No Choice Between Covishield & Covaxin: Is that Problematic?

 But experts and even HCWs, raise questions on efficacy, transparency, and lack of data.

People will not have a choice between the two COVID vaccines that will be rolled out on 16th January across India. Speaking at a press conference on January 12, the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan gave examples of how vaccines have been rolled out around the world.

"In no country is there an option available regarding choice of vaccines. We would be staggering our supply orders," he said.

Even as over 45 countries have started the process of inoculating its populations against the novel coronavirus, many have run into problems linked to supply and sluggish distribution.

Elaborating on this, Dr VK Paul, member (health),Niti Ayog, said, "All the vaccines in the world used currently against COVID-19 have been cleared under the emergency-use framework. As we go ahead, we will have more options. India has also been able to get these vaccines at very competitive prices.’’

But experts and even HCWs who are first in line to get the vaccine, raise questions on efficacy, transparency, and lack of data.

Covaxin No Longer a 'Back Up?'

On January 13, Covaxin doses, manufactured by Bharat Biotech, reached 10 cities across the country. The government has inked a deal with the pharma major for nearly 55 lakh doses, at a cost of Rs 295/dose. Of these nearly 17.5 lakh doses will be provided for free.

At the time of the approvals given to the two vaccines, various experts, including Dr Bhargava and Dr Randeep Guleria of AIIMS had said that Covaxin will remain a 'back up' till its efficacy data from the ongoing phase 3 trials is made available.

Covaxin was given a restricted approval by the Drugs Controller General of India, coded in a complicated language: “Grant of permission for restricted use in emergency situation in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode, to have more options for vaccinations, especially in case of infection by mutant strains.”

Speaking with FIT at the time, Dr Guleria had said, "If one reads what’s been shared, the vaccine has been approved for ‘emergency situation out of abundance of precaution.’ I think because of what is happening in the US, UK and Europe, if India has a surge in cases, and an emergency situation arises, we will need more doses and there is no drug available, then this vaccine may be made available. Otherwise it will be Covishield that will be used."

With the vaccine roll-out starting on January 16, and both Covaxin and Covishield already dispatched, it's clear that for the government, Covaxin is no 'back up,' a term that had at the time irked Dr Krishna Ella, CEO of Bharat Biotech.

The government has defended its stance, with Dr Paul saying the vaccine has been tested on "1000s of people and it is safe."

National Mathematics Day 2020 Tomorrow; Know History, Significance

 

National Mathematics Day 2020 will be celebrated tomorrow, December 22, to mark Srinivasa Ramanujan’s birthday, 'the man who knew infinity'.

New Delhi: 

National Mathematics Day is celebrated every year on December 22 to recognize the achievements of the Indian Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan who was born on this date in 1887. In 2012, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had declared December 22 as National Mathematics Day.

Srinivasa Ramanujan was born at Erode, Tamil Nadu in a Tamil Brahmin Iyengar family. Ramanujan joined the Government College in Kumbakonam in 1903. In college, he failed the exam due to his negligence for non-mathematical subjects.

In 1912, he started working as a clerk in the Madras Port Trust where his mathematical knowledge was recognized by a colleague who was also a mathematician. The said colleague referred Ramanujan to Professor GH Hardy, Trinity College, Cambridge University.

Ramanujan joined the Trinity College a few months before World War I began. In 1916, he received a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. He was elected to the London Mathematical Society in 1917.

Next year, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for his research on Elliptic Functions and theory of numbers. In the same year, in October, he became the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College.

Ramanujan returned to India in 1919 and a year later, he breathed his last at the age of 32.

In 2015, the movie 'The Man Who Knew Infinity' was released based on the biography of the Srinivasa Ramanujan. It describes the mathematician's life in India, after he joined Cambridge University during World War 1 and his journey towards establishing the famed mathematical theories.

COVID-19: All you need to know about new virus variant

 The PHE said that they know that mutations in the spike protein, the part of the virus that makes it infectious, can change how the virus interacts with human cells. 

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, a new variant of the virus has been detected in the United Kingdom (UK), that has resulted in several countries closing their borders and suspending their flights, besides other restrictions.

According to Public Health England (PHE), the new strain transmits more easily than the previous variant but there is no evidence that it is more likely to cause severe disease or mortality.

They said that the data from Whole Genome Sequencing, epidemiology and modelling suggest the new variant 'VUI – 202012/01' (the first variant under investigation in December 2020) transmits more easily than other strains.

"We currently have no evidence that the variant is more likely to cause severe disease or mortality – but we are continuing investigations to understand this better," the PHE said.

As per them, the way to control this virus is the same and it will not spread if people avoid close contact with others.

"Wash your hands, wear a mask, keep your distance from others, and reduce your social contacts," PHE added.

The PHE said that they know that mutations in the spike protein, the part of the virus that makes it infectious, can change how the virus interacts with human cells. However, they do not yet know the mechanism for this increase in transmission.

"The evidence shows that infection rates in geographical areas where this particular strain has been circulating have increased faster than expected, and the modelling evidence has demonstrated that this variant has a higher transmission rate than other variants in current circulation," they said.

They stated that the backwards tracing using the genetic evidence suggests this variant emerged in September 2020 and then circulated at very low levels in the population until mid-November.

The increase in cases linked to the new variant first came to light in late November when PHE was investigating why infection rates in Kent were not falling despite national restrictions. 

"We then discovered a cluster linked to this variant spreading rapidly into London and Essex. Evidence of increased transmissibility was provided to NERVTAG and ministers on December 18," the PHE noted.

Over 1,100 cases with this variant were identified by the end of December's second week, predominantly in the South and East of England.

As of December 21, the vast majority of cases identified are in London, the South East and the East of England.

They also said that there is currently no evidence to suggest that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine would not protect people against the new strain and said that further laboratory work is currently being undertaken as a priority to understand this.

Meanwhile, few countries across the world have also reported the new virus variant. Australia's federal health minister Greg Hunt said on Monday that the new strain has been detected in a small number of cases, The Guardian reported.

The health ministry in Italy has also said that it detected a patient with the new COVID-19 strain. 

Countries including India, France, Russia, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Irish Republic, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Switzerland, Kuwait, Oman and Canada have already postponed their flights to the UK.

On the other hand, oil prices and stock markets also plummeted on Monday due to the effect of the new coronavirus strain.

Brent crude was down $2.23, or 4.3%, to $50.03 a barrel by 1308 GMT while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down $2.10, or 4.3%, to $47.00 a barrel.

Both contracts had fallen more than $3 earlier in the session, their biggest daily drop in 6 months.

"Reports of a new strain of the coronavirus has weighed on risk sentiment and oil. New mobility restrictions across Europe are also not helping as European oil demand will suffer," said UBS oil analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

"Investors need to be mindful that the road to higher oil demand and prices will remain bumpy," he added.

Brent had climbed above $50 last week for the first time since March amid optimism stemming from the rollouts of COVID-19 vaccines.

The Investor wealth also eroded by Rs 6.59 lakh crore on Monday as equities tanked after the new strain of the COVID-19 virus. The 30-share BSE Sensex plunged 1,406.73 points or 3 per cent to close at 45,553.96. The benchmark hit an all-time high of 47,055.69 during the session.

Following the sharp selling, the market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms plummeted by Rs 6,59,313.65 crore to Rs 1,78,79,323.05 crore.

"Brutal bloodbath witnessed in today's session after a new coronavirus strain was found in Britain. Market extended losses in late afternoon session, tracking sell-off in the European markets amid concern of fresh travelling lockdown restrictions across countries," said Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director, Choice Broking.

He added, "Uncertainties over the Brexit deal also dented the investors' sentiments."

Regarding the Brexit which is due to expire on December 31, Sadiq Khan, London mayor, urged the UK government to seek an extension to the Brexit transition period. 

Khan said, "With major disruption at Kent now inevitable, I'm urging the Government to officially seek an extension to the Brexit transition period. Securing our key supply chains and fighting the coronavirus pandemic requires the full and undivided efforts of ministers more than ever before."

Covid-19: Pfizer to price vaccine at 'little out-of-pocket expenses' for Indians

 

• Pfizer said that it will arrange the logistics, including the cold storage, for its vaccine that requires -70 degree Celsius
• The company said that its pricing in India, like other countries, will vary depending on the advanced commitment the government makes and volumes it procures.

New Delhi: Pfizer said that its mRNA vaccine will be priced in a way that will help the Indian government to ensure supply at little or no out-of-pocket expenses for people when the immunisation programme starts.

“We will price in a way that can help governments to ensure that there is little to no out-of-pocket costs for their populations. We remain committed to engaging with the Government of India and explore opportunities to make this vaccine available for use in the country," Pfizer said in a statement.

The government, however, has so far not shown interest in procuring the vaccine from the company despite meetings between its management and government officials, a source in the know said. Part of the hesitation in the government is because of the ultra-low temperature storage conditions of -70 degree Celsius required for the vaccine.

Pfizer, on its part, has said that it will arrange the logistics, including the cold storage, for its vaccine. In a statement earlier this month, the company said its “specially-designed, temperature-controlled thermal shippers, in which doses will arrive, can be used as temporary storage units".

The shipper maintains storage condition -70°C±10°C for 10 days unopened which allows for transportation globally to ensure all patients have access. At hospitals, the vaccine can be stored for five days at refrigerated 2-8°C conditions.

The company said that its pricing in India, like other countries, will vary depending on the advanced commitment the government makes and volumes it procures, as well as “equity and affordability". In the US, the company has priced the vaccine at $19.5 ( ₹1,440) per dose.

While Pfizer has not declared its pricing for India, the cost in the US is over six times than of the $3 per dose Serum Institute of India is expected to charge the government for Covishield, its version of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca plc and University of Oxford.

The government is counting on the launch of Serum Institute’s Covishield next month, along with indigenous vaccines from Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila and Russia’s Sputnik V for its mass vaccinations. All four vaccines require only 2 to 8 degree Celsius normal storage conditions, and, barring Zydus’ three-dose shot, all others are two dose vaccines.

Pfizer, Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech have approached the Drug Controller General of India V.G. Somani for emergency licensure for their vaccine. However, Pfizer sought more time from an independent subject expert committee tasked with vetting the proposals, while the panel asked Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech to come back with more data.

According to an official in the apex regulatory body Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech have not made fresh submissions yet and Pfizer has so far been given another date for hearing.

Groundbreaking For New Parliament Today, PM Modi To Attend: 10 Points

 

The proposed four-storied building would sprawl over an area of 64,500 sq meters and cost an estimated ₹ 971 crore.

New Delhi: The symbolic building of the new parliament building on the Central Vista will begin today, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the groundbreaking ceremony at the heart of Delhi near India Gate. The actual construction, however, cannot begin immediately, with a petition challenging the project pending in Supreme Court. The new parliament building is the key piece of the ₹ 20,000-crore Central Vista project, which aims to build and refurbish the government buildings on part of the 13.4-km Rajpath that stretches from the presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan to the iconic war memorial India Gate.

1. The ceremony will begin at 12:55 pm, bhoomi poojan and the laying of foundation stone will take place at 1 pm. The Prime Minister will address the people at 2.15 pm.

2. The proposed four-storied building would sprawl over an area of 64,500 sq meters and cost an estimated ₹ 971 crore. The construction is expected to be completed in time for the country's 75th Independence Day in August 2022.

3. The proposed building at Central vista will have seating capacity for 888 members in the Lok Sabha Chamber with an option to increase to 1224 Members during Joint Sessions. The Rajya Sabha chamber will have a seating capacity for 384 members. The increased capacity has been made in view of future. At present, the Lok Sabha has a sanctioned strength of 543 members and Rajya Sabha 245.

4. Each Member of Parliament will be provided with a 40 sq m office space in the redeveloped Shram Shakti Bhawan, which will be completed by 2024. The new building will also showcase the country's glorious heritage, with contributions from artisans and sculptors from across the country.

5. The need for a new parliament building was felt in view of the limitations of the current one, which was built in the British period. With the depth, scope and complexity of legislative and parliamentary work increasing over the years, many members have expressed the need for modern, hi-tech facilities.

6. The existing building, however, cannot be upgraded to accommodate modern communication, security and earthquake safety without causing damage to the 93-year-old structure. It will be conserved as it is an archaeological asset of the country, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had said.

7. The existing Parliament House was opened on 18 January 1927 after six years of construction. The giant circular building with its 144 sandstone columns was designed by Sir Edward Lutyens, who also designed the heart of Delhi – from the seat of the government in the North Block to the iconic Connaught Place.

8. Last week, the Supreme Court had pulled up the government, accusing it of "pushing forward aggressively" with the project when the decision in the matter is pending. "You can lay the foundation stone, you can carry on paperwork but no construction or demolition, no cutting down any trees," the court had said.

9. The Central Vista project will be aligned along Rajpath -- the 13.4-km road lined with parks on both sides that stretches from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate.

10. At the end of it, on the banks of Yamuna, will stand the Nav Bharat Udyan -- a 20-acre park with an iconic structure and infotainment facilities that will showcase the country's rich historical and cultural heritage and scientific achievements. It will symbolize the country's unity in diversity and aspirations of the New India, the government has said.

Farmers' Protest LIVE Updates: Protesters Call Dharna on December 14, Threaten to Block Remaining Delhi Highways After Rejecting Govt Proposal

 Farmers’ Protest LIVE Updates: Farmer leaders on Wednesday rejected the government's proposal to amend three controversial farm laws, and announced that they would intensify their agitation by blocking the Jaipur-Delhi and the Delhi-Agra expressways by Saturday, and escalating it to a nationwide protest on December 14. Farmers have been demonstrating since late last month over reforms enacted in September that loosened rules around the sale, pricing and storage of farm produce that had protected farmers from an unfettered free market for decades. "The farmers have rejected the government's proposals," Darshan Pal, president of Krantikari Kisan Union, told reporters after the meeting of over 30 farmers' unions. Pal said the farmers wanted nothing less than a complete withdrawal of the legislations. He said the new draft contained what had already been proposed to them by Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar in his previous meetings with farmer leaders.

Farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka, too, said there was nothing new in the government's proposal, and that it was "completely rejected" by the 'Sanyukta Kisan Committee'. If the three farm laws are not scrapped, the farmers will block all the roads leading to Delhi one by one, Kakka said. Union leaders termed the proposal an "insult" to the farmers of the country. They, however, said if the government sends a fresh proposal of talks, they may consider it. The sixth round of talks between the government and farm union leaders scheduled for Wednesday was cancelled. According to the union leaders, a new ‘Delhi Chalo' (March to Delhi) call is being given to all farmers in north India for December 14, while those in the south will be asked to protest at district headquarters. They said all toll plazas across the country will be made toll-free on December 12.

The Centre's proposal was sent to the farmers a day after Union home minister Amit Shah met representatives of 13 unions over the contentious legislations. In the proposal, the government had offered to give a "written assurance" to the farmers that the existing Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime for crop procurement will continue. The government also said it was ready to provide all necessary clarifications on their concerns about the new farm laws enacted in September. It did not, however, mention anything about the main demand of protesting farmers to repeal the laws. The government had also proposed to make necessary amendments on at least seven issues, including one to allay fears about the weakening of the mandi system.

PM Modi seeks to quell concerns on farm laws

 

Farmers say the reforms would make them vulnerable to exploitation by big corporations, erode their bargaining power and weaken the government’s procurement system, whereby the government buys staples, such as wheat and rice, at guaranteed prices.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sought to dispel concerns about recently enacted farm laws that he said had opened up new opportunities for cultivators, in the backdrop of protests by farmers in Punjab and Haryana who have marched to the Capital.

"New dimensions are being added to agriculture and its related activities in India. The agriculture reforms in the past few days have also now opened new doors of possibilities for our farmers,” Modi said in his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat.

Decades-old demands by farmers that political parties at various times had promised would be fulfilled are now being met with Parliament having passed the three farm laws after rigorous brainstorming, Modi said.

“These reforms have not only broken shackles of farmers but have also given new rights and opportunities for them. These rights started mitigating problems that were being faced by farmers in a short span of time,” he said.

Farmers want the Modi government to revoke the three contentious laws approved by Parliament in September. The laws essentially change the way India’s farmers do business by creating free markets, as opposed to a network of decades-old, government-controlled agricultural markets.

Together, the laws allow businesses to freely trade farm produce outside the so-called government-controlled “mandi system”, permit private traders to stockpile large quantities of essential commodities for future sales, which earlier only government-approved agents could, and lay down new rules for contract farming.

Farmers say the reforms would make them vulnerable to exploitation by big corporations, erode their bargaining power and weaken the government’s procurement system, whereby the government buys staples, such as wheat and rice, at guaranteed prices.

The Prime Minister cited the example of a Maharashtra-based farmer, Jitendra Bhoiji, who used the new law to recover money that was owed to him. After failing to get the amount that was due to him even four months after selling his produce, Bhoji invoked a provision that it was mandatory to pay a farmer within three days of the purchase.

“If the payment is not made, the farmer can make a complaint. Under the law there is a provision that the SDM {sub-divisional magistrate} of the area must address the complaint of the farmer within a month,” the PM said.

The Prime Minister also cited the example of Mohammad Aslam in Rajasthan’s Baran who is creating awareness among farmers by updating them about the day-to-day rates in the local agricultural markets. Aslam is the CEO of a farm producers federation. A third example that the Prime Minister cited was that of Virendra Yadav, who returned from Australia to Haryana‘s Kaithal and has found a solution to farm stubble burning.

Instead of burning stubble, which hurts air quality, Yadav has been selling the stubble to paper mills and agro energy plants and has made a profit in two years.

With thousands of farmers continuing their protest against the Centre’s new laws, Union home minister Amit Shah said in Hyderabad on Sunday said they were meant for the welfare of farmers and called their agitation apolitical. He told reporters: “The new farm laws are meant for the welfare of farmers. After a long time the farmer is going to come out of a locked system. Whoever wants to oppose it politically, let them do it. I have never said the farmers’ protest is political and would never say (that it is political).”

The Congress party, meanwhile, continued to attack the government over the farm laws. Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said on Sunday that the new laws were “anti-farmer” and their endorsement by the PM raises questions over the outcome of upcoming talks between the government and farmers’ leaders.

"In this cold weather, the agriculture minister is making the farmers wait till December 3 to speak to them…PM Modi in his Mann ki Baat said that the three laws are right for the farmers, then what is the point of talks,” Surjewala said.

The Congress leader also demanded an apology from the Bharatiya Janata Party for equating farmers with terrorists.

“Chief Minister of Haryana, ML Khattar, called them atanki (terrorists), head of the IT Cell Amit Malviya has dubbed them Khalistani. The Modi government and the Haryana government have filed over 12,000 cases against farmers who had opted for a Gandhian protest,” Surjewala said.

He alleged that the government wanted to benefit big business and not small farmers.Surjewala said the Congress wanted all three laws to be suspended and the cases filed against farmers to be taken back. The PM should hold talks with the representatives of farmers protesting in Delhi, he said.

“The law says farmers can move around to other states to sell their produce. When they are not able to sell their produce properly in their own area, then how will this benefit them and with contract farming, the government has started another kind of zamindari law. The farmers, under contract farming, won’t be able to fight against the corporate houses, who will become their owners,” Surjewala said.