India reports 50,848 new COVID19 cases, 68,817 discharges & 1,358 deaths in last 24 hours as per a report by the Union Health Ministry.
Total cases: 3,00,28,709
Total discharges: 2,89,94,855
Death toll: 3,90,660
Active cases: 6,43,194
A new study conducted by a group of scientists has found that Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine offers strong neutralising antibody responses to the virus in baby rhesus macaques without any adverse effects.
The strong strong immunity response elicited by the vaccines in 16 baby rhesus macaques persisted for 22 weeks, the results published in Science Immunology said, as per an Indian Express report.
To evaluate SARS-CoV-2 infant vaccination, the researchers immunised two groups of 8 infant rhesus macaques at 2.2 months of age and 4 weeks later.
Each animal received either a preclinical version of the Moderna mRNA vaccine or a protein-based vaccine developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), US, the report said.
“The level of potent antibodies we observed were comparable to what has been seen in adult macaques, even though the doses were 30 micrograms instead of the 100 microgram adult doses,” said one of the author Kristina De Paris, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of North Carolina.
The researchers are conducting further challenge studies to better understand the potential long-lasting protection of the vaccines.
The authors said that vaccines for young children are likely important and safe tools to curtail the pandemic.
Moderna had last month said that its COVID-19 vaccine strongly protects kids as young as 12.
The company has also filed an application with US Food and Drug Administration, European and Canadian regulators for an emergency use authorization for its vaccine to be given to adolescents.
The company had earlier announced results from a trial of 3,700 12-to-17-year-olds that found the two-dose regimen was safe and highly effective.
Both Pfizer and Moderna have begun testing in even younger children, from age 11 down to 6-month-old babies.
India reported 53,256 new coronavirus infections, the lowest in 88 days, with 1,422 fresh fatalities, the lowest in 65 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.
Total active cases: 7,02,887
Death toll: 3,88,135
Total cases: 25,99,35,221
Total vaccination: 28,00,36,898
India reports 62,480 new Covid cases along with 88,977 discharges and 1,587 deaths in last 24 hours, as per a report by the health ministry.
Total cases: 2,97,62,793
Total discharges: 2,85,80,647
Death toll: 3,83,490
Active cases: 7,98,656
Total Vaccination: 28,89,60,399
Scientists in Ireland have identified how and why some Covid-19 patients can develop life-threatening clots, which could lead to targeted therapies that prevent this from happening.
The study, led by researchers from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) University of Medicine and Health Sciences and published in the ‘Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis’, found that the balance between a molecule that causes clotting, called von Willebrand Factor (VWF), and its regulator called ADAMTS13, is severely disrupted in patients with severe Covid-19.
Previous research has established that blood clotting is a significant cause of death in patients with Covid-19.
“
Our research helps provide insights into the mechanisms that cause severe blood clots in patients with Covid-19, which is critical to developing more effective treatments,” said Dr Jamie O’Sullivan, the study’s corresponding author and research lecturer within the Irish Centre for Vascular Biology at RCSI.
“While more research is needed to determine whether targets aimed at correcting the levels of ADAMTS13 and VWF may be a successful therapeutic intervention, it is important that we continue to develop therapies for patients with Covid-19. Covid-19 vaccines will continue to be unavailable to many people throughout the world, and it is important that we provide effective treatments to them and to those with breakthrough infections,” he said.
To understand why that clotting happens, the researchers analysed blood samples that were taken from patients with Covid-19 in the Beaumont Hospital Intensive Care Unit in Dublin.
India reports 67,208 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours along with 2,330 deaths and 1,03,570 discharges.
Total cases: 2,97,00,313
Total discharges: 2,84,91,670
Death toll: 3,81,903
Active cases: 8,26,740 (lowest after 71 days)
Total Vaccination: 26,55,19,251
Pregnant and postpartum women were more severely affected during the second wave of COVID-19 as compared to the first with symptomatic cases and the case fatality rate being significantly higher among this category this year, according to a study by ICMR.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said cases related to pregnant and postpartum women during the first wave (April 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021) and during the second wave (February 1 to May 14, 2021) of the pandemic in India were compared.
“Symptomatic cases were significantly higher at 28.7 per cent in the second wave (111/387), compared to the first wave (162/1143) when the proportion was 14.2 per cent,” ICMR said.
“The case fatality rate (CFR) among pregnant women and postpartum women was 5.7 per cent (22/387) during the second wave, which was significantly higher compared to the scenario encounter in the first wave with CFR 0.7 per cent (8/1143),” it said.
The total number of maternal deaths during both the waves of the pandemic was two per cent (30/1530), of which the majority (28/30) were due to COVID-19 pneumonia and respiratory failure.
“The study underlines the importance of vaccination of pregnant and lactating women against COVID-19,” the ICMR said.
The COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all lactating women in India.
However, the government has still not allowed vaccinating pregnant women citing a lack of clinical trial data and the matter is under discussion by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).
WHO has recommended vaccinating pregnant women if they face a high risk of exposure to COVID and if they have co-morbid conditions.
India continues to report a decline in the number of daily Covid cases with 62,224 fresh cases reported in last 24 hours. According to a report by health ministry, 1,07,628 recoveries and 2,542 deaths were reported in last 24 hours.
India’s Active Caseload declines to 8,65,432. Less than 9 lakh Active Cases after 70 days.
Total recoveries: 2,83,88,100
Death toll: 379,601
Total vaccination: 25,45,45,692
Two recent studies in India have suggested that a single dose of the Covid-19 vaccine could be sufficient for adults who have already been infected with the virus. The WHO and the Union Ministry of health and Family Welfare have recommended getting both shots of double-dose vaccines, but authors of the studies said their findings could help promote “judicious” use of vaccines and larger population coverage.
India’s daily Covid rate continues to decline with 70,421 new Covid cases reported in last 24 hours. this is the lowest number of cases in last 72 days. As per a report by the Health Ministry, 1,19,501 discharges and 3921 deaths were reported in the day.
Total cases: 2,95,10,410
Total discharges: 2,81,62,947
Death toll: 3,74,305