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vaccines

Paediatric trials for Covaxin underway

India has commenced paediatric trials for Covaxin, its indigenously-manufactured vaccine against COVID-19.  Covaxin, manufactured by Hyderabad-based firm Bharat Biotech, is one of four vaccines authorised for use in India alongside Covishield (produced by the Serum Institute of India on license from AstraZeneca), the Russian-manufactured Sputnik-V, and the Moderna vaccine. Bharat Biotech announced last month that …

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Moderna vaccine to reach India shortly

The Moderna vaccine is to become available in India by July 15th, reports indicate.  Cipla, a pharmaceutical firm based in Mumbai, received the nod to import doses of the Moderna vaccine from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) last month. It became the fourth COVID-19 vaccine to receive emergency use authorisation from the Centre …

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Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine: Less effective against Delta variant?

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 has registered a lower level of efficacy in preventing the Delta variant first identified in India, according to new data from Israel.  Effectiveness of the vaccine has dropped to 64 percent in preventing infection as the Delta variant spreads in Israel, now accounting for ninety percent of the country’s cases. …

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Vaccination coverage surpasses 35 crore

The number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered in India has surpassed 35 crore, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This marks a shot in the arm for vaccination coverage in a country hard-hit by the pandemic where such coverage has been lagging.  In a statement released yesterday, the Ministry said 351,221,306 doses …

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Covishield approval sought from EU

India is seeking approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Covishield, one of its COVID-19 vaccines. Covisheld approval is being sought on an emergency authorisation basis from the bloc’s apex medical regulatory body.  The Serum Institute of India (SII) manufactures Covishield, which is the Indian variant so to speak of the COVID-19 vaccine produced …

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CureVac trials add questions for mRNA vaccines

Following the success stories of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, many thought mRNA vaccines paved the way for the future of immunisation. These theories may be faced with a setback as phase-III trials of fellow mRNA vaccine candidate CureVac has achieved subpar results. CureVac, based in Tübingen, Germany, announced data from the …

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Covishield: A single dose may be enough for those previously infected with COVID-19

New research claims that a single dose of Covishield may be sufficient to protect those previously infected with the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19.  If someone has previously contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV), researchers at the Assam Medical College and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) suggest that they may not …

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Pfizer vaccine on the cusp of securing Indian approval, CEO says

The Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 is on the verge of securing approval for use in India. This is according to the drugmaker’s chief executive officer Albert Bourla who, speaking at a virtual event, said they were in the “final stages” of receiving the nod and said “I hope very soon we will finalise an agreement …

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Inoculation record achieved, but concerns remain

Monday saw India administer a record 8.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Nonetheless, concerns remain surrounding the pace of an inoculation campaign once billed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as set to be the largest in the world. “Today’s record-breaking vaccination numbers are gladdening,” Modi tweeted. “The vaccine remains our strongest weapon to fight COVID-19. …

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Covaxin to face WHO scrutiny this week

India’s homegrown COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin is to face scrutiny from the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 23rd when a pre-submission hearing will be held.  Manufacturer Bharat Biotech received the WHO’s nod for its expression of interest for emergency use listing of Covaxin, in a step commentators regard as moving the vaccine closer to securing …

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