News Analysis India

Tag: vaccination

  • Over 90 crore Covid vaccine doses administered in India: Health minister 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 90 crore, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Saturday.

    The country-wide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase.

    The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started on February 2.

    “Shastri ji gave the slogan ‘Jai Jawan – Jai Kisan’. Revered Atal ji added ‘Jai Vigyan’ and PM @Narendra Modi Ji gave the slogan ‘Jai Anusandhan’. Today the result of anusandhan is this corona vaccine. #JaiAnusandhan,” Mandaviya tweeted.

    The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for people over 60 years and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.

    The country launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 from April 1.

    The government then decided to expand the vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1.

  • Over 84.50 cr Covid vaccine doses provided to states, UTs: Union govt

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: More than 84.50 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to states and Union Territories so far and nearly 21 lakh doses are in the pipeline, the Union health ministry said on Monday.

    Over 4.74 crore balance and unutilised vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs for inoculation, it said.

    The Union government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country, the ministry said.

    The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to states and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain, the ministry stated.

    As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the government has been supporting the states and UTs by providing them COVID-19 vaccines free of cost, the ministry said.

    In the new phase of the universalisation of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the Union government will procure and supply for free 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced in the country to states and UTs.

  • Five Covid deaths in four months despite full jabs, four AEFI-forced hospitalisations

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Five fully vaccinated people died of Covid from March to June in India, according to a Right to Information (RTI) response from the Centre. In the same period, another four patients were to be hospitalised following Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI). The Union Ministry of Health made this submission to an RTI application by this correspondent seeking data on Covid deaths post completion of both vaccine doses. 

    “Based on the information from Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) reports received from districts, four patients were to be hospitalised and five died who tested positive following receipt of both vaccines,” the health ministry said in its response.

    Notably, the health ministry said that the immunisation section does not maintain data and therefore no information is available to furnish regarding the details of healthcare workers who tested Covid positive or succumbed due to the infection after receiving vaccines.

    After analysing the data between April and August, the ministry on Thursday said that one vaccine dose alone is 96.6% effective in preventing Covid-19 deaths while two doses are 97.5% effective.   “Any vaccine will not provide 100 per cent efficacy against Covid-19. The response to vaccines can vary from person to person. Comorbidities and immuno-compromised factors are also responsible and play a role in how the vaccine works on a human body,” Dr Neeraj Nischal, professor of medicine at AIIMS, told this newspaper while explaining the cause of breakthrough infections. 

    The doctor  further explained about how the vaccine works differenly from individual to individual. “Such people remain at a higher risk of testing positive even after receiving both doses. The effect of vaccines on a young and healthy body with that of a 70-year-old with co morbidities will be different. That’s why it is advised that even after vaccines, one should take precautions,” the senior doctor added. 

    ‘Vaccine efficacy depends case to case’According to a senior AIIMS doctor, vaccines are not 100 per cent effective. He added co-morbidities and other factors are responsible for how the vaccine works on a human body. Such people remain at higher risks for testing positive. 

  • COVID-19: Maharashtra inoculates a record 11.91 lakh people against in one day

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra on Saturday administered the COVID-19 vaccine to 11.91 lakh beneficiaries, setting a new record in singly-day vaccination in the state, an official from the state public health department said.

    Earlier on August 21, the state had administered over 11.04 lakh doses in a single day.

    As per a statement issued by the public health department, 11,91,921 people were vaccinated during the day, pushing the total COVID-19 vaccination figure in the state to 6.27 crore.

    “The administration of 11,91,921 doses on Saturday is the figure recorded till 7 pm. The vaccination drive continues in several parts till late night. The final figure will be out tomorrow,” said Dr Pradeep Vyas, additional chief secretary of public health department.

    According to the department, while Maharashtra stands second in the country in terms of the total number of vaccine doses administered after Uttar Pradesh, the state still tops with respect to the number of people who have taken both doses of vaccines.

    As many as 1.71 crore people in Maharashtra have received both the doses, the statement said.

  • Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine set to be first fully approved coronavirus jab 

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  The Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNtech is set to become the first jab against the disease globally to move from emergency-use authorisation to full-approval stage after it submitted more data to US drug regulator from the late-stage clinical trials and ongoing vaccinations. 

    This mRNA-based vaccine was the first against Covid-19 to receive restricted use authorisation in the UK followed by the US in December last year. In India, the pharma giant’s negotiations with the government to launch the vaccine are still stuck over the issue of indemnity. 

    Full approval to the vaccine will mean the vaccine-maker can advertise directly to people and ensure its availability even after the pandemic ends. But most importantly, it is likely to help persuade those who are hesitant about getting vaccinated until the US Food and Drug Administrator fully gives approval to the shot.

    Also, this approval could pave the way for new vaccine requirements by public and private organisations which may make it mandatory for employees or service receivers to be vaccinated. So far, almost in all countries, shots against the coronavirus are largely voluntary—a primary reason why a large population is still unvaccinated. 

    Once it obtains the full licensure, Pfizer-BioNTech is also planning to apply to the USFDA for the approval of a third dose as booster shot. The US government last week had announced that fully vaccinated adults should prepare to get booster shots eight months after they received their second doses, beginning September 20.

    This came after new evidence emerged suggesting that the protection offered by the mRNA vaccine may wane after a few months. Back home, sources in the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation said that as of now the vaccines being used in India’s inoculation drive are nowhere near the full approval.

    “For complete licensure, vaccine makers need to submit far more details, particularly on safety aspects and emerging issues such as side effects post vaccinations,” said a CDSCO official. “However, we do not really see that happening in near future as for vaccine makers the priority now is to focus on scaling up the supplies to meet the need of vaccinations.”

  • Any subsequent Covid wave to be mild, impact of second wave muted: Finance ministry

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  The finance ministry has brushed aside the fears of next wave of pandemic and said that any subsequent waves will be mild in impact, if the country sustains the momentum of vaccination programme.

    “Having antibodies reduces the probability of acquiring serious illnesses, as is borne by studies. So, any subsequent waves are expected to be mild in their impact on hospitalisations and deaths. However, it is imperative that Covid-appropriate behaviour and due protocol is followed,” the monthly economic report released by the financial ministry said.

    The report added that the impact of the second wave is muted and the economy has started recovering, as suggested by various economic indicators. The finance ministry said the movement of high frequency indicators in July clearly point towards a broad-based economic revival. PMI Manufacturing sharply rebounded to expansionary zone in July emerging from the previous month’s contraction. GST collection also reclaimed its Rs 1 trillion plus territory in July signifying increased business and consumer activity. Rail freight in July hit a record 18.3% growth.

    The surge in economic activity in July was further corroborated by trends in Kharif sowing, fertilizer sales, power consumption, vehicle registrations, highway toll collections, e-way bills and digital transactions. Latest available data on growth of eight core industries, auto sales, tractor sales, port traffic, air passenger traffic also indicate improvement from the contraction induced by the second wave.

    “With the second wave abating in most  parts of the country and state governments lifting the restrictions in  phases, there are visible signs of economic rejuvenation since second half of May. This resonates with the expectation that the impact of the second wave will be muted,” the report said, adding the rebound in economic indicators and the muted impact of the second wave is corroborated by upward revision of RBI estimates for real GDP growth in Q1 of 2021-22 to 21.4% from its June estimate of 18.5%.

  • Health workers trek treacherous Himalayan trail to expand COVID jab cover

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Weather can change at a moment’s notice in the hilly tracts of Uttarakhand; sunny days are often interspersed with bouts of rain.

    Sometimes, it snows and the risk of landslides is ever present. But Shweta Rana and her team of Himalayas Health Workers labour on, for the onus of reaching out to the far-flung with vaccines for Covid-19 has fallen on their shoulders.

    On a particularly demanding day, the team covered 18 kms through the treacherous hills to inoculate some hill villagers.

    Talk about hell and high water! there are at least 15 villages on the India-China border in Uttarakhand that sit 2,800 metres high in the lap of the Himalayas.

    It is this cluster that the Uttarakashi district health workers aim to cover by inoculating at least 90% of their population by august 15. Rana, an auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM), is one of the many health workers assigned to handle the task that was launched on January 16 last.  

    “The journey is tough and there is no shortcut. Landslides are common, and food is hard to come by if you are not stocked up. there have been occasions when we have survived on mere biscuits and water. It took my team 13 hours to reach a village last month. there, we convinced the people about the importance of vaccine and went about our jobs,” she recalled.

    Their treks are often interspersed with incessant rains, chance encounters with animals, resistance from the locals, and food and shelter shortage. the state’s vaccination drive has picked up pace in the recent months. as of August 9, 15,96,342 people in the state have been fully vaccinated, while 50,69,725 have received at least a single dose.

    The hill state has a total population of 49,34,219 in age-group of 18-44 years; 27,95,247 in agegroup of 45+. the state has 1,28,002 healthcare workers and 1,93,216 front line workers handling the task.

    Sonam Rawat, another health worker, said, “It is a difficult, but an important job. We overcome natural and manmade hurdles to do what is required of us. We intend to meet our august 15 target.”

  • Health workers trek treacherous Himalayan trail to expand jab cover

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Weather can change at a moment’s notice in the hilly tracts of Uttarakhand; sunny days are often interspersed with bouts of rain. Sometimes, it snows and the risk of landslides is ever present. But Shweta Rana and her team of Himalayas Health Workers labour on, for the onus of reaching out to the far-flung with vaccines for Covid-19 has fallen on their shoulders. On a particularly demanding day, the team covered 18 kms through the treacherous hills to inoculate some hill villagers.

    Talk about hell and high water! there are at least 15 villages on the India-China border in Uttarakhand that sit 2,800 metres high in the lap of the Himalayas. It is this cluster that the Uttarakashi district health workers aim to cover by inoculating at least 90% of their population by august 15. Rana, an auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM), is one of the many health workers assigned to handle the task that was launched on January 16 last.  

    “The journey is tough and there is no shortcut. Landslides are common, and food is hard to come by if you are not stocked up. there have been occasions when we have survived on mere biscuits and water. It took my team 13 hours to reach a village last month. there, we convinced the people about the importance of vaccine and went about our jobs,” she recalled.

    Their treks are often interspersed with incessant rains, chance encounters with animals, resistance from the locals, and food and shelter shortage. the state’s vaccination drive has picked up pace in the recent months. as of August 9, 15,96,342 people in the state have been fully vaccinated, while 50,69,725 have received at least a single dose. The hill state has a total population of 49,34,219 in age-group of 18-44 years; 27,95,247 in agegroup of 45+. the state has 1,28,002 healthcare workers and 1,93,216 front line workers handling the task.

    Sonam Rawat, another health worker, said, “It is a difficult, but an important job. We overcome natural and manmade hurdles to do what is required of us. We intend to meet our august 15 target.”

  • COVID-19 vaccination: For safe reopening of schools, Centre looks to private hospitals

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Amid a debate to reopen the schools across India, the Union health ministry has sought the support of private hospitals in vaccinating teachers free of cost under the CSR initiative.

    There are about 75 lakh school teachers — in both government and private schools — of which less than 20 % are vaccinated, as per the estimates.

    For vaccinating them, The New Indian Express has learnt, private hospitals were urged to seek funding support from MNCs and other companies.

    Sources said that a meeting between health ministry officials and representatives of private hospitals took place last week in which the government sought the support of corporates ahead of issuing guidelines on cautious reopening of schools. 

    “Once the private hospitals start offering this service, this initiative will also be widely publicised to get more teachers to avail the vaccine free at vaccination centres,” said a ministry official. 

    “Following this suggestion, we have already written to some companies such as Amazon to help hospitals across India and are writing to several others,” said Girdhar J Gyani, DG, Association of Healthcare Providers of India.

    “This push will also accelerate vaccinations at smaller hospitals in tier 2 and 3 towns.” 

    In a July 30 circular, the Corporate Affairs ministry had said that funds spent on Covid vaccination for individuals other than employees and their families will be considered as CSR expenditure.

    In March, it had said that spending on Covid would be considered as a CSR activity.

    While some states such as Bihar, MP, UP and Odisha have either opened or are planning to open the schools for secondary and senior secondary level schools on a rotation basis, they are completely shut in most states since the beginning of the pandemic in March, 2020. 

    Last month, top officials, including ICMR director general Balaram Bhargava and AIIMS- Delhi director Randeep Guleria, had suggested that primary schools can be opened first in districts reporting less than 5 % Covid positivity rates.

    It was, however, recommended that full vaccination of teachers and all support staff should be ensured before classes commence in offline mode. 

  • 2.27 lakh pregnant women take Covid jabs in less than a month

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Within a month of Covid vaccination opening for pregnant women, 2.27 lakh such beneficiaries have taken the shots and the highest of them have been from Tamil Nadu, the Centre said on Friday.

    The Union Health Ministry, based on the recommendations by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization, had approved inoculations against coronavirus for all pregnant women starting July 2. It had said that pregnant women can opt for any available Covid vaccines at any point during the pregnancy. 

    Over the last 4 weeks, Tamil Nadu has vaccinated 78,838 pregnant women, followed by Andhra Pradesh (34,228), Odisha (29,821), Madhya Pradesh (21,842), Kerala (18,423), and Karnataka (16,673), as per the data shared by the ministry. 

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    The government said that allowing the vaccination of pregnant women was followed up by training of service providers and frontline health workers to equip them to counsel the pregnant women and their families during routine antenatal care about the importance of Covid vaccination during pregnancy. 

    The states, the Centre added, further sensitized their vaccination teams in the government and private facilities on the need for Covid vaccination for this class of women. 

    Studies in India and abroad have shown that Covid19 infection during pregnancy may result in rapid deterioration of health of pregnant women, escalating the increased risk of severe disease and it might affect the fetus too.

    Pregnant women with infection are also at an increased risk for preterm birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes including higher chances of neonatal morbidity. Additionally, the experts have also highlighted pre-existing comorbidities, advanced maternal age, and high body mass index as factors for severe Covid19 in pregnancy.

    The government said that several initiatives have been taken by states to encourage pregnant women to opt for the vaccine, such as special vaccination sessions for pregnant women.