DBT-BIRAC supported ZyCoV-D developed by Zydus Cadila Receives Emergency Use Authorization
Zydus Cadila received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) today, i.e. 20/08/2021, for ZyCoV-D, the world’s first and India’s indigenously developed DNA-based vaccine for COVID-19 to be administered in humans, including children and adults 12 years and older. ZyCoV-D was developed in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, and implemented by BIRAC. It has been supported under COVID-19 Research Consortia through National Biopharma Mission for Preclinical studies, Phase I and Phase II Clinical Trials, and Mission COVID Suraksha for Phase III Clinical Trials. This 3 dose vaccine which when injected produces the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and elicits an immune response, which plays a vital role in protection from disease as well as viral clearance.
Covaxin works against Delta Plus:
In the study of efficacy of the Covaxin vaccine. They have found that despite a slight reduction in neutralisation antibody titres, the vaccine remains effective against the Delta, AY.1 (Delta Plus), and B.1.617.3 variants.
CDSCO expert panel recommends nod to study on mixing doses of Covaxin, Covishield
An expert panel of India’s central drug authority recommended granting permission to the Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore for conducting a clinical trial of mixing of two COVID-19 vaccines — Covaxin and Covishield.
The panel also recommended giving approval to Bharat Biotech for carrying out a study on interchangeability of its Covaxin and the under-trial adenoviral intranasal vaccine candidate BBV154, but asked the Hyderabad-based firm to remove the word “interchangeability” from the study title and submit a revised protocol for approval.
AstraZeneca finds small clot risk after 1st COVID shot, less after 2nd
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine carries a small extra risk of rare blood clots with low platelets after the first dose and no extra risk after the second. The study, published in the Lancet medical journal, found that the estimated rate of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after the first dose was 8.1 per million in those inoculated AstraZeneca. After the second dose of the vaccine, branded Vaxzevria and invented by Oxford University, the rate was 2.3 per million, comparable to that seen in unvaccinated people.
Covishield Gives 93% Protection Against Covid, 98% Mortality Reduction: AFMC Study
Addressing a press conference, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul presented findings of the study which was conducted on 15 lakh doctors and frontline workers. Protection to the extent of 93 per cent was seen (in people who were administered the Covishield vaccine) and this was during the second wave which was driven by the Delta variant… also 98 per cent mortality reduction was seen.
Low-income countries have received only 0.27% of the COVID-19 vaccine doses administered so far
Low-income countries have received only 0.27% of the COVID-19 doses administered worldwide while high-income countries (30%) and upper-middle-income countries (52%) have acquired more than 80%. Of the 27 nations termed as low-income, 23 are in Africa. Due to this wide disparity in vaccine supply, of the 52 countries in Africa, 38 have given at least one dose to <5% of population.
As India’s vaccination drive gathers pace, women are being left behind
As the vaccination drive picks up pace in India, the gender gap in vaccination rate (people vaccinated per 1,000 individuals) continues to widen. The gap varies among the States. Except in Himachal Pradesh, there was a gap in all the 19 other States analysed. In India, as of July 4, 349 per every 1,000 women aged above 18 years and 390 per every 1,000 men aged above 18 have received at least one dose.
Vaccines in Boats’ for Flood-affected Locals in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur Amid Covid Scare
Dedicated boats- “टीका वाली नाव”- in Muzaffarpur, Bihar are ensuring Covid-19 vaccination in flooded areas of the district.
COVID-19 vaccination coverage in India has surpassed the 36.45 crore mark.
With over 31.04 lakh vaccine doses administered today until 7 p.m., India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has surpassed the 36.45 crore mark. So far, more than 10.93 crore vaccine doses have been administered to people aged 18 to 44.
Panacea Biotec receives licence to manufacture Sputnik V
Panacea Biotec on July 4, 2021, received its licence from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to manufacture Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine at its facility in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.In a statement by Panacea Biotec, it said, “The licence is a necessary condition for using Sputnik V produced by Panacea Biotech in India.”