While data from a homologous booster clinical trial has now become available for Covaxin, there is no supporting data from India for Covishield. Yet, Covishield makes for up to 90% of vaccines administered to adults so far in India. On January 5, five days before the roll-out of the ‘protection dose’, scientifically called a third … Continue reading Are there clinical trial data to support a homologous vaccine booster?
Serum Institute of India
India falters in administering the second dose
Even as the daily fresh cases have been on an overall downward trend since it peaked in early May, the pace of vaccination has slowed down sharply since hitting a peak in September. Only 38% have been fully vaccinated though nearly 80% of all eligible adults have received the first dose. Nearly 43% of people … Continue reading India falters in administering the second dose
India scripts history with one billion vaccine doses administered
India could have probably reached this grand milestone earlier if precious time was not wasted by asking States to procure vaccines directly from the two manufacturers at a higher cost to vaccinate the 18-44 age group. India scripted history on October 21 when the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across the country crossed the … Continue reading India scripts history with one billion vaccine doses administered
With nearly 45% vaccinated with one dose, India to finally resume exporting vaccines
India's decision to resume vaccine exports comes after the Government severely restricted exports in March and stopped them in mid-April. The renewed export drive will prioritise COVAX and neighbouring countries. In a welcome move to address the huge vaccine inequity globally, India will, from October, resume exporting much needed COVID-19 vaccines. The decision comes after the … Continue reading With nearly 45% vaccinated with one dose, India to finally resume exporting vaccines
As U.S approves booster shots, under 3.5% vaccinated in Africa
Of the nearly 6 billion doses administered globally, only 2% have been in Africa; about 80% have been administered in high- and upper-middle income countries. Less than 3.5% of people in Africa have been fully vaccinated so far compared with 54% of the total population in the U.S. Unkept promises of supplying vaccines to COVAX, … Continue reading As U.S approves booster shots, under 3.5% vaccinated in Africa
India caught asleep at the wheel with Green Pass for Covishield
The definitive steps taken by the EU in issuing digital vaccination certificates since January this year was well known. Yet, it was only on June 29, two days before the Green Pass became effective in the European Union that India woke to reality. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar tweeted saying he had taken up the … Continue reading India caught asleep at the wheel with Green Pass for Covishield
Full vaccination with AstraZeneca offers 92% protection against hospitalisation with delta variant
With the delta variant, both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines offer high protection against hospitalisation. One dose of AstraZeneca vaccine offered 71% protection against hospitalisation, while two doses offered 92% protection. In the case of Pfizer vaccine, the protection against hospitalisation was 94% after one dose and 96% after two doses. A real-world study undertaken by … Continue reading Full vaccination with AstraZeneca offers 92% protection against hospitalisation with delta variant
Amidst shortage, allotting 25% of vaccines produced to private hospitals will aggravate vaccine inequity
In the revised vaccine policy of June 7, private hospitals can continue to procure 25% of vaccines produced by the two manufacturers at a far higher price. This goes against the grain of the universal free vaccination to achieve vaccine equity. Vaccine procurement should ideally be 100% by the government and provided through public and … Continue reading Amidst shortage, allotting 25% of vaccines produced to private hospitals will aggravate vaccine inequity
Two vaccine doses offer 77% protection against hospitalisation, CMC Vellore study finds
A study of health-care workers of CMC Vellore found that two doses of COVID-19 vaccine offer 65% protection against infection, 77% protection against hospitalisation, 92% protection against oxygen care, and 94% protection from ICU admission. Even a singe dose offered significant protection against infection and hospitalisation. Over 93% of individuals received Covishield. A study carried … Continue reading Two vaccine doses offer 77% protection against hospitalisation, CMC Vellore study finds
Study finds Covishield produces more antibodies than Covaxin, but scientists point out serious flaws with the preprint
A head-to-head evaluation of immune responses to spike protein after the first and second dose of Covishield and Covaxin in 515 health-care workers show that both vaccines elicited good immune responses after two doses. Higher seropositivity rate and higher median antibody titer values are seen for Covishield compared with Covaxin. However, the preprint has several … Continue reading Study finds Covishield produces more antibodies than Covaxin, but scientists point out serious flaws with the preprint
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