April 30, 2021

 Get vaccinated against COVID-19 now: Any delay will give virus opportunity to develop new variants

 

The COVID-19 virus has the entire world in its grip for the second year now. But, unlike last year, when there was no known vaccine or drug that could be used against this contagion, this year, countries across the world are equipped with vaccines that come with varying degrees of efficacy. These vaccines confer immunity on recipients and save them from severe complications of the disease. But the worry right now among the scientific community is the emergence of variants that are very infectious, and which may be immune not the current vaccines. But researchers say that as more and more people get vaccinated it will rob the virus of its ability to mutate. 

Vaccination For All A Must To Defeat Virus, Prevent Mutation

People should not delay taking COVID-19 vaccine as this will give the virus an opportunity to develop new variants and some of them may reduce the efficacy of current vaccines, say healthcare experts. They believe that those not taking the vaccine are doing a great injustice to their near and dear ones. Government of India has announced that all individuals aged above 18 years would be eligible to get Covid-19 vaccination starting May 1. This must be considered as the end game for the deadly pandemic to be driven out of India, but this would not be achieved if the young and the old hesitate to take vaccine, say the experts. 

Random New Variants May Reduce Vaccine Efficacy

A healthcare expert from Gleneagles Global Hospitals believes that the COVID-19 virus still has many hosts left to replicate in, and it has more opportunity to randomly develop new variants. Some of these variants may reduce the efficacy of the current vaccine, which is surely not a desirable scenario to be in. Hence, it is important people encourage each other to get vaccinated at the earliest and ensure the virus is driven out of our lives before it gets to us. 

Achieving Herd Immunity Via Mass Vaccination

Vaccination for all is about controlling the pandemic at a population level through reaching herd immunity, and the objective cannot be achieved unless each and every one joins the movement and get themselves vaccinated. Fight against coronavirus requires a community effort, and everybody must step forward in and get their vaccines, so that the chain of transmission from one person to another is broken.

Even A Single Dose Can Protect You And Your Loved Ones

It is proven beyond doubt that even a single dose provides decent protection. Vaccines are highly effective in preventing hospitalisations and deaths. It is unnecessary for people to wait for a year to get vaccinated, and the longer peoples wait to observe any side-effects might only lead to developing of future virus mutants, say experts. RNA vaccines and adenovirus-based vaccines are already in phase two human trials for other infectious diseases like influenza and a different coronavirus called MERS. Scientists already have safety and immunogenicity data on similar vaccines, and it is time we trust in medical science and opt in to get vaccinated at the earliest, they add.

https://www.thehealthsite.com/news

 

April 21, 2021

 Lockdown last resort, focus on micro-containment zones, says PM Modi on fight against COVID-19

In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday advised the state governments to use lockdown as the last resort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 cases. He said that instead of lockdown, the focus should be on creating ‘micro containment zones’.

Vaccination For All Above 18 Years

The Prime Minister emphasized that along with saving lives, the effort was on to save the economic activities and ensure minimum adverse impact on the livelihood of the people. “By opening vaccination for those who are 18 years and above, vaccine will be available quickly for the workforce in the cities,” he said. The Prime Minister suggested the state governments to boost the confidence of the workers and convince them to stay wherever they are. “This confidence by the states will greatly help the workers and labourers and they will get the vaccine wherever they are and their work will also not suffer,” Modi said. 

Efforts To Overcome Shortage Of Oxygen

On shortage of oxygen, Modi said: “The government is working with speed and sensitivity to meet the increasing demand of oxygen in the various parts of the country. The Centre, state governments and private sector are trying to ensure that every needy person gets oxygen.”

Vaccination Drive On Track

Lauding the efforts of scientists, the Prime Minister said: “Our scientists came out with the vaccine in a very short time and today India has the cheapest vaccine in the world. Due to this team effort, India has embarked upon the world’s largest vaccination drive with two ‘Made in India’ vaccines.” He further stated that from the very first phase of the vaccination drive, it has been emphasized that the vaccine reaches the maximum number of areas, and to the people who need it. He pointed out that India gave the first 10 crore, 11 crore and the 12 crore vaccine doses in the shortest time in the world. Speaking about the government’s Monday’s decision, he said that after May 1 every person above 18 years of age can be vaccinated and half of the vaccine produced in India will go directly to the states and hospitals.

Stress On COVID-Appropriate Behaviour

The Prime Minister emphasised that the country has much better knowledge and resources to meet the challenge than the initial days of the first wave. Modi also credited the people of India for a good and patient fight. “With the strength of people’s participation, we will be able to defeat this wave of Corona too,” he said.

Source: https://www.thehealthsite.com/news

 

April 15, 2021

 

Tika Utsav: PM Modi begins the ‘vaccine festival’ to curb the surge of coronavirus

The number of coronavirus infections in India is constantly increasing, and the outbreak even led to a vaccine shortage. In a bid to combat the surge in coronavirus cases, India will observe a four-day ‘vaccine festival’ or Tika Utsav in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a virtual meeting with the chief ministers on Thursday, said that this festival must be celebrated from April 11-14 to inoculate a maximum number of people. 

The first day of the vaccine festival i.e. April 11 marks the birth anniversary of social activist Jyotiba Phule and April 14 (the last day of the festival) marks the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar. “We should vaccinate as many eligible people as possible through a special campaign and decide on zero wastage. If there is zero wastage in four days during ‘Tika Utsav’, it will also increase our vaccination capacity,” PM Modi said. 

Here’s How The States Responded To Vaccine Festival

Several states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, were in support of the initiative, reports suggest that some leaders of the opposition criticized it. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government kickstarted the ‘Tika Utsav’ with 6000 vaccination centres in the state. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar aims to vaccinate nearly four lakh people during the festival.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government questioned the idea of the ‘vaccine festival’ as the State is rapidly shutting down due to a shortage of vaccines in the state. While Nana Patole, chief of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) believes that ramping up the vaccination drive is the need of the hour, how the worst-hit state can run a successful drive if they don’t have enough doses. 

Source: https://www.thehealthsite.com/news

April 12, 2021

 Scientists report more infections in kids during the ‘2nd wave’ of Covid

The coronavirus second wave is spreading like a wildfire and it feels like the disease is here to stay for long. While India is recording the highest number of coronavirus cases as it grapples with a second wave of the pandemic. But the massive surge of the virus is not limited to India, there are several countries that have been affected by the second wave. In fact, many countries are reporting a surge in groups that were believed to be less vulnerable to the disease. 

More Kids Infected During The Second Wave Of Coronavirus

A new study has found that preschool and school children in Germany have been infected with the coronavirus, three to four times more than reported via PCR testing during the second wave. Preschool children showed an antibody frequency of 5.6 per cent from October 2020 to February 2021, whereas it was 8.4 per cent among school children between November 2020 and February 2021. As per the study results, the antibody frequency at the end of the second wave was eight times higher compared to the end of the first wave. 

Anette-Gabriele Ziegler, from Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Munich-Neuherberg, Germany said, “Children are often said to be less likely infected compared to adults. However, the data for this assumption is sparse. The results of our study clearly show that both preschool and school children are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.” 

For the study, the team enrolled 446 children who tested positive in the second wave. The proportion of antibody-positive children without symptoms was 68 per cent among preschoolers, whereas it was 51.2 per cent among school-aged children. This time a SARS-CoV-2 antibody frequency was six times more than it was during the first wave in Germany in spring 2020.

Similar Situation In India

As per reports, more children have contracted the coronavirus during the second wave of the pandemic. Over 79 thousand children have been infected by the virus in the worst-hit states alone. One of the reasons experts believe the infection in children is overlooked is because they show mild symptoms. However, if new reports are to be believed, children are more symptomatic now than they were during the first wave of the coronavirus.

Source: https://www.thehealthsite.com/news

 

 

April 8, 2021

 

Occurrence of Blood Clots After Receiving AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine ‘Plausible’: WHO

 

Several European countries have suspended the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in view of the reported risks of unusual blood clots after vaccination. Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has also confirmed 30 cases of blood clots, including 22 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis and eight other types of thrombosis, associated with AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. But the agency said that the risk is “very small” and the benefits of the getting the jab outweigh any risks. On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) also said the link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and the occurrence of blood clots is “considered plausible but not confirmed.” 

An interim statement released by the WHO’s Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) said that the cases of blood clots among individuals who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine are very rare, but specialized studies are needed to fully understand the potential link. The committee said it will continue to collect and review further data. It also pointed out that the possibility of such rare adverse events following immunizations should be assessed against the potential of the vaccines to prevent infections and reduce deaths from Covid-19. As of April 7, 2021, At least 2.6 million people have died of Covid-19 worldwide, according to the WHO data. Earlier on the same day, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) also confirmed that the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots link but said that it should still be listed as very rare side effect. 

Serious Side Effects After Vaccination

According to the WHO, mild side effects are “expected” and “common” within two or three days after getting the Covid-19 vaccines. “Vaccines, like all medicines, can have side effects. The administration of vaccines is based on a risk versus benefit analysis,” IANS quoted the GACVS as saying in the statement. 

In case of any severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, neurological symptoms such as severe and persistent headaches or blurred vision, tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection, from around four to 20 days following the vaccination, the WHO recommends people to seek urgent medical attention.

Source: https://www.thehealthsite.com/news

 

April 6, 2021

 

Woman who received COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy delivers baby with Covid antibodies

 

Some studies have suggested that pregnancy can put women at higher risk for severe illness and death with COVID-19. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant women who have COVID-19 appear more likely to develop respiratory complications requiring intensive care and be placed on a ventilator, compared to those who aren’t pregnant. If you’re pregnant and have underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, then you have higher chances of developing severe illness due to the viral disease. For this reason, experts recommend pregnant women to get vaccinated against COVID-19 after consultation with their health care provider, especially those who are at high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 including health workers or those who have comorbidities. This may also immunise their babies, who receive the antibodies through placenta.  In fact, Spanish media has reported the first baby born with COVID-19 antibodies in the country. The mother of the baby, born last week on the Spanish island of Ibiza, had received the COVID-19 vaccine in the third trimester of her pregnancy, the reports said. 

 Doctors analysed a sample from the baby’s umbilical cord and found that he had developed antibodies against COVID-19. According to Manuel Grandal Martin, deputy director of the Madrid Hospital Directorate, the protection that the baby has is equal to that of someone who has been vaccinated. But how long the protection against the virus will last is not known yet, Grandal told Spanish media on Friday. This case indicates that vaccinating pregnant women may help immunise both the mothers and their babies. 

Is It Safe To Get COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy?

While there is very little data on whether the COVID-19 vaccines are safe during pregnancy, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the benefits of vaccination would outweigh the risks. In most initial clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccines, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding were not included. But a recent study published in The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has shown that the COVID-19 vaccines are not only safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women, but vaccination may provide some protection for their babies as well. 

The 131 participants included in the study had received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Among them, 84 were pregnant, 31 were lactating, and 16 were nonpregnant 18- to 45-year-old women. Their blood samples were analysed during the first and second dose of vaccination, and again after six weeks. The researchers found that women who had been sick with COVID-19 during pregnancy developed higher antibody levels in response to the vaccine. This suggests that even if pregnant women had COVID infection, getting the vaccine will lead to a more stronger antibody response, noted lead author Dr. Kathryn Gray, maternal fetal medicine specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Source: https://www.thehealthsite.com/news/