Covaxin, Zydus’ kid tests on: Govt
No decision on granting indemnity to any foreign or Indian Covid vaccine-manufactures has been taken yet, the government said on Friday, underlining these decisions are to be taken “in the interest of nation and people”.
NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr VK Paul’s statement came over the issue of offering indemnity to Indian Covid-19 vaccine-makers.
He said the issue has come up in the context of foreign companies, specifically Pfizer, and the government is engaging with the US pharma major and others making such a demand.
“In principle, they (foreign manufacturers) expect indemnity to be given. This is what they have said has been the case all over the world. We have also checked with other countries and the World Health Organisation.
“Yes, indeed they have supplied vaccines only after such indemnities have been given. This appears to be the fact. Particular companies have requested and we are in negotiation with them but there is no decision at the moment,” Paul told media in response to a question.
Domestic vaccine major SII has also sought indemnity from liability for its vaccines, saying the rules should be same for all the companies.
NITI Aayog talks on future planning for orphaned kids
The NITI Aayog has held consultations and discussions with concerned ministries and various social service organisations regarding future planning for children orphaned by Covid-19, CEO Amitabh Kant said on Friday.
Kant tweeted the meeting was held with the Empowered Group-7, constituted by the Central government.
FPJ VIEW
It is good news that Serum Institute has received DGCI's nod to manufacture Sputnik V vaccine in India with riders. However, several states have started preparing to combat the possible third wave of COVID-19 pandemic. It must be noted that experts have warned that the third wave may affect people of different age groups along with children as anticipated. It is time, the authorities huddle and accelerate ways to get more and more people vaccinated. With 1,32,634 fresh cases, India's Covid-19 tally has climbed to 2,85,74,350, while the daily positivity slightly rose to 6.21 per cent, the health ministry said on Friday.
Children can’t be vaccinated currently, trials on below 18 underway, HC told
Sushil Batra
New Delhi
Centre through an affidavit on Friday informed the Delhi High Court on May 12, 2021, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) permitted Bharat Biotech to conduct clinical trials on healthy volunteers between 2 years to 18 years of age for its vaccine Covaxin.
The Centre submitted affidavits, saying, "The Companies manufacturing Covid-19 vaccination in India have given only "Emergency Use Authorization for vaccinating people of 18 years age and above, therefore, Covid vaccines are not recommended for persons/ children less than 18 years of age. This is also because of the fact that the clinical trial group during phase 1, phase 2 and phase 3 did not cover the children below 18 years of age.”
The affidavit has been filed in Delhi HC in response to a petition seeking direction to vaccinate all students of class 12 appearing for board exams.
Zydus Cadila, 1st Indian firm to get recommendation for clinical trials of antibodies cocktail: Sources
The only Indian company Zydus Cadila which claims to have developed neutralising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)-based cocktail to treat Covid-19 has been recommended to conduct clinical trials by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), according to sources.
“SEC gives a recommendation for the Phase I and II clinical trials of Zydus Cadila’s biological therapy ZRC-3308, a cocktail of two SARS-CoV-2-neutralising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that can emerge as one of the main treatments for mild COVID-19,” the sources said.
India has to buy time to ensure high coverage of jab job
New Delhi: India has to buy time to ensure that high coverage of vaccination against Covid-19 is achieved, the government said on Friday. If the containment measures, Covid-19 appropriate behaviour or vaccination pace slackens, cases can rise again, it said.
Data sharing is going on with the WHO to give recognition to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, the government said, adding that India was pursuing it and wanted to achieve it as soon as possible.
India has overtaken US in terms of the number of people who have received at least a single dose of the vaccine, it said.
Almost 68% decline has been noted in Covid-19 cases since the highest reported peak of cases on May 7, the government said. There has been a drop in active cases by over 21 lakh since the peak of active cases on May 10, it said.
Presently, there are 377 districts reporting less than 5% case positivity rate, the government said. “We have to buy time to ensure high coverage of vaccination against Covid-19 is achieved," it said. About 43% of 60 years plus population has been vaccinated, while 37% people above 45 years has been inoculated so far, the government said.
Rahul calls to save doctors, the saviours
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday tweeted doctors need protection from coronavirus as well as “BJP governments’ callousness”. His appeal was: “Save the saviours.” The appeal came in the context of the mass resignation by 3,000 junior doctors in MP after a 4-day strike in protest of BJP-led state government threatening them for demanding their rights as the corona warriors.
On the IMA giving a count of 624 doctors who died of Covid-19 in the second wave, Congress tweeted: “Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of these #CovidWarriors. The nation is forever indebted to them.” “It is unfortunate during 2nd wave, what India needed was thoughtful leadership, what we got instead was more tokenism and theatrics,” it added.
In another tweet on the BJP applauding UP Chief Minister Aditynath Yogi on managing pandemic "effectively," the Congress wondered if the applause was for
n Burying bodies in sand at the riverbeds “effectively”;
n Immersing bodies into rivers “effectively”;
n Silencing those grieving “effectively”;
n Hiding Covid-19 data “effectively”; and
n Destroying UP “effectively”. —Our Bureau
Punjab govt buckles under ‘vaccine scam’ charge, asks pvt hosps to return stock
Chandigarh: Under flak from the opposition for "diverting" vaccines to private hospitals, the Punjab government on Friday asked them to return all stock meant for the 18-44 age group. The dramatic turnabout came after opposition parties — SAD, AAP and BJP — slammed the Congress government for "selling" to private hospitals doses meant to be administered free.
"The order of providing one-time limited vaccine dose to 18-44 years age group population through private hospitals has not been taken in the right spirit and is hereby withdrawn," the government note said. "Further, it has been decided private hospitals should return forthwith all the vaccine doses available with them," Vikas Garg, the vaccination in charge, said. Once they get their own direct supplies from the manufacturers, the private hospitals will also return to the state government the doses they have already used up.
PM: Vax wastage high, must be brought down
New Delhi: The government is helping vaccine manufacturers get more production units, financing and supply of raw materials, the PMO said on Friday after PM Modi reviewed the progress of the country’s vaccination drive. Reviewing the status of vaccine wastage in states, Modi said the wastage numbers are still on a higher side and that steps need to be taken to bring them down. He was briefed about the availability of vaccines and the roadmap for ramping it up.
