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Centre updated SCI on the vaccination after being pushed by the Court

Covid19 and Supreme court

After wasting nearly a year in election campaigns in the midst of Covd19, ignoring experts’ views on Kumbh in second wave, mishandling the Oxygen crisis, the centre is now scampering to get the huge population vaccinated.

Supreme Court held the centre’s vaccine pricing policy “irrational” and raised questions of access and equity. The Apex court has literally scolded Central government over the issue of vaccination. Following this, the centre told the court that until the end of this year, it expected to get 188 crore vaccine doses. The centre said that it expects to get vaccine doses from at least five manufacturers which would fully inoculate the total 94-crore population above 18.

The centre said that 51.6 crore doses would be “made available” by July 31.  In an affidavit filed by Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it presented a roadmap to show how it proposes to procure the balance 135 crore from August to December 31 (see chart) from five manufacturers.

Also See: New mutants of Coronavirus

In its affidavit, the Centre said that it estimates 51.6 crore cumulative vaccinations by the end of July based on supply estimates.

The Centre submitted that the projected availability of vaccines from August to December will cover the balance 135 crore doses as per a break-up. The breakup includes 50 crore doses of Covishield; 40 crore doses of Covaxin; 30 crore doses of Bio E’s sub unit vaccine; 5 crore doses of Zydus Cadila DNA vaccine and 10 crore doses of Sputnik V.

GOI added that this “does not include other vaccines which are at various stages of development as on date within the country and may come and become available”.

Meanwhile, in May, the head of India’s Covid-19 task force had said that 216 crore doses would be available in India between August and December.

Also Read: Indemnity from liability to be granted to vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer and Moderna

However, the latest affidavit does not include the projected availability from Novavax (20 crore), Bharat Biotech’s Nasal vaccine (10 crore), and Genova’s mRNA vaccine (6 crore).

Central government underlined that the drugs regulator has permitted Bharat Biotech to conduct clinical trials on children between 2 years to 18 years of age for Covaxin and enrolment for this trial has begun.

Also Read: An uncertain wait for vaccines by India despite a liberalized regulatory framework

The Centre has told the Supreme Court, “It is submitted that Zydus Cadila which is developing DNA vaccines has concluded its clinical trial for between the age group of 12 to 18 years of age and subject to the statutory permissions, the same may be available in near future for children of the age group of 12 to 18 years of age.”

GOI further added that the vaccination drive would be ramped up if the Government were to procure vaccines from overseas including Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna. To that effect, the Centre said that negotiations were going on at the highest political and diplomatic levels.

Centre added, “Since these efforts are at a very advanced stage, it is neither desirable nor possible to give comprehensive details. As and when these efforts materialise, the speed of vaccination will be further augmented and enhanced.”

Also Read: Issues faced by India in dealing with Covid 19 resurge- Is it too late to contain the Second Wave

On the role of the private sector in vaccination, centre said that it has flagged that 55 percent of the population “seeks and gets medical services” from private hospitals and 45 percent from government hospitals.

The Centre argued that by roping in the private sector, it is “incentivising manufacturers” to augment their production capacity and “thereby cross subsidize.”

The Centre said, “The rationale and the object behind this policy decision is the same as it was earlier i.e. permitting private supply of vaccines by the manufacturers to private hospitals so as to widen the reach, reduce stress on public facilities, reducing crowding in public utilities and incentivising manufacturers to augment their production capacity and thereby cross subsidize the price at which they are supplying 75 per cent of their manufactured vaccines to the Central Government.”

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In view of Char Dham Yatra, Rawat government in Uttarakhand gave guidelines for vaccination

Chardham-Yatra

Before the opening of the Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat directed the administration of additional doses of vaccines against coronavirus disease (Covid-19). These doses are intended for all the individuals related to the journey that is set to begin for the residents of three districts of the state, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Rudraprayag. Additionally, Covid-19 vaccines have also been allotted for residents in the districts of Tehri and Pauri. Since these places are situated on the way of the Char Dham Yatra, they have been allotted the additional vaccines as well.

A total of 5,000 additional doses each have been provided to the aforementioned districts, following the order. But, the district of Uttarkashi received 10,000 additional doses of the vaccine against coronavirus disease.

Also Read: Two cases why Trivendra Singh Rawat had to leave CM-ship to Tirath

Char Dham Yatra, meaning the pilgrimage of four abodes, is a journey to a set of four ancient pilgrimage sites across India. The one in the state of Uttarakhand consists of a smaller circuit but is equally sacred to many Hindus, who believe in making the yatra at least once in a lifetime. Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri form the Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra circuit .This circuit is usually closed during winters and reopens for summers. This time, things had to be readjusted according to schedule in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also Read: Around 2400 policemen in Uttarakhand tested Covid-positive in second wave; is there a link with Kumbh?

Uttarakhand chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat has instructed to vaccinate all the people who will be in direct contact with pilgrims of the Char Dham Yatra before its commencement. The instruction has been given to ensure the safety of both the locals and the visitors.

The state government has issued guidelines to the concerned officials to vaccinate the priests, shopkeepers, dhaba operators, local residents, mule operators, cab drivers, and others associated with the Char Dham Yatra timely.

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Around 200 cormorant & egret hatchlings died after bamboo trees were felled on Covid-scare

cormorant

After bamboo trees were felled in Assam’s Udalguri district over the fear of the spread of Covid-19 from the bird droppings, nearly 200 egret and cormorant hatchlings died (on Thursday).

An order was issued this month by the executive officer of the Tangla Town Committee to five residents, following which the trees were felled.

Also See: Are Covid vaccines magnetic? Facts you should know related to coronavirus

The order issued on June 8 said, “The droppings of egrets nesting on bamboo trees in your property have led to unhygienic conditions and could lead to spread of Corona infection.”

The order added, “Residents in the neighbourhood are living in unhygienic conditions (because of the droppings). Therefore, you are directed to cut the bamboo trees in your property, which falls in the town’s area, and help create a healthy environment.”

Also Read: Assam election: Will ask for your vote, then you need to prove your citizenship

Despite the order, the residents did not cut the trees. Subsequently, the town committee went ahead and felled them on Thursday. That caused the destruction of the egret nests and many eggs, hatchlings fell on the ground.

Cormorants

In India, there are three species of Cormorants regularly found, all of which are widespread. The species have a largely overlapping preference in habitat and are often mistaken for each other.

The Little Cormorant has a small head which can appear rectangular due to the steep forehead, and it has a short bill.

The Great Cormorant has a large head (and a much thicker neck than the other two cormorants). It has a long but thicker and larger bill. The Indian Cormorant has an elongated and an oval-shaped head. It has a long, narrow and finer bill than the other two cormorants.

The breeding adult (Little Cormorant) appears all black on the head. A non-breeding adult has browner pouch and bill with some white on the chin.

The breeding adult in Indian cormorant appears glossy black with greenish-blue eyes. It has a white tuft on the ear-coverts. On the other hand, the non-breeding adult is browner with a yellowish gular pouch and white on throat.

The breeding adult in great cormorant has extensive white on head with a red spot at the base of the bill. The non-breeding adult great cormorant has a yellow gular patch with white throat and cheeks.

The Great Cormorant also has a white spot on the lower flanks, in breeding plumage.

Also Read: World must act now on Climate Change- US wildfires are just the tip of the iceberg

Egret

In India, it is common to see one or many white egret birds looking for prey in wet fields and water bodies, or flying overhead to roost late in the evening.

The little egret (Egrettagarzetta) is a small white heron. The adult little egret is about 55–65 cm (22–26 in) long with an 88–106 cm (35–42 in) wingspan. It weighs 350–550 g (12–19 oz). Its plumage is all white, and in the breeding season, the adult has two long nape plumes and gauzy plumes on the back and breast. Its bare skin between the bill and eyes becomes red or blue. Juvenile little egrets are similar to non-breeding adults but have greenish-black legs and duller yellow feet. Little egrets are mostly silent. But, they make various croaking and bubbling calls at their breeding colonies. They produce a harsh alarm call when disturbed. Its breeding distribution is in wetlands in warm temperate to tropical parts of continents like Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

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Death toll due to Covid19 in India is nearing the 400000 mark

Covid19 in India

India on Saturday recorded as many as 48,698 fresh cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) according to the Union health ministry dashboard at 8am. The country recorded 1,183 new deaths, as per the ministry dashboard.  As a result, the country’s total infection tally was pushed to 30,183,143 and the death toll neared the grim milestone of 400,000.

Also See: Are Covid vaccines magnetic? Facts you should know related to coronavirus

The data of health ministry further showed that the number of active cases declined to 595,565 in the last 24 hours. This translates into 2.03% of the total cases and the total number of recoveries stood at 29,193,085, with 64,818 people being discharged in the last 24 hours. On the previous day, the total number of tests done during was 17,45,809.

With 61,19,169 people being inoculated on Saturday, the cumulative vaccinations against Covid-19 reached 31,50,45,926. 

Also Read: Pfizer claimed that its vaccine is effective against the Delta variant of Coronavirus

The country is slowly coming out of the deadly second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this regard, speculations regarding the third wave led by various mutations of the virus including the Delta Plus, which has been found in 12 states so far, are rife.

Till now, there have been a total of 51 cases of Delta Plus in the country. Out of these, 22 were reported in Maharashtra, followed by nine in Tamil Nadu, seven in Madhya Pradesh, three in Kerala, two each in Punjab and Gujarat. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Karnataka reported one case each.

Also See: New mutants of Coronavirus

In a briefing, the Centre has said that the new variant is very limited and it cannot be said that it is showing an upward trend.

Sujeet Singh is the director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). During a health ministry briefing on Friday, he said, “There are nearly 50 cases that are found in 12 districts and this has happened in the last three months. It cannot be said that in any district or state it is showing an increasing trend. Till the time we do not correlate this we will not say this is a rising trend because its mutations are the same as Delta variant.”

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Pfizer claimed that its vaccine is effective against the Delta variant of Coronavirus

Pfizer vaccine

US-based Drug-maker Pfizer is in the final stages of striking an agreement with India. It claimed on Thursday that its vaccine is highly effective against the Delta variant of Covid-19. The Delta variant has emerged as a new threat to the world. In India, the highly transmissible Delta variants were considered to be the reason behind the second wave. Adding to the worries, a second mutation of the variant, called Delta Plus has also been reported in India. This mutation has been reported in some other countries as well, including the UK and the US. This has led the vaccine makers to relook their data on the effectiveness of vaccines.

Also Read: Indemnity from liability to be granted to vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer and Moderna

As reported by Reuters, Alon Rappaport, Pfizer’s medical director in Israel told local broadcaster Army Radio, “The data we have today, accumulating from research we are conducting at the lab and including data from those places where the Indian variant, Delta, has replaced the British variant as the common variant, point to our vaccine being very effective, around 90%, in preventing the coronavirus disease, Covid-19.”

Pfizer-vaccine’s effectivity against the Delta variant will ramp up India’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. In this regard, the union health ministry has said that both Covishield and Covaxin, the two vaccines which have been part of India’s vaccination drive, are effective against Delta variants.

The Russia-made vaccine Sputnik V, available now in India, has also claimed that the vaccine is effective against the Delta variant. Sputnik V has offered a booster dose to drug-makers in India, suited against the delta variant.

Delta variant was first reported from India. It has proved to have been more virulent than the previous variants. This variant is now responsible for around 100 percent of Covid-19 infections in the UK.

Also See: New mutants of Coronavirus

Pfizer CEO Dr Albert Bourla recently said that the company’s agreement with the Indian government is being finalised. The company, as it did in all other countries, wanted legal protection (indemnity from liability) in India. This had initially created a bottleneck as no other vaccine maker enjoys indemnity in the country as yet. Bourla said, “My hope is that very soon we will finalise the approval of the product in India by the Indian health care authorities and the agreement with the government so that we can also start sending vaccines, on our side.”

India while fighting the second wave of Covid19 is also struggling to control the increasing spread of the Delta variant. Its mutated version, Delta plus, also known as ‘AY.1’ variant or B.1.617.2.1, is considered to be the most dangerous variant of Covid-19.

The delta variant of Covid19 virus has so far been detected in three states in the country. Maharashtra, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh have been reporting cases of delta & delta plus variants in India.

The health ministry has declared the delta variant as a ‘variant of concern’. It also directed states to take up immediate containment measures in clusters where the variant has been detected.

Also See: Are Covid vaccines magnetic? Facts you should know related to coronavirus

INSACOG, a consortium of 28 laboratories of the Health Ministry that is involved in genome sequencing, informed the Centre that the Delta Plus variant has three worrying characteristics: increased transmissibility; stronger binding in receptors of lung cells; and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response. Following this, the decision of announcing the variant as a ‘variant of concern’ came from the health ministry.

Delta Plus variant or B.1.617.2.1 is closely related to the Delta variant. Just like Delta, the Delta Plus variant has mutation in the spike protein region of the RNA virus. This mutation potentially makes it more transmissible.

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Data from phase 3 trials of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin submitted

bharat-biotech

Bharat Biotech has submitted data from phase 3 trials of its vaccine (Covaxin) to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). The Hyderabad-based drugmaker has developed India’s only indigenous shot against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Covaxin.

A senior government official stated, “We have received the data from phase 3 trials.”

As per reports, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) is likely to meet on Tuesday to review the phase 3 data.

Also See: Are Covid vaccines magnetic? Facts you should know related to coronavirus

The reported development comes amid a controversy over data from the third stage trials of Covaxin which Bharat Biotech had earlier said that it would make public in June. It announced later that the data would, in fact, be made public in July, a delay of about a month from the originally announced timeline.

On June 9, company had said, “It is critical to understand, and further emphasise the phase-3 data will first be submitted to Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), followed by peer-reviewed journals, with a timeline of 3 months for publication, and as communicated earlier, COVAXIN phase 3 results full trial data will be made public during July. Once data from the final analysis of phase III studies are available, Bharat Biotech will apply for full licensure for COVAXIN.”

Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is among three vaccines being used in the nationwide drive against Covid-19. In January, it was granted approval by the DCGI, along with the Oxford University-AstraZeneca shot which is being manufactured locally by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) as Covishield. In April, the third vaccine, Russia’s Sputnik V, was granted emergency use authorisation (EUA).

Also See: New mutants of Coronavirus

The vaccination drive in India against the coronavirus disease began on January 16. But, doubts have been raised on Covaxin’s efficacy as the vaccine was granted EUA without the completion of its third stage trials. Interim data was released by Bharat Biotech in April. It showed that the shot was 78% effective against symptomatic disease and 100% against serious illness.

Last week, Bharat Biotech refuted rumours that it had submitted phase 3 data to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) for the global health body’s approval. It called such reports “incorrect and lacking any evidence.” Recent reports claimed that WHO would review Bharat Biotech’s application on June 23.

Also Read: Indemnity from liability to be granted to vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer and Moderna

The company is also expected to hold a ‘pre-submission’ meeting on Wednesday with the World Health Organization for international emergency use listing (EUL.  Before final submission for approval, a ‘pre-submission’ meeting will provide an opportunity to receive guidance from WHO authorities. EULs involve rigorous assessment of clinical trial data. They also involve data on safety, efficacy and quality and cover a risk management plan.

An EUL from WHO will allow Bharat Biotech to export its vaccines. This will enable easier international travel for Indian citizens vaccinated with Covaxin. The vaccine is not yet recognised as a valid Covid-19 vaccine by foreign governments.

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Virus might have leaked from Wuhan lab: US research report

Wuhan Lab

A recent report on the origins of Covid-19 by a U.S. government national laboratory says that the hypothesis claiming the virus leaked from a Chinese lab in Wuhan is plausible and deserves further investigation.

People familiar with the classified document informed this.

The study was prepared in May 2020 by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California and was drawn on by the State Department when it conducted an inquiry into the pandemic’s origins during the final months of the Trump administration.

The assessment is said to have been among the first U.S. government efforts to seriously explore the hypothesis that the virus leaked from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology along with the dominant hypothesis that the virus spread naturally from animals to humans.

China’s government has repeatedly denied that the virus escaped from a Chinese laboratory and said it is cooperating fully with international efforts to find the pandemic’s origins.

Meanwhile, a new scientific paper says,more than 47,000 live wild animals were sold from wet markets in the central Chinese city of Wuhan between 2017 and 2019 before the first cases of Covid-19 were officially reported from the city.

Researched by international scientists including from China, the paper said that as many as 47,381 animals from 38 species were sold in 17 markets in Wuhan between May 2017 and November 2019, including 31 protected species.

The animals were kept in cages with poor welfare and hygiene, raising health risks.

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Vaccine doses free; free ration till Diwali: Key points of Modi’s speech

Vaccine doses free

In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday announced a centralised Covid-19 vaccine policy. “Twenty-five per cent of the vaccination work with states will now be handled by the Centre, it will be implemented in the coming two weeks. Both State and Centre will work as per new guidelines in the coming two weeks,” Modi said.

Modi said Covid-19 is the biggest epidemic to struck in the last century and the country tackled it on a war footing.

“New health infrastructure has been developed in the 1.5 years with Covid hospitals, ventilators beds, to preparing a network of testing labs. During the 2nd wave in April-May, demand for medical oxygen increased at an unprecedented rate,” Modi added.

The Prime Minister announced the central government will provide free vaccine doses for all citizens above the age of 18 after June 21 adding state governments will not have to spend money on procuring them.

The prime minister said vaccination is like a protection shield against the virus and asserted that vaccine supply would be increased significantly in India in coming days. Modi said seven companies are producing various vaccines against the coronavirus in the country and trial of three more vaccines is at an advanced stage.

Liquid medical oxygen production was increased 10 times more, says PM Modi.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana has been extended till Diwali. 80 crore poor will be provided free ration under the scheme, says PM Modi.

Modi’s address on Monday comes at a time when India continues to fight the second wave of the pandemic and is staring at a possible third wave of infections. He has been holding review meetings with state governments and central government officials regarding the vaccination drive, testing, supply of oxygen etc.

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Pfizer’s vaccine may arrive in India by July; agreement coming in final shape

After wasting almost a year in terms of vaccine procurement, central government is now gradually easing the norms for procurement of vaccines from pharmaceutical giants abroad. This comforting news comes as the Covid19 threat has amplified in the second wave and with the arrival of new mutants.

Also See: New mutants of Coronavirus

Steps are being taken for clearing the deck for the foreign-made vaccines for use in India and building an in-principle consensus on an indemnity waiver. As a result, the government officials expect that Pfizer’s vaccine supply can be made available by July. Price negotiation on Pfizer’s vaccine is underway between the firm and GOI.

The agreement between the government and the US-based drug maker is still to get its final shape, though both have arrived at an in-principle consensus.

GOI may give a complete waiver to foreign-made vaccines that have been approved for restricted use by the US FDA, EMA of EU, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, UK, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Japan.  Additionally, the waiver is expected for those vaccines which are mentioned in the WHO Emergency Use Listing.

Also Read: Indemnity from liability to be granted to vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer and Moderna

Pfizer, which promises to make 5 crore doses of vaccines available between July and October, is planning out a mechanism whereby a price can be fixed with the states and UTs. The centre is chalking out a price mechanism where the states can directly purchase the jabs from the firm at the fixed rate.

Final signing of the agreement may take a few days. For any company which intends to import the vaccines, a formal application has to be made, with documents of approval secured abroad. It also needs emergency use authorization from the drug regulator of the country where the vaccine would be imported.

Also Read: An uncertain wait for vaccines by India despite a liberalized regulatory framework

India firm Cipla with another US-based drug company, Moderna is looking forward to committing over USD 1 billion as advance for procurement of  Moderna’s single dose Covid19 booster vaccine in India. The American drug maker has begun the process to win full US regulatory approval for the use of its COVID-19 vaccine in adults in US.

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All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists presses for priority for vaccination to be given to chemists & pharmacists

Pharmacy & druggists

On Thursday All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists urged the central government to consider the 9.4 lakh chemists and staff as being on essential duty and give them priority in Covid-19 vaccinations.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the organization has said that despite their repeated appeal, GOI has so far not heeded their request for priority vaccination.

Also See: New mutants of Coronavirus

If they continued to be ignored, they will have no option but join the lockdown to protest as well as save their own lives. Irrespective of the associated dangers during the second wave of the pandemic, every chemist in the country has been continuously providing services. AIOCD president JS Shinde and General Secretary Rajiv Singhal said in the statement that dispensing and distribution of medicine is nothing less important than doctors, nurses hospital staff, and sanitisation workers.

They claimed that since March 2020, more than 650 chemists and pharmacists have lost their lives due to infection by Covid19. The chemists, pharmacists and their staff are most vulnerable to infection as they continuously & closely interact with patients at shop counters.

Also Read: Impact of the Pandemic over Women in the Workforce

In a study published on October 21, 2020 in the Journal of Pharmaceutical policy and practice, the impact of the pandemic on the pharmacists was studied. In the study a total of 545 responses from pharmacy professionals across 31/54 Commonwealth countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific, were recorded and studied. Majority of the respondents had reported being at least somewhat worried (90%) and more than 65% were very worried or extremely about the impact of Covid-19 on them personally and professionally. Nearly two-thirds of respondents stated finding it somewhat difficult or very difficult to work effectively during the pandemic. Challenges mostly faced by pharmacy professionals working remotely included; general anxiety about the impact of Covid-19 on their lives (12%), and difficulties in communicating with their co-workers (12%). Most pharmacy professionals had not previously been actively involved in a global health emergency (82%) nor obtained training on global/public health emergency preparedness (62%).

The study gives strength and credence to the arguments presented by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists with respect to the strain faced by the professionals like chemists and pharmacists in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic.