

People in states with high PM2.5 levels more likely to get COVID-19, says study

People living in the national capital and in states such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are more likely to contract COVID-19 due to prolonged exposure to high concentration of PM 2.5, according to a new pan-India study.

Sixteen major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Lucknow and Surat, reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases, and PM2.5 emissions are also higher in these areas due to fossil fuel-based anthropogenic activities, it said.

PM2.5 refers to fine particles which penetrate deep into the body and fuel inflammation in the lungs and respiratory tract, leading to the risk of having cardiovascular and respiratory problems, including a weak immune system. (PTI)

1 vaccine dose 92% effective in preventing deaths due to Covid, 98% for 2 doses: Govt

Both the doses of Covid vaccine provide around 98 per cent protection from death due to the disease, while one dose gives nearly 92 per cent shield, the government said on Friday citing a study conducted on police personnel in Punjab.

The study was done by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh in collaboration with the Punjab government.

Sharing the data of the study, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul said 4,868 police personnel were not vaccinated and out of them, 15 died due to coronavirus infection, which comes down to 3.08 incidence per thousand. (PTI)

Govt approves vaccination of pregnant women against Covid-19

Union Health Ministry approves the vaccination of pregnant women against #COVID19. Pregnant women may now register on CoWIN or walk-in to the nearest COVID Vaccination Centre (CVC) to get themselves vaccinated, says the Ministry (ANI)

SEC evaluating Zydus Cadila’s vaccine application, says VK Paul,

DCGI has the application of Zydus Cadila. It is undergoing a process of evaluation by the Subject Expert Committee. We’re hoping to hear a positive response.

It will be a moment of pride as it is a unique technology. It’ll give a push to our vaccine program: VK Paul, Niti Aayog (ANI)