Amid a shortage of vaccines, India plans to do a study on mixing Covid-19 doses and to ascertain its efficacy in boosting the immune response to coronavirus. Watch Dr N K Arora, Chairman of Covid-19 working group under the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) talk about the new plan.
Every time when a person from rural India travels miles for a healthcare facility, it tells us how far we are from building an efficient healthcare system. And when something like a pandemic hits that fragile health infrastructure, everything falls apart. And at a time when the whole country is bearing the brunt of Covid-19 with patients and their families struggling to get medical attention, even in India's metropolitan cities, people in rural areas are facing a different challenge altogether. Today, we are talking about the worsening state of health affairs in Bihar. Watch video
An 84-year-old Covid positive man was recently given monoclonal antibody therapy at a Gurugram hospital, and he is said to be doing well after the treatment. In fact he came home after being kept under observation for just one day. An official of the same hospital claimed it was Delhi-NCR's first case of monoclonal antibody therapy for a Covid patient. But what is monoclonal antibody therapy and how does it work? Let's understand it from experts. Watch video
Udhampur (JandK), May 28 (ANI): A massive fire broke out at a chemical factory in Udhampur late last night on May 27. Indian Air Force called in to douse the flames. Fire fighting operations are still underway. Reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained. More details are awaited.
New Delhi, May 27 (ANI): NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul on May 27 said that there is no cause for concern if different second dose of COVID-19 vaccine was given. However, trial is expected for mix and match vaccine doses. He said, "As per the protocol, stick to the same dose of COVID-19 vaccine as the first one. If in case people are getting different doses, there is no cause for concern, it is safe. There is no recommendation for that but we are thinking to mix and match (vaccine doses) on a trial basis."
New Delhi, May 27 (ANI): On the incident of wrong second COVID-19 vaccine dose given in Uttar Pradesh, NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul said, "Our protocol is clear that both doses given should be of the same vaccine. This matter should be investigated. It is very unlikely to have significant adverse affect of it. Even if this has happened it should not be a cause of concern to that individual."
New Delhi, May 27 (ANI): In an exclusive interview with ANI on May 27, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr VK Paul spoke on vaccines for children. He said, "When any drug/vaccine is discovered, typically it is first sorted out in the adult population because you do not want to risk children....It has been found out now that Pfizer can be administered to the younger population. 1-2 countries will start doing that now. WHO hasn't given any recommendation yet to cover pediatric population in general as any illness in pediatric population is very mild. If we go with paradigm of deaths as a public health objective, it's at lower priority." He further said, "This has always been on our radar. Covaxin has received permission, they will start pediatric trial, I think they are going all the way to 2 years of age in a systematic way...I have been told that SII wants to begin pediatric trial of Novavax... The trial for pediatric will be done systematically."
New Delhi, May 27 (ANI): Union Health Ministry held a press conference on COVID-19 situation of the country on May 27 where they informed that 24 states reported decline in active cases since last week. Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said, "24 states have reported a decline in active cases since last week. Overall recoveries are now exceeding the number of cases being reported on a daily basis. The recovery rate has increased from 85.6% to 90% now, it's a positive indication. Highest single day tests done in India conducted on 26th May, i.e., 22,17,320".
Madurai (Tamil Nadu), May 27(ANI): Oxygen Express loaded with medical oxygen reached Tamil Nadu's Madurai on May 27. The Oxygen Express was loaded at Odisha's Rourkela for Kudal Nagar. The train containing with 5 tankers carrying 66.12 MT of Liquid Medical Oxygen arrived at the destination today. Amid the second wave of COVID in the country, several states reported shortage of oxygen. The Centre started to run Oxygen Express train in order to supply medical oxygen.
New Delhi, May 27 (ANI): Speaking on Pfizer vaccines during an exclusive interview with ANI on May 27, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr VK Paul said, "We are in contact with the company, decisions are being made. This process has been escalated... Their concerns and requirements are being addressed. They have to formally apply. We will come to a solution soon."
Purba Medinipur (West Bengal) May 27 (ANI): Coastal areas in East Medinipur suffered damages after cyclone Yass hit West Bengal on May 26. As cyclone hit parts of the Medinipur city in the West Bengal. Strong and gusty winds have torn off the roots of the Houses and shops near Digha Sea. People are bearing the brunt of the heavy storm.
Purba Medinipur (West Bengal), May 27 (ANI): Cyclone Yaas with its full force has impacted the coastal area of West Bengal's Purba Medinipur. But due to high tide in Digha, sea water entered the beach area and speedy winds continue to flow. The high waves are overpowering the banks of eastern-coastal areas in Digha.
New Delhi, May 27 (ANI): In an exclusive interview with ANI on May 27, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr VK Paul stated that vaccine supply is not closed and also said that it is up to state governments to use the available production for vaccinating people of their state according to flexible approach by them. He said, "States know our vaccine production capacity. When they said they want flexibility and say in vaccine procurement, a new system was brought in-Centre will procure 50% of vaccines produced domestically, for states for free, for 45+ group. Besides this, a special channel was created for remaining 50% where state governments and private sector can purchase and supply vaccines. On whatever states procure, (from private sector) state governments have to decide as to which group it has to be given to and taken forward." He further said, "To say that the supply has closed isn't true. Truth is that out of the available production, a distinct part is available to non- government cha
As many as 577 children across the country were orphaned after their parents succumbed to Covid-19 in the second wave of the pandemic.The government has revealed its plan on how to secure the future of these vulnerable children. Watch this video to get a sense of the issue and how we can also play an important part as a responsible citizens help the authorities in the noble initiative.
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has asked neighbouring Dominica, where fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi was caught, to hand the diamantaire over to India directly. Watch the video for his full statement.
Cyclone Yaas pounded the beach towns in north Odisha and neighbouring West Bengal as it hit the coast around 9 am on May 26 with a wind speed of 130-140 kmph. The location of the landfall was north of Dhamra in Odisha's Bhadrak district and 50 km south of Balasore, close to Bahanaga block, on the coast. The wind speed during landfall was at 130-140 kmph, gusting to 155 kmph, as per Doppler radar data.
AIIMS director Randeep Guleria said that as the number of recovered patients rises, clinics have to be developed to deal with the treatment of symptoms which persist beyond the disease. He said there was now a better understanding of post-Covid acute syndrome which can continue 8 to 12 weeks and long Covid which can occur if symptoms continue beyond 12 weeks. Watch this video to understand the post-Covid complications and treatment options as explained by the AIIMS chief.
New Delhi, May 25 (ANI): Amid rising coronavirus cases in Japan and Sri Lanka, the US State Department issued a travel advisory warning against travel to the respective countries due to COVID transmission concerns. "This week, the following Travel Advisories have been assessed and reissued with updates, raised to a Level 4 - Do Not Travel: Japan, Sri Lanka," the State Department said on Monday. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a new alert that Americans should avoid all travel to Japan and advised anyone who does have to visit the country to get vaccinated prior to traveling there. "Because of the current situation in Japan even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and should avoid all travel to Japan," it added. This comes few months before the Olympics are set to be held in Tokyo in July. The Olympics were already postponed once due to the pandemic. Japan has been witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases as i
A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into cyclonic storm 'Yaas' and is likely to cross the Odisha-West Bengal coasts on May 26 after turning into a very severe cyclonic storm, according to the India Meteorological Department. Watch this video for all the key updates and highlights
A UP girl who delivers oxygen to the needy on her scooty, an IAS-turned-actor who has launched 'OxyTaxi' for Covid patients and a social activist who feeds over 250 people on roadside in Madurai amid curfew, there are several heart-warming stories from across the country about people who are doing their bit to provide helping hand to the needy amid an unprecedented crisis. Watch the video