Tag: Coronavirus vaccine

Share vaccine formula with pharma companies to scale up production: Kejriwal to PM Modi

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

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on May 11 suggested that the Centre share the anti-COVID-19 vaccine formula of the two manufacturers with other companies in the country to scale up production. Kejriwal said there is a shortage of vaccines across the country, and an urgent need to ramp up its manufacturing on a war footing. At the same time ne underscored the need  to develop a national policy to inoculate everyone in the next few months.

He said the Centre should ensure that all the vaccine manufacturing plants in the country start producing COVID doses. The two COVID vaccine manufacturers can be provided royalty for use of their formula by other companies, he said. He said scaling up vaccine production is needed to vaccinate everyone before the onset of the next wave of COVID-19.

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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

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

COVID-19 vaccine shortage puts spanner on India’s adult immunisation programme

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

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A massive shortage of vaccine doses is hampering the country’s ambitious plan for adult immunisation. Phase-3 of the Covid-19 vaccination programme for people above 18 years that kicked off on May 1, has been hamstrung with chaos with states confirming that they were not in a position to keep pace with the demand due to shortage of supply.

On April 28, India opened up registrations for anyone above 18 years of age for the roll-out of the nationwide drive on May 1. However, most of the states delayed the onset of the third phase because of a shortage in the supply of doses. Vaccination outlets in Mumbai remained closed for some time. The introduction of the third phase has also marred the vaccination of those over 45 years because of the shortage.

Vaccine crisis

The country boasts of having charted a vibrant vaccination graph. But the numbers are a small figure considering the mammoth population of India. There is an urgent need to open more vaccination points, increase their efficiency, ensure uninterrupted supply and spruce the communication programme to remove the vaccine hesitancy.

If the country was not having enough doses of vaccine why did it accelerate phase 3 of the vaccination drive?

Only around 12 of the 36 states and Union territories had enough doses to roll out the third phase and that too in a limited way. Since the beginning of the phased vaccination drive on 16 January 2021, a total of around 17,96,19,697 people have registered themselves on the Indian government’s online registration platform. This includes 5,27,80,480 in the age bracket 18-44 years.

Serum Institute of India Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla has said in an interview with Financial Times that India’s Covid-19 vaccine shortage would continue through July. He said that the production of the vaccines is expected to increase from 60-70 million doses (6-7 crore) to 100 million (10 crore) by then. Experts also feel that the vaccine production

In a statement, the SII said that vaccine manufacturing is a specialized process. “It is therefore not possible to ramp up production overnight. We also need to understand that the population of India is huge and to produce enough doses for all adults is not an easy task.”

The statement issued on May 3 said that as of today the company has received a total order of 26 crore doses of which more than 15 crore doses has been supplied.

Data-driven

According to the latest update made by the Health Ministry on May 4 more than 2,29 lakh beneficiaries of age group 18-44 were vaccinated in the last 24 hours. Besides, the government said that more than 6 lakh total vaccine doses have been administered to the 18-44 age group till now. The ministry said that as on May 5, the government had so far provided more than 17.02 crore vaccine doses to States/UTs free of cost. More than 94.47 lakh doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered. Over 36 lakh doses, in addition, will be received by the States/UTs in the next 3 days.

As on May 5 at 8 am, the total number of confirmed cases stood at 2,06,65,148 while the recovered cases were 1,69,51,731 (82 percent). The number of active cases pegged at 34,87,229 and there were 2,26,188 (1.09 percent) deaths.

Experts maintain that the only way to defeat the pandemic is vaccination. While there were initial issues of vaccine hesitancy when the country rolled out the adult immunisation programme on January 16, but gradually the hesitancy declined and people over 45 years started registering. They were however grappled with delays, failures in registrations and uncertainty on getting the vaccine.

Experts have also criticised the government for starting the vaccination of those in the 18-44 years of age when the percentage of those vaccinated above 45 years—the age bracket that needs it most—was still dismally low. They argue that the government should have mapped a clear deadline for the vaccination drive—as to how many would be vaccinated by when. In the absence of a clear strategy and timetable, the entire immunisation drive has been thrown into chaos.

Lessons learnt

The happenings in the last few weeks reflecting on the utter lack of coordination between both the Center and the States. The government should understand that this is not the time for slapping blames. The foremost task should be to take on the responsibility for safeguarding the health of people. Infrastructure hiccups, logistics constraints, manpower shortage—all these challenges need to tackled urgently to prevent this kind of grim situation from surfacing again.

The second Covid wave has also brought to the fore the total lack of preparation of the government at all levels. The political landscape has been mired with mudslinging and apathy. Besides, the government must make a firm effort to build a pool of health data and statistics with continuous updates. The data should be made transparent. This requires a consistent motivation of all the scientists working in this area. More than 200 scientists who have been working to combat the coronavirus pandemic have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for broader access to the testing data that is being collated by the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR).

The common man, health workers have emerged as the real saviours. Social media has been inundated will message seeking help for oxygen, hospital beds and ventilators. The most important lesson that this pandemic has taught us is the importance of humanity. Help and assistance in so many forms have poured in from the common man. The government need to be tutored for tackling the menace.

—Vanita Srivastava is an independent health and science journalist and is currently working as a Senior Project Scientist at IIT Delhi. The views expressed are personal.

Read her columns here

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

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

China’s COVID-19 vaccination drive on fast mode

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

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When India opened vaccinations on Labour Day to all adults, hospitals had no slots because of a vaccine shortage. At the same time, the head of the Serum Institute left the country, reportedly because of the pressure placed on his shoulders to meet the vaccine demands of 1.3 billion people. As help pours in from other countries, it is also essential to remember India is not alone in experiencing the pandemic even though the latest mutant strains have put Indian healthcare systems under significant stress.

Countries in South Asia that primarily depended on India for vaccines are now looking to diversify supplies. It becomes increasingly clear that India does not have enough vaccines or the capacity to care for its own citizens. Over the last week, Bangladesh approved the Sinopharm vaccines for emergency use after worries about Indian delays of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine. While it would be futile to compare India and China’s vaccine diplomacy, China is ramping up production in ways that are unthinkable in the Indian ecosystem.

The Chinese government aims to vaccinate 40 percent of its population by June. Within the country, the Chinese government, as of May 1, had already vaccinated nearly 270.41 million people and focusing on expanding coverage. The main challenge for the Chinese government was that because of the absence of COVID cases since mid-2020, citizens didn’t feel any urgency to get inoculated.

As a result, it has ramped up the vaccination drive, with local governments offering incentives to citizens. For example, the Sixth Tone reports that residents in Shanghai received cash handouts, rice, and even cooking oil, while Hainan announced a 150 yuan “travel subsidy” as a reward for getting the shots. In addition, other cities distributed free food, free entry to public parks, and paraphernalia to push citizens to get the jab.

Some have been overzealous to follow the Chinese government’s orders. The New York Times says, “Colleges have barred students from graduating if they have not been vaccinated, and some companies have required all employees to be inoculated, regardless of their personal health conditions.

In the southern province of Hainan, village officials in the town of Wancheng apologized after initially mandating that residents who were not vaccinated would be put on a “blacklist” and barred from taking public transport or entering local markets.” China does have the capacity to ramp up vaccination if it wants to—when infections spiked last year, entire towns and cities were forced to get tested to prevent a spread. The same approach could be extended to vaccination as well.

There are also problems with the vaccine. Like India, China faces a shortage of supplies. Reuters reports, “Residents of some parts of China that are grappling with tight supplies of coronavirus vaccines have not received their second doses in time, but the crunch will ease by June as production is being stepped up, a health official told state media.” While vaccine producers are quick to point out that production capacity is being increased, there are still some snags.

According to Al Jazeera, “In January, Sinovac production levels reached only half of the intended manufacturing capacity, raising doubts as to whether other, less-established Chinese companies will be in a position to meet demand.” This has been a concern for developing countries primarily relying on China for the vaccine in the absence of any other providers. The other problem with the Chinese vaccines is one of effectiveness.

China’s vaccine efficacy ranges between 65- 80 percent, much lower than any other vaccines aimed at preventing the virus. Still, the Chinese government has gone ahead with the roll-out, with football superstars like Neymar and Messi among the many South American players to receive the Sinovac vaccines.

While the Chinese government does have a higher capacity to produce vaccines, there are still many challenges it will have to deal with before it can declare its efforts against the pandemic as successful. In this, it only has to look to India as a cautionary tale of what not to do with vaccine production and distribution.

—Hamsini Hariharan is the host of the States of Anarchy podcast. She researches Chinese politics and policy. The views expressed are personal

Click here for her other columns

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

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

COVID-19 Vaccination: Centre says 122 crore doses needed to inoculate 59 crore people in 18-45 age group

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

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The Centre has told the Supreme Court that a total of 122 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine would be required to vaccinate a population of 59 crore in the age group of 18 to 45 years.

In an affidavit filed before the top court, the Centre said vaccination is the topmost priority of the government and all efforts are being made to achieve an objective of 100 per cent vaccination in the shortest time possible keeping the available resources in mind and availability of vaccine doses into consideration.

It is submitted that considering the limited availability of two vaccines which are presently available in India namely Covaxin and Covisheild, it became incumbent upon the government to prioritise vaccination in the most scientific manner. It is submitted that while prioritising vaccination the first priority was towards health workers.

It is submitted that projected mid-year population for 2021 for the age group of 18 to 45 years is about 59 crore. To vaccinate this target, a total of 122 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine would be required (which factors in some vaccine wastage which is inevitable), the Centre said.

Stating that the central government has already taken proactive steps for procurement of other vaccines apart from Covishield and Covaxin, the Centre told the apex court that it has fast tracked the emergency approvals for foreign produced COVID-19 Vaccines that have been granted approval in other countries.

The government told the court that it has already granted license to Sputnik V vaccine for restricted use in emergency situation (emergency use authorization granted by European Union Agency) based on data from studies/clinical trials in Russia and other countries coupled with data from Phase II/III trials conducted in India by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories.

It is submitted that as per estimates the availability of locally manufactured Sputnik V vaccine will start from July onwards. It is expected that locally manufactured Sputnik V vaccine will be available to the extent of 8 million and 16 million doses (for 4 million and 8 million individuals) for the months of July and August 2021 respectively.

It is further submitted that the Union of India has been in constant touch with Pfizer, Moderna and J&J since mid- 2020 with the objective of encouraging these companies to develop/ supply/manufacture their respective vaccine through their local partners in India, the Centre said.

The top court on April 22 took note of the pandemic situation due to sudden surge in COVID-19 cases and said it expected the Centre to come out with a national plan to deal with the distribution of essential services and supplies, including oxygen and drugs.

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

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

COVID-19 vaccination worries? Here are some tips

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

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The government has announced that the registration for the third phase of vaccination for people between the age group of 18 and 45 years will begin on 28th April through its citizen engagement platform @MyGovIndi. People are encouraged to register through the CoWIN platform and Aarogya Setu applications. Refrain from walk-in registrations.

Now that the third phase of COVID-19 vaccination is happening, there are even more worries around getting vaccinated.

Here is a COVID-19 vaccination guide that will keep your anxieties in check:

Before getting vaccinated 

Vaccination registration—Register using the CoWIN platform or Aarogya Setu app. The portals will be open for registration from 28th April.

Adequate rest—Your body needs rest, particularly before getting vaccinated. One should be physically and mentally ready before the vaccination day. Get a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of sleep and calm your mind and body. Refrain from rigorous exercise routines before your vaccination as it can exhaust your body.

Steroid Intake—If you are on steroids or any immunosuppression, consult your doctor before taking the vaccine. Seek medical help before taking vaccination if symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, or diarrhea are there.

Eat well—Consume food that will help boost your immune system. A balanced diet will do you good and will increase your energy levels. Staying hydrated is always essential.

On the day of COVID vaccination

Safety check—Ensure that you are wearing your masks, gloves, and face shields on the vaccination day. It will guarantee your safety and the safety of the people around you. Also, make sure to sanitise regularly.

Wear loose clothes—Wear clothes that are comfortable when getting vaccinated. Ensure that you are wearing clothes that will give easy access to your upper arm, which will be your vaccination spot.

Stay hydrated – Drinking a lot of water helps calm your body. Stay hydrated on the vaccination day, as dehydration will cause you to feel dizzy or tired. 

Positive thoughts—Surround yourself with positive thoughts if you are feeling anxious or stressed about getting the vaccine. Listen to calming music or take deep breaths. Remind yourself that you are a step closer to saving your life and the ones around you.

After getting vaccinated 

Monitor yourself—Severe side effects are rare but ensure you monitor your symptoms. If feeling severe symptoms like vomiting, fainting, allergy reactions, itching, then seek medical help immediately.

Avoid alcohol—Though there is no study to support this, it is ideal to avoid consuming alcohol on the vaccination day. If you must, you should consult a doctor and drink in moderation, understanding what your body can contain.

Seek medical help—Seek professional help before deciding to take medication on your own. Be it pain killers or even ice packs to reduce pain.

Avoid painkillers—Avoid consuming painkillers after vaccination, unless you have any symptoms. It may interfere with your immune system and may increase the risk of side effects or irritations.

Be ready for your second appointment—It is crucial to prepare and be ready for your second dose of vaccination. It should be taken within 4- 12 weeks (check with your doctor) of getting the first dose.

Continue taking precautions—Getting your vaccination does not mean you will not take your precautions anymore. Continue to wear your masks and other protective gear. Do sanitize regularly. Always remember, if not affected by the virus, you could be a carrier. Let us all protect one another and be responsible.

—The author, Dr Pruthu Narendra Dhekane is Consultant—Infectious Diseases at Fortis Hospitals Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru. The views expressed in the article are his own

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

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

Bharat Biotech fixes Covaxin price at Rs 600/dose for state govts; Rs 1200 for private hospitals

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

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Bharat Biotech has fixed the price of its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, at Rs 600 per dose for state governments, while it will cost Rs 1200 per dose for private hospitals, the domestic pharma major announced on Saturday. The company has set export price at between $15-20 per dose.

Bharat Biotech – COVAXIN® Announcement pic.twitter.com/cKvmFPfKlr

— BharatBiotech (@BharatBiotech) April 24, 2021

Bharat Biotech’s Chairman and Managing Director, Dr Krishna Ella had on Tuesday said that they would be seeking the “maximum price to recover all costs”.

The Centre had recently announced that the states can directly procure the COVID-19 vaccine from the manufacturers. Till now, the Central government was supplying the vaccine to the states. As per the new directive now private hospitals have been allowed to procure the vaccine from the manufacturers directly.

The manufacturers can distribute only 50 percent of the total vaccine output to the state governments and in the open market. The Central government will procure the other 50 percent of the vaccines.

Starting from May 1, as per the new policy, the vaccine manufacturers can decide competitive pricing for the vaccines. The Serum Institute of India has announced two price slabs for its Covishield vaccine.

Meanwhile, as per the government data on Wednesday, Covishield, from the Oxford/AstraZeneca stable, comprises over 90 percent of the 12.76 crore COVID-19 vaccines administered across India so far. Of this, 15 states and union territories have only given Covishield. The other vaccine being administered in India is the indigenous Covaxin from Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad.

Giving details, of the 12,76,05,870 COVID-19 vaccination jabs administered till now, 11,60,65,107 are of Covishield while 1,15,40,763 are of Covaxin, according to the government’s CO-WIN portal.

Moreover, about 15 states and union territories, including Goa, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir, have administered only Covishield to its beneficiaries. Experts said Covishield is being produced at a much higher scale than Covaxin due to which its availability is more.

Earlier, the Centre on Monday announced that India will embark on a new mass COVID-19 vaccination to inoculate all aged above 18 years from May 1, regardless of comorbidities. Like the other inoculation phases, the vaccine jabs will be administered for free in government hospitals this time too. 

Whether you choose a government facility or a private one, you will have to get yourself registered for taking the vaccine jab. You will also need to produce a photo identity document at the vaccination centre. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you self-register on the CoWin app for COVID-19 vaccination for adults above 18 years from May 1.

Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)—the developers of indigenous COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin—have claimed that their vaccine has shown overall interim clinical efficacy of 78 percent and 100 percent efficacy against severe COVID-19 disease.

The vaccine manufacturer’s claim is based on interim results from phase 3 trials of Covaxin, one of the vaccines approved for use in India. In the trial results, Covaxin demonstrated that the efficacy against severe COVID-19 disease was 100 percent with an impact on reduction in hospitalisations plus an overall interim clinical efficacy of 78 percent, according to a Bharat Biotech-ICMR joint statement.

Meanwhile, India recorded 3,14,835 new COVID-19 cases in a single day, the highest-ever in the world since the pandemic outbreak, as per the data shared by the Union Health Ministry. With this new surge, the total number of cases rose to 1,59,30,965, while the active cases crossing the 22-lakh mark, presenting a grim picture of the COVID-19 situation in the country.

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

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

Explained: The argument for exporting COVID-19 vaccines

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

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Amid the growing crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and the complaints of vaccine shortage from across the country, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently clarified about the vaccine exports, as the demand to ban on the exports of vaccines was getting louder.

According to External Minister S. Jaishankar, there are complex global supply chains and import/export obligations that cannot be simply ignored, calling the criticism against the export of vaccines ‘irresponsible’ and ‘short-sighted’. At a virtual event organised by the All India Management Association, the minister said that India cannot be expected to go round the world asking for raw materials and then deny to give them the vaccines.

He further added that there are global supply chains, very few things are being made exclusively in one geography, very few societies can say we are autonomous of our reliance on others.

India relies on several key ingredients imported from across the globe for the manufacturing of its vaccines. Recently Indian officials including the foreign minister S Jaishankar had appealed to the US counterparts to lift the restriction on the export of raw materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) that are needed for the production of vaccines.

India had exported over 6 crore vaccines to more than 80 countries till the end of March. The country has fully vaccinated only 1.7 crore people and a total of 10 crore vaccine doses have been given.

Even though India has halted its exports of vaccines, for the time being, India would have to start exporting vaccines soon as its private and public players will have to adhere to global supply standards, contractual obligations and promises made to other countries regarding a steady supply of vaccines.

India produced vaccines will be used by many poor nations that won’t be able to afford vaccines from other global manufacturers.

The Union Government is facing criticism for the past few days regarding its unpreparedness and the shortage of vaccines. The country is facing a severe lack of vaccines, oxygen and other crucial drugs like Remdesivir and Tocilizumab, all of which were being imported from other countries until quite recently.

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

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

Brazil halts import of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin after regulator says its facility does not meet CGMP standards

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

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The Brazilian health regulator Anvisa has denied permission to import Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin into the country after its authorities found that the plant in which the vaccine is being made did not meet the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) requirements. Reacting to it, the city-based vaccine maker said it is working towards resolving the issues cited during the inspection and the order of 20 million doses from the Brazilian government is still active.

National Health Surveillance Agency Anvisa in its website said it received a request from the Brazilian Health Ministry to import 20 million doses of Covaxin. However a decision on that was suspended by the regulator due to the absence of some key documents.

“…considering the non-compliance with the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practices for Medicines, or the non-compliance with the petition procedures submitted for analysis, advocatedby current legislation,resolves: Refuse the Request (s) for Certification of Good Manufacturing Practices for Medicines of the company (ies) contained in the ANNEX,” a Brazilian government gazette said on March29. Bharat Biotech in an email reply did not comment on the CGMP issues.

Bharat Biotech International Limited on February 26 said it has signed an agreement with the Brazilian government for supply of 20 million doses of Covaxin during the second and third quarters of the current year. The company had earlier said it also signed an agreement with Brazil-based Precisa Medicamentos for the supplies ofCovaxin for the private markets in the South American country.

“The requirements pointed out during inspection will be fulfilled, the timelines for fulfillment is under discussion with the Brazil NRA and will be resolved soon,” the company said.

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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

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

At current pace, India will take 8 months to vaccinate those above 45 years: CLSA

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

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India is expanding its vaccination drive to all of its population above 45 years from April 1, and is targeting around 30 crore people. So far, India has administered 5.8 crore doses of vaccination to 4.3 crore people at the rate of 23 lakh vaccines per day, said a CLSA report, adding that at the current rate, it will take eight more months to vaccinate those over 45 years.

Covishield makes up 91 percent of the doses administered and capacity expansion by the Serum Institute and the potential approval of the Sputnik V vaccine may help ease supply concerns, the report said.

 Drive has picked up, but will take longer than most countries

The brokerage note states that though India has administered the third-highest number of doses globally, it’s behind other countries in terms of the percentage of population vaccinated. Just 0.6 percent of its population has been fully vaccinated, and 2.5 percent have received just one dose. This compares to 9 percent to 60 percent in countries such as the US, the UK, Israel, France, and others.

At the current pace, UAE, Israel, the UK, and US may achieve full vaccination within 3-6 months, but India may take as long as 3.3 years given its large population.

 Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan leading

The brokerage note states: “Kerala, Gujarat and Rajasthan are leading but Bihar, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (UP) are lagging.” At the current pace of vaccination, India will need 8/25 months to vaccinate all of its population over 45/18 years. At their respective paces, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Kerala will take 4-5/15-17 months while the lagging states of Bihar, Punjab, Telangana, UP, and Tamil Nadu will take much longer 12-16/36-52 months.

“India lags on the percentage of the population but is second only to the US among absolute vaccination numbers,” states the CLSA note.

Vaccine landscape largely unchanged in India

Currently, only two vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin — have been granted emergency use authorisation by India. Phase III trials of the Sputnik V vaccine have concluded but the regulator has asked for additional data, while Cadila’s vaccine candidate and NovaVax are also under phase II and phase III trials. Approval of these vaccinations will be necessary to boost supply, states the CLSA note.

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

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

US assures aid to Hyderabad-based Biological E to supply 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses

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

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Biological E, a Hyderabad-based company finds itself in the limelight on the back of the Quad Summit, where leaders from India, the US, Australia and Japan joined hands to boost vaccine production and supply in the Indo-Pacific region.

The US government will provide financial assistance to help Biological E manufacture and supply 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses in the Indo-Pacific region by 2022.

A low-key vaccine maker, Biological E, is the oldest biologicals and vaccine company, set up by founder Dr VK Raju in 1953. The company started with making liver extracts and anti-coagulants, but progressed into vaccines and became the first private company in the space.

Biological E is currently being led by the founder’s daughter Mahima Datla, who joined the company in 2001. The company’s revenues have grown to about Rs 954 crore, churning out nearly Rs 77 crore in profit (Source: MCA).

As far as revenue is concerned, Biological E is second to Serum Institute and is ahead of Bharat Biotech.

As Biological E expanded its vaccines portfolio to meet the central government’s immunisation programme, around 80 percent of its revenues today come from vaccines sales. The company is the largest manufacturer of tetanus vaccine in the world and is leading in pentavalent vaccine, hepatitis vaccine and snake anti-venom in India.

Seven of its vaccines have the WHO pre-qualification and the company supplies to over 100 countries. In the last two decades, the company claims to have supplied over 2 billion vaccine doses around the world.

Biological E took a diversified approach to work on multiple vaccine platforms – from replicating viral vectors to antigen based to mRNA – amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It currently has five COVID-19 vaccine candidates, being developed individually or in partnership.

The tie-up in news is the one with Johnson and Johnson (J&J) where Biological E will be making close to 600 million doses of the single-dose vaccine.

Another vaccine candidate is being developed with Houston-based Baylor College of Medicine, which is in phase 2 trials on 400 participants in India. Trial results are expected to be released later this month. This development of the latter is being supported by the Global Research Alliance Centre for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and India’s Dept of Biotechnology. This vaccine along with J&J’s – are being positioned as two key candidate for supplies to Covax – based on its scalability and thermostability.

Biological E has tie-ups to develop COVID-19 vaccine candidates with Dynavax Technologies Corporation, while a viral vector vaccine is being developed with Ohio University, besides an mRNA vaccine with an undisclosed partner and an in-house candidate as well.

The company has publicly stated that it can currently manufacture 80 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in a month and aims to expand it to 100 million soon.

Apart from COVID-19, the company is developing other critical vaccines – some in early clinical trials – and a hepatitis A vaccine that has completed phase 3 trials.

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

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