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vaccine

Vaccine for at-risk children by next month, says Covid Task Force Chief NK Arora

by Medically Speaking Team November 30, 2021

Dr. NK Arora, chairman of the country’s Covid Task Force, told NDTV today that vaccination for children with comorbidities will begin in December, followed by the vaccine launch for healthy children in the first quarter of next year. According to him, there is also a push to cut the number of doses of ZyCoV-D – the Zydus-Cadilla vaccine from three to two.
A “prioritisation process” for the country’s 44 crore children is in place, he said, and a list of comorbidities is being developed, just as it is for adults.

“We will go in a stepwise manner. But ultimately, I think somewhere in the latter half of December, I think we should be able to start the paediatric vaccination for priority children. And soon as soon as we finish these, which are 10 to 15 per cent, we move on to healthy children,” Dr Arora told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

Outlining the plan, he said while they are waiting for the dosage trial results of ZyCov-D, “Covaxin has also finished trial and we are expecting by December-end and Covovax (from Serum Institute of India) also to finish their paediatric trial,” he said.

Asked why the authorities are going ahead with with ZyCoV-D or Covishield for children without the approval of the WHO, he said, “We have seen the data, there are no safety concerns” as these are all inactivated vaccines.

Contending that opening of schools is “almost like an emergency” as the children are suffering from “cognitive and intellectual, physical and all sort of social developmental issues”, Dr Arora said, “I would request the whole country this state governments and the private sector schools that schools must be open”.

“Parents should send their children because we have a good a cohort of immunised adults. And special efforts have been made that all schools and staff are immunized. Parents should see that all adults in their families where children are going to school are also immunised, so that children are covered by a ring of protection. In addition to that … most of the children are already infected. So they are protected in a way,” he said.

November 30, 2021 0 comment

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Omicron: Monoclonal Antibody treatment will be a game changer, experts claim

by Medically Speaking Team November 29, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

“Monoclonal antibody should be given to high-risk patients, which attacks the spike protein and arrests the virus when it does not attach to the host cells. It might be a game changer for this new mutation. Even if there is some kind of immune evading mechanism in this mutant with the previous vaccination, it still gives you some kind of protection in the body,” claimed Dr Viny Kantroo while commenting on the efficient solution for the newly discovered Omicron variant of Covid-19.

In a discussion with Medically Speaking, a panel of top health experts explained the South African variant, the possible treatments known so far and travel restrictions. The panel included: Dr Viny Kantroo, Senior Consultant, Critical care, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital; Dr Dodul Mondal, Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital; Dr Praveen Gupta, Principal Director, Neurology, Fortis Hospital; Dr Vivek Nangia, HOD, Pulmonology, Max Healthcare.

Here are the excerpts from the exclusive interview:

What exactly is this new variant and what does the government mean by “horrible mutation”?

Dr Viny Kantroo: The fact that we had Covid in the backburner was something people were not trying to understand and forgot about the Covid Appropriate Behaviour because respiratory viruses mutate every year, example given influenza virus. The new Covid variant found in South Africa is said to have 30 mutations in the spike protein, which makes it more aggressive to connect to the tissues and leads to disease that are more infectious, furthermore leading to another pandemic wave.

Variant of Concern does not necessarily mean that it will lead to the 3^rd or 4^th wave in India, but since it has so many mutations, the government is fearful that it may lead to increase in the number of cases and may evade the immunity created by vaccination.

What does it mean for those who are vaccinated?

Dr Vivek Nangia: This virus has over 50 mutations out of which 30 are on the spike protein, something that is targeted by the vaccines. Right now we only know that the vaccines can protect us from catching Covid and serious illness. So we should go and take our vaccination and not take them lightly. If these mutations will result in more severe disease or not, we do not know yet, but we do know that the infectibility and transmissibility is higher. If it took about 6 weeks for the Delta variant to grow from 0% to 50% positivity rate, this virus takes just 2 weeks and hence the chances of spreading are very high. Only for the few cases detected, several others will go undetected.

What are these various variants and how is the new variant different from Delta?

Dr Praveen Gupta: Once the virus undergoes mutation, it changes the way it engages with the host. If the virus progresses in the body faster, it can cause more aggressive disease also. Which means once the virus mutates, it invades the immunity that has been acquired and that happens with influenza every year. People roam around in the country as if Covid has gone now and we are celebrating it. The variant now reaches people faster than the older ones. Which means that without Covid Appropriate Behaviour, it could start a wave and trigger it very fast. Therefore the easiest path is to go back to Covid SOP’s which will prevent the spread. Although the report from South Africa says that vaccines will be able to provide some immunity, but due to some mutations in the glycoprotein, it will be able to evade the immunity created by vaccines also to and extent. Therefore, vaccines may not be able to provide adequate protection.

Thirdly, we saw that antibodies and Pfizer vaccine was not as effective on the Delta variant as it was on the previous variants. As more and more variants come in, the impact of the current medications and the vaccines may not remain as robust as it was with the previous variants and that is the main reason to call it as the variant of concern as it has the potential to start another wave in our country and across the world also.

Dr Guleria says that we do not need booster shots, but we also know that the efficacy and antibodies wane with time. What is your view on booster shots concerning the new variants?

Dr Dodul Mondal: The age of the current pandemic is nearly 2 years now and everything is under research and we are not very sure to confidently comment on any need of doses. We have to wait till the time scientific data is available. But as of now, we know that in many vital infections, booster dose really works.

We can say that the scientific evidence is awaited but we know that the efficacy wanes and with this new mutation, there is a higher concern. What would you say about the booster doses?

Dr Viny Kantroo: There is no one to one answer to your question, but even our second dose is pending and has been given only to 30 to 35 per cent of the population. Therefore, thinking of a booster dose with the first generation vaccine is a bit premature as we are seeing the need to upgrade them to the second generation. We are seeing a lot of mutations inside the virus every 3 to 6 months and hence second generation vaccines would be a greater option than booster doses.

Isn’t second generation vaccine a much longer process? Can’t the doses that lie unused in the hospitals be utilized for giving booster to those who ask for it?

Dr Vivek Nangia: Science has showed that there are studies where the immunity, may it be through vaccines or natural, is likely to wane in a period of 6 to 8 months. Therefore, booster or a second dose of vaccine is definitely necessary. Only a small segment of the population has been vaccinated till now and 76% is still to be vaccinated. If we already start talking about the booster dose, things will become a little tricky. Considering the influenza situation, every year there is a new strain and a new vaccine based on the prevailing strain. Covid might as well require new vaccine each year, and we are not sure if the current vaccine can cover Omicron completely. These questions will be answered in due course of time.

What will be your advise to the policy makers as WHO says travel restriction is not the most stop robust reaction?

Dr Praveen Gupta: Omicron is a variant of concern at this time and when this concern will convert into a real problem, we do not know as of now. In a period of two to three weeks, we will experience a wave, and while the wave is reaching its peak, we could consider revaccination especially for people at rest. But if revaccination with the same vaccine will be of any help is still a doubt.

There are concerns at two levels as of now, individual and social and this virus varies between the two. But since this disease is a community disease, we need to find out best measures to prevent it at a community level and reiterate the Covid appropriate behaviour that is the cheapest most effective way to combat every variant. Giving some help or incentive to people practicing covid appropriate behaviour and reprimanding those who flout this behaviour and not taking vaccines is possibly a better way for us.

We have seen that people have a lackadaisical attitude due to decreasing number of cases. Is Omicron a cause of concern for people and they must follow the same protocol that they did while the second wave was at its peak?

Dr Dodul Mondal: This is the best way to prevent any illness that spreads through respiratory tract. People living in metropolitans do follow these protocols, but once you are out of the metro cities, they are completely different. I visited smaller cities recently and saw that the markets and shops are open and no one is wearing masks. People think there are no Covid cases. Hence reiteration of the SOP’s is needed by all means. I do not think policies cannot help until and unless people are concerned and educated because forcing them cannot help in the long run.

What will be your suggestion to those who are thinking of international travel?

Dr Viny Kantroo: If there are variants of concern in some parts of the world like South Africa, you should be avoiding travel in those parts and people coming in from those countries should be given rigorous scanning at the airport and should be tested for Covid-19. It is better to take preventive measures than to let this virus go on to a level where we cannot curb it.

Can this variant cause reinfection?

Dr Vivek Nangia: This virus can easily cause reinfection and that is what it is known to cause as of now. Secondly, we know that it can be diagnosed easily with the existing RTPCR kits. There are three strands to look at for every PCR kit and if two of them test positive, it can be diagnosed as Omicron. Thirdly, we know it is easily transmissible and the doubling time is pretty rapid. As far as the immune escape is concerned, we still do not know if the medication, antibody cocktail or the vaccine will be effective.

What do we know about the efficacy of Covaxin and Covishield as of now?

Dr Praveen Gupta: Our vaccine basically works on the spike glycoprotein and as we have already discussed, there are over 30 mutations on the spike glycoprotein of Omicron, which is where the question of the vaccine efficacy arises from because if the target has undergone mutation, vaccine may not work at all or as well. We have seen that a large number of vaccinated people have got infected, but thankfully the infections are mild and hospitalizations are less. Therefore we say that we may need second generation vaccine which are able to surmount the variants and are effective against them. That is where the concern lies because of a variant with high transmissibility, increased infectivity and some vaccine resistance. If it spreads, it may not be possible to check it because instead of 6 weeks, it may spread in two weeks. We have a situation similar to March and February where people were meeting and celebrating and the festivals are around the corner. The concern is there but very low.

Why is there an alarm regarding this variant in India?

Dr Dodul Mondal: Now since the international travels are open for almost every country, definitely, there is a reason to be concerned. Therefore, there has to be rigid policy to prevent infection from other countries, which we noticed in previous waves. Secondly, there is no replacement of the fact that SOP’s are the cheapest most effective way to curb any infection.

What do we know on the treatment front?

Dr Viny Kantroo: The symptoms are quite similar to the previous variant as there has been no report of any different one so far. The treatment is going to be similar because the infection was very mild previously and the hospitalizations were very low and we hope the same happens this time as well. I believe monoclonal antibody should be given to high-risk patients which attacks the spike protein and arrests the virus when it does not attach to the host cells. It might be a game changer for this new mutation. Even if there is some kind of immune evading mechanism in this mutant with the previous vaccination, it still gives you some kind of protection in the body. If people have any hesitancy regarding the second dose, they should get vaccination because it will prevent you from getting hospitalized or getting on any kind of oxygen support despite n number

November 29, 2021 0 comment

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United States: Booster shots authorized for all adults

by Medically Speaking Team November 20, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

According to Pfizer and Moderna, the United States today extended the authorisation of Covid-19 vaccine boosters to all persons aged 18 and older, six months after the completion of their original immunisation series.

“This emergency use authorization comes at a critical time as we enter the winter months and face increasing Covid-19 case counts and hospitalizations across the country,” said Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel.

Pfizer and Moderna announced the FDA decision after at least ten states had already begun giving boosters to all adults.

The current measure clarifies who is eligible, which had previously been a confusing list, by enabling anybody 18 or older to pick either company’s booster six months after their last dosage – regardless of whose vaccination they received initially.

But there’s one more step: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must agree to expand Pfizer and Moderna boosters to even healthy young adults. Its scientific advisers were set to debate later Friday.

If the CDC agrees, tens of millions more Americans could have three doses of protection ahead of the new year. Anyone who got the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine can already get a booster.

All three COVID-19 vaccines used in the US still offer strong protection against severe illness including hospitalisation and death, but protection against infection can wane with time.

Previously, the government had cleared boosters of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine, as well as the similar Moderna vaccine, only for vulnerable groups including older Americans and people with chronic health problems.

The decision to broaden comes as the number of new COVID-19 cases has progressively increased over the previous two weeks, particularly in places where colder weather has kept people home.
As a result of these concerning patterns, several states did not wait for federal officials to take action. Utah and Massachusetts are the most recent states to announce that booster shots would be available to all adults in the coming weeks.
The Biden administration’s first intention was to provide boosts to everyone. However, a panel of FDA experts largely voted against that notion in September, citing the vaccinations’ ongoing efficacy in most age groups. Instead, they advocated for an additional Pfizer dosage just for the most vulnerable.

Since then, administration officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, have continued making the case for using boosters more widely, noting that even milder infections in younger people can cause “long COVID” and other complications.

“I don’t know of any other vaccine where we only worry about keeping people out of the hospital,” said Fauci at a briefing Wednesday.

Last week, Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech filed new data to make the case that broader boosters could help tamp down infections at a critical period.

“We have absolutely no chance in the current situation to control the pandemic without providing boosters to everyone,” BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin told reporters during a visit to Washington last week.

The companies studied 10,000 adults of all ages and found that a booster restored protection against symptomatic infections to about 95 per cent even while the extra-contagious delta variant was surging. It’s too soon to know if that high level of protection will last longer after a third shot than after the second, something Sahin said the companies will carefully track.

Backing up that evidence, Britain released real-world data this week showing the same jump in protection once it began offering boosters to middle-aged and older adults. Israel has credited widespread boosters for helping to beat back another wave of the virus in that country.

More than 195 million Americans are fully vaccinated, defined as having received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. More than 30 million already have received a booster.

Before the expansion, people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations were eligible for a third dose if they’re elderly or at high risk of COVID-19 because of health problems or their jobs or living conditions.

Because a single J&J shot hasn’t proven as effective as its two-dose competitors, any J&J recipient can get a booster at least two months later.

But people who don’t meet the criteria often score an extra shot because many vaccine sites don’t check qualifications.

The FDA previously ruled that people getting a booster can receive a different brand from the vaccine they received initially.

Some experts worry that all the attention to boosters may harm efforts to reach the 60 million Americans who are eligible for vaccinations but haven’t gotten the shots. There’s also growing concern that rich countries are offering widespread boosters when poor countries haven’t been able to vaccinate more than a small fraction of their populations.

“In terms of the No. 1 priority for reducing transmission in this country and throughout the world, this remains getting people their first vaccine series,” said Dr. David Dowdy of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

November 20, 2021 0 comment

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Researchers identified New potential treatment for Covid-19

by Medically Speaking October 30, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

During a recent study, researchers discovered a potential new treatment that inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

All viruses, including coronaviruses, infect cells and reprogramme them to produce new viruses in order to multiply. The scientific journal Metabolite published the study titled ‘Targeting the pentose phosphate pathway for SARS-CoV-2 therapy.’

Cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 can only produce novel coronaviruses when their metabolic pentose phosphate pathway is activated, according to the findings.

SARS-CoV-2 replication was suppressed and infected cells did not produce coronaviruses when the drug benfooxythiamine, an inhibitor of this pathway, was used.

The research from the University of Kent’s School of Biosciences and the Institute of Medical Virology at Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, found the drug also increased the antiviral activity of ‘2-deoxy-D-glucose’; a drug which modifies the host cell’s metabolism to reduce virus multiplication.

This shows that pentose phosphate pathway inhibitors like benfooxythiamine are a potential new treatment option for Covid-19, both on their own and in combination with other treatments.

Additionally, Benfooxythiamin’s antiviral mechanism differs from that of other Covid-19 drugs such as remdesivir and molnupiravir. Therefore, viruses resistant to these may be sensitive to benfooxythiamin.

Professor Martin Michaelis, University of Kent, said, “This is a breakthrough in the research of Covid-19 treatment. Since resistance development is a big problem in the treatment of viral diseases, having therapies that use different targets is very important and provides further hope for developing the most effective treatments for Covid-19.”

“Targeting virus-induced changes in the host cell metabolism is an attractive way to interfere specifically with the virus replication process,” added Professor Jindrich Cinatl from Goethe-University Frankfurt.

October 30, 2021 0 comment

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COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax to be rolled out by Nov end, says Managing Director of Biological E Limited

by Medically Speaking October 26, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

To provide further momentum to the ongoing nationwide vaccination drive, the COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax vaccine will be rolled out by end of November, Biological E Limited said on Monday.

Addressing the reporters briefly after attending an event in Hyderabad, Managing Director of Biological E Limited, Mahima Datla said, “Hyderabad-based Biological E Limited is expecting its Coronavirus vaccine, Corbevax to be rolled out by the end of November. It’s our vision, that on the day of the launch, we will supply close to 10 crore doses.”On October 14, Biological E said that it would submit final data on COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax till November end, informed Government sources.The government was expecting submission of phase 3 data of Biological E by October but after facing delay in procurement of raw materials, Hyderabad – based Biological E is expected to apply for emergency use authorisation of Corbevax by November-end.

The Corbevax is the third made-in-India vaccine against coronavirus, the other two indigenous vaccines are Covaxin and ZyCoV-D.The government earlier announced about the 30 crore doses of Corbevax by December.

The health ministry on Monday informed, “India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 102.8 crore (1,02,86,69,053) on Monday. More than 58 lakh (58,87,981) Vaccine doses have been administered till 7 pm today. Thedaily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late tonight.

October 26, 2021 0 comment

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After 100 years, India is still looking for new Tuberculosis vaccinations

by Medically Speaking October 11, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

In order to meet India’s goal of eradicating TB by 2025, scientists at the Indian Council of Medical Research have enrolled around 12,000 people in a phase III study of two possible vaccines. The researchers aim to assess how successful the vaccinations are at preventing the disease in adult household members of someone who has just been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Participants from seven Indian sites will be followed for three years before the possible vaccinations are licenced for commercial use or use in the national TB programme.

“Recruitment in the middle of a pandemic was a huge challenge for us because we had to motivate healthy people in a household where TB was detected to come to the DOTS centres for vaccination,” one of the scientists said on condition of anonymity. DOTS, or directly observed treatment, is the name given to the TB control strategy recommended by the World Health Organization.

“For Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics, the initial results can start coming in within months,” the researhcer said. “But TB is a long-term illness, and we will have to observe the participants for a longer duration to arrive at any result.”

One of the vaccines being tested to prevent tuberculosis of the lungs is Immuvac, which was developed to prevent leprosy. Immuvac, also known as mycobacterium indicus pranii, displays antigens similar to both the leprosy bacterium and the TB bacterium.

The other vaccine candidate is VPM1002, a recombinant BCG that is the most widely used vaccine in the world. The new vaccine developed in Germany has the genetic code of the BCG edited in a way that leads to better availability of the TB antigens, thus training the immune system to better fight tuberculosis.

Another trial of the same candidate is underway to prevent recurrence of TB in adults. VPM1002 is also being tested to see whether it can offer protection against Covid-19.

The BCG vaccine currently in use is a live, weakened form of the bacteria to train the immune system. It is only for use in children. Although it offers protection against the most severe forms of tuberculosis such as TB in the brain, it is not very effective against getting an infection, reactivation of a latent infection, and against the most common form of TB in the lungs. Yet, in the 100 years since the vaccine was developed, there have been no alternatives.

Experts say the government’s push towards eliminating tuberculosis and the formation of a research consortium are the reasons for the focus on TB vaccines.

“Unlike Covid-19 that affected the rich and the poor countries alike, tuberculosis disproportionately affects those in poorer countries and from poorer neighbourhoods,” said Dr DJ Christopher, professor of pulmonary medicine at Christian Medical College in Vellore, and former chair of RePORT India, a consortium for Indo-US collaborative TB research. “There is not enough interest or funding for research of a TB vaccine.”

India’s strategy to eliminate TB hinges on funding 3-4 vaccine candidates for phase I or II trials and have at least one final product co-owned by the government by 2025.

“Studying TB is not very popular. The government’s focus on elimination has certainly helped,” said Dr Pradeep D’Costa, intensivist and head of ICU care at KEM hospital in Pune, where he is heads the trial of VPM1002. “Vaccines will be an important contribution to the programme, but there is still ways to go,”

Even though research into TB vaccines is a step in the right direction, for now the mainstay of the elimination programme is early detection of new cases, testing for drug resistance and treating the disease completely, experts say.

October 11, 2021 0 comment

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Sanofi says good results from flu vaccine with mRNA booster study

by Medically Speaking Team October 7, 2021

written by Medically Speaking Team

Sanofi, a French healthcare business, announced on Wednesday that the first research into a high-dose influenza vaccination with a COVID-19 mRNA booster had yielded good results.

Sanofi stated initial findings from a trial comparing Sanofi’s Fluzone High-Dosage Quadrivalent vaccine to Moderna’s COVID-19 mRNA experimental booster dose revealed that the vaccines had similar immunogenicity responses as well as a similar safety and tolerability profile.

“These positive results could facilitate the implementation of Northern Hemisphere influenza and COVID-19 booster vaccination campaigns, especially in this high-risk population,” said Dr. Michael Greenberg, North America Medical Head for Vaccines at Sanofi.

October 7, 2021 0 comment

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The latest on WHO: recommended influenza vaccinations for newly developed strains may be found here

by Medically Speaking August 27, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

Learn more about the flu virus.

Seasonal influenza, or flu, is an infectious virus that causes respiratory disease. It is, however, readily confused with the common cold, which is caused by a distinct viral strain. While these illnesses have many similarities, such as cough, sore throat, and stuffy nose, there are a few significant distinctions. Fever, cold sweats, body pains, headache, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhoea are all symptoms of the flu, which are not present in the common cold.

Let us take a closer look at the influenza virus and its effects on the increasing flu burden. As per WHO, approximately 65,000 people worldwide are affected by seasonal-influenza-related respiratory illnesses every year. Thirty-six per cent of them are from low to middle-income group countries, including India. Aside from the hospitalization rates for children in India and the severity of influenza burden being recorded, there are no national estimates available on influenza-related mortality.

Being vigilant during the monsoon and winter seasons

In temperate regions, influenza epidemics occur in the winter, whereas in tropical regions, seasonal epidemics appear to occur throughout the year with irregular outbreaks.1
Due to the diverse climate across India, there are vast variations in the impact of influenza from the northern to southern regions. In some parts of the country, particularly in the north, influenza circulation peaks during the winter, whereas in other parts, it peaks during the monsoons.2 Thus, there is a need for year-round preparedness and region-specific approaches for influenza prevention.

Controlling and preventing influenza

One of the primary reasons for annual outbreaks is that the influenza virus undergoes constant but fairly minor genetic mutations. This is called the “antigenic drift”, and it prevents people from developing lasting immunity. For example, a person who has caught the flu in the previous year will develop immunity to that particular viral strain, although they may not have immunity to the current year’s strain due to the slight change in or evolution of its genetic structure.

Seasonal influenza is most often caused by different strains of type A or B influenza viruses, both of which are responsible for annual epidemics, with a prevalence rate of 5–10% and 20–30% in adults and children each year, respectively.4 Globally, since September 2020, influenza activity was mostly reported from countries located in the tropics and subtropics as well as some countries present in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. India was among the tropical Asian countries that reported the greatest detection of influenza.
The influenza vaccine, popularly known as the ‘flu shot’, is the first protective step against the virus. With changes in the major influenza strains year-on-year, it remains essential to take the latest influenza vaccine, comprising an updated composition to provide adequate and relevant immunity.

August 27, 2021 0 comment

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To combat deteriorating vaccine efficacy, the US has approved the Covid booster shot

by Medically Speaking August 19, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

The effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccine is deteriorating with time, according to US regulators, who have authorised booster shots for all Americans starting on September 20th, eight months after they have been fully inoculated.

The development comes as scientists and health professionals dispute whether a third injection of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines would be helpful in combating the Delta strain of Covid-19, which is on the rise.

“The available data make very clear that protection against (coronavirus) infection begins to decrease over time following the initial doses of vaccination, the nation’s top health officials, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Rochelle Walensky and US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, said in a statement.

“In association with the dominance of the Delta variant we are starting to see evidence of reduced protection against mild and moderate disease,” they added.

The officials warned that while the vaccines remain “remarkably effective” in reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death from the effects of Covid, protection could diminish in the months ahead without boosted immunization.

“We conclude that a booster shot will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability,” the officials said.

The boosters would be available beginning the week of September 20, with individuals eligible for a shot starting eight months after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

The officials said they also anticipate booster shots will be needed beginning later in the year for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which rolled out in March.

Over 620,000 people have died in America from coronavirus, with case numbers increasing sharply in recent months due to the spread of the Delta variant.

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US OKs Covid booster shot to counter declining vaccine efficacy. Read here

A health care worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. (AP)

2 min read . Updated: 18 Aug 2021, 09:14 PM IST

Agencies

The move comes as scientists and health experts grapple with how to beat back the surging Delta variant of Covid-19, and follows an extensive debate over whether a third injection of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines would be appropriate

Coronavirus vaccination efficacy is decreasing over time, the US authorities warned today as they authorised booster jabs for all Americans from 20 September starting eight months after a person has been fully vaccinated.

The development comes as scientists and health experts grapple with how to beat back the surging Delta variant of Covid-19, and follows an extensive debate over whether a third injection of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines would be appropriate.

COVID-19 vaccine: J&J doses may not arrive until November, Zydus Cadila is expected next, and Covaxin expansion is a priority

by Medically Speaking August 15, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

The government expects the first doses of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) single-shot vaccine to arrive in November or December, according to a top government source, after the government granted the foreign vaccine manufacturer Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) last week.

The next vaccine that the government expects to see after Covishield, Covaxin, and Sputnik is Zydus Cadila’s DNA vaccine, which may receive FDA approval soon. “We expect two crore doses per month from Zydus Cadila,” said the source.

The vaccine from Biological E is also expected with an initial lot of seven crore doses in one go as the firm is doing at-risk production after the Centre extended it a Rs 1,500 Cr advance. The firm will soon apply for comparative studies and their data is good,” the source further said. Gennova’s vaccine is also expected in October.

The government source said the priority right now was expanding the capacity of Bharat Biotech with its three plants becoming functional now.

“In August, we will be getting 3 crore doses of Covaxin, which will go up to 4 crore in September and 6-7 crore from October,” the government source said.

He said Bharat Biotech had suffered as the first batch of the manufacturer had failed. Serum Institute of India will supply nearly 15 crore doses of Covishield every month and is keen to start export of the vaccine. The government has told Serum that vaccinating Indians is a priority for now.

The government is meanwhile banking on only 1 crore doses of Sputnik V in all as the local manufacturers are facing a lot of trouble in producing the second dose of the vaccine, whose component is different from the first.

Regarding the approval of Covaxin by WHO, the government source said a last dossier will go to the World Health Organization in a couple of days and WHO could soon call an Expert Committee meeting to give clearance.

August 15, 2021 0 comment

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