Tag: vaccine

UN authorises second malaria vaccine, experts say not enough to stop spread of disease

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

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The World Health Organization has authorised a second malaria vaccine, a decision that could offer countries a cheaper and more readily available option than the world’s first shot against the parasitic disease.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the UN health agency was approving the new malaria vaccine based on the advice of two expert groups, recommending its use in children at risk of the disease.

“As a malaria researcher, I used to dream of the day we would have a safe and effective vaccine against malaria. Now we have two,” Tedros said.

Oxford University developed the new three-dose vaccine with help from the Serum Institute of India. Research suggests it is more than 75 per cent effective and that protection is maintained for at least another year with a booster. Tedros said the shot would cost about USD 2 to USD 4 and could be available in some countries next year if funders agree to buy it.

Earlier this year, regulatory authorities in Ghana and Burkina Faso approved the vaccine.

“This is one more tool we will now have, but it’s not going to replace bed nets and spraying insecticides,” said John Johnson with Doctors Without Borders. “This is not the vaccine that’s going to stop malaria.” Johnson was not part of the WHO expert group that gave the Oxford vaccine the green light.

In 2021, WHO endorsed the first malaria vaccine in what it described as a “historic” effort to end the devastating toll the mosquito-transmitted disease has on Africa, home to most of the world’s estimated 200 million cases and 4,00,000 deaths.

But that vaccine, known as Mosquirix and made by GSK, is only about 30 per cent effective, requires four doses and protection fades within months.

WHO experts, however, said the data to date on the GSK and Oxford-developed vaccines does not show which one is more effective.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the GSK vaccine’s biggest backers, stepped back last year from financially supporting Mosquirix’s rollout directly, saying it was less effective than officials would like and that funding would be better used elsewhere.

The foundation said it has continued helping with the vaccine rollout by supporting Gavi, a global vaccines alliance that is buying the GSK shots for distribution in poorer countries.

“The big difference with these two vaccines is access,” Johnson said, noting that only about a dozen countries are scheduled to get limited quantities of the GSK vaccine in the next few years.

GSK has said it can only produce about 15 million doses a year. The Serum Institute has said it could make up to 200 million doses of the Oxford vaccine a year.

Alister Craig, an emeritus professor at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said he would recommend countries trying to get the GSK vaccine switch to the Oxford vaccine instead.

If the new vaccine is rolled out widely across Africa, it could dramatically reduce the amount of severe illness and deaths caused by malaria in a few years, Craig said.

Neither of the malaria vaccines stops transmission so immunisation campaigns alone won’t be enough to stop epidemics. Efforts to curb the disease are also being complicated by increasing reports of resistance to the main drugs used to treat malaria and the spread of invasive mosquito species.

“You would be foolish to think that this vaccine is going to be the end of the malaria story,” Craig said.

In a separate decision, WHO’s expert group also authorised the dengue vaccine made by Takeda, which was previously approved by the European Union drug regulator.

There is no specific treatment for dengue, common in tropical Latin American and Asian countries. While most infections are mild, severe cases of the mosquito-spread disease can lead to internal bleeding, organ damage, and death.

WHO’s expert groups advised that the Takeda dengue vaccine be used in children aged six to 16 in countries with a high prevalence of the disease.

Previous studies have shown Takeda’s vaccine was about 84 per cent effective in preventing people from being hospitalised with dengue and about 61 per cent effective in stopping symptoms four years after getting immunised.

Nearly 1,000 people have been killed by dengue this year in an ongoing epidemic in Bangladesh, the country’s worst outbreak of the disease.

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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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World Zoonoses Day: What is zoonoses and why is the day observed

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

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World Zoonoses Day is observed on July 6 every year to honour the very first vaccination that was administered for the zoonotic diseases. This day aims to educate, aware and communicate on the diseases that start in animals and can be transmitted to humans.

What is Zoonosis?

Zoonosis is any disease or infection that gets transmitted from an animal to humans. The transmitted agents of the infection could be any bacterial, viral or any parasitic pathogen. It can spread through contact with animals, by sharing food or water and even the environment with affected persons or pets. Rise in zoonotic diseases can cause problems in rearing of animals as well as consumption of animal products.

Some of the common zoonotic diseases are Rabies, Ebola, Swine Flu, Zika, Plague, Dengue and Covid-19, among others. The common symptoms of Zoonoses are fever, headache, fatigue and diarrhoea.

The viral zoonoses are not easy to treat even though there are vaccines, antiviral drugs and therapies available for treatment. The use of herbal medicines and conscious diet practice can also help in treating the zoonosis disease. On the other hand, bacterial zoonoses diseases are treated by consuming antibiotics. However, the major challenge in treating the diseases under Zoonoses is the bacteria becoming drug resistant due to improper use of antibiotics, which might allow the zoonosis to be untreatable in the future.

History of World Zoonoses Day

July 6 has been recognised as World Zoonoses Day to commemorate the historic events of French biologist Louis Pasteur administering the very first dose of the vaccine against rabies on July 6, 1885. It was given to a little boy Joseph Meister, who was bitten by a rabid dog. This vaccine by Pasteur not only prevented the boy from getting rabies but also saved his life.

Why is World Zoonoses Day observed

The World Zoonoses Day is observed to spread awareness regarding the infectious zoonotic diseases. It is also an important occasion to commemorate the contributions of Louis Pasteur and other scientists who invented many vaccines to combat zoonotic diseases. The day serves as an occasion to raise awareness about zoonotic diseases.

Also Read:Cocaine found at US White House? What we know so far

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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

Gennova’s Omicron-specific booster vaccine gets DCGI approval

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

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India’s Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted approval to Gennova Biopharmaceuticals for its mRNA-based Omicron-specific booster vaccine.

The vaccine, named GEMCOVAC®-OM, is intended for individuals aged 18 years and older as a booster dose. It can be safely administered to individuals who have already received two doses of either Covaxin or Covishield.

The vaccine is administered intradermally using a needle-free device, and it remains stable at temperatures between 2-8 °C, due to which it does not require ultra-cold chain infrastructure used for other approved mRNA-based vaccines, making it easy for deployment pan India.

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has facilitated establishing the vaccine manufacturing for developingthe platform technology from proof of concept till Phase I clinical trial of the prototype mRNA-based vaccine developed against the Wuhan strain.

Also read: FDA votes for COVID vaccines targeting XBB variants, Pfizer aims for July production

Union Minister Jitendra Singh commended the efforts and said, “I take great pride in DBT fulfilling its mission yet again – enabling technology-driven entrepreneurship through creating this indigenous mRNA-platform technology. We have always supported technology-driven innovation towards the creation of a ‘future-ready’ technology platform in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbharta.”

He also said, “Infrastructure to deploy vaccine in India, including LMICs, at 2‑8°C exist today & this innovation is tailored for the existing established supply-chain Infrastructure. The vaccine does not need ultra-low temperature conditions for transport and storage.”

Gennova Biopharmaceuticals CEO  Dr. Sanjay Singh, said India has now developed two mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.

“I am proud that my team has worked tirelessly over the last two years to develop the nation’s first mRNA vaccine. This is a team effort & without the guidance of the Subject Expert Committee of CDSCO and the Vaccine Expert Committee of BIRAC monitoring the project, it would not have been possible.”

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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

World AIDS Vaccine Day focuses on the dire need for a preventive shot

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

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World AIDS Vaccine Day or HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is observed every year on May 18 to highlight the urgent need for a preventive vaccine that may protect people from Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The day also aims to educate people and spread awareness about the disease and its preventive measures.

HIV weakens the immune system and exposes the human body to pathogens that take advantage of compromised immunity, causing life-threatening complications. An HIV vaccine could be preventive or therapeutic to millions of people around the globe who suffer from the condition.

About 23 lakh children and adults are living with HIV-AIDS in India, which is the second-largest number of such patients in the world as per enaidsindia.org.

ALSO READ | Laurus Labs’ oral HIV/AIDS drug Dolutegravir gets US FDA nod

Therefore, it is important to spread awareness on AIDS vaccine research, the precautionary measures and misconceptions around the condition.

History

The idea of World AIDS Vaccine Day was first conceived after former United States president Bill Clinton, delivered an inspiring speech on May 18, 1997.

He said, “Only a truly effective, preventive HIV vaccine can limit and eventually eliminate the threat of AIDS.”

Thus, in the following year, people celebrated the first anniversary of Clinton’s speech on May 18 and the day was marked as the first World AIDS Vaccine Day or HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. Since then, it has been observed annually across the globe.

ALSO READ | Delhi High court directs govt to provide free food, treatment to HIV-positive persons

Significance

World AIDS Vaccine Day provides an opportunity to bring attention to treatment disparities faced by people in different parts of the world and to spread awareness on the preventive measure to curb the spread of the disease.

Most importantly, it draws attention towards AIDS vaccine research which began in 1987 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Maryland, US.

ALSO READ | World AIDS Day: 10 facts everyone should know about HIV/AIDS

Recently, the development of the COVID-19 vaccine has helped speed up the process of developing an AIDS vaccine. According to an article on the non-profit National Public Radio (NPR) website, the same mRNA technology used to develop the COVID-19 vaccine is being used by immunologists, scientists and health professionals to develop the AIDS vaccine.

Thus, it is a crucial time where more attention and funds need to be diverted towards research and development of the AIDS vaccine.

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

GSK Pharmaceuticals launches its shingles vaccine in India

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

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GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (GSK) announced the launch of its shingles vaccine in India on Monday. The vaccine, named Shingrix, is one of the best-selling products of the company. GSK will sell this vaccine at one-third of the US price. Two doses of the Shingrix vaccine are priced at $450 in the US. GSK is importing the vaccine from its plant in Belgium and will be available to certain specialists like dermatologists and healthcare practitioners across the country.

Bhushan Akshikar, GSK’s Managing Director, opened up about the launch of the Shingrix vaccine via an official statement.

He said, “GSK is pleased to bring Shingrix to protect India’s 260 million adults above 50 years of age from shingles and its complications. Existing treatment options may not give complete relief from this pain. Vaccination is the only effective preventive option.”

ALSO READ | GSK, Pfizer and Sanofi find relief as US court says Zantac-linked cancer not ‘backed by science’

What is shingles?

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash and it can occur anywhere on your body. This is caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

The launch of the Shingrix vaccine is very significant as shingles cause a painful rash.

Although the rash disappears in most cases, the pain can persist for months or even years.

In its statement, GSK has claimed that the vaccine has proven efficacy of more than 90 per cent in preventing shingles (herpes zoster) and post-herpetic neuralgia. GSK also claims that its vaccine can provide at least 10 years of protection against the disease. The reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes shingles in adults and this is the same virus that causes chickenpox.

The importance of the shingles vaccine

It is worth noting that Shingrix is the world’s first non-live, recombinant subunit vaccine that is given intramuscularly in two doses. The Shingrix vaccine has already been approved in the US and by the European Commission.

The vaccine is aimed at adults aged 50 years and older. By the age of 40, most people have viruses in their bodies and are vulnerable to shingles.

Adults over 50 years of age and those suffering from chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease are at an increased risk of developing this disease because their immunity is weak.

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

WHO to set up mRNA vaccine hub in Hyderabad, says Telangana Minister KTR

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

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The World Health Organisation will be setting up mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine hub in Telangana, Minister for IT and Industries KT Rama Rao said on Tuesday in Hyderabad.

mRNA is becoming a promising technology to address a growing number of infectious diseases.

Speaking to reporters on various steps being taken by the state government to promote the life sciences sector, Rama Rao said Telangana has a target of making the industry worth USD 100 billion from USD 50 billion in 2021 and the workforce from the existing four lakh to eight lakh in the next five years.

”In fact, this will be another big announcement. WHO is going to set up its mRNA vaccine hub in Hyderabad,” he said refusing to provide details.

In an interview to a TV channel in Davos in January, KTR said the WHO was keen to set up the hub in Hyderabad and hopefully it will happen soon.

Rama Rao said more than USD 3 billion worth of investments and trade took place during the past 19 editions of BioAsia, a flagship annual life sciences convention, and the 20th edition is set to be held from February 24 to 26.

”Trade and investment to an extent of USD 3 billion have been announced during the past 19 editions and over 250 letters of intents, bilateral cooperation agreements and MoUs have been signed,” he said.

According to him, BioAsia hosted delegates from over 100 countries during the event in Hyderabad which helped in showcasing the ecosystem and policies to the global leaders, while over 20,000 partnering meetings have also been held.

On the 20th edition of BioAsia, the minister unveiled the theme of the event, ’Advancing for ONE – Shaping the next generation of humanised healthcare’.

He said the latest edition is expected to see about 50 countries participating with the United Kingdom as the partner country and Flanders, the international partner region.

Also read: The boom in tech salaries is helping home prices in Hyderabad where rates haven’t declined since 2014

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

From LDL Cholesterol Reduction to new mRNA Vaccines: Top 5 medical breakthroughs of 2022

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

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Medical breakthroughs in the past 100 years have resulted in the discovery of CPR and chemotherapy which has helped save thousands of lives. In medical science, one discovery inspires the next, and one field inspires another. With medical technology developing incredibly fast, we are witnessing significant advancements in mRNA technology, cancer research, medical smart devices and more.

Here is a look at a few medical breakthroughs of 2022 that will reshape biotech and medicine in the years to come.

LDL Cholesterol Reduction Treatment

A new drug Inclisiran came into use this year that helps fight high LDL cholesterol. In December 2021, Novartis said the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved Leqvio® (inclisiran), its first and only small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy that helps lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or bad cholesterol with two doses of a year, following an initial dose and one at three months. This is a major breakthrough as excess amounts of LDL cholesterol in the body can result in plaque building up on the interior walls of blood vessels, making them narrow and blocking blood flow to and from the heart into vital organs.

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Postpartum Depression Treatment

Most women experience postpartum depression after childbirth and there are no truly effective treatments for this public health problem. Till now, this form of depression was treated with hormone therapy, which can have a lot of other complications. This year, researchers at Reddy Research Group, University of Arizona, have come up with a new treatment for postpartum depression based on neurosteroids. This form of treatment will not disrupt the entire body balance via hormones, but only influence the regions of your brain that are directly in charge of the new mother’s well-being.

Severe Paralysis Curing Implants

Making huge progress in paralysis treatment, researchers have come up with a new implant that will help reverse paralysis in patients with spinal cord injuries. The device uses specially designed electrodes, which collect movement signals from the brain and communicate them to the patient’s lower body, decoding them into movement commands. In February 2022, these implants were placed into the spinal cords of three paralysed men who were able to walk a few days later.

CRISPR Gene Editing Technology

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats or CRISPR is one of the biggest scientific and medical advancements of the decade which allows us to alter the DNA of any organism and correct defective genetic coding. CRISPR can become a way of getting rid of complex issues as DNA is at the base of many defects and diseases, including cancer. Apart from this CRISPR treatment may help people with blood disorders, blindness, diabetes, HIV and other diseases. CRISPR researchers at UC Berkeley believe the treatment could be approved as soon as 2023 if the trial data continues to be so positive.

New mRNA Vaccines

Post the COVID-19 pandemic, significant attention has been given to mRNA technology and vaccines. Following the development of COVID-19 vaccines, researchers are already working on applying mRNA to other diseases. This year, The National Institutes of Health in the US launched three different trials for mRNA HIV vaccines. Experts believe with mRNA may help in developing influenza and potentially cancer inoculations.

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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

Budget 2023: FM likely to include cervical cancer vaccine as part of national immunisation programme

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

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The Union finance ministry is likely to accept the health ministry’s demand to include a cervical cancer vaccine in the government’s national immunisation programme in the upcoming Budget, people in the know of the matter told CNBC-TV18. Cervical cancer is the second-most frequent cancer among women in India. The cancer develops in the cervix, located at the bottom of the uterus.

The health ministry has pitched to the finance ministry that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine be included in the national immunisation programme to prevent cervical cancer.

The Union health ministry has said the cervical cancer vaccine is safe and can be administered to girls in the 9 to 14 age group under the national immunisation programme. The ministry said the government could procure the vaccine at a concessional rate as part of better health planning for women.

In India, women up to the age of 45 years can take the HPV vaccine. However, doctors strongly recommend the vaccine be taken before one turns sexually active, which is why the ideal age for taking the vaccine is from 9 to 14 years when the person has most likely not been exposed to the HPV yet.

HPV is a big group of viruses that has close to 200 strains. Of them, around 10 viruses are related to cervical cancer. The two very-commonly associated HPV strains with cervical cancer are — 16 and 18.

Currently, HPV shots, Cervarix, Gardasil 4 and Gardasil 9, are available in India. The cost of Cervarix and Gardasil 4 is around Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 per dose, while Gardasil 9 is more expensive. The number of doses — two or three — depends on the age.

The Serum Institute of India has developed ‘Cervavac’, a quadrivalent vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, and it offers protection against four strains of HPV — 16, 18, 6, and 11. The homegrown vaccine is said to cost around 50 percent less than the ones available in India at present.

The government expects Cervavac to be available around March or April next year.

Also Read: Vaccine against cervical cancer to be included in national immunisation programme by mid-2023: NTAGI chief

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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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Vaccine against cervical cancer to be included in national immunisation programme by mid-2023: NTAGI chief

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

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India would be in a position to roll out the indigenously developed Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) against cervical cancer for girls in the age group of 9–14 under the National Immunisation Programme by mid-2023, National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) chairperson Dr N K Arora said.

The CERVAVAC vaccine is likely to be launched by the Serum Institute of India (SII) in April next year and will be available at a much lower price than the international vaccines available in the market, Prakash Kumar Singh, Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at the SII said on the sidelines of the South Asia meeting on HPV here.

The vaccine has received the DCGI’s approval and been cleared by the government advisory panel NTAGI for use in the public health programme, Dr Arora told PTI.

At present, the country is fully dependent on foreign manufacturers for the vaccine. Three foreign companies manufacture the HPV vaccine out of which two firms sell their vaccines in India. Each dose of the jab available in the market costs over Rs 4,000.

Serum Institute’s vaccine is likely to be available at a much lower rate. In September 2022, SII CEO Adar C Poonawalla had said that HPV vaccine will be available in India at an affordable price of Rs 200-400 per dose.

Also Read: Should Measles vaccine be given at 6 months instead of 9 for infants?

India is home to about 16 percent of the world’s women and accounts for about a quarter of all cervical cancer incidences and nearly a third of global cervical cancer deaths.

Indian women face a 1.6 percent lifetime cumulative risk of developing cervical cancer and 1.0 percent cumulative death risk from cervical cancer, Dr Arora said.

According to some recent estimates, every year almost 80,000 women develop cervical cancer and 35,000 die due to this cancer in India.  On what has prevented India from introducing the HPV vaccine till now, Dr Arora said vaccine supply has been a limiting factor globally.

Fortunately, over last five years, the global supply of the HPV vaccine is gradually improving. India has taken a lead in this direction. SII – one of the major Indian vaccine manufacturers – with the support from Department of Biotechnology, Government of India has developed the four valent HPV vaccine.  The vaccine has received regulatory approval and been cleared by NTAGI for use in the public health programme. “We are given to understand that three other Indian vaccine manufacturers are also in various stages of developing the HPV vaccine,” he said.

To a question, Dr Arora said vaccines to prevent HPV infection have been available since 2006. The HPV vaccination can prevent more than 90 percent of HPV cancers when given at the recommended age.  Studies done in India have indicated that efficacy of a single dose of the HPV vaccine is more than 95 percent.

Based on the studies, the WHO has now recommended that even a single dose of the vaccine for 9–14-year-olds is effective.  As of 2021, the global HPV immunisation coverage stood at a meagre 13 percent.  Till 2020, less than a third of low and lower-middle income countries had introduced the HPV vaccine in their national immunisation programmes. This when 85 percent of high income had already incorporated this in their public health programmes, Dr Arora said.

For comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control strategy, screening of women after the age of 35 years and need for infrastructure to diagnose and treat cervical lesions are essential.

A cervical screening programme has already been included in the national chronic disease (NPCDCS) programme as part of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

900 hospitals had been empanelled for cervical cancer care. In addition, India has established over 150,000 health and wellness centres as part of the outreach, which will be taking the screening facilities closer to community.  “The NFHS -5 data shows that only about two percent of women have ever undergone screening in India. This is unacceptable. The screening of women is to be taken up in a manner which is culturally acceptable and scientifically appropriate,” Dr Arora said.

Vaccines alone will take more than a decade to show their impact but early recognition of pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions through mass screening followed up with treatment will save thousands of untimely and avoidable women deaths, he said.

Women with cervical cancers lose their lives in 40s and 50s when their families require them the most. Screening of women in their most vulnerable period has to be taken up in a mission mode not only to achieve global targets to prevent families from suffering extreme grief and multi-faceted tragedies.

Also Read: Bharat Biotech urges Centre to include its intranasal COVID vaccine in CoWIN portal

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

Efforts on to manufacture Zika virus vaccine in India, says NTAGI chief

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

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National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) chief Dr NK Arora on Tuesday said efforts are on to manufacture a vaccine for the Zika virus in India. The remarks came after a five-year-old girl in Karnataka became the first confirmed Zika virus case in the state.

“Work is being done to manufacture vaccine for Zika virus. We are trying if the vaccine for Zika can also be manufactured in India. We are monitoring pregnant women and their children,” said Dr NK Arora.

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar said there was no need for any worry or concern, as the government was taking all the necessary measures.

“We have got a lab report from Pune about the confirmed case of Zika virus. On December 5, it was processed and reported on December 8. Three specimens were sent out of which two were negative and one was positive, which is a five-year-old girl. We are keeping a vigil,” Sudhakar told PTI.

The Zika virus disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, which is also known to transmit infections like Dengue and Chikungunya. The virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947.

With inputs from PTI

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