New Delhi: Adopt Ayurvedic “immune boosters” such as Chyawanprash and drink haldi doodh (turmeric milk) and kadha (a concoction of various household spices), Dr V.K. Paul, member (health) NITI Aayog, said Tuesday, asking people with mild Covid symptoms to visit Ayurveda practitioners and follow their advice.
Dr Paul’s statement comes on a day fresh Covid-19 cases in the country breached 1,60,000-mark for the second consecutive day.
“To increase immunity during a pandemic, there is guidance from the government to adopt Ayurvedic products. Specific recommendations to remind you are Chyawanprash twice a day, have turmeric milk once a day — it is already very popular and should become more so. The third thing is the tulsi, dalchini (cinammon), kali mirch (black peppercorn) kadha (concoction), please use it. Also, adopt yoga,” Dr Paul said.
“The national task force saw how much it helps in post-Covid complications. Apart from that, if you have Covid, please talk to Ayurvedacharyas (practitioners of Ayurveda) and for mild or asymptomatic disease please follow their guidance. The immune boosters are for all.”
Dr Paul is a key member of the Modi government’s decision making body on the pandemic.
The concept of ‘immunity boosters‘ has often been a matter of debate in the scientific community. Moreover, there is little data available on the efficacy of Ayurvedic remedies in Covid patients.
The ‘immunity boosters’ were also part of an AYUSH ministry advisory released during the beginning of the pandemic last year. It was criticised in many quarters.
Also read: Vaccinations dip nearly 35% in 3 days, but Maharashtra says not enough stock to scale up drive
Remdesivir reports ‘disturbing’
Days after the Modi government banned export of the “investigational drug” Remdesivir, Dr Paul described as “disturbing” the reports of clamour for Remdesivir in various states.
“I want to make it clear that under no circumstances is it to be used in the home setting. It is included in the Covid-19 management protocol as an “investigational drug”. It needs to be used in the hospital, in people on oxygen. It is not to be procured by a patient from a chemist shop. It is disturbing what is happening,” Dr Paul said.
Both Dr Paul and Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan also said there is no shortage of the drug, if used appropriately.
Bhushan, however, side-stepped a question about reports of the drug being distributed by a political party in Gujarat. Although Gujarat was a part of the states that he highlighted as states of “concern”, he did not comment on multiple reports of crematoria overflowing there.
Also read: ‘Samples have tripled’: Labs struggle to give Covid test result on time as cases rise in Delhi
States of concern
Among the states that have been identified as states of “concern” are Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Kerala. Apart from these, the situation in three more states —Maharashtra, Punjab and Chhattisgarh — is grave.
Among the latter three, the positivity rate in Maharashtra has now touched 24.66% even as it is yet to achieve the 70-30 ratio of RT-PCR and antigen tests that is prescribed as “ideal”.
However, among the worst-hit states is also Tamil Nadu, which has always been conducting more RT-PCR tests than antigen tests.
‘No shortage of vaccines’
Bhushan said that currently there is no shortage of Covid vaccines in the country. “The problem is not of supply but of planning. We are giving four days supply to the big states and replenishing it every 4-5 days. Small states get 7-8 days vaccine supply that is replenished after that period. State governments need to see the status of doses on a daily basis just like the exercise we do in the health ministry every day,” Bhushan said.
He said states and Union Territories have so far received 13,10,90,370 doses of the vaccine of which the total consumption including wastage stands at 11,43,69,677. The balance available which states and UTs is 1,67,20,693 and doses which are on their way to states in the supply pipeline amount to 2,01,22,960.
So far, the total number of doses administered in the country stand at 10,85,33,085. In the last 24 hours 40,04,521 doses were administered.
Dr Paul, who also heads the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19, said that the decision to waive local clinical trial requirements for foreign-manufactured vaccines that have got regulatory clearances from USFDA, EMA, UK MHRA, PMDA Japan would ease the vaccine supply situation. He added that the first 100 people who get the vaccine would be followed up for a week.
(Edited by Neha Mahajan)
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What if some one says “Make sure the source of ignorant messages are vetted first before you even listen to it”
There you go, in Feb 2020 Gobar, Gaumutra, banging plates and lighting candles were supposed to protect from Covid-19. Then PM cares fund and Increased Fuel prices were to be used for better infrastructure.
Now, In April 2021, after total 13.6 lakh cases, 1.7 lakh deaths, with shortages of covid vaccine, Remdisivir, oxygen and hospital beds; YOGA, Turmeric and chyawanaprash are supposed to protect from covid, not Gobar, Gaumutra and PM cares fund. Wonder what is PM cares fund for?
Get vaccinated if vaccinations are available, wash hands, don’t touch your face, wear masks and maintain social distancing.
Don’t get complacent, we lost 1.7lakh people to this. Your family will only suffer your loss, for the govt your only a number.