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India has supplied over 723 lakh doses of Covid vaccine to 94 countries, two UN entities: Govt

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India supplied COVID-19-related medical and other assistance to over 150 countries since the beginning of the pandemic, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

India has supplied over 723 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 94 countries and two UN entities since the start of the Vaccine Maitri Programme in January this year, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. India supplied COVID-19-related medical and other assistance to over 150 countries since the beginning of the pandemic, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

She said, ”Since the start of Vaccine Maitri Programme in January 2021, India has supplied 723.435 lakh doses of Covid vaccine to 94 countries and 2 UN entities in the form of grant, commercial export or through COVAX till November 29, 2021.”

In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic during the second wave, support in the form of Covid-related equipment and medicines were received from more than 50 countries. These included supplies from foreign governments, private companies, Indian associations abroad, etc, Pawar stated.

In reply to a separate question on the government’s response to the call for helping low-income countries, Pawar said COVAX facility co-led by WHO has maintained that no effort should be spared to substantially increase vaccine supply for lower-income countries and has called all countries that are well-supplied with COVID-19 vaccines to donate doses to COVAX and on manufacturers to prioritize supplies to COVAX.

The Government of India has so far already supplied 222.56 lakh of COVID-19 vaccine doses to COVAX, she stated.

—With PTI inputs

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sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95

Currency

Company Price Chng %Chng
Dollar-Rupee 73.3500 0.0000 0.00
Euro-Rupee 89.0980 0.0100 0.01
Pound-Rupee 103.6360 -0.0750 -0.07
Rupee-100 Yen 0.6734 -0.0003 -0.05
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Zydus Cadila’s COVID vaccine for kids ZyCoV-D to be rolled out soon; Centre negotiates pricing

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Summary

The final price is expected to be lower than the numbers quoted by manufacturers, but higher than the amount paid by the government for Covishield and Covaxin, a media report said.

Zydus Cadila’s three-dose COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D will be rolled out soon for the national immunisation program. The Centre is currently negotiating the price of the vaccine with the drugmaker. With ZyCoV-D being cleared for use in children above the age of 12 with co-morbidities like cancer, respiratory, neurological, rheumatic, cardiac, liver, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and developmental disorders, the rollout will kickstart the vaccination program for children in the country.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on August 20 gave approval for emergency use to ZyCoV-D. ZyCoV-D is the world’s first and India’s indigenously developed DNA-based vaccine against the coronavirus disease to be administered in humans including adults and children aged 12 years and above, the government said.

“The pricing of the ZyCoV-D vaccine has been finalised. The manufacturers had started production immediately after getting emergency use authorisation from the DCGI,” said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

Also read | All you need to know about Zydus Cadila vaccine ZyCoV-D

The final price is expected to be lower than the numbers quoted by manufacturers, but higher than the amount paid by the government for Covishield and Covaxin, reported Economic Times. Private hospitals will, however, have to negotiate their own prices with the manufacturers.

ZyCoV-D will inject genetically engineered plasmids that carry the code for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This will trigger the production of the spike protein of COVID-19 and stimulate immune-response in the form of B-cells. The plasmid DNA vector can theoretically be redesigned to various mutations much more easily than RNA vaccines like that offered by Pfizer and Moderna. The vaccine showed a 66.6 percent efficacy in symptomatic COVID-19 positive cases and 100 percent efficacy in moderate cases.

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nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95

Currency

Company Price Chng %Chng
Dollar-Rupee 73.3500 0.0000 0.00
Euro-Rupee 89.0980 0.0100 0.01
Pound-Rupee 103.6360 -0.0750 -0.07
Rupee-100 Yen 0.6734 -0.0003 -0.05
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Pfizer CEO hopes life will return to normal in a year; but with booster shots

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Summary

Return to old normal will largely depend on robust vaccination drives along with a focus on annual booster shots against both existing and yet to-emerge COVID-19 variants.

Nearly two years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, ramped up vaccination drives point to some light at the end of the tunnel. The head of one of the vaccine makers believes life will return to relative normalcy by next year.

Albert Bourla, the CEO and Chairman of Pfizer, said life will slowly return to how it used to be though annual booster shots may be needed to remain protected against any new variants.

“Within a year I think we will be able to come back to normal life,” Bourla said in an interview on ABC.

His statements echo those by the CEO of fellow vaccine manufacturer Moderna.  “As of today, in a year, I assume,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel told the Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung on September 23.

Also read: COVID 3rd wave unlikely with no new variants, need more data to decide on vaccination of kids: Dr Gangandeep Kang

The return to normal will largely rely on robust vaccination drives along with focus on annual booster shots against both existing and yet to-emerge COVID-19 variants.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) have recently given the go-ahead for booster shots for at-risk populations, and those who are immunocompromised.

Dr Rochelle Walensky, head of the CDC, went against the recommendation of the expert panel and allowed booster shots to be distributed to those in high-risk occupational and institutional settings. Her decision came at a time when faltering vaccination rates in the US have caused a massive resurgence in cases driven by the Delta variant.

“The most likely scenario for me is that, because the virus is spread all over the world, that it will continue seeing new variants that are coming out,” Bourla said.

“Also we will have vaccines that they will last at least a year, and I think the most likely scenario is annual vaccination, but we don’t know really, we need to wait and see the data,” he added.

While booster shots remain on the agenda for several nations like the US, Germany and France, among others, several poorer nations have been struggling to give even the first dose to their citizens. Amid the growing vaccination gap, the World Health Organization (WHO) has asked countries to defer booster programmes until the end of the year so that more doses may be passed on to poorer nations.

Moderna and Pfizer are two of the companies that have faced increasing criticism from health activists for not sharing their technology to ramp up production of their vaccines. While Pfizer has been against waiving intellectual property rights on its vaccine for the duration of the pandemic, Moderna has famously said it would not be enforcing the patent laws on its vaccine while the pandemic remains a threat.

However, without proper technology sharing, Moderna’s offer has not been taken up by other pharmaceutical companies.

Also read: COVID-19 vaccination picks pace in India; these states have outdone several nations

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index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95

Currency

Company Price Chng %Chng
Dollar-Rupee 73.3500 0.0000 0.00
Euro-Rupee 89.0980 0.0100 0.01
Pound-Rupee 103.6360 -0.0750 -0.07
Rupee-100 Yen 0.6734 -0.0003 -0.05
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COVID-19 vaccination picks pace in India; these states have outdone several nations

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Summary

Uttar Pradesh administered an average of 11.73 lakh daily doses in September, whereas the US managed only 8.07 lakh. Similarly, Gujarat administered an average of 4.8 lakh daily doses against Mexico’s 4.56 lakh. But India is still far from its target of 200 crore jabs by the year end.

The COVID-19 vaccination numbers in India have soared, with five states recording daily vaccination rates that are higher than several countries. According to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana have administered doses at a higher average rate than Canada, France, Russia, Mexico and the US.

According to the data, Uttar Pradesh administered 11.73 lakh vaccine doses on average on a daily basis in September; whereas the US has only managed to administer an average 8.07 lakh daily doses during the same period. Similarly, Gujarat administered an average of 4.8 lakh daily doses in contrast with Mexico’s 4.56 lakh.

Karnataka managed 3.82 lakh doses against Russia’s 3.68 lakh doses, Madhya Pradesh administered 3.71 lakh doses against France’s 2.84 lakh and Haryana gave 1.52 lakh jabs against Canada’s 0.85 lakh.

Over 75 crore doses have been administered so far in India and Union Health Minister Maansukh Mandaviya said the country will have 43 percent fully vaccinated adults by December, 2021.

But even as vaccination rates speed up, the government’s target looks improbable. The government had aimed at an ambitious 200 crore doses by the end of December. With 125 crore doses remaining to be administered and just over 100 days left till the end of the year, the government would need to give over 1.2 crore jabs per day. At the current rate of vaccination, the 200-crore target will only be met by March 2022.

Experts have said 60 percent of the population needs to be fully vaccinated in order to prevent a potential third wave of COVID-19. Currently, only 13 percent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated while 41 percent has received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Also read: Govt’s vaccine math: Zydus, Sputnik do not figure in official numbers, says AMICUS’ Dr Neelkantan

The US — where vaccination rates are starting to slow down because of the partisan divide over the efficacy of scientifically developed vaccines — has managed to fully vaccinate 54 percent of its population.

With sections of populations remaining unvaccinated, whether by choice or by circumstances, the COVID-19 virus has an opportunity to infect and mutate. Such mutations can make the SARS CoV-2 virus more resilient against antibodies generated by vaccines and possibly endanger the global immunisation effort.

Also read: Delta variant can infect fully-vaccinated people; priority should be to distribute vaccines across world: WHO Chief Scientist

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95

Currency

Company Price Chng %Chng
Dollar-Rupee 73.3500 0.0000 0.00
Euro-Rupee 89.0980 0.0100 0.01
Pound-Rupee 103.6360 -0.0750 -0.07
Rupee-100 Yen 0.6734 -0.0003 -0.05
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Govt to procure 37.5 crore Covishield doses, 28.5 crore Covaxin doses by December

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Union government expects to procure another 37.5 crore doses of Covishield and 28.5 crore doses of Covaxin between August and December. Apart from this, the government will also procure 30 crore doses of Biological E’s Corbevax, which are expected to be delivered between September and December.

The government is expecting to procure 37.5 crore Covishield vaccine doses and 28.5 crore Covaxin doses between August and December this year, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on September 3.

It added Rs. 2521.56 crore advance payment has been made to Pune-based Serum Insitute of India to procure Covishield at Rs. 215.25 per dose and Rs.897 crore has been paid in advance to Bharat Biotech to procure indigenously developed Covaxin at the rate of Rs. 228.75 per dose.

In response to an RTI, the government also informed that it has given Rs 1,500 crore in partial advance payment to Biological E to procure its Corbevax vaccine against coronavirus at a price of Rs 50 per dose. The government will procure 30 crore doses of Corbevax , which are expected to be delivered between September and December.

In all, the government has spent Rs 9,229 crore on vaccines between March and July, which includes full payment for the doses already procured as well as the advance payments made to the vaccine manufacturers. This is 26.3 percent of the Rs 35,000 crore fund earmarked by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for vaccination for the financial year 2021-2022. To be sure, data from March has been included as the payments for this month of FY21 were released later.

In the March to July period, a total of 21 crore Covishield doses were procured whereas seven crore Covaxin doses were received, the government said in response to the RTI filed by activist Vivek Pandey.

On the distribution of doses, the Health Ministry said, “As on 02.09.2021, more than 64.65crore (64,65,07,160) vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt of India (free of cost channel) and through direct state procurement category.”

For the initial part of the nationwide inoculation drive in January and February this year, the government said it used Rs 1,392 crore worth of funds from the PM Cares Fund to procure 6.6 crore doses of vaccines, which includes both Covishield and Covaxin.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95

Currency

Company Price Chng %Chng
Dollar-Rupee 73.3500 0.0000 0.00
Euro-Rupee 89.0980 0.0100 0.01
Pound-Rupee 103.6360 -0.0750 -0.07
Rupee-100 Yen 0.6734 -0.0003 -0.05
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COVID Fight Podcast: Zydus Cadila’s vaccine gets regulator nod; is India prepared for 3rd wave?

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Summary

Zydus Cadila’s three-dose COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D received emergency use authorisation (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on August 20. Adolescents in the age group of 12-18 years can take the shot in India. Meanwhile, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has said the central Centre is fully ready to tackle a …

Zydus Cadila’s three-dose COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D received emergency use authorisation (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on August 20. Adolescents in the age group of 12-18 years can take the shot in India.

Meanwhile, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has said the central Centre is fully ready to tackle a possible third wave of COVID-19 and a provision of over Rs 23,000 crore has been made for this purpose. He added that special emphasis is being given to strengthening pediatric care amid apprehension that the third wave may affect children more.

Tune in to COVID Fight Podcast as CNBCTV18.com’s Kanishka Sarkar shares top developments on the pandemic from around the world.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

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index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95

Currency

Company Price Chng %Chng
Dollar-Rupee 73.3500 0.0000 0.00
Euro-Rupee 89.0980 0.0100 0.01
Pound-Rupee 103.6360 -0.0750 -0.07
Rupee-100 Yen 0.6734 -0.0003 -0.05
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More nations add booster shots to their COVID vaccination plans; Here’s what experts, WHO say

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Summary

A booster shot is clinically the same vaccine with no changes but it re-exposes the body to the virus, boosting the antibody production against the virus.

The United States has announced a third booster shot against COVID-19 amid a sharp surge in cases fuelled by the deadly Delta variant and concerns over waning immunity.

The booster jab will be given eight months after the first. The rollout will begin from September for all Americans, top US health officials said.

What is a booster shot? 

A booster shot is clinically the same vaccine with no changes but it re-exposes the body to the virus, boosting the antibody production against the virus.

The reason behind administering booster dose is the fact that the antibodies produced by B lymphocyte cells in the body are active for relatively shorter periods. While the immune system is more effective against the virus, antibodies are the response that prevents the infection in the first place.

T cells, in the form of Memory T cells and CD8+ ‘killer’ T cells, remain effective against the same viral threat over a longer period. But most vaccines do not directly enhance the production of T cells against a virus.

Read here: Explained: Importance of T cells in fight against COVID-19

Why are booster shots needed?

Booster shots are needed so that the antibody levels in individuals remain high enough to prevent infection from SARS-CoV-2.

Immunocompromised individuals whose immune responses are either naturally or medically muted often require booster shots. These include cancer patients, organ transplant patients, and those suffering from auto-immune disorders among others.

All vaccines slowly lose their efficacy with time. Booster shots boost the efficacy for a while by increasing antibody production.

Also read: COVID-19 vaccine: Third shot could be silver lining for immunocompromised

This is especially important for viruses like SARS-CoV-2 that are mRNA viruses and continuously mutate and become more adept at evading the immune response generated by antibodies. The Delta variant of COVID-19 has several such mutations that make it more virulent and more resistant to the actions of the immune system.

Which countries have gone ahead with booster shots?

Several countries like France have already been providing booster shots to the immunocompromised. The US government had also announced that immunocompromised individuals would receive booster shots. But a subsequent announcement Wednesday informed Americans that they would receive a third vaccine dose.

Similarly in the UK, plans of a booster dose for the immunocompromised and the elderly have been announced.

Both these countries have made these announcements amid a spike in Delta variant cases despite relatively high levels of vaccination. Recent research suggests that the Delta variant is capable of infecting fully vaccinated individuals even though the vaccine reduces the severity and mortality.

What about India? 

Talks around booster doses are on, but the country is currently focusing on increasing the vaccination coverage.

National Institute of Virology director Dr Priya Abraham told India Science, “Studies on booster dose have been going on overseas and at least seven different vaccines have been tried out for booster dose. Now, the WHO has put a stop to it till more countries catch up with vaccination. This is because there is an alarming vaccine gap between high-income and low-income countries. But, in future, recommendations for boosters will definitely come.”

“After six months, the antibodies go down and that is why I have taken the third dose. We have given the third dose to our seven to eight thousand SII employees. For those who have completed the second dose, it is my request to take a booster dose (third dose) after six months,” said Cyrus Poonawalla, Chairman, Serum Institute of India.

While the World Health Organization has asked nations to put away plans of booster shots to reduce the vaccine shortages in many low and middle-income nations, many experts believe that an additional shot will be a necessity in face of emerging variants.

COVID-19 vaccines are working against the Delta variant and people should not rush for booster shots, clinical scientist Dr Gagandeep Kang said Wednesday.

Booster doses may add a little bit of benefit in reducing disease but it may not be the best use of doses. We shouldn’t panic and run for booster shots,” Kang told CNBC.

Catch out LIVE updates on Covid-19 related news here.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

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index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95

Currency

Company Price Chng %Chng
Dollar-Rupee 73.3500 0.0000 0.00
Euro-Rupee 89.0980 0.0100 0.01
Pound-Rupee 103.6360 -0.0750 -0.07
Rupee-100 Yen 0.6734 -0.0003 -0.05
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Tamil Nadu to consider CSR route for vaccine procurement from private sector

CNBC-TV18 learnt that Tamil Nadu could consider CSR route for vaccine procurement. If all goes according to the plan, hospitals can roll out free vaccinations in partnership with other corporates and of course the Tamil Nadu government, provided its CSR plan takes form and shape, going forward.

The state’s health minister M Subramaniam said there is an active plan to get CSR funding to procure vaccine doses that have been unutilised and not procured as yet by the private sector and then go about rolling out free vaccines from that vaccine quota for individuals across the state, especially in Chennai.

Watch the accompanying video of CNBC-TV18’s Jude Sannith for more details.

 5 Minutes Read

COVID-19 recovered with one/two doses of vaccine have higher protection against Delta variant: Study

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

 Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Summary

People who have recovered from COVID-19 and have received one or two doses of vaccine have relatively higher protection against Delta variant in comparison to those administered either one or two doses of Covishield, according to a study.

Breakthrough cases and COVID-19 recovered individuals with one or two doses of vaccine have relatively higher protection against Delta variant in comparison to those administered either one or two doses of Covishield, a study stated.

Prior vaccination results in less severe disease against subsequent infection provide evidence that both humoral and cellular immune response play an important role in protection, according to the study which is yet to be peer-reviewed and was posted on bioRxiv preprint server on Friday.

The study ‘Neutralisation of Delta Variant with Sera of Covishield vaccines and COVID-19 Recovered Vaccinated Individuals’ has been done by scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Institute of Virology, Pune, and Department of Neurosurgery, Command Hospital (Southern Command), Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. The recent emergence of B.1.617 lineage has created grave public health problem in India.

Also Read: Mortality significantly increased in 2nd COVID-19 wave in India: Study

The lineage further mutated to generate sub-lineages B.1.617.1 (Kappa), B.1.617.2 (Delta) and B.1.617.3. Apparently, the Delta variant has slowly dominated the other variants.

With this, the World Health Organisation has described this sub-lineage as variant of concern, the study stated.

“The high transmissibility associated with Delta variant led to second wave of the pandemic in India which affected millions of people. Besides this, variant of concerns have been reported to show lower neutralisation to several approved vaccines. This has led to breakthrough infections after completion of vaccination regimen,” it said.

Also read: Second wave of COVID-19 took heavier toll on pregnant women, say doctors

There is limited information available on the duration of protective immune response post-infection, vaccination or breakthrough infection with SARS-CoV-2.

The study evaluated immune response in sera of the Covishield vaccinated individuals belonging to categories– one dose vaccinated, two doses vaccinated, COVID-19 recovered plus one dose vaccinated, COVID-19 recovered plus two doses vaccinated and breakthrough COVID-19 cases.

“The findings of the study demonstrated that the breakthrough cases and COVID-19 recovered individuals with one or two dose of vaccine had relatively higher protection against Delta variant in comparison to the participants who were administered either one or two doses of Covishield.

“Prior vaccination results in less severe disease against subsequent infection provide evidence that both humoral and cellular immune response play an important role in protection,” the study added.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

 Daily Newsletter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Previous Article

Oil Fluctuates as Traders Assess China’s Vow, Unrest in Libya

Next Article

Shanghai residents turn to NFTs to record COVID lockdown, combat censorship

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today's market

index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -72.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +28.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +30.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -14.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95
index Price Change
nifty 50 ₹16,986.00 -7.15
sensex ₹1,882.60 +8.30
nifty IT ₹2,206.80 +3.85
nifty bank ₹1,318.95 -1.95

Currency

Company Price Chng %Chng
Dollar-Rupee 73.3500 0.0000 0.00
Euro-Rupee 89.0980 0.0100 0.01
Pound-Rupee 103.6360 -0.0750 -0.07
Rupee-100 Yen 0.6734 -0.0003 -0.05
Quiz
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Win WRX (WazirX token) worth Rs. 1500.
Question 1 of 5

What coins do you think will be valuable over next 3 years?

Answer Anonymously

Should Elon Musk be able to buy Twitter?

Sanjeevani: Creating COVID-19 vaccine awareness in Punjab

India initiates its mega-vaccination drive over the weekend, aims to vaccinate 30 crore people by July 2021

On the third day of India’s new vaccine programme on June 23, nearly 65 lakh doses were administered. Of these, 40 percent doses were given to citizens in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

The three-day average of daily inoculations now stands at 68.43 lakh while the total vaccine doses administered exceed 30 crore.

However, the northern state of Punjab currently has a case fatality ratio of 2.7 percent, which is the highest in the country and double the national average.

Doctors say lack of vaccine awareness and poor COVID-19 appropriate behaviour are the main reasons for the high number of cases and deaths in the state.

Network18 and Federal Bank’s Initiative, Sanjeevani- a shot of life, are at the forefront of creating vaccine awareness. The initiative’s health partner Apollo 24*7 is carrying out vaccine drives in Punjab.

Watch the accompanying video for more.