Offer An Article

Pandemic Latest News

COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccines effective against Delta variant: INSACOG co-chair

In an interview, INSACOG co-chair Dr N. K. Arora has said that COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the Delta variant. The Delta variant is a more transmissible strain of the novel coronavirus which emerged in India in October of last year.  INSACOG refers to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). It comprises 28 laboratories under …

COVID-19 vaccines effective against Delta variant: INSACOG co-chair Read More »

Millions in India missing vaccination doses

An estimated 3.5 million children missed out on their first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis combined vaccine (DTP-1) in India in 2020, according to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Three million more children missed their first dose of the measles vaccination. Such were the effects of the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that health …

Millions in India missing vaccination doses Read More »

COVID-19 rule-breaking in Centre’s sights

The Centre has raised the issue of COVID-19 rule-breaking with state and union territory governments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently expressed concerns over COVID-19 rule-breaking. “I will say very strongly that it is a matter of grave concern to see people without masks in the market and not following the protocol in hill stations,” he …

COVID-19 rule-breaking in Centre’s sights Read More »

The true death toll of COVID-19

At the time of writing, COVID-19 officially has claimed more than 400,000 lives in India. Some believe the true death toll of COVID-19 to be considerably higher. In an interview with The Wire, data journalist Rukmini S. posits the actual number of fatalities to be 2.5 million including 1.5 million fatalities during the second wave. …

The true death toll of COVID-19 Read More »

Indemnity offered to Moderna, with conditions

Drugmaker Moderna is said to have secured an offer of legal indemnity regarding its COVID-19 vaccine from the Government, albeit with certain provisions. Individuals familiar with the matter said an offer has been sent to the drugmaker, which is based in the United States, reports The Economic Times. The company’s board of directors are expected …

Indemnity offered to Moderna, with conditions Read More »

Lambda and Kappa: We need to be “watchful”

India needs to “be watchful” against the Lambda and Kappa variants of COVID-19, according to Dr Vinod K. Paul of government think tank Niti Aayog. The COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed the emergence of several variants, including the Delta variant which has been found in multiple countries which first emerged in India. The Lambda and Kappa …

Lambda and Kappa: We need to be “watchful” Read More »

Long COVID remains a concern

So-called ‘long COVID’, where survivors of COVID-19 continue to experience debilitating symptoms even requiring hospitalisation, remains a concern for India’s healthcare system. As The Economic Times reports, “doctors are dealing with [a] rising number of long Covid patients with symptoms like persistent body ache, low grade fever, lung fibrosis, pulmonary embolism and brain fogging in …

Long COVID remains a concern Read More »

Paediatric trials for Covaxin underway

India has commenced paediatric trials for Covaxin, its indigenously-manufactured vaccine against COVID-19.  Covaxin, manufactured by Hyderabad-based firm Bharat Biotech, is one of four vaccines authorised for use in India alongside Covishield (produced by the Serum Institute of India on license from AstraZeneca), the Russian-manufactured Sputnik-V, and the Moderna vaccine. Bharat Biotech announced last month that …

Paediatric trials for Covaxin underway Read More »

Moderna vaccine to reach India shortly

The Moderna vaccine is to become available in India by July 15th, reports indicate.  Cipla, a pharmaceutical firm based in Mumbai, received the nod to import doses of the Moderna vaccine from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) last month. It became the fourth COVID-19 vaccine to receive emergency use authorisation from the Centre …

Moderna vaccine to reach India shortly Read More »

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine: Less effective against Delta variant?

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 has registered a lower level of efficacy in preventing the Delta variant first identified in India, according to new data from Israel.  Effectiveness of the vaccine has dropped to 64 percent in preventing infection as the Delta variant spreads in Israel, now accounting for ninety percent of the country’s cases. …

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine: Less effective against Delta variant? Read More »