Covid vaccine
UK PM highlights launch of free trade deal talks, Covid vaccine bond in R-Day message to India
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has extended greetings to the people of India on the Republic Day as he focussed his message on the launch of free trade agreement (FTA) talks and the India-UK vaccine partnership, reports The Print.
Johnson said he is proud of the friendship shared by the two “diverse democracies” and looked forward to fortifying the strong bond over the next 75 years and beyond.
Read: India's 1st woman Rafale pilot participates in R-Day
He said, "The UK and India are tied by deep bonds that span through the generations and across some of the greatest modern day challenges we have faced. That is why I want to send my best wishes on behalf of the United Kingdom to the people of India, and to all the British Indians in the UK, on India’s Republic Day."
“As two diverse democracies, I am proud of our strong friendship, demonstrated by the launch of free trade negotiations this month and our partnership manufacturing the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine. I look forward to fortifying those bonds as we bring our ambitions, people and economies together to prosper for the next 75 years and beyond.”
Anglo-Swedish biopharma major AstraZeneca is in a manufacturing tie-up with Serum Institute India (SII) for the production of Oxford University’s COVID-19 vaccine, known in India as Covishield.
Earlier this month, the UK’s Department of Trade (DIT) confirmed the first round of FTA talks are being held virtually and expected to last into this week.
An India-UK FTA is billed in the UK as creating huge benefits for both countries, with the potential to boost bilateral trade by up to GBP 28 billion a year by 2035 and increase wages by up to GBP 3 billion across the UK.
Read: India reports 286,384 new COVID-19 cases
A deal with India is also pegged as a “big step forward” in the UK’s post-Brexit strategy to refocus trade on the Indo-Pacific, home to half of the world’s population and 50 per cent of global economic growth.
The DIT has said the UK wants an agreement that slashes barriers to doing business and trading with India’s GBP 2 trillion economy and market of 1.4 billion consumers, including cutting tariffs on exports of British-made cars and Scotch whisky.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 3,447 fresh cases with 7 more deaths
Bangladesh logged seven more Covid-linked deaths with 3,447 more infections in 24 hours till Saturday morning.
With the fresh cases reported after testing 24,028 samples, the daily positivity rate declined slightly to 14.35 per cent from Friday’s 14.66 per cent during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,136 while the caseload mounted to 1,612,489 on Saturday.
Among the new deceased, four were men and three women.
Four deaths were reported in Dhaka division while two in Sylhet and another in Barishal division.
The mortality rate dropped a bit to 1.74 per cent from yesterday’s 1.75 per cent .
Read: Lockdown will return if Covid restrictions violated: Health Minister
The recovery rate declined again to 96.29 per cent with the recovery of 274 more patients during the period.
All students to be vaccinated by Jan 31: Dipu Moni
All the students, aged 12 or above, will be vaccinated with at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine by January 31 so that they can attend schools and colleges, said Education Minister Dipu Moni on Monday.
Addressing a press briefing at the secretariat, the education minister said 48,19,554 students have been vaccinated against Covid so far.
“Those who have not been vaccinated yet will join classes online after January 12 and they’ll be allowed to attend classes after receiving the vaccine,” she told journalists.
“As we’ve planned, we hope it’ll be possible to complete the vaccination of students in 397 upazilas by January 15, in three upazilas by January 17, in 56 upazilas by January 20, in 15 upazilas by January 22, in 35 upazilas by January 25 and 11 upazilas by 31st January.”
“In other words, by January 31, we’ll be able to vaccinate 75,54,606 students with the first dose at least,” she added.
The education minister also said no registration is required for students to get vaccinated. Students can get vaccinated after showing the identity cards of schools and colleges. A Level and O Level students as well as SSC, and HSC examinees will be able to get vaccinated showing their admit cards, she said.
Among 1,16,23,322 students aged 12-18, 44 lakh have received the first dose while 4,19,554 the second dose.
About the possible closure of educational institutions amid the Covid surge, Dipu Moni said, “Educational institutions won’t be closed now as we’ll strengthen monitoring there to enforce health protocols.”
India to produce 5 billion Covid vaccine doses next year
India plans to ramp up its Covid vaccine manufacturing capacity and expects to produce 5 billion doses of vaccines in the coming year, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. Addressing an event of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Goyal said India was ready to export as many doses as partner nations require, reports Business Standard.
“So far this year, we have already administered 1.33 billion doses. We are manufacturing for exports as well. We will export as many doses as other nations need.” “Next year, we plan to produce 5 billion doses,” Goyal said.
Read:COVID-19: India's 50 pc adults fully vaccinated, Centre targets 100 pc 1st dose coverage by December 31
India-UAE CEPA
India and the UAE will wrap up the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement by next month, Goyal said while addressing the India Global Forum, UAE-2021 through video conference on Monday.
“Hopefully, by the end of this month or next month, we hope to conclude them so that this would probably be one of the fastest trade agreements between two countries ever made.”
US expands Pfizer COVID boosters, opens extra dose to age 16
U.S. health authorities again expanded the nation's booster campaign Thursday, opening extra doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to several million 16- and 17-year-olds.
The U.S. and many other nations already were urging adults to get booster shots to pump up immunity that can wane months after vaccination, calls that intensified with the discovery of the worrisome new omicron variant.
On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration gave emergency authorization for 16- and 17-year-olds to get a third dose of the vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech — once they're six months past their last dose. And hours later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted the last barrier as Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the agency's director, issued a statement strongly encouraging those teens to get their booster as soon as it's time.
Boosters are important considering that protection against infection wanes over time and “we’re facing a variant that has the potential to require more immunity to be protected," Walensky told The Associated Press.
Also read: Pfizer says COVID booster offers protection against omicron
About 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated, including about 4.7 million 16- and 17-year-olds, many of whom got their first shots in the spring and would be eligible for a booster.
“Vaccination and getting a booster when eligible, along with other preventive measures like masking and avoiding large crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, remain our most effective methods for fighting COVID-19,” Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting FDA commissioner, said in a statement.
The Pfizer vaccine is the only option in the U.S. for anyone younger than 18, either for initial vaccination or for use as a booster. It’s not yet clear if or when teens younger than 16 might need a third Pfizer dose. But Walensky said the CDC and FDA would closely watch data on 12- to 15-year-olds because if they eventually need boosters, “we again will want to act swiftly.”
Vaccinations for children as young as 5 just began last month, using special low-dose Pfizer shots. By this week, about 5 million 5- to 11-year-olds had gotten a first dose.
The extra-contagious delta variant is causing nearly all COVID-19 infections in the U.S., and in much of the world. It’s not yet clear how vaccines will hold up against the new and markedly different omicron mutant. But there’s strong evidence that boosters offer a jump in protection against delta-caused infections, currently the biggest threat.
“The booster vaccination increases the level of immunity and dramatically improves protection against COVID-19 in all age groups studied so far,” BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said in a statement.
Complicating the decision to extend boosters to 16- and 17-year-olds is that the Pfizer shot — and a similar vaccine made by Moderna — have been linked to a rare side effect. Called myocarditis, it’s a type of heart inflammation seen mostly in younger men and teen boys.
Also read: Vaccine makers racing to update COVID shots, just in case
The FDA said rising COVID-19 cases in the U.S. mean the benefits of boosters greatly outweighed the potential risk from the rare side effect, especially as the coronavirus itself can cause more serious heart inflammation.
Health officials in Israel, which already gives boosters to teens, have said the side effect continues to be rare with third doses.
A U.S. study this week offered additional reassurance. Researchers from children’s hospitals around the country checked medical records and found the rare side effect usually is mild and people recover quickly. The research was published Monday in the journal Circulation.
COVID-19: India's 50 pc adults fully vaccinated, Centre targets 100 pc 1st dose coverage by December 31
The government of India targets 100 per cent COVID-19 adult vaccination under the 'Har Ghar Dastak' program by December 31 as India achieved 50 per cent fully vaccinated adult population landmark on Sunday, reports ANI.
"Congratulations India. It is a moment of great pride as over 50 per cent of the eligible population is now fully vaccinated. We will win the battle against COVID-19 together." tweeted Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
Read:From buyer of military goods, India wants to become Russia’s ‘development & production’ partner
The states/Union Territories with more than 50 per cent of the adult population fully vaccinated are Andaman Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Tripura.
D. Randeep, IAS, Commissioner, Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, said, "We are probably at 3rd place in the country now in 2nd dose coverage. We hope to reach 75 per cent at least by end of this month. 95 per cent would take around 45-60 days.
"Coverage would actually be more than 64 per cent as many have taken the 2nd dose but under a different number or have forgotten to inform the vaccinator to punch as 2nd dose in the CoWIN app. Last-mile coverage through the door to door outreach. On lines of micro plan done for MR vaccination drive," he added.
Last week the Union Health Minister and health officials conducted a meeting with states and UTs regarding the "Har Ghar Dastak" campaign and set the targets of 100 per cent first COVID-19 vaccine dose till December 31.
With the administration of 1,04,18,707 vaccine doses in the span of the last 24 hours, the total COVID-19 vaccine doses given in the country has exceeded 127.61 crores.
Read: Indian Army kills 13 civilians in botched anti-insurgency operation
India's COVID-19 vaccination drive was launched on January 16, 2021. Initially, the vaccination was opened for Health Care Workers (HCWs) only.
From February 2, front line workers were made eligible for vaccination.
The vaccination drive was expanded from March 1 to include persons above 60 years of age and those above 45 years with associated specified 20 comorbidities. It was further expanded to all people above 45 years of age from April 1. From May 1 all persons above 18 years of age were made eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
Nasal vaccine booster dose may be used with Covaxin
A nasal vaccine, one expert said, is a "fantastic idea" for two reasons -- one, it can potentially create sterile immunity, and two, it is easy to administer and thus scalable, reported rediff.com.
Bharat Biotech is working on a three-legged clinical trial for its intranasal vaccine BBV154, which is in phase two.
The Hyderabad-based firm is testing the efficacy of a combination in three modes -- two intranasal shots, first a Covaxin shot followed by the nasal vaccine, and Covaxin following a nasal shot.
Also read: AIIMS to begin Phase 2/3 trials of Bharat Biotech’s nasal Covid-19 vaccine within couple of weeks: Reports
The idea is to see which combination induces better and long-lasting immune response.
Therefore, the intranasal vaccine could be used as a combination with the intramuscular Covaxin shot.
"While the nasal vaccine can be administered as two shots, the company is testing whether combining it with Covaxin gives better results. Thus, this can be used as a mix-and-match with Covaxin to produce a more holistic immune response," the source said.
The two vaccines have different mechanisms of action and trigger slightly different immune responses.
Dr Shahid Jameel, senior virologist and director at Ashoka University, said a different kind of antibodies protects the nasal mucosa -- these are called IgA antibodies.
"This is not sufficiently generated when a vaccine is administered through the intramuscular route," Jameel said.
Also read: Killing off Coronavirus: Nasal spray developed by Bangladesh to ‘hit market soon’
Commenting on the nasal vaccine, Dr Jacob John, former head, Centre for Advanced Research in Virology at the Indian Council of Medical Research, said to have a nasal vaccine is a "fantastic idea" for two reasons -- one, it can potentially create sterile immunity, and two, it is easy to administer and thus scalable.
Experts feel that when one gets sterile immunity in the nasal tract, one does not shed the virus, and this prevents transmission.
According to sources in the know, recruitments for the phase 2 trials are over.
Around 650 volunteers are likely to be part of the trials. The first phase had 175 participants.
Meanwhile, Bharat Biotech has also finished administering the vaccines for its paediatric trial of Covaxin.
Now, it is analysing the data before it can submit it to the regulator for review.
Covid vaccines to be administered in all schools to vaccinate students
School-going students, aged 12-17, will be vaccinated in schools across the country, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday.
The minister said, “We have been vaccinating students of four to five schools through one school till now.”
“In this case, we see that various complications were being created including registration. So, we decided to go to every school and vaccinate the students,” he added.
Read: Vaccination campaign for school students to begin on Nov 1
The minister informed this at a function organized by the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) in the capital on Thursday afternoon.
Asked about when this activity would start, Zahid Maleque said “We're getting ready. We'll be able to start vaccinating in schools in a few days,” the minister added.
Besides, this vaccination program will also be conducted regularly in the schools which are already being vaccinated, he said.
The minister also said, “Vaccinating school students is a huge challenge.”
On November 1, the new campaign to vaccinate school students, aged 12-17, against Covid-19 kicked off at 12 centers in Dhaka.
The school students are vaccinated with US-made Pfizer vaccine as it is suitable for them.
“However, the catastrophe that awaits us even bigger than Covid-19 is antimicrobial resistance,” said the minister.
Read: 112 Manikganj students vaccinated under trial run
Stopping consumption of antibiotics unnecessarily is the only solution to prevent antimicrobial resistance, he said. The purchase and sale of antibiotics without a registered physician, dentist and veterinarian should be stopped completely.
Zahid Maleque said, "We will enact a law to stop buying or selling antibiotics without a prescription. The law is awaiting final approval."
Earlier, the health minister inaugurated the online drug license, a new initiative of the DGDA.
Global Covid-19 cases top 254 million
The overall number of Covid cases has surged past 254 million amid the global race to vaccinate masses against the infectious disease.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 254,289,204 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,113,864 Wednesday morning.
The US has recorded 47,307,829 cases to date and more than 765,731 people have died so far from the virus in the country, as per the university data.
Read: Pfizer asks US officials to OK promising COVID-19 pill
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 34,447,536 on Tuesday, as 8,865 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry data.
Besides, 187 deaths due to the pandemic since Monday morning took the total death toll to 463,852.
Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since January, registered 21,965,684 cases as of Wednesday, while its Covid death toll rose to 611,478.
UK has recorded 9,686,190 cases with fatalities of 143,598 so far.
Read: US gives final clearance to COVID-19 shots for kids 5 to 11
For two months now, a stubborn wave of virus infections has ripped mercilessly through several countries in Central and Eastern Europe, where vaccination rates are much lower than elsewhere on the continent, reports AP.
While medical workers pleaded for tough restrictions or even lockdowns, leaders let the virus rage unimpeded for weeks.
“I don’t believe in measures. I don’t believe in the same measures that existed before the vaccines,” Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said last month as the Balkan nation sustained some of its worst daily death toll of the pandemic. “Why do we have vaccines then?”
A World Health Organization official declared earlier this month that Europe is again at the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. While several Western European countries are seeing spikes in infections, it is nations to the East that are driving fatalities.
Read: Covid claims 2 more lives and infects 213 in Bangladesh
Romania, Bulgaria and the Balkan states recorded some of the highest per capita death rates in the world in the first week of November, according to WHO.
Covid-19 in Bangladesh
Bangladesh recorded two more Covid-linked deaths and 213 fresh infections in 24 hours until Tuesday morning, authorities said.
The daily case positivity rate slightly dropped to 1.03 percent from Monday’s 1.32 percent.
The fresh numbers took the total fatalities to 27,922 while the country’s caseload mounted to 15,72,501, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read: Anti-Covid pill likely to get approved in India soon, DCGI reviewing data
However, the mortality rate remained static at 1.78 percent, according to DGHS.
The fresh cases were detected after testing 20,764 samples, it said.
Besides, the recovery rate remained unchanged at 97.71 percent, with the recovery of 223 more patients during the 24-hour period.
Bangladesh can produce Covid vaccine, let us do it: PM
Bangladesh is capable of producing Covid-19 vaccine and exporting the jabs to other countries provided it gets the go-ahead, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in Parliament on Monday.
She said this while participating in a discussion on a resolution to thank UNESCO for introducing “The UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy.”
Awami League lawmaker Abdus Shahid placed the resolution in the House under Section 147 of the Rules of Procedure.
Read:PM returns home ending 2-week foreign tour
The prime minister said during her recent tour of the United Kingdom and France she told the world leaders that Bangladesh wants to produce coronavirus vaccine and if they let the country do so.
“I told them to remove all barriers to produce coronavirus vaccine in Bangladesh, this is the right of the people of the whole world, this should be declared as the global public good,” Hasina said.
She mentioned that if Bangladesh gets the chance it would produce vaccine as it has that capability and the government has already allotted a land for the purpose.
“We can also supply vaccine to the world,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh got global recognition for its success in tackling Covid-19 pandemic.
Referring to Bangabandhu’s massive efforts at rebuilding the war-ravaged Bangladesh after independence she said that in just three and a half years of time the great leader had put the country on the track of development.
“We want to advance the country following the footsteps and ideology of the Father of the Nation,” she said.
“We have proven that Bangladesh can be developed,” she added.
The Leader of the House thanked the people of the country for supporting her party and cast their votes in favour of the party’s candidates in the elections repeatedly.
“We have been trying our level best and Bangladesh has got a dignified position in the world within a span of 12 years,” she said.