South Africa Variant Not Yet In The Country: MoHFW
"We are in a system of detecting the virus (South Africa variant), and as of the last report yesterday, this variant is not yet in the country. We will intensify our surveillance," said the Ministry of Health And Family Welfare during a press conference on February 9, 2021.
India Crosses 60 Lakh Vaccinations
Since initiating is vaccination drive on January 16, India has vaccinated close to 60,35,660 people which include 54,12,270 health workers and 6,23,390 front line workers. Front line workers started receiving their COVID-19 shots from February 2, 2021.
So far, the country has witnessed 23 deaths among people who received the vaccine but officials say that none of the deaths are related to the vaccine.
Oxford-AstraZeneca Efficacy Improves If Second Shot Delayed
In preprint paper, Oxford University and AstraZeneca published that delaying the second dose of their vaccine beyond four weeks shows an increase in the efficacy results.
The data in the preprint show that vaccine efficacy was high when the interval between the two doses was two months and continued to increase with a longer dose interval. Vaccine efficacy after two standard doses increased from 54.9% when the second dose was administered less than six weeks after the first dose to 82.4% when the gap between the two doses was more than 12 weeks.
Sputnik Awaits India Nod After 91% Efficacy Results
The Sputnik vaccine made by Russia's Gamaleya Institute has showed close to 91% efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 as the makers published in the Lancet. Dr. Reddy's which is going to be manufacturing the vaccine in India now awaits a nod from the Drugs Controller General of India to initiate the distribution of the vaccine.
Covaxin Acts Against UK Variant Virus
Bharat Biotech's indigenously produced COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin acts against the new B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2, said Balrama Bhargava, DG ICMR. The National Institute of Virology, Pune under the aegis of the Indian Council of Medical Research isolated the British variant and tested the vaccine against the strain.
India Has Vaccinated Over 25 Lakh Health Workers
Till 2pm January 28, India has vaccinated over 25,07,556 health workers across the country.
Nine Deaths And 16 Hospitalisations After Receiving Vaccine
The total number of health workers who were hospitalised after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine has increased to 16 while one more death has been reported in the country taking the death toll of post vaccination deaths to 9.
A 23-year-old male from Orissa died in the last 24 hours and his post mortem reports are awaited. The health ministry maintains that none of these deaths have a causal link with the vaccines.
Merck Discontinues COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates
Owing to its vaccine candidates performing poorly in its trials and not eliciting a high level of immune response against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, American pharmaceutical Merck has decided to discontinue the trials and research of two of its COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
The company has decided to focus its attention on furthering the development of the therapeutics that they were simultaneously working on along with the vaccines.
Eight Deaths Reported Post Receiving Vaccine
A total of eight deaths have been reported across India after receiving the vaccines.
It is noteworthy to report that the two female health workers from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who died in the last 48 hours had no underlying health conditions according to the respective state authorities.
One Person Hospitalised After Vaccination
After a health worker was hospitalised in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, the total number of hospitalisations has increased to eleven in the country.