News Analysis India

Tag: Serum Institute

  • Covishield worked faster in people already infected with SARS CoV 2, shows study

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The first-ever data on the effectiveness of the Covishield vaccine in India has shown that it works faster in people already infected with Covid-19, but is also highly effective in those without antibodies against the virus after 28 days of the first dose.  

    The study titled ‘Effect Monitoring and Insights from Vaccination program of Healthcare Workforce from a tertiary level hospital in India against SARS-CoV-2’ has been carried out at the Max hospital in Delhi with the support of the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology. 

    As part of the study, the researchers measured antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 directed against the spike protein in a group of 135 healthcare workers administered Covishield. 

    The Oxford-Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine AZD1222 or ChAdOx1 has been an important part of the global vaccine roll-out against SARS-CoV-2, and a locally manufactured version Covishield by the Serum Institute of India is the most commonly used vaccine in India so far.

    ALSO READ | India made Covaxin 81% effective shows interim analysis of Stage 3 trial

    The researchers found 44 subjects (32.5%) who had already developed antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 at day 0 or before immunization and it was observed that antibody response was significantly higher at each time point, with the maximum increase seen between days 0 and 7. 

    In contrast, the seronegative group, which had 91 individuals, started developing antibody response only after 14 days or later. Significantly, three seronegative individuals did not develop any antibody response even at day 28 of vaccination. 

    The scientists noted that median antibody response at 28 days in seronegative subjects was similar to that of seropositive subjects at baseline and was on a rising trajectory. 

    “Our data suggests that ChAdOx1 (Covishield) is highly immunogenic, particularly so where previous SARS CoV2 antibody-response is established,” said the scientists in their paper.

    ALSO READ | Tamil Nadu government to distribute Covaxin to private hospitals on request

    Given the high background seropositivity in India, this may be useful in determining optimal timing of the second dose during mass immunization within the constraints of vaccine supply and administration, they added. 

    Based on the results, the scientists have argued that the data could be utilized to design an effective vaccine strategy where vaccines could be prioritized based on sero-prevalence studies. 

    “Our data supports safely delaying the second dose in recipient groups with high sero-positivity,” they said. “This could be adopted as a universal strategy, given that the first dose seems to give adequate protection lasting for about three months in other studies, or could be one part of a dual strategy where high-risk or vulnerable populations receive the second dose earlier, while normal-risk subjects have a delayed second dose.” 

  • First shipment from India under COVAX global initiative likely this week: Soumya Swaminathan

    By PTI
    HYDERABAD: The first shipment from India under COVAX, the global initiative to ensure rapid and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries, is likely to roll out this week, WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan said on Monday.

    “Not in the next couple of months. This week. (I think) today or tomorrow, the first shipment from India, from the Serum Institute, will be going out to at least 25 or 30 countries and then we hope that this will be followed by the vaccines also that are being manufactured in India.

    “Many countries around the world are waiting for the distribution to happen as they have been watching vaccination programmes beginning and scaling in high income countries, while their own healthcare workers and other vulnerable groups are still waiting,” she said, during a virtual panel discussion.

    She said this in reply to question whether WHO would start rolling out the COVAX facility officially to other countries in the next couple of months.

    The panel discussion on ‘Immunizing the World’ was held during ‘BioAsia-2021’, the flagship annual life sciences event of the Telangana government.

    The role being played by India needs to be recognised and the country has risen to the occasion, expanding its huge manufacturing capacity, she said.

    Observing that “amazing” Research and Development is also happening in India with a lot of innovative products in clinical trials, she hoped that they would also be successful.

    Asked what it takes for countries to overcome the pandemic, she said it would be solidarity, global collaboration and unity.

    “Because, it’s clear that a pandemic cannot be addressed on a country-by-country or a region-by-region basis,” she said.

  • ITBP DG, over 200 personnel get COVID-19 vaccine shot

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) chief S S Deswal along with over 200 personnel of the border guarding force on Monday received the first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine here, an official said.

    Deswal, 59, was injected the Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the Pune-based Serum institute, at a camp held at the headquarters of the force here in the CGOs complex on Lodhi Road, the official said.

    “The ITBP director general along with over 220 personnel received their first shot of the coronavirus vaccine on Monday at the force headquarters here,” an spokesperson said.

    The personnel of the force are receiving these shots at various locations of their deployment since the COVID-19 vaccination drive was launched in the country in January.

    The about 90,000 personnel strong ITBP is primarily deployed to guard the 3,488-kms long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China apart from being tasked to render a variety of duties in the internal security domain of the country.

  • Govt committed to buying another 4.5 crore doses of Covishield vaccine from Serum Institute

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The government has committed to buy from the Serum Institute further 4.5 crore doses of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, at a price of Rs 200 per shot plus applicable taxes by April, in addition to a firm order given to the company for 1.1 crore doses.

    Fights have started ferrying the vaccines to different cities from Pune from Tuesday morning.

    According to the purchase order placed on Monday, each dose of the vaccine has been priced at Rs 200 and with GST of Rs 10, it would cost Rs 210.

    The HLL Lifecare Limited, a public sector undertaking, issued the supply orders on behalf of the Union Health Ministry on Monday.

    ALSO READ | First COVID-19 vaccine consignment reaches Delhi from Pune

    The first order of 1.1 crore doses of Covishield will be worth Rs 231 crore, while the total amount including the commitment for 4.5 crore doses will amount to an estimated Rs 1,176 crore at current rates, according to sources.

    “It is further informed that there is a commitment to purchase further 450 lakh doses from Serum Institute of India Pvt Limited, a manufacturer  (through subsidiary Serum Institute of Life Sciences Pvt Limited) at Rs 200 per dose plus GST if applicable by April 2021,” the letter of comfort signed by Prakash Kumar Singh, Additional Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Serum Institute of India (SII) and R S Manku, Vice President (Govt Business) stated.

    “This is in continuation to the supply order dated January 11 for supply of 1.1 crore doses of Covishield vaccine as approved by DCGI vide permission dated January 3 for restricted use in emergency situation,” it stated.

    The government on Monday also placed an order to Bharat Biotech for 55 lakh doses of indigenously developed Covaxin costing Rs 162 crore. India had recently approved two vaccines, Oxford’s Covishield manufactured by SII in the country and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, for restricted emergency use.

    The country will launch its COVID-19 vaccination drive from January 16 in what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the world’s largest inoculation programme with priority to be given to nearly three crore healthcare and frontline workers.

    According to the COVID-19 Vaccine Operational Guidelines, 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 based on evolving pandemic situation.

  • First flight carrying Covishield vaccines leaves for Delhi from Pune

    By PTI
    PUNE: The first flight carrying COVID-19 vaccine ‘Covishield’ has departed from Pune International Airport to Delhi, four days ahead of the nationwide inoculation drive launch.

    Three temperature-controlled trucks rolled out of the Serum Institute gates shortly before 5 am and left for Pune airport, from where the vaccines will be flown across India.

    The trucks carried 478 boxes of the vaccines, each box weighing 32 kg, a source involved in the vaccine transport arrangements told PTI.

    Good news. The Covidshield loaded trucks reached at @aaipunairport ..ready to transport to other parts of India. This will be world largest vaccination drive in India starting from Jan 16. @NewIndianXpress @Sunday_StandardPhoto courtesy @aaipunairport pic.twitter.com/k3L9RqVGLA
    — Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) January 12, 2021

    The trucks left the Serum Institute of India premises at Manjari and reached the airport, located 15 km from the facility.

    From the airport, the vaccines will be dispatched to 13 locations across the country by 10 am, the source said.

    A ‘puja’ was performed before the vehicles left the facility.

    The locations where these Covishield vaccines will be flown from Pune include Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Karnal, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guwahati, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar.

    The vaccines will be flown from Pune in eight commercial flights, including two cargo flights, the source said. The first cargo flight will cover Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Bhubaneswar and the second cargo flight will go to Kolkata and Guwahati, he added.

    The consignment for Mumbai will leave by road.

    Trucks belonging to Kool-ex Cold Chain Ltd are being used to ferry the vaccine stocks from Serum Institute.

    Among the first batch, one consignment is scheduled to be shipped by an Air India cargo flight to Ahmedabad.

    On Monday, Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel tweeted that his state will receive the first consignment of coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday at 10.45 am at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad.

    The Central government on Monday placed firm orders in advanced commitments for over six crore doses of vaccines from Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech for inoculating three crore healthcare and frontline workers in the first phase of the nationwide vaccination drive beginning January 16.

    Interacting with state chief ministers on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the enormity of what he called as the world’s biggest vaccination exercise, saying over 30 crore citizens will get the jabs in the next few months in India against only 2.

    5 crore people vaccinated so far in over 50 countries in around a month.

  • A new ‘dawn’: Serum COVID-19 vaccine shipment to start on Tuesday

    By PTI
    PUNE: Stocks of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, are likely to start moving out of Serum Institute of India’s facility here on early Tuesday morning, days ahead of the nationwide inoculation drive, marking India’s entry into a decisive phase against the anti-coronavirus fight.

    A source closely involved in logistical arrangements said the movement of vaccine doses is likely to start from early Tuesday morning through road and air routes amid elaborate police security.

    “Some consignments will go by roadways and some will go by air,” said the source.

    Trucks belonging to Kool-ex Cold Chain Ltd, which will be ferrying vaccine stocks, reached Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Manjari facility on Monday evening, where loading of doses will take place, he said.

    Covishield is co-developed by the University of Oxford and British-Swedish company AstraZeneca in collaboration with the Pune-based SII.

    Among the first batch, one consignment is scheduled to be shipped by an Air India cargo flight to Ahmedabad.

    “In the consignment, there are 23 pieces weighing 736 kg which will be sent by air cargo,” said a source from the airline.

    On Monday, Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel tweeted that his state will receive the first consignment of coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday at 10.45 am at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad.

    Earlier in the day, the Union government placed a purchase order with Serum Institute of India (SII) for 11 million doses of Covishield, each costing Rs 210, including GST, official sources said in New Delhi.

    Covishield vaccine doses would be initially shipped to 60 consignee points from where those would be distributed to various vaccination centers across India, the sources said.

    The Maharashtra government has already decided to provide police security to trucks carrying vaccine doses up to airports and the state’s borders.

    “Kool-ex Cold Chain is the lead vendor for the movement of the vaccine from the SII factory to over 50 primary government locations (depots) in the first leg,” the company’s co-founder, Rahul Agarwal, had said on Sunday.

    He had said about 300 GPS-fitted trucks will be used for shipping consignments and if needed 500 more will be roped in for the task.

    The country will launch its COVID-19 vaccination drive from January 16 in what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the world’s largest inoculation program with priority to be given to nearly three crore healthcare and frontline workers.

    India had recently approved two vaccines, SII’s Covishield and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, for restricted emergency use.

  • Covid 19 Vaccine News: Serum Institute told how long people will get ‘Covishield

    New Delhi: In India, an important statement about 73 days in Corona vaccine coming Serum Institute of India unfolded. The Serum Institute said that the government has just given us permission to produce and store the vaccine for future use only. It was clearly stated by the company that Covishield will be launched in the market only if there is complete success in the trials and regulatory approvals are obtained.

    Some media reports had said that the Covishield vaccine of Serum Institute of India will come to market within 73 days. At the same time, now the company has clearly stated that it is just speculation. The vaccine will be brought to market only when all its trials are successful and Kovishield will receive regulatory approval.

    The company tweeted that we would like to clarify that the claim of availability of Covishield in 73 days is misleading. Phase 3 trials are currently underway. We will officially confirm its availability soon.

    Let us know that the phase 3 trial of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is going on. For this vaccine named Covishield, a deal has been signed between Serum Institute of India (SII) and AstraZeneca. There will be phase 2 and 3 trials of vaccine at 10 centers across the country. SII has also agreed to prepare one billion doses of this vaccine.

    On the other hand, today Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that if all goes well, the country’s first corona vaccine will come by the end of this year. He said that currently the third phase trial of Corona vaccine has started in the country. The corona vaccine is expected to be launched in India in the next two to three months.