A GROUP of 18 people, who had “inadvertently received Covishield as the first jab and Covaxin as the second”, showed better immunogenicity — the ability to generate an immune response — than those who received two doses of the same vaccine, according to a new study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), reports The Indian Express. In May, 18 villagers in Siddarthnagar, Uttar Pradesh, had received Covaxin as the second dose, six weeks after they got Covishield. The study compared their reaction to 40 recipients of two doses of Covishield and 40 recipients of two doses of Covaxin. Read:India approves Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use “We compared the safety and immunogenicity profile of them (the group of 18) against that of individuals receiving either Covishield or Covaxin. Lower and similar adverse events following immunisation in all three groups underlined the safety of the combination vaccine-regime,” said the study which is yet to be peer reviewed. “Immunogenicity profile against Alpha, Beta and Delta variants in the heterologous group was superior; IgG antibody and neutralising antibody response of the participants was also significantly higher compared to that in the homologous groups,” it said. “Overall, this study demonstrates that immunisation with a heterologous combination of an adenovirus vector platform-based vaccine followed by an inactivated whole virus vaccine is safe and elicits better immunogenicity than two doses of homologous vaccination, using the same vaccines,” it said. While Covishield is built on a viral vector vaccine platform and uses a weakened version of adenovirus, a common cold virus that causes infection in chimpanzees, Covaxin is built on an inactivated whole virus vaccine platform. Read: BMRC clears Indian Covaxin’s clinical trials in Bangladesh The study is the first scientific evidence emerging from India on superior immunogenicity profile demonstrated in mixed-vaccine doses. However, the researchers have underlined that to conclusively prove these preliminary findings, “multi-centre” randomised control trials need to be carried out. They have also flagged the study’s limitations: the sample size of 18 participants is small; follow-up period is only 60-70 days after first dose; baseline serological and immunological data of participants is not available. According to the study, the findings have an “important implication” for the Covid-19 vaccination programme wherein “heterologous immunisation will pave the way for induction of improved and better protection against the variant strains of SARS-CoV-2”. “This is the first report of heterologous immunisation with an adenovirus vector based and an inactivated whole virion vaccine in humans demonstrating safety and significantly improved immunogenicity… Immunogenicity profile studied against the variants of concerns, Alpha, Beta and Delta variants, demonstrates significantly higher titers in the heterologous group,” it said. The researchers have said such mixed regimens will help to “overcome the challenges of shortfall of particular vaccines” and “remove hesitancy around vaccines in people’s mind that could have genesis in programmatic ‘errors’ especially in settings where multiple Covid-19 vaccines are being used”. Read:World's highest motorable road is now in India On safety, reactogenicity analysis showed that in the heterologous group, 11 per cent reported pain at the injection site; however, during the second dose, no such local adverse event was reported, it said. The most commonly reported systemic adverse event was pyrexia (raised body temperature) and malaise (discomfort): 33.3 per cent reported this during the first dose, and 5.5 percent during the second dose. “No other systemic AEFI like, urticaria, nausea, vomiting, arthralgia or cough was reported,” said the study. Currently, the Indian drug regulator has granted permission to CMC Vellore to conduct Phase 4 clinical trials to assess the efficacy of a combination of Covishield and Covaxin doses as compared to the current protocol of using two doses of the same vaccine.

India's COVID-19 tally rose to 28,175,044 on Tuesday with 127,510 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, said the federal health ministry. The daily spike of new cases has been falling over the past couple of weeks. The cases registered in a day have fallen to the lowest level in nearly two months. Read:Indian economy, hit by COVID-19, shrinks by 7.3% in 2020-21 Besides, 2,795 deaths were reported since Sunday morning, taking the death toll to 331,895. There are still 1,895,520 active cases in the country with a decrease of 130,572 in the past 24 hours. The number of daily active cases has been on the decline over the past few days, after a continuous surge since mid-April. A total of 25,947,629 people has been cured and discharged from hospitals across the country, showed the latest data from the federal health ministry. India kicked off a nationwide vaccination drive in January, and so far over 216 million vaccination doses have been administered across the country, and 2,780,058 doses were given on Monday alone. Presently the third phase of vaccination is going on, covering all people aged 18 years and above. However, an acute shortage of vaccines is being seen across the country. Read: India fought first wave of Covid-19 courageously, will be victorious in second round: PM Modi Meanwhile, the federal government has ramped up testing facilities across the country, as 346,792,257 tests were conducted till Monday, out of which 1,925,374 tests were conducted on Monday alone, said the latest data issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Tuesday. Three types of vaccines are being administered to the people in India, including Covishield, Covaxin and Russia-made Sputnik-V. 

India's COVID-19 tally reached 27,369,093 on Thursday, with 211,298 new cases added during the past 24 hours, said the federal health ministry. Besides, as many as 3,847 deaths since Wednesday morning took the death toll to 315,235. Read:Vaccine inequality in India sends many falling through gaps There are still 2,419,907 active cases in the country, as there was a decrease of 75,684 cases in the past 24 hours. The number of daily active cases has been on the decline over the past few days, after a continuous surge since mid-April. A total of 24,633,951 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals so far across the country, showed the latest data from the federal health ministry. So far over 202 million (202,695,874) vaccination doses have been administered to the people across the country. A total of 1,885,805 vaccine doses were given on Wednesday alone. Read: Sputnik V production starts in India; 100 million doses to be produced annually Presently the third phase of COVID-19 vaccination is going on, covering all people aged 18 years and above. Though, an acute shortage of vaccines is being felt across the country. Meanwhile, the federal government has ramped up COVID-19 testing facilities across the country. As many as 336,969,353 tests were conducted till Wednesday, out of which 2,157,857 tests were conducted on Wednesday alone, said the latest data issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Thursday. 

Dhaka, May 24 (UNB)--India has received enquiries from other countries for the export of the indigenous Covid 19 vaccine Covaxin jointly developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), according to government officials aware of the development. According to Hindustan Tims, New Delhi has been approached by at least two countries, Hungary and Paraguay for the commercial export of 1 million doses of Covaxin, with the first holding forth the possibility of access to the EU. To be sure, decisions on exprts are commercial ones that will have to be taken by Bharat Biotech. In February Bharat Biotech announced that it has signed a pact with Ocugen Inc, allowing the US-based biopharmaceutical firm to co-develop, supply, and commercialize the Indian vaccine maker’s Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin in the US market. According to the Union government’s affidavit in the Supreme Court, in May, Bharat Biotech has increased its capacity from 9 million to 20 million a month now, which will increase to 55 million units by July 2021. according to the government’s latest vaccine policy, half of these will be sold to the Centre and the other half to the states and private hospitals. Read:India virus death toll passes 300,000, 3rd highest in world “The govt of Hungary approached the government in mid- April for supply of 1 million doses for Covaxin by around May end on priority. It was also informed that they would grant EU Good manufacturing practice (GMP) certification to Bharat Biotech facilities that would also open India’s vaccine exports to the wider EU markets if the government would consider supplying the 1 million doses. This would not only open up India vaccine exports to the wider EU market (as certification granted by Hungary would be recognized in EU) in future but may also facilitate BBT’s negotiations with Brazil and other markets that they may be exploring as well…,” one of the officials said on condition of anonymity. “The Covaxin samples received from Bharat Biotech had already been approved by the National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition and the Hungarian National Drug Authority. We were informed that the expert team that visited India last month to audit BBT facilities had also returned and given its report. They were ready to grant emergency use authorization for Covaxin. It was also noted that certain issues were found during the expert team’s visit to BBT facilities. The Brazilian team that had visited BBT around the same time had also flagged these issues... ,” the official added. In March Brazilian health regulator Anvisa 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. Bharat Biotech in February said it had 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 vaccine maker then said: “the requirements pointed out during inspection will be fulfilled,” and that the timelines for fulfilment were under discussion with the Brazil NRA and will be resolved soon.’’ Bharat Biotech did not respond to a detailed questionnaire sent on May 12. The government has also been approached for commercial contracts for Covaxin by Paraguay, according to a second official. According to the external affair ministry’s Vaccine Maitri portal. Paraguay has thus far received 2 lakh doses of vaccines as a gift. “ They (Paraguay) have thanked Prime Minister Modi for gifting the vaccines under its vaccine Maitri initiative. We were informed last month that negotiations were on between Paraguay, which is looking to sign a contract with Bharat Biotech for procurement million doses of Covaxin,” the second official added. A third official from the external affairs ministry confirmed this. On May 1 HT reported that Centre is also exploring the possibility of offering the locally developed coronavirus vaccine, Covaxin for production abroad through a technology transfer between commercial entities, according to government officials aware of the development. Read: India battles fatal fungal threat as virus deaths near 300K India’s indigenous vaccine, Covaxin is developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology (NIV). The indigenous, inactivated vaccine is developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech’s BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) high containment facility. In a statement issued on April 20, Bharat Biotech said it was exploring manufacturing partnerships with partners in other countries, who have prior expertise with commercial scale manufacture of inactivated viral vaccines under biosafety containment. The company also said Covaxin has received Emergency Use Authorisation in several countries across the globe with another 60 in process. It has been granted EUAs in Mexico, Philippines, Iran, Paraguay, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Guyana, Venezuela, Botswana, Zimbabwe, among several other countries. It is in the process of getting EUAs in the US and Europe, according to Bharat Biotech. Earlier this month, a joint statement on the India- EU leaders’ meeting said: “Recognising the role of extensive immunisation as a global public good and concurring that the vaccination process is not a race amongst countries but a race against time, we welcomed the EU’s and its Member States’ contribution to vaccines’ production and their substantial support to the COVAX Facility, as well as India’s efforts to produce and distribute COVID-19 vaccines to over 90 countries through its ‘Vaccine Maitri’...We are committed to working together to better prepare for and respond to global health emergencies. We agreed to cooperate on resilient medical supply chains, vaccines and the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and on the application of international good manufacturing standards to ensure high quality and safety of products.”

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India rose to 24,372,907 and the death toll reached 266,207 on Saturday morning, India's federal health ministry said. During the past 24 hours, 326,098 new cases and 3,890 related deaths were reported across the country. According to the ministry, 20,432,898 people have been discharged from hospitals after showing improvement. Read: India widens gap between two doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks The number of active cases in the country is 3,673,802, according to the ministry. Meanwhile, a total of 313,017,193 samples have been tested across the country, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said Saturday. Out of these tests, 1,693,093 were conducted on Friday alone. According to the ministry, 18,0457,579 people have been vaccinated across the country since the beginning of the vaccination drive on Jan. 16. On May 1, the third phase of COVID-19 vaccinations was started for people who are 18 years old and above. However, the third phase of vaccination is yet to start in many places or is going on at a slower pace in wake of the severe shortage of vaccines. The confirmed cases continue to spike in the country every day, and the federal government has ruled out imposing a complete countrywide lockdown on the pattern of last year to contain the worsening situation. However, many states have imposed night curfews, weekend lockdowns and complete lockdowns to break the spread. Read: India to begin Covaxin vaccine trials for children A top scientific adviser to the Indian government, K Vijay Raghavan recently warned the country would face a third wave of the pandemic. Currently, India is fighting a deadly second wave of COVID-19, and the shortage of essential medical supplies including medical oxygen has emerged as a key challenge for the government.

India's COVID-19 death toll crossed the 250,000-mark as the total number of cases surpassed 23 million on Wednesday, confirmed the federal health ministry. While the death toll rose to 254,197, the COVID-19 tally reached at 23,340,938. As many as 4,205 deaths, the highest so far, were registered during the past 24 hours, as a spike of 348,421 cases was recorded since Tuesday morning. Read:Scientists race to study variants in India as cases explode There are still 3,704,099 active cases in the country, with a decrease of 11,122 cases in the past 24 hours. This is the second consecutive day when a decrease in active cases was witnessed. A total of 19,382,642 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals so far across the country. As the COVID-19 figures continue to peak, the federal government has ruled out a complete lockdown to contain the worsening situation. Some states have imposed night curfews or partial lockdowns. Principal Scientific Advisor to India's Federal Government K. Vijay Raghavan recently said a third COVID-19 wave was "inevitable" in the country. Delhi has been put under a third successive lockdown till May 17. While some school examinations are cancelled, others have been postponed. India's nationwide vaccination drive was kicked off on Jan. 16, and the third phase of vaccination for people aged above 18 began on May 1. Over 175 million vaccination doses have been administered to the people across the country. Read:11 die in India hospital due to disruption in oxygen supply Meanwhile, the federal government has ramped up COVID-19 testing facilities across the country, as over 307 million tests have been conducted so far. As many as 307,583,991 tests were conducted till Tuesday, out of which 1,983,804 tests were conducted on Tuesday alone, said the latest data issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Wednesday. Two types of vaccines, the Covishield vaccine and the Covaxin vaccine, are being administered in India. Meanwhile, the country received its first doses of Russian-made Sputnik-V on May 1. 

India's COVID-19 tally rose to 22,662,575 on Monday, as 366,161 new cases were registered across the country in the past 24 hours, said the health ministry. Besides, as many as 3,754 deaths have taken place in the country since Sunday morning, taking the total death toll to 246,116, added the ministry. This is the first time after four consecutive days when the number of cases fell below 400,000 in 24 hours, and first time after two consecutive days when the number of deaths in a day fell below the 4,000-mark. Also Read:As cases grow, India’s vaccination campaign falters There are still 3,745,237 active cases in the country, with an increase of 8,589 active cases through Sunday. A total of 18,671,222 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals so far across the country. The COVID-19 figures continue to peak in the country, as the federal government has ruled out a complete lockdown to contain the worsening situation though some states have imposed night curfews or partial lockdowns. Delhi has been put under a third successive lockdown till May 17. Some school exams have been cancelled or postponed in the wake of COVID-19 situation. The number of daily active cases has been on the rise over the past few weeks. In January the number of daily cases in the country had come down to below-10,000. Over 170 million vaccination doses (170,176,603) have been administered across the country since India kicked off a nationwide vaccination drive on Jan. 16. Also Read:India's surge hits southern states, prompts more lockdowns Online registration began last Wednesday for vaccinating people aged above 18. This is the third phase of COVID-19 vaccination, which began on May 1. Meanwhile, the Indian government has ramped up COVID-19 testing facilities across the country, as over 303 million tests have been conducted so far. As many as 303,750,077 tests have been conducted till Sunday, out of which 1,474,606 tests were conducted on Sunday alone, said the latest data issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday. 

India's COVID-19 tally crossed the 20-million mark, reaching 20,282,833 on Tuesday, as 357,229 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, confirmed the federal health ministry. Another 3,449 deaths were reported since Monday morning, taking the death toll to 222,408. Read Also:‘Horrible’ weeks ahead as India’s virus catastrophe worsens There are a total of 3,447,133 active cases in the country, with an increase of 33,491 through Monday, while 16,613,292 people have recovered and been discharged from hospitals so far. The COVID-19 figures continue to peak in the country, but the federal government has ruled out imposing a complete lockdown. Some states have imposed night curfews or partial lockdowns, while the capital New Delhi has been put under a third successive lockdown till May 10. Meanwhile, 293,310,779 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in India till Monday, out of which 1,663,742 tests were conducted on Monday alone, said the latest data issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Tuesday. Read Also: Impact of devastating Indian virus surge spreads to politics The national capital New Delhi, one of the most COVID-19 affected places in the country, witnessed 18,043 new cases and 448 more deaths through Monday. So far 17,414 people have died in the national capital due to COVID-19, confirmed Delhi's health department. The third phase of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination began on May 1. So far, over 158 million vaccination doses have been administered in India since the country kicked off its inoculation drive in January.