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The Indian Council of Medical Research Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl on Monday criticised a recently published study on the long-term safety analysis of the <keyword id="9485939" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="covaxin" source="Orion">Covaxin</keyword> in adults and adolescents for its poor methodology and design, and clarified the article misleadingly and erroneously "acknowledges" <keyword id="19918794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICMR" source="keywords">ICMR</keyword>. Dr Bahl said the study had no control arm of unvaccinated individuals for comparing the rates of events between the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Hence, the reported events in the study cannot be linked or attributed to COVID-19 vaccination. He added that the ICMR is not associated with the study and has not provided any financial or technical support for the research. The ICMR DG has written a letter to the authors of the paper and Editor of the journal to immediately remove the acknowledgement to ICMR and publish an erratum. A research paper, titled 'Long-Term Safety Analysis of the BBVl52 <keyword id="21730391" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus-vaccine" source="keywords">Coronavirus Vaccine</keyword> in Adolescents and Adults: Findings from a l-Year Prospective Study in North India' stated that nearly one-third of the 926 participants in the study who received Bharat Biotech's anti-Covid vaccine Covaxin reported 'adverse events of special interest,' or AESI. Dr Bahl said that ICMR was acknowledged for research support without any prior approval of or intimation to ICMR, which is inappropriate and unacceptable. He stated that ICMR cannot be associated with this poorly designed study which purports to present a "safety analysis" of Covaxin due to several critical flaws. He said the study does not even provide background rates of observed events in the population, making it impossible to assess the change in incidence of observed events in the post-vaccination period. Baseline information of study participants is missing. The study tool used is inconsistent with 'Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESI)' as defined in the reference provided in the paper for AESI. The method of data collection has a high risk of bias, he said. Study participants were contacted telephonically one year after vaccination and their responses were recorded without any confirmation with clinical records or by physician examination, he pointed out. Dr Bahl also noted that similar acknowledgements to ICMR have been made in previous papers without permission, raising concerns about the authors' practices. "The authors have been urged to immediately rectify the acknowledgment to ICMR and publish an erratum. Additionally, they are asked to address the methodological concerns raised. Failure to do so may prompt ICMR to consider legal and administrative action," he said. The Editor has been asked to retract the paper which implicitly makes conclusions on <keyword id="21495684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaccine-safety" source="keywords">vaccine safety</keyword> which are not supported by evidence. The study, conducted by researchers from the Banaras Hindu University from January 2022 to August 2023, stated that nearly 50 per cent of 926 study participants in the study complained of infections during the follow-up period, predominated by viral upper respiratory tract infections. Serious AESI, which included stroke and Guillain-Barre syndrome, were reported in one per cent of individuals, the study, which looked at long-term safety of the BBV152 (Covaxin) vaccine in adolescents and adults, claimed. The study involved 635 adolescents and 291 adults, who received the BBV152 vaccine.

BHU study on Covaxin side effects poorly designed, critically flawed: ICMR Director General

Ever since the virus reared its ugly head and briefly sent the world into despair, the coronavirus has remained a staple, albeit almost sidelined, part of the news cycle. Despite this, the topic has come to the forefront of controversy once again, with an extremely popular <keyword id="20040659" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="COVID-19-vaccine" source="keywords">COVID-19 vaccine</keyword> now under scrutiny. Considering that the world is still healing from the scars left behind by the coronavirus tragedy, it is imperative that we gauge the situation to avoid any unwarranted public paranoia. Let’s look at the facts behind the ongoing <keyword id="19910149" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AstraZeneca" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="AstraZeneca" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="AstraZeneca">AstraZeneca</keyword> (or <keyword id="19960109" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="covishield" source="keywords">Covishield</keyword>, as it is known in India) vaccine controversy, and determine if there really is a cause for worry. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What happened?" comment="subhead" text="What happened?">What happened?</cmsannotation> Shortly after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in 2021, UK-based <keyword id="21472612" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jamie-scott" source="keywords">Jamie Scott</keyword> experienced a harrowing ordeal. He developed a brain clot and severe bleeding, resulting in permanent brain injury. This condition, known as <keyword id="21475609" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thrombosis-with-Thrombocytopenia-Syndrome" source="keywords">Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome</keyword> (<keyword id="20218859" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tts" source="keywords">TTS</keyword>), can lead to dangerously low blood clot and platelet levels, posing a grave risk to those affected. Jamie's struggles with memory loss, impaired vision, and diminished cognitive abilities compelled him to seek legal recourse against the pharmaceutical company in 2023. Jamie's legal representative contends that AstraZeneca minimized the potential risks linked to their vaccines. Moreover, reports indicate that over 50 vaccinated individuals experienced similar adverse conditions, with numerous cases resulting in fatalities or severe injuries. Despite these assertions, the pharmaceutical company refutes the allegations, stating that they do not acknowledge a causal relationship between the vaccine and Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) on a generic level. However, a year of court wrangling later, legal documents submitted by AstraZeneca have now admitted that their vaccine can cause TTS in very rare cases, although the causal mechanism is still not well known. This revelation has led to renewed uproar against the vaccine’s side-effects. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Is there cause for worry?" comment="subhead" text="Is there cause for worry?">Is there cause for worry?</cmsannotation> In short words, not really. Links between the <keyword id="21483117" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AstraZeneca-vaccine" source="keywords">AstraZeneca vaccine</keyword> and vaccine-induced immune TTS have been scientifically identified since early 2021, soon after the first COVID-19 vaccines had come out. However, it is so very rare — a few dozen reported cases among the millions administered — that even the World Health Organisation has deemed the vaccine “safe and effective” for all individuals aged 18 and above. Moreover, even influenza, H1N1 and rabies vaccines can cause TTS in very rare instances. Further, it is important to note that an infection with COVID-19 is itself a major cause for clot, heart attacks and strokes. Being vaccinated actually lowers these risks. There is also the fact that all vaccines or drugs carry potential side-effects, and these medical interventions are only cleared for release after determining that their benefits vastly outweigh any complications. Finally, the <keyword id="21483118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TTS-side-effects" source="keywords">TTS side-effects</keyword> — which include symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision, chest pain, leg swelling or tiny blood spots under the skin — manifest between 1-6 weeks of vaccination. Considering that most Indians received their Covishield jab a couple of years ago, there should be no reason to panic now. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Is it time to consider alternate vaccines?" comment="subhead" text="Is it time to consider alternate vaccines?">Is it time to consider alternate vaccines?</cmsannotation> There is no particular hard evidence that suggests the supremacy of one vaccine over another, considering that they all carry varying degrees of side-effects. That being said, <keyword id="9485939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="covaxin" source="Orion">Covaxin</keyword> boasts a higher efficacy than Covishield, and has better research data among Indian subjects. However, it may also be important to know that the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine has been discontinued in many countries, mainly due the aforementioned risk of blood clotting in certain age groups. Whatever the choice, the fact of the matter remains that these vaccines have saved millions since their introduction, and it is pertinent that we continue taking them diligently, unless any premier health authorities recommend otherwise.

Should you be worried about the potential side-effects of the Covishield vaccine?

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> logged 2,876 new <keyword id="1754604" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coronavirus" source="Orion">coronavirus</keyword> infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,29,98,938, while the active cases dipped to 32,811, according to the Union <keyword id="46535" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Health-Ministry" source="Orion">health ministry</keyword> data updated on Wednesday. The death toll climbed to 5,16,072 with 98 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. The active cases comprise 0.08 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate further improved to 98.72 per cent, the ministry said. A reduction of 1,106 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours, it said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,24,50,055 and the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.20 per cent, the ministry said. The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 180.60 crore, it said. According to the ministry, the daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.38 per cent and weekly positivity rate at 0.44 per cent. As many as 78.05 crore total tests have been conducted so far and 7,52,818 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, it said. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/india-to-begin-covid-19-vaccination-for-kids-aged-12-to-14-from-wednesday/articleshow/90200565.cms">COVID-19 vaccination for kids aged 12 to 14 from Wednesday</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/paytms-shares-hit-an-all-time-low-plunging-below-the-700-mark-after-rbi-pulls-up-its-payments-bank/articleshow/90193957.cms">Paytm’s shares hit an all-time low plunging below the ₹700-mark after RBI pulls up its payments bank</a>

India logs 2,876 new COVID-19 infections and 98 fatalities in last 24 hours

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Public health experts have previously said <keyword id="11894310" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="vaccine" source="Orion">vaccine</keyword> inequality would allow for new variants. </li><li>A Texas doctor and his team developed Corbevax, a low-cost COVID-19 vaccine. </li></ul>A Texas pediatrician and a professor developed a low-cost COVID-19 vaccine that was approved for emergency use in <keyword id="11892747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> on Tuesday. Dr. Peter Hotez, a pediatrician at Texas Children's Hospital, developed the Corbevax vaccine alongside Baylor College professor Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi, <a href="https://www.texaschildrens.org/texas-children%E2%80%99s-hospital-and-baylor-college-medicine-covid-19-vaccine-technology-secures-emergency">a press release from the children's hospital said. </a>"This announcement is an important first step in vaccinating the world and halting the pandemic," Hotez said. The vaccine, which the developers called the "World's COVID-19 Vaccine," uses a traditional recombinant protein-based technology, which would allow it to be mass-produced and used across the globe. "Protein-based vaccines have been widely used to prevent many other diseases, have proven safety records, and use economies of scale to achieve low-cost scalability across the world," Bottazzi said.According to the press release, the vaccine's initial construct and production was developed at Texas Children's Hospital and then licensed from the Baylor College of Medicine to Biological E. Limited, a Hyderabad-based vaccine, and pharmaceutical company. Hotez said in a <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterHotez/status/1475838570883690499">tweet</a> that Biological E. already has 150 million doses ready and will be making 100 million doses a month. The vaccine was found to be safe and effective after two phase 3 clinical trials of more than 3,000 participants, the press release said. The low-cost vaccine is meant to help<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-coronavirus-variant-may-be-result-of-vaccine-inequality-2021-11"> low and middle-income countries</a>, access vaccines, the press release said. "Widespread and global vaccination with our Texas Children's-Baylor-BE vaccine would also forestall the emergence of new variants. We have previously missed that opportunity for the alpha and delta variant. Now is our chance to prevent a new global wave from what might follow," Hotez said. The announcement comes as the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-long-does-booster-protection-omicron-covid-last-study-2021-12">Omicron variant</a> spreads across the globe. The variant is believed to be more transmissible than previous variants. So far, there have been more than 282 million COVID-19 cases across the globe, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Experts have previously warned that rich countries hoarding vaccines and the lack of access in poorer countries could allow for new variants to emerge. While more than 48% of the world population has been fully vaccinated, wealthier countries <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations?country=OWID_WRL">like the US and UK have a significantly higher rate of doses administered per 100 people. </a>Ken Shadlen, a professor of development studies at the London School of Economics and Political <keyword id="11896083" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="science" source="Orion">Science</keyword>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rich-nations-hoarding-covid-19-vaccines-could-backfire-experts-say-2021-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">told Insider's Sinéad Baker</a> in March that if global vaccine inequality persists "it's going to potentially undermine the health benefits of all that we're doing with lockdowns and vaccines."The vaccine's authorization was praised by Texas politicians, including former presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke. "Making Texas proud!" O'Rourke <a href="https://twitter.com/BetoORourke/status/1475909362736631810">said</a> of Hotez's team. <a href="https://t.co/zMnxgBveZz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a>In a <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterHotez/status/1475839914910666767?s=20">tweet</a>, Hotez added that the children's hospital does not plan to profit from the vaccine, calling it a "gift to the world."He said the technology to develop the vaccine has already been transferred to producers in India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Botswana.Hotez did not respond to Insider's request for comment at the time of publication.

A Texas pediatrician and professor developed a low-cost COVID-19 vaccine. India just granted it emergency use authorization.

The supply price of <keyword id="9485939" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="covaxin">Covaxin</keyword> to the government of <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> at ₹150 a dose is a non-competitive price and clearly not sustainable in the long run. Hence a higher price in private markets is required to offset part of the costs, <keyword id="149108" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Biotech">Bharat Biotech</keyword> said on Tuesday. It said there are live examples of such pricing policies where Human Papilloma virus vaccine is priced for GAVI supplies at $4.5/dose (₹320), but is also available in the private market at ₹3,500. Rotavirus vaccines are supplied to the Govt of India at ₹60/dose, but is also available in the private market at ₹1,700/dose. The prices for COVID-19 vaccines internationally have varied between $10 to $37/dose, (₹730 - ₹2,700/dose). On why Coaxin is more expensive for the private sector, Bharat Biotech said another key point of discussion has been about pricing our vaccines for private sector players which is significantly higher than that given to governments and large procurement agencies. This is purely due to fundamental business reasons, ranging from low procurement volumes, high distribution costs and retail margins among few others. As directed by the Govt of India, less than 10% of our total production of Covaxin to date has been supplied to private hospitals, while most of the remaining quantity was supplied to State and Central Governments. In such a scenario the weighted average price of Covaxin for all supplies realized by Bharat Biotech is less than ₹250/dose. Going forward, 75% of the capacity will be supplied to State and Central Governments with only 25% going to private hospitals. Unlike most medicines and therapeutics, vaccines are provided free of cost by the Govt of India to all eligible Indian citizens. "Thus, the procurement of vaccines by private hospitals is optional and not mandatory, albeit it gives a choice to citizens who are willing to pay for better convenience. In our view, the question of product pricing is only of extraneous interest to all concerned, especially when the same vaccine is made available free of cost", Bharat Biotech said that for the private sector it is optional. Bharat Biotech has so far invested over ₹500 crores at risk from its own resources for product development, clinical trials and setting up of manufacturing facilities for Covaxin. The support from The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was with respect to provision of the SARS CoV2 virus, animal studies, virus characterization, test kits and partial funding for clinical trial sites. In return for this valuable support, Bharat Biotech will pay royalties to ICMR and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), based on product sales. Royalties are also payable to Virovax towards the licensure of IMDG agonist molecules, it said. Bharat Biotech is investing in new facilities and repurposing existing ones across several states in India for enhancing the production of Covaxin. It is pertinent to mention here that the urgent need to set up a significant number of manufacturing facilities and to divert existing ones for Covaxin has resulted in reduced production of other vaccines at our facilities, leading to loss in revenues. It added that low product price realization dispirits domestic R&amp;D. Companies such as Bharat Biotech, which are innovators with specialized expertise in product development, and large scale manufacturing, should be allowed to maintain a differential pricing strategy for Governments and private hospitals. It is distressing to see that a large country like India has a very basic level of innovation in vaccines and pharmaceutical products, it added. It may well be argued that the low-price realization for home-grown innovators constraints innovation and product development in India. In the absence of a dual pricing system, Indian vaccine and pharmaceutical companies risk being reduced to mere contract manufacturers with intellectual property licensed from other nations, the company said. SEE ALSO <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/adani-group-under-sebi-scanner-on-market-manipulation/articleshow/83501698.cms">Gautam Adani loses over $7 billion in net worth after questions over the meteoric rise in group stocks</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/adani-group-pnb-coal-india-tcs-and-other-stocks-to-watch-out-for-on-june-14/slidelist/83499937.cms">Adani group, PNB, Coal India, TCS and other stocks to watch out for on June 14</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/weekly-crypto-roundup-wazirx-under-scrutiny-el-salvador-makes-bitcoin-legal-tender-and-more/slidelist/83478577.cms">Weekly crypto roundup: WazirX under scrutiny, El Salvador makes Bitcoin legal tender and more</a>

Covaxin supply to government at ₹150 per dose is not sustainable, says Bharat Biotech

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Some <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-variants-uk-south-africa-brazil-us-facts-questions-2021-1">coronavirus variants</a> are more transmissible and can <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-vaccines-efficacy-variants-south-africa-uk-brazil-2021-3">partially evade vaccine-induced antibodies</a>.</li><li>But <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> <keyword id="79555" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Vaccines">vaccines</keyword> appear to be effective against many <keyword id="112799" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="variants">variants</keyword>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-variant-pfizer-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-one-shot-effectiveness-2021-5">including those found in India</a>.</li><li>The charts below compare <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-variants-infectiousness-mutations-vaccines-2021-1">worrisome variants</a> and how well leading vaccines work against them.</li></ul>Sixteen months into the pandemic, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/half-of-us-adults-fully-vaccinated-against-covid-19-2021-5">half of all US adults</a> have been vaccinated, and the number of new daily <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> cases has fallen <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-daily-infections-lowest-point-since-last-june-2021-5">below 30,000</a> for the first time since June. But infections involving worrisome coronavirus variants continue to pop up. Some of these mutated strains are more transmissible than earlier versions of the virus, while others can partially evade antibodies developed in response to prior infections. So concerns linger about how well the authorized COVID-19 vaccines work against these variants.Earlier this year, lab studies exposed blood samples from vaccinated people to the variants first found in South Africa and Brazil. The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/south-africa-variant-vaccines-pfizer-moderna-covid-vaccine-study-mutation-2021-3">results showed</a> that the samples generated fewer protective antibodies that could neutralize those variants than they did when exposed to the original virus. But as more people get vaccinated, real-world data has started to trickle in from areas where these pernicious variants dominate. This offers a better look at <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-vaccines-efficacy-variants-south-africa-uk-brazil-2021-3">how well leading shots work</a> at preventing symptomatic infections. And the results are promising: none of the variants that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="health">Health</keyword> Organization are monitoring can fully evade vaccines. Plus, reduced antibody responses haven't necessarily translated into poorer protection against infection.The COVID-19 vaccines even seem to work against a group of variants discovered in India this winter, called B.1.617, which likely contributed to the country's coronavirus surge. Data from the UK government, obtained by <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/a70d423a-7d7c-4736-8828-0a485d7c3a8e">the Financial Times</a>, suggest that two doses of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines offer <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-variant-pfizer-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-one-shot-effectiveness-2021-5">a high degree of protection against B.1.617</a>.The chart below summarizes what we know so far about how well five vaccines work to protect people from four of the most worrisome coronavirus variants.<h2>Comparing worrisome coronavirus variants</h2>Countless versions of the coronavirus circulate worldwide, each separated by a small number of genetic mutations. Once a slew of mutations makes a particular strain better at infecting people, deadlier, or more able to evade the antibodies generated from a vaccine or previous infection, geneticists label it <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-epidemiological-update---23-february-2021">a variant of concern</a>.There are four of these, <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-epidemiological-update-on-covid-19---27-april-2021">according to the WHO</a>: B.1.1.7, the variant initially found in the UK in September; P.1, which was discovered in December; B.1.351, which was detected in samples from South Africa dating back to October; and B.1.617, a group of strains first spotted in India this winter. The first three share a mutation that affects the shape of the virus' spike protein, which it uses to invade cells. That may be why these variants are more transmissible.Studies have found that the B.1.1.7 variant is 50% to 70% more contagious than its viral predecessors. <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n579">Recent evidence</a> also suggests that people infected with this variant face <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-uk-coronavirus-variant-may-be-deadlier-2021-1">a higher risk of death</a> than those who get other strains. One potential reason is that people infected with B.1.1.7 tend to have <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.24.20248834v1">higher viral loads</a>, meaning they <a href="https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2021/05/24/science.abi5273">produce more viral particles</a> when they're infected. The same goes for the P.1 variant, which is 40% to 120% <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/216053/more-transmissible-evasive-sarscov2-variant-growing/">more transmissible</a> than earlier versions of the virus and possibly deadlier, though more research is needed to confirm that. <a href="https://www.sciencenews.org/article/covid-19-coronavirus-variants-reinfection-vaccination-efforts">An April study</a> found that people who got COVID-19 in Manaus, Brazil were nearly twice as likely to die after P.1 came to dominate the viral landscape in Brazil. But it's unclear whether that higher mortality rate is linked to the variant or <a href="https://www.sciencenews.org/article/covid-coronavirus-p1-variant-brazil-strain-transmission-immunity">the overburdened hospital system in Manaus</a>. P.1 has been detected in 51 countries.The B.1.351 variant, meanwhile, is estimated to be 50% more transmissible and has been found in 92 countries. But studies have not found it to be more lethal than the original virus.The variant first found in India, B.1.617, is in <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/variant-info.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fcases-updates%2Fvariant-surveillance%2Fvariant-info.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fact four distinct strains</a>, according to the CDC. The quickest spreader of the lot is B.1.617.2, which has spread to <a href="https://cov-lineages.org/global_report_B.1.617.2.html">50 countries</a> and is now the dominant form of the virus in the UK. That strain has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/double-mutant-coronavirus-variant-california-india-2021-4">a combination of mutations</a> that help it bind more tightly to cells and enable it to partially evade antibodies developed in response to an infection with the original coronavirus. There's no evidence these variants are deadlier, but the WHO has said B.1.617 could be more transmissible.<h2>Vaccines hold up well against variants</h2><div type="image" title="coronavirus india pandemic" height="1064" width="1500" msid="83062259" hostid="261"></div>The leading shots may still be slightly less effective against variants than against the original virus, but so far, it seems like they still protect people."There's a degree of reduction of efficacy, but it's going to be manageable," John Moore, an immunologist at Weill Cornell Medical College, <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2020/11/10/the-story-of-mrna-how-a-once-dismissed-idea-became-a-leading-technology-in-the-covid-vaccine-race/">told STAT</a>. "It's why we call these 'variants of concern,' and not 'variants of mass panic.'"Some shots seem to perform better than others, though - particularly against against the B.1.351 and P.1 strains. <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2104974">A recent study</a> from Qatar found that the Pfizer vaccine is 75% effective at stopping B.1.351 infections in the real world, while the AstraZeneca shot's effectiveness dropped to 10% in some South Africa trials. China's Sinovac vaccine, meanwhile, was found to be about <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-021-00556-5">50% effective</a> at stopping symptomatic COVID-19 in Brazil, where three-quarters of the infections were due to the P.1 variant.

One chart shows how COVID-19 vaccines stack up against 4 worrisome variants, including the one found in India

<ul><li><keyword id="6354814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="prime-minister-narendra-modi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword> is hopeful that the COVID-19 vaccine will be made available to the masses within the next few weeks. </li><li>He also revealed that the elderly, healthcare and frontline workers will be first to be immunised against the disease. </li><li>While India is a world leader in vaccine manufacturing, new models are being discussed to address the issue of cold storage capability and distribution, according to Modi. </li></ul>Prime Minister Narendra Modi is optimistic that India will be able to start rolling out its COVID-19 vaccine within the next few weeks. And once available, the elderly, healthcare and frontline workers will be the first to be immunised against the virus. "Nearly eight vaccines are on different stages of trial with their manufacturing assured in India. Three vaccines from India are at different stages of development. Experts think that the vaccine isn't too far away," he said during an all-party meeting with leaders to discuss the COVID-19 situation and vaccine development in the country on December 4. And, when it comes to issues of cold storage, Modi assured party leaders that new models are in the works — including a new software management tool called COVIN (<keyword id="8852380" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19-vaccine">Covid 19 Vaccine</keyword> Intelligence Network). It will show the current stock of the COVID-19 vaccine available and where it is stored in real-time. “India has the vaccine distribution expertise and capacity as well. We are much better placed as compared to other countries around the world,” said Modi explaining how India’s network will be leveraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine to the masses. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/rbi-governor-shaktikanta-das-believes-that-inflation-is-likely-to-remain-elevated-in-the-winter-months/articleshow/79559454.cms">RBI sees 7.5% GDP contraction for FY21 but expects inflation to remain elevated till March</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/sbis-mobile-banking-app-is-down-for-the-third-time-in-last-30-days/articleshow/79548953.cms">SBI’s mobile banking app is down for the third time in 30 days — digital services take a hit for the 25th time this year</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/ultratech-cements-5477-crore-expansion-plan-is-a-sign-that-birla-is-betting-on-a-faster-economic-recovery/articleshow/79549626.cms">UltraTech Cement's ₹5,477 crore expansion plan is a sign that Birla is betting on a faster economic recovery</a>

PM Modi hopeful that COVID-19 vaccine will be available in next few weeks — elderly, and frontline healthcare workers will be the first in line

<keyword id="95879" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="serum-institute-of-india" source="Orion">Serum Institute of India</keyword>'s Chief Executive Officer <keyword id="383467" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="adar-poonawalla" source="Orion">Adar Poonawalla</keyword> has said their <keyword id="10678894" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="covovax" source="Orion">Covovax</keyword> vaccine will get approval as a booster against COVID-19 in the next 10 to 15 days. The vaccine works very well against the <keyword id="1609796" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="omicron" source="Orion">Omicron</keyword> variant of coronavirus, <keyword id="25607" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="poonawalla" source="Orion">Poonawalla</keyword> told reporters on the sidelines of an event at the Bharti Vidyapeeth University here on Sunday. Asked about states and districts not getting Covishield vaccine, he said there is ample stock with the Union government for supply. "Covovax will be approved as a booster in the next 10-15 days. It is actually the best booster because it works very well against Omicron, more than Covishield," he said. Poonawalla said everyone was looking at India, not just in terms of healthcare but because the country managed to take care of a huge and diverse population and also helped 70 to 80 nations during the COVID-19 pandemic. "This was all possible because of the leadership of our central government, our state governments, healthcare workers, manufacturers, all of whom worked together with one common goal," he said. On the occasion, Poonawalla was conferred with the first Dr Pantangrao Kadam Memorial Award at the hands of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The event was held to mark the birth anniversary of Kadam, the late minister and education baron from western Maharashtra. Appealing to students who wished to pursue education abroad, Poonawalla said there was no place like India to fulfil dreams due to the presence of institutions like Bharti Vidyapeeth and others. "Even if you have to go abroad, come back as soon as possible," he said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/gautam-adani-aap-ki-adalat-interview-dhirubhai-ambani-is-my-role-model-mukesh-ambani-a-very-good-friend/articleshow/96828407.cms">Dhirubhai Ambani is my role model and Mukesh Ambani a very good friend, says Gautam Adani</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/online-mental-health-company-uses-chatgpt-to-help-respond-to-users-in-experiment-raising-ethical-concerns-around-healthcare-and-ai-technology/articleshow/96821802.cms">Online mental health company uses ChatGPT to help respond to users in experiment — raising ethical concerns around healthcare and AI technology</a>

You Searched For "india coronavirus vaccination" and got 8 results

BHU study on Covaxin side effects poorly designed, critically flawed: ICMR Director General

PTI

Should you be worried about the potential side-effects of the Covishield vaccine?

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India logs 2,876 new COVID-19 infections and 98 fatalities in last 24 hours

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A Texas pediatrician and professor developed a low-cost COVID-19 vaccine. India just granted it emergency use authorization.

Sarah Al-Arshani

Covaxin supply to government at ₹150 per dose is not sustainable, says Bharat Biotech

IANS

One chart shows how COVID-19 vaccines stack up against 4 worrisome variants, including the one found in India

Aylin Woodward

PM Modi hopeful that COVID-19 vaccine will be available in next few weeks — elderly, and frontline healthcare workers will be the first in line

Prabhjote Gill

Covovax vaccine to get approval as a booster in 10-15 days: Adar Poonawalla

PTI

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