India's Covid-19 tally has increased to 3,34,17,390 while the death toll due to the disease has climbed to 4,44,529, according to the Union Health Ministry data Saturday.
An NYT investigation quotes ICMR scientists saying the medical body's forecast in September 2020 was 'tragically wrong', claims govt contributed to Covid complacency.
ICMR analysis, based on outcome of all vaccines administered in India till 15 August, is important because India has among the longest gaps between Covishield doses.
The ICMR study was conducted on 354 vaccinated patients of whom 241 had taken one dose, and 113 had taken two. Study also included 185 unvaccinated Covid patients.
Experts say the biggest mistake was allowing the virus to travel freely into the rural areas, adding that eradication of the virus now is too far-fetched an idea.
The surveys conducted in consultation with ICMR can produce findings that can be used to guide objective and evidence-based public health response to Covid, the health ministry said.
The ICMR has increasingly drawn criticism from India's doctors and scientists, who have questioned its drug recommendations & lack of transparency on data related to variants.
Dr Balram Bhargava told the panel that ICMR is entitled to 5% royalty on sale price of Covaxin & said it could be possible to break chain of infection if 30% of people get even 1 dose.
Bharat Biotech submitted phase 3 trial data of Covaxin to the Drug Controller General of India. The data is crucial to ascertaining the efficacy of a vaccine.
The Army has plans for a technology thrust in the near term, including the use of AI to support decision-making. While well-intentioned, this may have unintended consequences.
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