This year’s Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine has been jointly awarded to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian from the University of California, San Francisco and Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, respectively for their seminal work in identifying the gene and understanding the mechanism through which our body perceives temperature and pressure. This year’s … Continue reading Nobel Prize for sensing heat
Soon mRNA vaccines for young children who rarely suffer from severe disease
Young children rarely suffer from severe disease, yet mRNA vaccines might soon be greenlighted by the FDA after Pfizer submitted Phase-2/3 data for initial review. The company expects to submit data of children 2-4 years and 6 months to 1 year by the end of the year. Vaccinating young children while even health-care workers in … Continue reading Soon mRNA vaccines for young children who rarely suffer from severe disease
mRNA vaccine manufacturers loathe to share know-how
Moderna, which was funded $1 billion for research by the U.S. government, said in October 2020 that it will not enforce COVID-19-related patents against those making vaccines intended to combat the pandemic. But the company has refused to transfer technology to the South African hub to manufacture its mRNA vaccines for distribution to the African … Continue reading mRNA vaccine manufacturers loathe to share know-how
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
Why countries have abandoned the ‘Zero Covid’ strategy
When SARS-CoV-2 virus began spreading globally early last year, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, like mainland China, adopted a “Zero COVID” strategy. A few countries have already abandoned this strategy with the Delta variant changing the ground reality. When SARS-CoV-2 virus began spreading globally early last year, Singapore, Vietnam, … Continue reading Why countries have abandoned the ‘Zero Covid’ strategy
Why the priority should be to reopen primary schools
Based on Indian as well as global data, the risk of severe disease and death is rare in adolescents and children younger than 12 years. Adults have almost 15 times higher risk of death and severe disease compared with children below 18 years. Even susceptibility to infection is low in younger children. At least six … Continue reading Why the priority should be to reopen primary schools
Natural immunity is superior to protection conferred by vaccination but not a safe, preferable option
A large real-world study found natural immunity offers superior and long-lasting protection than vaccination. But vaccination was still equally effective in preventing deaths. The study does not tell if the level and duration of protection varies depending on the severity of the disease, and whether asymptomatic infection confers the same protection as those with the … Continue reading Natural immunity is superior to protection conferred by vaccination but not a safe, preferable option
Misplaced priorities: Focus is on record vaccinations a day than consistency
Once again the government has turned daily vaccinations into a record-creating event instead of focusing on consistently administering a large number of doses each day. On August 27, India set a new record for a single day’s vaccination when 10.7 million doses were administered, a steep increase from 8.3 million vaccinations on previous two days … Continue reading Misplaced priorities: Focus is on record vaccinations a day than consistency
India unlikely to witness a huge surge in cases in September
While NITI Aayog has predicted four-five lakh cases a day in September, the ground reality suggests otherwise. Daily cases in all States except Kerala have been steadily declining since the second wave peaked in early May. Unlike in other countries such as the U.S. which is witnessing a surge in cases caused by the Delta … Continue reading India unlikely to witness a huge surge in cases in September
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