News Analysis India

Tag: Vaccine

  • Restrictions lifted, fully vaccinated passengers from India to travel USA

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI:  Aditya Garg headed to San Francisco in the early hours of Monday, relieved that he could finally get back to work with the US government lifting restrictions for international travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid.

    The young man from Jaipur, who works for a California-based electric vehicle company, was among the several people at the Delhi airport on Monday morning anxious to get to the US and boarding the first flight out they could.

    The coronavirus pandemic had prompted the US to close its borders to international travellers from many countries, including India, last year.

    Later, only passengers holding visas belonging to certain categories were permitted to travel.

    Starting today, November 8, the US has lifted all restrictions for fully vaccinated international travellers, including from India, but they will have to show proof of a negative coronavirus test before boarding a flight to the country.

    Garg, who took a United Airlines flight scheduled to depart at 4:30 am, said he had last travelled to the US before the pandemic induced lockdown in March last year.

    “I work and stay in Bay Area. It’s a relief that after such a long time I am able to fly to the US as American authorities have eased restrictions for fully vaccinated passengers. Of course, we still have to take all precautions,” he told PTI before entering the international departure lounge.

    Pritam Deshwal is also a US-based professional but was unable to travel from India due to restrictions.

    The airport designer, who took an Air India flight to the US, said, “I am based in New York, and the further lifting of restrictions on travellers will certainly help in getting reconnected to our offices and places, literally.”

    Since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, most companies and institutions had allowed employees to work from home with digital technology playing a big role in helping colleagues stay connected in a ‘new normal’ scenario.

    Many US-bound passengers, including women, said their vaccination status had boosted their confidence.

    “I am taking my first international flight after the outbreak of the pandemic. I am feeling fine,” said a woman passenger who did not wish to be named. Among those who took flights out to the US were the Vij brothers, who are based in Miami.

    “I am a US citizen, so, there was no restriction for me as such, but I am glad more people can fly now to the US,” said Siddhant Vij, who took a Qatar Airways flight with his brother Shivek.

    American business executive Brad Nuss, who lives in Minnesota, flew to his home country on Monday and hoped that a sense of normalcy in international travel will return soon.

    “The pandemic has changed our world and the way we see it and interact with others. And, with vaccination picking up in India and elsewhere, and US further lifting travel restrictions, I feel it’s a sign of things slowly getting back to normal in a way,” Nuss told PTI before boarding a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight.

    At the airport, as family members bid goodbye to each other, many were overcome by emotion as they hugged, some taking the mandatory selfie to mark the occasion.

    The White House late last month said the US will lift all travel restrictions for incoming non-citizens and non-immigrant travellers from November 8, with only limited exceptions.

    They will be required to be fully vaccinated and produce proof of their COVID-19 vaccination prior to boarding a flight to the country.

    Passengers will need to show their vaccination status, and the airlines will need to match the name and date of birth to confirm the passenger is the same person reflected on the proof of vaccination, according to an official statement issued earlier.

    Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    But special international flights have been operating under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with approximately 28 countries since July 2020.

    Under an air bubble pact between two countries, limited special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories with certain restrictions.

  • Restrictions lifted, fully vaccinated passengers from India can travel to US

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI:  Aditya Garg headed to San Francisco in the early hours of Monday, relieved that he could finally get back to work with the US government lifting restrictions for international travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid.

    The young man from Jaipur, who works for a California-based electric vehicle company, was among the several people at the Delhi airport on Monday morning anxious to get to the US and boarding the first flight out they could.

    The coronavirus pandemic had prompted the US to close its borders to international travellers from many countries, including India, last year.

    Later, only passengers holding visas belonging to certain categories were permitted to travel.

    Starting today, November 8, the US has lifted all restrictions for fully vaccinated international travellers, including from India, but they will have to show proof of a negative coronavirus test before boarding a flight to the country.

    Garg, who took a United Airlines flight scheduled to depart at 4:30 am, said he had last travelled to the US before the pandemic induced lockdown in March last year.

    “I work and stay in Bay Area. It’s a relief that after such a long time I am able to fly to the US as American authorities have eased restrictions for fully vaccinated passengers. Of course, we still have to take all precautions,” he told PTI before entering the international departure lounge.

    Pritam Deshwal is also a US-based professional but was unable to travel from India due to restrictions.

    The airport designer, who took an Air India flight to the US, said, “I am based in New York, and the further lifting of restrictions on travellers will certainly help in getting reconnected to our offices and places, literally.”

    Since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, most companies and institutions had allowed employees to work from home with digital technology playing a big role in helping colleagues stay connected in a ‘new normal’ scenario.

    Many US-bound passengers, including women, said their vaccination status had boosted their confidence.

    “I am taking my first international flight after the outbreak of the pandemic. I am feeling fine,” said a woman passenger who did not wish to be named. Among those who took flights out to the US were the Vij brothers, who are based in Miami.

    “I am a US citizen, so, there was no restriction for me as such, but I am glad more people can fly now to the US,” said Siddhant Vij, who took a Qatar Airways flight with his brother Shivek.

    American business executive Brad Nuss, who lives in Minnesota, flew to his home country on Monday and hoped that a sense of normalcy in international travel will return soon.

    “The pandemic has changed our world and the way we see it and interact with others. And, with vaccination picking up in India and elsewhere, and US further lifting travel restrictions, I feel it’s a sign of things slowly getting back to normal in a way,” Nuss told PTI before boarding a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight.

    At the airport, as family members bid goodbye to each other, many were overcome by emotion as they hugged, some taking the mandatory selfie to mark the occasion.

    The White House late last month said the US will lift all travel restrictions for incoming non-citizens and non-immigrant travellers from November 8, with only limited exceptions.

    They will be required to be fully vaccinated and produce proof of their COVID-19 vaccination prior to boarding a flight to the country.

    Passengers will need to show their vaccination status, and the airlines will need to match the name and date of birth to confirm the passenger is the same person reflected on the proof of vaccination, according to an official statement issued earlier.

    Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    But special international flights have been operating under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with approximately 28 countries since July 2020.

    Under an air bubble pact between two countries, limited special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories with certain restrictions.

  • India’s vaccination coverage crosses 106 crore doses

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 106 crore on Saturday, the Union Health Ministry said.

    Almost 62 lakh (61,99,429) vaccine doses were administered on Saturday till 7 pm and this number is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, the ministry said.

    The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, the ministry underlined.

    The countrywide 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 from February 2.

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

    The country launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1. The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1.

  • Over 103.99 crore vaccine doses administered in India so far: Government

    The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, the ministry said.

  • Second dose of Covid vaccine overdue for over 11 crore people, shows Government data

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Over 11 crore people who have taken the first shot of COVID-19 vaccine have not got themselves jabbed with the second dose even after the expiry of the prescribed interval between two doses, according to government data.

    The data showed that over 3.92 crore beneficiaries are more than six weeks overdue for their second dose, around 1.57 crore are up to four to six weeks late, and more than 1.50 crore are up to two to four weeks overdue for their second shot of either Covishield or Covaxin.

    ALSO READ: ‘Jumla’ version of COVID vaccine story will not save lives, says Rahul Gandhi

    Also, over 3.38 crore people are up to two weeks overdue to becoming fully vaccinated. This issue was discussed in a meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya with health ministers and representatives of all states and Union territories on Wednesday.

    They were asked to focus on such beneficiaries who are overdue for their second dose, official sources said. The gap between the first and second dose is 12 weeks for Covishield and four weeks for Covaxin.

    Both doses are needed for adequate protection against severe COVID-19 infection and hospitalisation. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Bihar together account for around 49 per cent of such beneficiaries who are late for their second dose of vaccine.

    The Union Health Ministry has also written to several states and UTs asking them to prioritise administering the second dose to beneficiaries who have not got themselves jabbed with the second shot even after the expiry of the prescribed interval between the two doses, sources said.

    ALSO READ: Over 103 crore vaccine doses administered in India so far, says government

    More than 76 per cent of India’s adult population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with nine states and union territories administering the first dose to all eligible people.

    The eleven states and UTs which completed second dose coverage to more than 50 per cent of eligible beneficiaries are Lakshadweep, Sikkim, Goa, Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Daman and Diu, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.

    Over 32 per cent of the country’s around 94 crore adults have been administered both the doses, Health Ministry officials said, adding the cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 103.53 crore.

  • ‘Vaccine hesitancy still a problem in remote areas’

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Waiting for others to get the Covid-19 vaccine first and fear of any adverse effects may still be putting a significant chunk of the population in India away from the vaccines, the first ever analysis on vaccine hesitancy in the country has shown. Though no concrete data on the percentage of people choosing to forgo vaccines is available, it has been estimated that in remote and rural areas, up to 10% people may be sceptical.

    The analysis by the doctors attached with the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai said that distrust in the safety of recently approved vaccines, fear of adverse effects, and rumours concerning infertility and death as a result of the Covid-19 vaccine, among other causes, are fuelling hesitancy.

    The authors noted that according to the Covid symptoms  survey conducted in India, the top five reasons provided for not getting vaccinated included: waiting for others to get it first (42%), other individuals need it more than me (35%), fear of any adverse effect 34%, vaccines will not work (21%) and disbelief in the vaccine.

    The researchers said that vaccine hesitancy is becoming a problem with very few possible solutions. Noting that the initiation of the CoWIN registration portal has significantly enhanced the vaccination campaign, they said that  based on the reported statistics, vaccine hesitancy is rampant in remote areas and regions.

    Pointing out that the lowering the cost of the vaccine for college students can be a beneficial way to reduce vaccine hesitancy, the researchers said that the government’s COVID-19 vaccination communication strategy has significant operational and structural flaws in its current form. “The second wave of infections disrupted capacity-building for communication management at the national, state, district, and sub-district levels,” said the paper.

    Citing an international survey, the analysis said that vaccine acceptance rates were the highest in low and middle-income countries such as Ecuador (97.0%), Malaysia (94.3%), Indonesia (93.3%) and China (91.3%). On the other hand, high-income countries such as Kuwait (23.6%), Jordan (28.4%), Italy (53.7%), Russia (54.9%), Poland (56.3%), USA (56.9%), and France (58.9%) had the lowest acceptance rates. Government authorities say the vaccine hesitancy in India may be coming down with most of the available vaccines “proving their safety profile”.

    Panel for removing export curbs  Barely weeks after the Centre curbed the export of Covid-19 rapid antigen testing kits, the Union health ministry, based on the recommendations of an empowered group, has suggested removing these restrictions. In a recent letter to the directorate general of foreign trade, the ministry said while RTPCR testing kits were added to the restricted category for export from June 2020, RAT kits too were restricted for export from August this year. An empowered group responsible for policy suggestions related to Covid-19 logistics , however, has decided to revoke the restrictions imposed on the kits and allow free export of these products, said  the letter.

  • Over 78 crore Covid vaccine doses provided to states, UTs: Government

    As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the government has been supporting the states and UTs by providing them Covid vaccines free of cost, it said.

  • Serum Institute of India writes to Union Health Minister proposing reforms in drug regulatory system

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: World’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, Serum Institute of India (SII) has written to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya suggesting reforms in the existing drug regulatory system, including allowing manufacturing and stockpiling of non-Covid vaccines while undergoing clinical trial.

    According to official sources, Prakash Kumar Singh, Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Pune-based SII, in a letter, referred to a gazette notification by the Union Health Ministry on May 18, 2020.

    He said it allowed manufacturing and stockpiling of COVID-19 vaccine under clinical trial for marketing authorization for sale or distribution.

    “Because of this rule, it became possible for us to manufacture and stockpile the COVID-19 vaccine during clinical trial and we could make the vaccine available in such a short span of time period to protect millions of lives.

    “It will be a big help for the vaccine industry if this rule is implemented for non-COVID-19 vaccines also,” a source quoted Singh as having communicated in the letter to the minister.

    Singh also sought permission to use the remaining quantities of batches of Covid and non-Covid vaccines for commercial purposes which have been used in clinical trial.

    In this context, he said the Health Ministry had issued draft rules dated April 12, 2018, to allow remaining quantities of batches of vaccines which have been used in clinical trial for commercial use after granting of permission in form 46 (now it is form CT-23) and manufacturing licence in Form 28D.

    “However, the gazette notification in this regard has not been issued so far for the implementation of the same,” Singh said.

    He also sought the implementation of recommendations of a high-powered inter-ministerial committee for reforming the Drug Regulatory Systems in India.

    The letter stated that on the directions of the prime minister, a high-powered Inter-Ministerial Committee for reforming the drug regulatory systems in India was formed under the chairmanship of then OSD, Rajesh Bhushan who is presently the health secretary.

    “Recommendations of this inter-ministerial committee should be implemented immediately in line with ‘ease of doing business”.

    The letter highlighted few other points also related to regulatory reforms and stated, “If few rules/regulatory provisions are amended, it will be a great help and encouragement for the vaccine industry to grow faster.

  • Curtailing movement of un-vaccinated persons arbitrary, amounts to house arrest: Gauhati HC

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has held that the Mizoram government’s June 29 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) debarring the un-vaccinated persons from venturing out, preventing them from eking out a living by restricting their movement as “arbitrary” and “not in consonance with the provisions of Article 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution”.

    A division bench of Justice Michael Zothankhum and Justice Nelson Sailo observed that there is nothing to show that the vaccinated persons cannot be infected with the Covid virus or that they cannot be spreaders.

    “It has been brought to our notice that even persons, who have been vaccinated, can still be infected with the Covid virus, which would in turn imply that vaccinated persons who are Covid positive, can also spread the said virus to others.”

    “If vaccinated and un-vaccinated persons can be infected by the Covid virus and if they can both be spreaders of the virus, the restriction placed only upon the un-vaccinated persons, debarring them from earning their livelihood or leaving their houses to obtain essential items, is unjustified, grossly unreasonable and arbitrary,” the court observed.

    It said there is no reason to discriminate only against the un-vaccinated persons if the vaccinated and the un-vaccinated persons cover their faces with a mask as per Covid appropriate behaviour.

    The court said since the SOP requires everyone to adhere to the protocols, there should not be any discrimination against un-vaccinated persons as the protocols are also applicable to un-vaccinated persons.

    It pointed out that there can be any number of reasons for a person to leave his/her house. It could be for the purpose of procuring essential supplies including foodstuff, medicines, attending to his/her near and dear/sick ones etc.

    “However, the said clause has virtually put them under house arrest in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, while persons who have been given the first dose of vaccine are allowed to leave their houses/compounds. Thus, on the ground of discrimination alone, Clause 5(2) is arbitrary,” the court observed.

    The next hearing has been fixed on July 14.

  • COVID-19: India administers 43.99 lakh vaccine doses in last 24 hours

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: After 43,99,298 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours, India’s cumulative vaccination coverage increased to 34.46 crores, according to the Union Health Ministry on Saturday.

    A total of 34,46,11,291 vaccine doses have been administered through 45,60,088 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am today.

    Meanwhile, as many 44,111 new COVID-19 cases and 738 deaths were reported in India in the last 24 hours, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday.

    With 57,477 recoveries in the last 24 hours, daily recoveries continued to outnumber the daily new cases for the 51st consecutive day.

    With this, the cumulative tally of positive COVID-19 cases in the country stands at 3,05,02,362, including 2,96,05,779 recoveries, 4,01,050 deaths and 4,95,533 active cases.

    The active tally is less than five lakh after 97 days and it constitutes 1.62 percent of the total cases.

    As per health ministry data, the daily positivity rate is below 5 percent for the 26th consecutive day and today it stands at 2.35 percent while the weekly positivity rate is currently at 2.50 percent.

    Meanwhile, the national recovery rate increased to 97.06 percent.