News Analysis India

Tag: COVID19

  • Phase-I trial results show Covaxin has tolerable safety, enhanced immunity: Lancet study

    By Express News Service
    HYDERABAD: The co-founder and JMD of Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, Suchitra Ella, tweeted on Friday that the results of the Phase-I clinical trial of Covaxin have been published in the well-known scientific journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases. She said this is the first clinical trial publication on the COVID-19 vaccine from India.

    As per the publication, Covaxin was found safe among those who received it, among all age groups. The vaccine was administered as part of the Phase-I clinical trial to 300 people of the 375 who enrolled for the study, with 75 persons forming the control group.

    Among those who received Covaxin, the study reported that only one serious adverse event was reported which was found to be unrelated to the vaccine. Moderate and mild adverse events were reported among a few, mostly after the first dose, which included injection site pain, headache, fatigue, fever and nausea or vomiting. These findings were earlier reported in the media when they were available in a pre-print research paper.

    The interpretation of the published findings said that Covaxin “led to tolerable safety outcomes and enhanced immune responses” among the recipients.

    Suchitra Ella also announced on Friday that 13,000 volunteers have been administered the second dose of Covaxin, the COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the firm.

    She tweeted, “13,000 volunteers have been successfully administered the 2nd dose in the Phase-3 Clinical Trials of Covaxin. My heartfelt thanks to all of them for their pro-vaccine public health volunteerism. Thank you India!”

    Covaxin is a two-dose vaccine given 28 days apart. Last year, Bharat Biotech had announced that the Phase-III clinical trial will be conducted on 26,000 people.

  • PM Modi allays fears related to Covid vaccine, says no politics involved

    Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: On a day when Uttar Pradesh set out to inoculate over 1.40 lakh health workers under the second phase of Covid vaccination on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with health workers of Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, through a video link allaying their fears over the vaccination.

    Attributing the success of the ongoing vaccination drive to the scientists and researchers, the PM made attempts to dispel the doubts and fears over the vaccine saying there was no politics involved in the selection of vaccine. “We had decided to leave it to our scientists that whatever they will suggest, we will follow it and we did so,” said the PM, adding that behind the making of vaccine, there had been the diligence and knowledge of country’s scientists who made it possible in such a short time.

    Interacting with COVID-19 vaccination beneficiaries in Kashi. https://t.co/PxZOzyQXwy
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 22, 2021

    Greeting the community of scientists, the PM said the country had reached a level where two ‘Made in India’ vaccines are in the field. “India is self-reliant in a field which is the biggest necessity of the day,” said the PM. He also claimed that the country was sending Covid vaccine to neighbouring countriesthrough friendly export.

    The PM also attributed the success in the crusade against Coronavirus to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for the last six years. “The sensitization towards cleanliness has helped the countrymen develop immunity and capacity to fight out the ailments be it Covid or any other disease,” averred the PM.

    Modi interacted with five health workers who had got inoculated in the first phase of vaccination on January 16 and asked them to share their experience. The health workers are Matron Pushpa Devi, ANM Rani Kunwar Srivastava (both from women’s hospital), chief Medical Superintendent of Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital Dr P Shukla, senior lab technician Ramesh Chandra and ANM Shrinkla Chauhan (Community Health Centre, Haathi Bazar).

    He also expressed hope that the vaccine would protect the health workers against coronavirus and that they would again extend their services to others in getting the vaccine.

    The next inoculation drive in UP will be held on January 28 and 29. A total of 22,643 people have been inoculated in the state so far.

  • Rajasthan government ends night curfew after decline in COVID-19 cases

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government on Monday decided to withdraw night curfew and give a few more relaxations in a phased manner in view of a decline in COVID-19 cases.

    “In the COVID-19 review meeting, it has been decided to end the night curfew in the state and to give some relaxations in a phased manner. But it will be necessary to follow health protocols, otherwise the number of infected patients may increase,” Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted.

    कोविड-19 समीक्षा बैठक में प्रदेश में निजी लैब्स में आरटी-पीसीआर टैस्ट की दरें 800 रूपये से घटाकर 500 रूपये करने के साथ ही 100 बैड्स से अधिक क्षमता वाले प्राइवेट अस्पतालों में आरक्षित कोविड बैड की संख्या में छूट देते हुए इसे मिनिमम 10 करने का भी निर्णय लिया है।#Rajasthan
    — Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) January 18, 2021

    The state government had, on November 21, decided to impose a night curfew in eight districts from 8 pm to 6 am following a spurt in coronavirus cases.

    The night curfew was initially imposed in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Bikaner, Udaipur, Ajmer, Alwar and Bhilwara district headquarters, and a few days later it was extended to five more districts headquarters of Nagaur, Pali, Tonk, Sikar and Ganganagar.

    In November, the daily number of cases had crossed the 3,000-mark in Rajasthan, but it has come down significantly now. As many as 261 persons tested positive on Sunday and the number of active cases was 5,050.

  • COVID-19 effect: No joint or coordinated parade this year at Attari border on Republic Day

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: This year, there will be no joint or coordinated parade at the Attari border on Republic Day. Earlier, Pakistan and India used to do a joint parade, which spectators used to watch from both the side. This year, no public will be allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions at the Attari border.

    “No joint or coordinated parade this year at Attari border on Republic Day. No public will be allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions. India will conduct flag-lowering as per daily schedule,” a Border Security Force (BSF) senior official said.

    Since March 7 public was not allowed at the Attari border due to COVID-19 restrictions. According to sources, Pakistan since the last few weeks have allowed public as they are seen from the Indian side. Also, India is not offering sweets to Pakistan on various occasions due to the tense relationship with Pakistan, sources said.

    BSF sources have also claimed that a meeting is scheduled this week to decide what can be done on Republic day.

  • Health worker dies in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad day after receiving COVID vaccine shot

    By PTI
    MORADABAD: A 46-year-old health worker died here a day after receiving the coronavirus vaccination, officials said on Monday. While Mahipal’s family is blaming the death on vaccination, the authorities said that he suffered from a cardiac disease.

    According to sources, he was working as a ward boy in the surgical ward of the Moradabad government hospital. He was vaccinated on Saturday and was not feeling well, they said.

    Mahipal’s son Vishal said his father called him to hospital as he was suffering from laboured breathing. “My father had a cough but after the vaccination he was suffering from fever and laboured breathing. On Sunday, he was admitted to the government hospital where he died at night,” Vishal said.

    Chief Medical Officer Milind Chander Garg cited a postmortem report and said that the cause of death was cardiac disease. “It appears that Mahipal was suffering from a cardiac disease,” he added. The CMO said that some employees were suffering from fever after the vaccination but denied reports of any other side effects.

    Refuting the claim of the health authorities, the family members of the deceased said that he was never faced cardiac problem and he was quite healthy except the fever and cough. Moradabad District Magistrate Rakesh Singh said that the vaccination is completely safe. “The case of Mahipal is exceptional and a high-level medical inquiry. Will be set up,” he said.

  • Trinamool Congress leaders in West Bengal received COVID vaccine shots meant for health workers: BJP

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Reacting to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s jibe at the centre for sending “inadequate” supply of vaccines to West Bengal, the BJP Sunday retorted sharply, saying in fact several TMC leaders queued up for the jabs meant for healthcare personnel and frontline workers resulting in shortage of doses for the needy.

    Several TMC leaders, including two MLAs, were among the people who received the COVID-19 vaccine in Purba Bardhaman district on Saturday, the opening day of the nationwide vaccination programme.

    Many healthcare workers in the state had alleged that they could not get the jab though they were asked to come for it.

    Amid natiowide launch of vaccination drive Saturday,Banerjee had expressed her dissatisfaction over “inadequate” number of COVID-19 vaccines supplied to West Bengal for the inoculation process and said her government, if needed, would supply the vaccines free of cost to the people.

    “The vaccines sent by the central government are for healthcare staffers, police personnel and other frontline workers who are serving the society in the pandemic situation. Nearly 3.5 crore vials were dispatched by the centre across the country. These doses are not meant for political leaders.”

    “If these vaccines were taken by some TMC leaders,there would be a shortfall,” BJP state unit president Dilip Ghosh told reporters Sunday.

    Some TMC leaders are so scared of their lives that they jumped the gun, violating the norms, he quipped.

    With the state elections around the corner, the saffron party launched a strong counter-offensive against the TMC on the vaccination exercise.

    Elections to 294-member Bengal assembly are due in April- May this year hence even the much-awaited vaccination drive did not remain untouched from the ongoing political mudslinging in the poll-bound state.

    Hours after Banerjee’s allegations the previous day, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya had launched a broadside against the feisty Bengal leader, slamming her for making “baseless” allegations.

    Vijayvargiya accused Banerjee of trying to politicise the vaccination programme ahead of the assembly polls.

    “She should stop politicising everything. None of the states has complained only she is complaining about it. She is trying to politicize the issue before the assembly polls,” Vijayvargiya told PTI.

    He claimed that if the vaccines for the health workers fell short it was due to TMC leaders queuing up for the jabs.

    According to a state government official, Bengal was supposed to receive over 10 lakh vaccines in the first phase, but have got 6.89 lakh doses so far.

    Around 15,707 people were administered the first dose of the COVID 19 vaccine in the state on Saturday.

    Taking a cue from the TMC supremo, TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee attacked the BJP-led central government Sunday for making available less than required doses of vaccines to the state.

    “The centre is not adequately supplying COVID vaccines to West Bengal. It is keeping control over the supplies. If needed, the state government will bear the cost of administering the vaccine to every person in the state,” Chatterjee said.

    Alleging that the BJP had not joined the fight against COVID-19 in the state, he said the saffron party’s only agenda is to “carry out personal attacks in the run-up to the assembly polls”.

    Two TMC MLAs Subhash Mondal and Rabindranath Chatterjee and former TMC MLA Banamali Hazra were among the beneficiaries of vaccination drive on the day of launch Saturday in Purba Bardhaman district.

    Chief Medical Officer of the district Pranab Roy, however, had said the public representatives who received the vaccines were part of the Patient Welfare Committees at different hospitals.

    “Since they are associated with ensuring good services at the hospitals, they are also eligible for the vaccine. There is nothing irregular in it,” he said.

  • PM Narendra Modi should have taken COVID vaccine shot: Congress leader Pradeep Mathur

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Senior Congress leader and former Uttar Pradesh legislator Pradeep Mathur on Sunday said it would have been better had Prime Minister Narendra Modi taken the coronavirus vaccine shot on the first day of the inoculation drive, thereby injecting confidence among people.

    “It would have been better had Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented an example like that of Joe Biden, the president-elect of the US, by getting himself vaccinated. By taking the COVID-19 vaccine shot, he would have injected confidence among people of the country. People are still feeling hesitant in getting themselves vaccinated,” Mathur said here on Sunday.

    Sharpening his attack on the Centre over the farmers’ protest, Mathur said, “Even Lord Ram will not be able to save them. They have incurred the curse of farmers.” 

    He said the Modi government will have to bear the consequences of insensitivity towards farmers. “They have been speaking about doubling the income of farmers but now it seems they are acting at the behest of the capitalists,” Mathur said.

    “Seeing the over 50-day-long protests by farmers, the heart of even the angriest person would melt. The BJP has shown its harshest face. In the coming days, the farmers will dethrone them from power, provided they do not tamper with the EVMs,” he asserted.

  • No side-effects of COVID-19 vaccine in state so far: Maharashtra minister Rajesh Tope

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: There has been no case of adverse reaction or side-effects of COVID-19 vaccine in Maharashtra so far, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Sunday, a day after the inoculation drive was undertaken across the country.

    Talking to PTI, Tope also expressed confidence that “everything will be safe”. As many as 18,425 beneficiaries, or 65 per cent of the target for the first day, were given vaccine shot across the state on Saturday, a health department official earlier said.

    “There has absolutely been no report of any adverse reaction or side-effects of the vaccine following the drive on Saturday. Everything was safe, it will be safe,” Tope said. The Maharashtra government on Saturday evening announced suspension of the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the state till Monday owing to problems in the Co-WIN app.

    The app has been created by the Centre for managing registration for the inoculation. Tope said it is expected that a “small technical glitch” in the app of the Centre will be addressed by Sunday or Monday.

    “There will be improvement by today or tomorrow. And from Tuesday, we will conduct the drive again. Anyways, we have to conduct the drive for four days in a week. So, we can undertake it from Tuesday to Friday,” he said.

  • ‘Will poor and underprivileged get COVID-19 vaccine for free?’ asks Congress

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A day after India rolled out the world’s largest inoculation drive against COVID-19, the Congress on Sunday asked whether the government plans to provide free vaccines to all Indians, especially the underprivileged and the poor, and when.

    Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that though the government claims it will cover three crore people in the first round of the vaccination drive, it is yet to clarify if the remaining population of India will get a vaccine and whether they will get it for free.

    “Is the government not aware that 81.35 crore people are eligible for subsidised ration under the Food Security Act? Will the SC, ST, BC, OBC, BPL, APL, the poor and the underprivileged get the vaccine for free or not? If yes, what is the roll-out plan and by when will the government ensure free vaccination,” he asked.

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government need to answer…Who will get free corona vaccine? How many people will get the free corona vaccine? Where will you get free corona vaccine,” he said.

    Surjewala also raised questions over the pricing of the two vaccines — Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and Covishield from the Oxford/AstraZeneca stable manufactured by the SII — approved for emergency use in India and asked why the government has not put them in the National List of Essential Medicines.

    The Congress general secretary asked why the government should pay Rs 95 more to Bharat Biotech for a vaccine that has been developed with the expertise and experience of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) scientists. “Should the price of such a vaccine not be cheaper than the AstraZeneca-Serum Institute? Why is the price of corona vaccine Rs 1,000 per dose in the open market,” he asked.

    He said the government should demand transparency from companies on the cost of production and profits being made from the vaccine. “Vaccine development and mass immunizations were neither events now publicity stunts, but important milestones in the service of the people. While India stands united in providing immunisation against the coronavirus to our frontline corona warriors — doctors, health workers, police personnel and others — let’s remember that vaccinations are an important public service and not a political or business opportunity,” he told reporters at a press conference.

    The first COVID-19 vaccine shots in India were given on Saturday to nearly two lakh frontline healthcare and sanitation workers as Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the world’s largest inoculation drive against the pandemic that has caused 1,52,093 deaths and upended millions of lives in the country.

    Modi asserted that the two vaccines being deployed will ensure a “decisive victory” for India against the coronavirus.

    According to the government, the shots will be offered first to an estimated one crore healthcare workers, and around two crore frontline workers, and then to persons above 50 years of age, followed by persons younger than 50 years of age with associated comorbidities.

    Cost of vaccination of healthcare and frontline workers will be borne by the central government.

  • SII CEO Adar Poonawalla takes Covishield jab, wishes success on launch of COVID-19 vaccine drive

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Adar Poonawalla, whose Serum Institute of India (SII) manufactured the first lot of COVID-19 vaccines, was among those who got vaccinated on Saturday, as India kicked off world’s largest immunisation campaign to bring the pandemic under control.

    He wished the country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi success for the vaccination programme. As sanitation and healthcare workers around the country got the first inoculation, Poonawalla tweeted a short video of him getting the vaccine.

    I wish India & Sri @narendramodi ji great success in launching the world’s largest COVID vaccination roll-out. It brings me great pride that #COVISHIELD is part of this historic effort & to endorse it’s safety & efficacy, I join our health workers in taking the vaccine myself. pic.twitter.com/X7sNxjQBN6
    — Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 16, 2021

    “I wish India & Sri @narendramodi ji great success in launching the world’s largest COVID vaccination roll-out. It brings me great pride that #COVISHIELD is part of this historic effort & to endorse it’s safety & efficacy, I join our health workers in taking the vaccine myself,” Poonawalla tweeted.

    SII manufactured Oxford University-AstraZeneca’s vaccine Covishield, while Bharat Biotech developed the other vaccine Covaxin that is being administered in the inoculation drive. Over 3 lakh healthcare workers will be inoculated on the first day of the much-anticipated drive against coronavirus. The vaccination drive has been planned in a phased manner, identifying priority groups.

    Healthcare workers, both in government and private sectors, including ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) workers, will receive the vaccine during this phase, according to the health ministry.

    Earlier in the day, the prime minister launched the vaccination programme covering the entire length and breadth of the country, and urged people to show patience during COVID-19 immunisation drive as they had shown till now in fighting the pandemic.

    Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan described COVID-19 vaccines as “Sanjivani” in the fight against the infectious disease as he urged people not to pay heed to hearsay and instead believe in experts and scientists.

    The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had earlier this month approved Covishield and the indigenously developed Covaxin for restricted emergency use in the country. The government has already bought 1.1 crore doses of Covishield and 55 lakh doses of Covaxin.