Page 27 - Coronavirus Vaccine

Risk of myocarditis after Covid vaccination increases but very low: Study

According to a study, myocarditis after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was rare but higher in younger males, particularly after the second mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccine

Govt scraps filling Air Suvidha form for international travellers

The requirement of random post-arrival testing of 2 per cent of arriving passengers too has been done away with in the new guideline

Covid-19 infection may reactivate several latent viruses in body: Study

COVID-19 can reactivate several latent viruses lurking in the body's cells following previous infections, particularly in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, according to a study. The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology, contribute to our understanding of the causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as ME/CFS, and prospects of reaching a diagnosis. Severe, long-term fatigue, post-exertional malaise, pain and sleep problems are characteristic signs of the disease. The causes of the condition are not known with certainty, although it has been established that the onset in most cases follows a viral or bacterial infection. "Our study now shows that objective measurements are available that show physiological differences in the body's reaction to viruses between ME patients and healthy controls," said Anders Rosen, a professor at Linkoping University, Sweden, and leader of the study. The extensive spread of the SARS-CoV-2 ...

Do you still need to wear a mask? Here's what doctors have to say

Doctors say that most people have some form of immunity against the virus already

Health Ministry rejects claim Covaxin was rushed due to political pressure

The media reports had claimed that Bharat Biotech, manufacturer of the indigenous Covaxin, 'had to skip certain processes' and 'speed' up clinical trials due to political pressure.

A viral message in the Moderna story

In The Messenger, The Wall Street Journal reporter Peter Loftus charts the journey of Moderna from being a languishing biotech start-up to one of the biggest financial beneficiaries of the pandemic

Covid curbs increased in China factory hub Guangzhou as outbreak balloons

In-person classes in eight of the city of some 19 million people's 11 districts will be halted from Thursday, officials said late Wednesday

WHO reports nearly 90% drop in Covid deaths globally since February

The World Health Organisation chief on Wednesday said a nearly 90% drop in recent COVID-19 deaths globally compared to nine months ago provides cause for optimism, but still urged vigilance against the pandemic as variants continue to crop up. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that last week just over 9,400 deaths linked to the coronavirus were reported to the WHO. In February of this year, he said, weekly deaths had topped 75,000 globally. We have come a long way, and this is definitely cause for optimism. But we continue to call on all governments, communities and individuals to remain vigilant, he said at a virtual news conference from the WHO's Geneva headquarters. Almost 10,000 deaths a week is 10,000 too many for a disease that can be prevented and treated. The WHO chief said testing and sequencing rates remain low globally, vaccination gaps between rich and poor countries are still wide, and new variants continue to proliferate. The U.N. health agency said th

Covid will be there forever but worst is over: White House official

COVID-19 in some ways will be there forever but the worst days of the pandemic are "absolutely" over, Dr Ashish K Jha, the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, said on Tuesday. Speaking at the 20th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Jha said given the high levels of immunity in the population due to both vaccination and prior infections, "even if we see surges and variants the worst of this pandemic should be behind us". "Covid is not over and in some ways it will be with us forever and we just have to continue to manage it but if the question is are the worst days of covid behind us then my answer is absolutely, it is," he said. With variants cropping up at regular intervals, Jha acknowledged that they are a concern as a very rapid evolution of this virus is being seen over the time. "...the speed at which SARS-CoV-2 is evolving is really remarkable. And there are a variety of reasons why this is happening - the primary one is we have so much immunity across the world due

Japan govt urged to end free Covid-19 vaccinations amid financial strains

An advisory panel for the finance minister has proposed that the Japanese government end free-of-charge coronavirus vaccinations, highlighting concerns over a further increase of its financial strain

50 mn doses of Covaxin set to expire early 2023 due to poor off take

Nearly 50 million doses of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin lying with the firm are set to expire early next year as there are no takers owing to poor demand, company sources said. Due to lack of product demand, Production stoppage of Covaxin- a two dose jab, was initiated by Bharat Biotech earlier this year, though the vaccine maker has established manufacturing to reach an annualised capacity of 1 billion doses at the end of 2021. Bharat Biotech has more than 200 million doses of Covaxin in bulk form and approximately 50 million doses in vials ready to use. Due to lack of product demand, production stoppage of Covaxin was initiated several months ago, earlier this year, sources told PTI. Covaxin doses in vials are set to expire during early 2023, resulting in losses for the company, sources further said. However, the quantum of loss that the Bharat Biotech would incur in the event of all the 50 million doses expiring next year is not known. India reported 1,082 fresh .

Biotech firm Bharat Serums & Vaccines working to reduce import dependence

Firm is develop recombinant products in hormones, eyes acquisitions in South East Asia

Data story: India adds 1,604 new Covid cases; active tally at 18,317

India has added 9,524 cases in the past 7 days

Data story: India logs 1,574 new Covid cases; death toll at 529,008

India has added 9,914 cases in the past 7 days

Data story: India logs 2,208 new Covid cases; death toll at 528,999

India has added 10,452 cases in the past 7 days

Evidence updated on blood clotting side effect of Covid-19 jab: Study

Scientists have uncovered more knowledge about the risk of developing a very rare blood clotting condition following vaccination against COVID-19, according to a study. Based on health data from five European countries and the US, the study shows an increased risk of the condition, called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), after first-dose of the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine (same as Covishield in formulation). The study, published in The British Medical Journal (BMJ), also shows a trend towards an increased risk after the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine, compared with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The researchers stressed that the syndrome is very rare, but said the observed risks "should be considered when planning further immunisation campaigns and future vaccine development." TTS occurs when a person has blood clots (thrombosis) as well as low blood platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). According to the study, it is very rare and different from general clotting ...

India an important manufacturer of vaccines for world: White House

India is an important manufacturer of vaccines for the world, the White House said, acknowledging the crucial role the country played in supplying vaccines against COVID-19 globally. Because of its incredible manufacturing capacity, (India) has been a major exporter of vaccines, Dr Ashish Jha, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, told reporters at a news conference here on Tuesday. Responding to a question, Dr Jha said the QUAD partnership a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan and the US -- on coronavirus was important to the Joe Biden administration. I think India is an important manufacturer of vaccines for the world. I mean not just for India itself, this is a really important thing, he said at the White House news conference. Defending the Biden administration's decision to supply vaccines to the world, Dr Jha said the US will continue making them available for every low and several low- and middle-income countries. There are about 100 countri

Data story: India records 830 new Covid cases; zero deaths in last 24 hrs

India has added 11,392 cases in the past 7 days

Biden gets updated Covid-19 booster shot; urges people to get vaccinated

President Joe Biden rolled up his sleeve and got his updated COVID-19 booster shot on Tuesday, as he urged millions of people who have yet to be boosted to do so by Halloween, if possible, so they can gather safely with family and friends this holiday season. Get vaccinated, he said, noting that it's free. Not enough people are getting it. Biden also called on Congress to provide the billions of dollars the administration has requested to buy additional vaccines, tests and treatments. Some lawmakers have balked at the request for more than $20 billion in new coronavirus funding. Biden, who was flanked by his COVID-19 response team, declared that the fight against the spread of virus is global in nature and the funding we seek is critical to that effort. Over 20 million people, including nearly 1 in 5 older adults, have gotten the updated COVID-19 booster, the White House said. The vaccine has been reformulated to target the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of omicron, the most dominant ..

Japan rolls out Covid vaccination for children aged 6 months to 4 years

Japan began Covid-19 vaccination for children aged between six months and four years at a hospital in Tokyo