The United Kingdom government has said that India's Covaxin will be added to its list of approved COVID-19 vaccines for international travellers from November 22, meaning that those inoculated with the Bharat Biotech-manufactured jab will not have to self-isolate after arrival in England.
The move follows the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Emergency Use Listing for Covaxin, which is the second most used formulation in India.
India recorded a single-day rise of 11,466 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the country's tally of infections to 3,43,88,579, while the count of active cases has declined to 1,39,683, the lowest in 264 days, Union Health Ministry data showed.
The death toll due to the disease has climbed to 4,61,849, with 460 more fatalities being recorded, according to the data updated at 8 a.m.
Explained | Why are U.S. COVID-19 vaccines still out of reach in India?
You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here . A list of State Helpline numbers is available as well.
Here are the latest updates:
In Russia, 83% of COVID hospital beds are filled amid surge
Nearly 83 % of hospital beds designated for COVID-19 patients are filled, Russian authorities said Wednesday, as daily tallies of new infections and deaths remain at all-time highs.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova told a government meeting Wednesday that 82.8 % of 301,500 hospital beds reserved for coronavirus patients were filled as of Tuesday morning.
“So far we can't confidently say that the situation has stabilised and the spread of infection has declined," Golikova, who runs the country's state coronavirus task force, told a government meeting Wednesday. - AP
Coronavirus cases declining everywhere except Europe: WHO
The World Health Organisation reported on Wednesday that coronavirus deaths rose by 10% in Europe in the past week, making it the only world region where both COVID-19 cases and deaths are steadily increasing. It was the sixth consecutive week that the virus has risen across the continent.
In its weekly report on the pandemic, the UN health agency said there were about 3.1 million new cases globally, about a 1% increase from the previous week. Nearly two-thirds of the coronavirus infections – 1.9 million – were in Europe, where cases rose by 7%. - AP
Health minister: Nepal to vaccinate all adults by mid-April
Nepal will obtain enough vaccines to immunise all adults against COVID-19 by mid-April and is focusing on getting doses into remote mountainous areas of the Himalayan nation, the health minister said Wednesday.
The government will hire workers and set up vaccination centres to meet the target, Health Minister Birod Khatiwada told The Associated Press in an interview.
“We are going to meet our target or even exceed our goal because we are already getting enough vaccines,” said Khatiwada, who was appointed last month. - AP
Ideal time for booster dose for COVID vaccine is 6 months after 2nd dose: Bharat Biotech MD
The ideal time for a booster dose for COVID-19 vaccine is six months after the second dose, Bharat Biotech Chairman and Managing Director Krishna Ella said on Wednesday, and also emphasised the importance of having a nasal vaccine.
He also pointed out that his company was the first in the world to develop a Zika vaccine.
Taking the Covaxin vaccine by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed confidence in Indian Science, he said at the Times Now Summit 2021.
"The ideal time for a booster dose is six months after the second dose," Mr. Ella stated. - PTI
A cure for COVID?
US pharma giants Merck and Pfizer have announced encouraging results for oral drugs Molnupiravir and Paxlovid that can be used to treat COVID-19 and prevent hospitalisation.
This is being considered as a major step forward in the fight against COVID-19.
India records 11,466 COVID-19 cases, 460 deaths
India recorded a single-day rise of 11,466 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the country's tally of infections to 3,43,88,579, while the count of active cases has declined to 1,39,683, the lowest in 264 days, Union Health Ministry data showed.
The death toll due to the disease has climbed to 4,61,849, with 460 more fatalities being recorded, according to the data updated at 8 a.m.
The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been below 20,000 for 33 straight days. Less than 50,000 daily new cases have been reported for 136 consecutive days now. - PTI
India could ship vaccines to COVAX in a few weeks, say sources
India could resume deliveries of COVID-19 shots to global vaccine-sharing platform COVAX in a few weeks for the first time since April, two health industry sources said, ending a suspension of supplies that has hurt poor countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO), which co-leads COVAX, has been urging India to restart supplies for the programme, especially after it sent about 4 million doses to its neighbours and partners in October.
Based on an informal approval from India, COVAX officials have started planning allocations of the Covishield shot for various countries, said one of the sources, both of whom declining to be identified pending a final agreement. - Reuters
Madras High Court to relax COVID-19 restrictions from November 15
The Madras High Court has ordered relaxation of many restrictions that have been in place for long to fight COVID-19. The relaxations would come into force from November 15, according to a notification issued by its Registrar General.
The notification issued on the instructions of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee stated that all advocates and their registered clerks would be permitted to enter the High Court campus through all four gates subject to aherence to COVID-19 protocol.
However, the restrictions on entry of litigants and parties in persons, other than those who were specifically required by the court to be present for a hearing, would continue. The cases would also be heard on hybrid/virtual/physical mode.
WHO looking forward to oral, nasal Covid vaccines
The World Health Organization's chief scientist said Tuesday she was looking forward to the "second generation" of Covid-19 vaccines, which could include nasal sprays and oral versions.
Soumya Swaminathan said such vaccines could have advantages over the current crop as they would be easier to deliver than injections and could even be self-administered.
Ms. Swaminathan said there were 129 different candidate vaccines that have got as far as clinical trials -- being tested on humans -- while a further 194 are not yet that advanced in their development and are still being worked on in laboratories. - AFP
Pfizer, BioNTech again seek U.S. nod for COVID-19 vaccine boosters in all adults
Pfizer Inc and BioNTech once again requested the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday to authorize booster doses of their COVID-19 vaccine in all adults.
The FDA in September had authorized Pfizer's boosters for people aged 65 and above, and other individuals at high risk of being infected because of their jobs, after a panel of advisers to the agency rejected Pfizer's request for authorization of the booster in all individuals aged 16 and above.
The panelists suggested the evidence supporting broad approval was inadequate, and they wanted to see more safety data, especially concerning the risk of heart inflammation in younger people after vaccination. - Reuters
Demand for portable oxygen cans on the rise in country
After oxygen cylinders, it’s everyday-use portable oxygen cans that are now witnessing brisk sales across the country, with escalating air pollution levels and increased travel and outdoor activities. It is also being used by those recovering from COVID-19.
Sales of these portable oxygen cans, according to industry experts, have doubled post-Diwali, and going by the current trend they are expected to triple in the coming weeks.
Delhi-NCR alone claims to bring in 65% of the sales, while Mumbai, Bengaluru and Pune also are witnessing a steady climb in demand for this product. This when medical doctors are not ready to give an all-clear for the product, stating that it can actually delay medical intervention and lead to a false sense of well-being.
J&K hospitals get faulty ventilators
J&K's Health and Medical Education has found itself in the dock after details obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act suggested that at least 165 “faulty” ventilators were supplied to the Union Territory’s hospitals last year with PM CARES fund.
In a reply to an RTI application filed by activist Balvinder Singh, the department of the Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine of the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital has pointed out that 165 ventilators — 37 from the Bharat Ventilators, three from the Agva Ventilators and 125 from the Dhaman-III — were found to be faulty.
All machines from Bharat Ventilators were returned due to compressor and heat up problems, which resulted in their sudden shutdown, the department wrote in its reply. “These ventilators do not support patient care management.”
Telangana | Clarity over COVID death certification sought
A day after Telangana government notified district-level COVID-19 Death Ascertaining Committees (CDACs) for issuing ‘Official document for COVID-19 Death’, panel members have sought clarity regarding the procedure to establish the cause of deaths and other aspects.
According to the guidelines issued by National Disaster Management Authority, ex gratia of ₹50000 is to be paid to the next of kin of a deceased person, including those involved in relief operations or associated in preparedness activities, subject to cause of death being certified as COVID-19.
With the State government issuing an order on Monday for constituting CDACs, the demand for COVID death document is expected to rise.
