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
‘Pandemic far from over’ even as global death toll crosses five million
The global death toll from COVID-19 crossed five million on November 1 and yet the the global number of reported cases and deaths from COVID-19 is now increasing for the first time in two months. The first million deaths were recorded on September 8, 2020, nearly nine months after the first death occurred, while the two-million mark was breached three and a … Continue reading ‘Pandemic far from over’ even as global death toll crosses five million
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?
More studies show hybrid immunity provides better protection
One more study has shown that a combination of natural infection and a single dose of vaccine provides greater immunity than either natural infection without vaccination or full vaccination in infection-naïve individuals. Yet another study has shown that a combination of natural infection with a single dose of vaccine provides greater immunity than either natural … Continue reading More studies show hybrid immunity provides better protection
IIT Kanpur team identifies a novel target to treat prostate cancer
Researchers at IIT Kanpur have discovered that a particular gene (DLX1), which plays an important role in the development of jaws, skeleton, and interneurons in the brain, has an important role to play in the growth and development of prostate cancer. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have discovered that a particular … Continue reading IIT Kanpur team identifies a novel target to treat prostate cancer
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
SARS-CoV-2 virus less likely to develop resistance to molnupiravir: Gagandeep Kang
Preliminary data, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, shows molnupiravir can reduce risk of hospitalisation or death by 50% in non-hospitalised adult patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease. The trial included only those older than 60 years and have at least one comorbidity. On October 11, just 10 days after Merck announced via a press release … Continue reading SARS-CoV-2 virus less likely to develop resistance to molnupiravir: Gagandeep Kang
Explained: The discovery that led to organocatalysis gold rush
Catalysis is a term used to describe a process in the presence of a substance (the catalyst) controls and influences the rate and/or the outcome of the reaction. The substance — the catalyst — which helps in achieving this remains intact is not consumed during the reaction and neither becomes a part of the final … Continue reading Explained: The discovery that led to organocatalysis gold rush
Why three Nordic countries have suspended Moderna vaccine
On October 6, Sweden and Denmark, followed by Finland a day later, suspended the use of Moderna’s mRNA vaccine for younger age groups after reports pointed to an increase in the number of myocarditis and pericarditis cases. Why three Nordic countries have suspended Moderna vaccine. On October 6, Sweden and Denmark suspended the use of … Continue reading Why three Nordic countries have suspended Moderna vaccine
Nobel Prize for simple but brilliant discovery of asymmetric organocatalysis
An efficient, “precise, cheap, fast and environmentally friendly” way to develop new molecules using a simple yet novel concept of catalysis — asymmetric organocatalysis — has won this year’s Nobel Prize for chemistry. An efficient, “precise, cheap, fast and environmentally friendly” way to develop new molecules using a simple yet novel concept of catalysis — … Continue reading Nobel Prize for simple but brilliant discovery of asymmetric organocatalysis
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