News Analysis India

Tag: Covishield

  • Serum Institute fire caused damage worth Rs 1,000 crore: CEO Adar Poonawalla

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII) Aadar Poonawalla on Friday said that the institute has suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore due to the fire mishap on Thursday.

    “We have suffered heavy loss. However, the fire will not affect the productions and supply of the Covishied vaccine as we had stored them (Covishied vaccines stock) at various places as the contingency plan,” Poonawalla said while talking to reporters.

    “But the mishap will surely affect the production and supply of the rotavirus and BCG vaccine,” the SII CEO further said, adding that they were installing machinery for rotavirus and BCG vaccine in the building that gutted in the fire. 

    “The financial losses (due to the fire) are to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore,” Poonawala said. “It was a big fire, five people lost their lives. We have compensated their families and will always be with them. Due to the best wishes of people and the blessing of God, our fight against Covid-19 will not be impacted. Our supply to other countries will also continue,” said Poonawalla.

    ALSO READ | Serum Institute fire: 200 labourers jump from windows to live; Rs 25 lakh announced for kin of dead

    Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, who also addressed the press after taking stock of the situation at the SII, expressed anguish over the death of the labourers in the fire mishap and said the Covishield production plant is safe.

    “The production and supply of Covisheild will continue. The vaccine storage is also safe and secured. The Covishield production plant was quite away from the building that caught the fire. It was a big relief. The fight against Covid-19 will continue,” said Thackeray.

    The CM further said that various teams are probing the fire incident. “Let the investigation get completed. It is not correct to say anything now.  After the probe gets over, we will know whether it was an accident or sabotage. The Serum Institute has already announced the ex-gratia for the kin of the deceased. The state government will also extend financial help to them,” Thackeray added.

  • Two flights with Covishield vaccine depart from Mumbai airport to Brazil, Morocco

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Two flights, each carrying two million doses of Covishield vaccine, departed from the Mumbai airport for Brazil and Morocco in the early hours of Friday. India is one of the world’s biggest drugmakers, and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring coronavirus vaccines.

    “The Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) carrying 2 million doses to Brazil via Emirates Sky Cargo and 2 million doses to Morocco on Royal Air Maroc,” said a press release by CSMIA.

    It mentioned that as of January 22, CSMIA has facilitated movement of over 14.17 million doses of the Covishield vaccine across various international and domestic destinations. Since Wednesday, India has been sending COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles.

    India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus immunisation drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country. While Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute, Covaxin is being produced by Bharat Biotech.

  • Saddened by loss of life in fire at Serum Institute: UN

    Five men died after a fire broke out in a five-storeyed under-construction building in the Serum Institute of India #39;s Manjari premises in Pune on Thursday, police said.

  • Nepal and Bangladesh receive three million coronavirus vaccines sent by India

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India on Thursday delivered two million doses of Covisheild vaccines to Bangladesh and one million doses to Nepal under grants assistance as it prepares to send similar supplies to Myanmar, Mauritius and Seychelles.

    It is learnt that a consignment containing 1.5 million doses of Covisheild vaccines will be sent to Myanmar while 50,000 doses will reach Seychelles and another shipment of 1,00,000 doses is slated to arrive in Mauritius on Friday.

    “Nepal receives Indian vaccines. Putting neighbours first, putting people first!,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Twitter.

    “Touchdown in Dhaka.#VaccineMaitri reaffirms the highest priority accorded by India to relations with Bangladesh,” he said in another tweet, along with a photograph of the Air India flight that carried the consignments to Dhaka.

    The Indian High Commission in Dhaka tweeted that a “gift of 2 million” Made-in-India COVID-19 vaccine was handed over to Bangladesh Foreign Minister AKA Momen and Health Minister Zahid Maleque by Indian envoy Vikram Doraiswami.

    The Indian embassy in Kathmandu said a total of one million doses of the vaccine was handed over to Nepal in reflection of India’s abiding friendship and commitment towards the people of the country.

    On Wednesday, India sent 1,50,000 doses of Covisheild vaccines to Bhutan and 1,00,000 doses to the Maldives.

    In a major announcement, India on Tuesday had said it will send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday and supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances.

    India is one of the world’s biggest drugmakers, and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring coronavirus vaccines.

    India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country.

    While Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, the Covaxin is being produced by Bharat Biotech.

    The MEA said it will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad.

    India had earlier supplied hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and paracetamol tablets, as well as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves and other medical supplies, to many countries to help them deal with the pandemic.

    Sources said training in administering COVID-19 vaccines was provided to healthcare professionals of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Bahrain, Brazil, Mauritius, Morocco, Oman, Seychelles and Sri Lanka on Tuesday and Wednesday.

    They said national and provincial-level officials, people handling cold chains and partners from the WHO and the UNICEF were part of the training.

    “The key topics covered were COVID-19 disease and vaccines, conducting COVID-19 vaccination, logistics and cold chain management, safe injection practices and waste management,” said a source.

  • Around 2.5 lakh doses of Coronavirus vaccines sent by India reach Bhutan and Maldives

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Bhutan and Maldives on Wednesday became the first two countries to receive COVID-19 vaccines sent by India under grants assistance in sync with its ‘neighbourhood first’ policy.

    India sent 150,000 doses of Covishield vaccines, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), to Bhutan, while 100,000 doses reached the Maldives.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared on Twitter photos of the consignments reaching the two countries.

    Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji thanked India for the “generous gift”.

    “Our profound gratitude to the GoI for the generous gift of 150,000 doses of Covishield vaccines that Bhutan received today. Deeply grateful to GoI for its abiding friendship and unconditional support to Bhutan’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said on Twitter.

    An AN-32 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force transported the vaccines to Bhutan.

    In a tweet, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the vaccines.

    “A short while ago, a flight from India with 100,000 doses of the CoviShield vaccine arrived in the Maldives, renewing our hopes for a resolution to the Covid 19 crisis soon. Our heartfelt thanks to PM @narendramodi,” he said.

    In a major announcement, India on Tuesday said it will send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday and supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances.

    “Indian vaccines reach Maldives, reflects our special friendship,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    India is one of the world’s biggest drugmakers, and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring coronavirus vaccines.

    On Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said India will supply COVID-19 vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner keeping in view the domestic requirements.

    India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country.

    While Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute, and the Covaxin is being produced by Bharat Biotech.

    The MEA said it will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad.

    India had earlier supplied hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir, and paracetamol tablets, as well as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves and other medical supplies to a large number of countries to help them deal with the pandemic.

  • Government says recipients of Bharat Biotech jabs are being followed up actively

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday said that the key difference between the administration of Covishield and Covaxin is that the first group of recipients are being followed up only “passively” unlike more robust look out for adverse events in the case of the other vaccine. 

    Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is being used in India despite still being under Phase 3 trial, with the drug regulator mandating that the vaccine can only be used in “clinical trial mode”.

    ALSO READ: Covaxin being used cautiously in first phase?

    To a media query, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said while there is a robust mechanism in place to monitor adverse events following immunisation, there is another difference in the way the recipients are followed up in the case of two vaccines.  

    In the case of Covishield, Bhushan said, recipients are advised to stay at vaccination centres for half an hour and report in case of uneasiness.

    For Covaxin, recipients are called everyday to check on their health updates. “They are also asked to sign detailed forms on their health status for a week,” Bhushan said. On being asked about who gets to decide on the use of Covishield and Covaxin, he said it was up to the states.

    ALSO READ: People with fever, pregnant and breastfeeding women avoid Covaxin – Bharat Biotech

    “States decide which vaccine they want. The Centre delivers vaccines to states and then the respective government decides which vaccine centres will get how many vaccines.” India’s active Covid-19 caseload has come down to 2 lakhs with only Kerala and Maharashtra  registering over 50,000 cases, he said.  

    Why worry

    Covaxin is being used in India despite still being under Phase 3 trial, with the drug regulator mandating that the vaccine can only be used in “clinical trial mode”.

  • COVID-19: Uttarakhand to get 92,500 more vaccine doses soon

    By Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand will get 92,500 Covishield vaccine doses of COVID-19. The doses will reach in Dehradun on January 20, 2021.

    Covishield is a vaccine by University of Oxford, AstraZeneca vaccine.  

    Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand said, “We are thankful to the insight and leadership of our visionary Prime Minister. Our state as well as the country will soon be immune to the Covid 19 virus and we will win this fight.”  

    The state had already got 1.13 lakh vaccine doses earlier this month to start vaccination drive on January 16.  Till Tuesday, total 6119 frontline workers were vaccinated across 13 districts of the hill state while on Tuesday, total 1882 were vaccinated across 34 chosen centers of the state.  

    Arrangements to vaccinate over 3 lakh people in six months Uttarakhand have been put in place, said state government officials.

    The priority will be given to the front line workers such as state health department workers including doctors, vulnerable group who carry comorbidities and are susceptible to the infection, health workers along with those who are directly or indirectly involved in fightinging the epidemic.  

    Officials also added that sanitation facilities, transport and internet connectivity is being ensured to make vaccination drive hassle free for the people.  

    More than 93,000 health workers of the hill state will be given COVID19 vaccine free of cost added the officials.

  • India announces supply of coronavirus vaccines to SAARC countries under grant assistance

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI:  India on Tuesday announced that it will send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday and supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances.

    It is learnt that 150,000 doses of Covishield vaccines, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), will reach Bhutanese capital Thimphu while another consignment of 100,000 doses will be sent to the Maldives on Wednesday, and these two countries will be the first ones to receive India’s “gift”.

    “India is deeply honoured to be a long-trusted partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the global community. Supplies of Covid vaccines to several countries will commence tomorrow, and more will follow in the days ahead. #VaccineMaitri,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.

    India is one of the world’s biggest drugmakers, and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring the coronavirus vaccines.

    The Ministry of External Affairs said India will supply COVID-19 vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner keeping in view the domestic requirements.

    In a statement, the MEA said India has received several requests for the supply of Indian-manufactured vaccines from neighbouring and key partner countries.

    “In response to these requests, and in keeping with India’s stated commitment to use India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all of the humanity fight the Covid pandemic, supplies under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles will begin from January 20,” it said.

    “In respect of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius, we are awaiting their confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances,” it added.

    India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country.

    While Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute, and the Covaxin is being produced by Bharat Biotech.

    “India fulfils the commitment to give vaccines to humanity. Supplies to our neighbours will start on 20th January. The Pharmacy of the World will deliver to overcome the COVID challenge,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Twitter.

    The MEA said it will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad.

    “Immunisation programme is being implemented in India, as in other countries, in a phased manner to cover the healthcare providers, frontline workers and the most vulnerable,” it said.

    “Keeping in view the domestic requirements of the phased rollout, India will continue to supply COVID-19 vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner,” it added.

    It is learnt that Pakistan is unlikely to be benefitted from India’s initiative as that country is yet to approach New Delhi.

    The MEA said prior to the delivery of vaccines, a training programme, covering administrative and operational aspects, is being conducted on January 19-20 for immunisation managers, cold chain officers, communication officers and data managers of the recipient countries, both at national and provincial levels.

    India had earlier supplied hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and paracetamol tablets, as well as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves and other medical supplies to a large number of countries to help them deal with the pandemic.

    The MEA said India has also provided training to several neighbouring countries to enhance and strengthen their clinical capabilities, under the Partnerships for Accelerating Clinical Trials (PACT) programme.

    “Separately, several training courses have been organized for healthcare workers and administrators of partner countries under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, sharing our experience in dealing with the pandemic,” it said.

    “In an ongoing effort, India will continue to supply countries all over the world with vaccines. This will be calibrated against domestic requirements and international demand and obligations, including under GAVI’s Covax facility to developing countries,” the MEA added.

    GAVI is a global vaccine alliance.

  • Serum Institute submits reply in Pune court over ‘Covishield’ lawsuit

    By PTI
    PUNE: Serum Institute of India on Tuesday filed its response in the civil court here to a lawsuit by a pharmaceutical products manufacturer and seller over the brand name ‘Covishield’, saying both companies operate in different product categories and there is no scope for confusion over the trademark.

    The Pune-based vaccine maker, through its lawyer, submitted the written response in the court to the lawsuit filed by Cutis-Biotech, a pharmaceutical products manufacturer and seller based in Nanded, central Maharashtra.

    Serum Institute of India (SII) is manufacturing an anti- coronavirus vaccine called “Covishield”.

    Further arguments on the matter are slated for January 22.

    On January 4, Cutis-Biotech had filed the suit in the civil court seeking to restrain SII from using the trademark Covishield or any other similar names for its COVID-19 vaccine and claimed the pharma firm is a prior user of the brand name.

    Appearing before the court of additional sessions judge A V Rotte on behalf of SII, advocate S K Jain submitted the company’s response.

    “We have filed the response in the court to the suit filed seeking the injunction (on use of Covishield trademark) and I will argue in the court on Friday (Jan 22),” Jain told PTI.

    Jain said in the reply, SII has raised several points which include distinction in products of both the firms (Cutis -Biotech and SII) and timeline of trademark applications.

    “We have told the court that the plaintiff (Cutis- Biotech) filed another application before the trademark registry for a vaccine under the name Covishield in December 2020. This information has not been revealed by the plaintiff to the court,” he said.

    Jain said points related to timeline claimed by the plaintiff were also raised.

    “Since March 2020, my client has been telling the world that they are making a vaccine in the name of Covishield.

    “In June 2020, we (SII) informed trademark registry about it officially. If this was the reality, why did the plaintiff file for a trademark with the same name in April 2020?” he asked.

    He said if the plaintiff’s April 2020 application for trademark was sufficient, what was the need to make another application to trademark registry for vaccine in the same name (Covishield).

    “There is no letter of intent by the plaintiff’s firm about the vaccine with ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and still the plaintiff applied for a trademark,” he said.

    Talking about product distinction, Jain said Cutis- Biotech is into selling hand sanitisers, handwash, disinfectants using the name Covishield, while his client’s product is a human vaccine.

    “Both the products are distinct in nature and there is no scope for confusion,” he added.

    Advocate Aditya Soni, through whom Cutis-Biotech, has filed the lawsuit, said he argued before the court that his client is a prior user of the trademark – Covishield.

    The Nanded firm is using the trademark since May 2020 for products like hand sanitisers, handwash, antiseptic, disinfectants, surface de-containment spray and fruit and vegetable washing liquid, whereas the defendant (SII) is using the name only since January 2021, Soni said.

    “We cited several judgements of the Supreme Court showing that how the prior user of a trademark has a superior right,” he said.

    Asked about the claim made by SII’s lawyer in the court about Cutis Biotech filing another trademark application in December for vaccine use, Soni said he would reply to the point during arguments.

  • Once COVID-19 vaccine vial opened, it needs to be used fully within four hours: Delhi doctors

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A vial of COVID-19 vaccine once opened for inoculation needs to be fully used within four hours, else the remaining doses go waste and need to be destroyed, senior doctors said on Tuesday.

    The first batch of Oxford COVID-19 Covishield vaccine had reached Delhi’s central storage facility at Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital (RGSSH) on January 12.

    The lot of Bharat Biotech-made Covaxin had reached there the next day, which is being used at six sites, including AIIMS and RML Hospital.

    RGSSH is also one of the 75 sites where Covishield shots are being administered to doctors, nurses and other beneficiaries.

    Forty-five shots were given on day one and 20 on day two.

    “Each 5 ml vial of the vaccine has 10 doses in total. And, once opened, all 10 doses have to be consumed within four hours, otherwise, it goes waste, and the remaining doses have to be destroyed,” RGSSH spokesperson Chhavi Gupta told PTI.

    On day one, when 45 people were vaccinated at the facility, four vials were fully used, while the fifth one had five unused doses which went waste, she said.

    India is conducting a mega vaccination drive against COVID-19 which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

    On day one, 4,319 healthcare workers and on day two (Monday), 3,598 people got vaccinated across 81 sites in the national capital.

    There are strict protocols for storage, transportation and usage of the vaccine, according to senior doctors who are part of this massive immunisation exercise.

    B L Sherwal, Medical Director of RGSSH, which till recently was a dedicated COVID facility,  said the government has sent 10 per cent extra doses in the stock to mitigate such wastage and other related factors.

    “In the morning, we can wait for 10 people to arrive at the centre and then a vial can be opened, so that it gets fully consumed. But, as the day progresses, people may come in insufficient number, but the doses have to be given, so, the scope for wastage,” he said.

    Gupta, the RGSSH spokesperson, had earlier said that 22 boxes, each containing 1,200 vials of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, were delivered to the hospital on January 12.

    And, 20,000 doses of Covaxin had arrived on January 13.

    The Delhi government has received 2.74 lakh doses of the vaccine so far from the Centre, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said, ahead of the launch of the drive.

    “Every person will receive two doses, and the Centre has given 10 per cent extra in stock, in case of any mishappening, like damage of vials. There are a total of 2.4 lakh healthcare workers in Delhi who have registered for vaccination, and more doses are expected to arrive soon,” he had said.

    The vaccine is to be administered on four days of the week in Delhi — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

    It will not be given on Sunday, and two others days of the week, when other regular vaccination work will be carried out.

    In the first phase, only healthcare workers, who were in the forefront of the fight against the pandemic, are to be vaccinated.

    Each day 100 persons per site were to be administered the jabs, as per the plan, but the turnout across the country, including in Delhi, has been very low, especially at government hospitals.

    Asked if this issue of vaccine wastage is being addressed, Sherwal said “we are just hoping that the wastage is minimal”.

    He also suggested some changes in the protocol to avoid wastage.

    As per the present protocol, he said, a person can only visit the centre assigned to him by the Co-WIN app for vaccination.

    “We will suggest to the authorities to make some changes so that a beneficiary can be sent to another nearby center where there are unused doses. Vaccination exercise is teamwork after all.”

    A person coming at the end of the day at RGSSH in Tahirpur area may be sent to the Delhi State Cancer Institute or GTB Hospital, all within 1-1.5 km radius “so that no wastage happens”, he illustrated.