CEO of world’s largest vaccine maker says India is better equipped to deal with pandemics now, adds a global treaty is important to allow resource-sharing across borders.
Private hospitals in Pune municipal limits are staring at major vaccine wastage, blame free government drives and strict rules for booster eligibility and second dose gap.
Covishield and Covaxin have been fully authorised only for use in adults, and can only be used in a ‘programmatic setting’, which means you’ll still have to register on CoWin.
Approval was granted under New Drugs & Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 citing conditions that Bharat Biotech & SII will submit clinical trials' data & vaccines will be supplied for programmatic setting.
Bharat Biotech's Covaxin is currently priced at Rs 1,200 per dose while SII's Covishield costs Rs 780 at private facilities. Both the vaccines are only authorised for emergency use.
Preliminary data released by AstraZeneca shows Vaxzevaria vaccine, administered in India as Covishield, increased immune response to Beta, Delta, Alpha, Gamma variants after third dose.
Trial on third Covaxin shot ongoing, results to be out soon, says Bharat Biotech. ICMR officials say 9-month interval based on studies that show antibodies last 6-13 months.
Only Covaxin will be used for vaccinating an estimated 7.4 crore 15-18-year-olds, so finding a slot for the first shot of the indigenous vaccine could get more difficult.
Antibody levels against Omicron were higher in people who had taken a 3rd Covishield dose than in people who’d had other Covid variants, found a preprint study by Oxford researchers.
Along with crash in value of UST and Luna coins, Indian market for crypto assets also reeling under strict control imposed by government, with the imposition of TDS on all crypto transactions.
Doval's comments came at 4th Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan attended by national security advisors from Tajikistan, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan & China.
Global order is in flux, and India is being wooed by all. It opens up economic, strategic & military possibilities unimaginable till recently. It is for India to take this opportunity.