The study conducted on 39 individuals who received two doses of Covaxin found that the vaccine induces memory T cells in about 85% of the subjects. The T cell responses are largely preserved against the variants, including the Delta variant. A small study conducted on 71 individuals who received two doses of Covaxin found that … Continue reading Covaxin elicits immune memory to virus up to six months, study finds
COVAXIN
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
Should healthy children be vaccinated on priority?
Scientists in India are divided over the issue of whether young, healthy children need to be vaccinated in the absence of data showing their risk of suffering from severe disease or death. While there are certain advantages of vaccinating as many people as possible, including young, healthy children, will targeting them result in adults, who … Continue reading Should healthy children be vaccinated on priority?
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
Can some States serve as a bellwether for the third wave in India?
Dr. Tarun Bhatnagar, Senior Scientist at Chennai’s National Institute of Epidemiology, Dr. Gautam Menon, Professor of Physics and Biology at Ashoka University and Dr. Giridhara Babu, epidemiologist at the Public Health Foundation of India, Bengaluru explain the advantages and shortcomings of using a sustained increase in new cases in three States to warn the beginning of … Continue reading Can some States serve as a bellwether for the third wave in India?
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
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
Covaxin offers protection against beta and delta variants, says study
A small study claims that Covaxin offers protection from both the delta (B.1.617.2) and beta (B.1.351) variants. The neutralisation potential in people vaccinated with Covaxin and found that there was a 3- and 2.7-fold reduction in neutralisation titers against the beta (B.1.351) and delta (B.1.617.2) variants, respectively A small study claims that Covaxin offers protection … Continue reading Covaxin offers protection against beta and delta variants, says study
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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