New Delhi:

Pfizer has told the government its Covid vaccine shows “high effectiveness” against the India-dominant variant experts believe is behind the second wave of infections in the country, sources told news agency PTI Wednesday.

Pfizer also told the government its vaccine had been proven suitable for everyone over 12, and can be stored for a month in cold storage facilities with a temperature range of 2-8 degrees Celsius.

The American pharma giant is in talks with the government over fast-track approval to roll out five crore doses between July and October – if it receives significant regulatory relaxations, including indemnification, or protection from compensation claims in case of adverse events.

The two sides have held a series of meetings over the past few weeks, some of which also involved Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla, to resolve issues, including grant of legal indemnity.

None of the three vaccines currently approved for use in India – Covishield, Covaxin or Sputnik V – have been given such protection. Pfizer has insisted on this, which it has been given by other countries that use the drug, including the United States and several European nations.

Further, neither of India’s approved vaccines have been cleared for use on those below 18, although Covaxin is expected to begin trials for the 2-18 age group by the month’s end.

Children and young adults – who some experts fear could be the target of the third wave – accounted for fewer than 10 per cent of new cases this month, but week-by-week numbers showed an increase.

According to PTI, Pfizer told the Indian government it should “rely on the 44 authorisations, including WHO approval (to) facilitate emergency use authorisation…”

The company, however, is open to considering surveillance of the first 100 subjects to get its vaccine.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 95 per cent effective in protecting against COVID-19 (File)

Pfizer, sources told PTI, has shared the most recent data points regarding trials, efficacy rates and approvals from various countries and by the World Health Organization (WHO).

These include data from the UK’s Public Health England, which said an observational study concluded the Pfizer vaccine offered 87.9 per cent protection against the B.1.617.2 variant reported in India. 26 per cent of study participants were of “Indian or British Indian” ethnicity.

Other issues key to accelerating approval for the Pfizer vaccine are procurement through a central government pathway and regulatory requirement for post-approval bridging studies.

Pfizer (and Moderna, another US pharma giant with a Covid vaccine) was last week approached by the Delhi government, which was looking to buy vaccines directly from them. The offer was rejected; Pfizer cited company policy to say it would only deal with the central government.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine uses the mRNA method to deliver protection from COVID-19 (File)

Moderna cited similar policies to refuse the Punjab government.

India has administered over 20 crore vaccine doses so far, but is still a long way short of vaccinating a significant-enough proportion of its 130-crore population.

A shortage of vaccine doses is believed to be one of the primary reasons for the recent slowdown, with several states flagging low stocks and being forced to suspend vaccination for the 18-44 age group.

At present India has Covishield (developed by AstraZeneca-Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute) and Covaxin (developed and manufactured by Bharat Biotech).

A third – Russia’s Sputnik V – has been approved and is to be rolled out soon.

Domestic vaccine production figures were in the headlines this week after the government told the Kerala High Court over 8.5 crore doses are manufactured every month, or around 28.33 lakh per day.

However, given an average 12 to 13 lakh doses administered per week, or around 57 per cent, questions have been raised against the backdrop of states’ concern over shortages.

Published at Thu, 27 May 2021 02:51:30 +0000

The Indian Medical Association has been up in arms against Ramdev over his remarks (File)

Patna:

Bihar BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal on Wednesday slammed Baba Ramdev for his recent tirade against the allopathic system of medicine and dubbed the famed Yoga teacher as one who had popularized the ancient discipline like “Coco Cola” but lacked the gravitas of a Yogi.

Mr Jaiswal, a multiple term MP from Pashchim Champaran and a qualified medical practitioner himself, also urged the Indian Medical Association from steering clear of the spat, saying it
was tantamount to frittering away of energies.

“Ramdev is a Yoga guru. Nobody can question his mastery of Yoga. But he is certainly not a Yogi. A Yogi is one who has all his senses and faculties firmly under control”, Mr Jaiswal said in a Facebook post.

“What he has done for Yoga is comparable to what Coco Cola did for beverages. Indians have been, since ages, consuming Shikanji and thandai but after the advent of the soft drink giant, every home seems to be stocked with bottles of Pepsi and Coke”, Mr Jaiswal remarked.

He, however, urged the IMA not to join issue with the Yoga guru and said “we must not fritter away our energies over trivia and concentrate on our noble profession.

“It would be the befitting service to our innumerable colleagues who have lost their lives attending to their duties in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Ramdev has been in the eye of a storm over a recently released video clip in which he questioned the efficacy of the allopathic medicines in treating the dreaded coronavirus.

Published at Wed, 26 May 2021 20:01:57 +0000

Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, ”Bombay Begums” released on Netflix on March 8 (File)

Mumbai:

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to the Maharashtra home secretary seeking registration of an FIR against the makers of Netflix series ”Bombay Begums” over the alleged inappropriate portrayal of children.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights also sought an action taken report from the Mumbai Police commissioner in the matter within three days.

Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, ”Bombay Begums” released on Netflix on March 8.

In a letter to Maharashtra Home Ministry’s Additional Chief Secretary Manu Kumar Shrivastva, the NCPCR said the Mumbai police informed the commission that to register an FIR in this matter, they require “permission from higher authorities” as the issue falls in a grey area.

“Since this is a serious issue where police are not following the laid procedure of the land, hence, you are requested to look into this matter and ensure that no further child rights and law of land is violated in this matter. It is also requested that an action taken report maybe furnished to the Commission within three days,” the letter issued on Tuesday said.

In another letter to Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, the NCPCR asked him to appear before the commission through videoconferencing on May 28 along with the requisite compliance or action taken report in the matter.

Acting on a complaint which alleged that “Bombay Begums” normalises minors indulging in casual sex and drug abuse, the NCPCR had in March asked Netflix to stop streaming the web series.

Published at Wed, 26 May 2021 20:16:45 +0000

Himanta Biswa Sarma said India is typically poised to offer much to the world (File)

Guwahati:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Dr Jubilee Purkayastha, a scientist with the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, for her outstanding contributions in the development of an anti-Covid drug.

In a congratulatory letter to Dr Purkayastha on Wednesday, Mr Sarma, said, “Assam is really proud of you for your role in several scientific forums of the country. Your association with DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and your role as an active member of the team that developed the drug 2-DG is your sacred privilege.”

The Chief Minister said that her initiative will be “very critical in empowering our fight against COVID-19”.

Congratulating Dr Purkayastha on her achievement, the Chief Minister said, “I thank you for your crucial role in research and development and hope that you will continue your services to bring many more laurels to our state.”

The Chief Minister also said that India is blessed with a young population brimming with new ideas, innovations and opportunities. “With its rich human resources, our country is typically poised to offer much to the world. The qualitative changes that our nation has witnessed in the past few years have been really praiseworthy. Innovation will drive our future and we are working dedicatedly to make our country an innovation hub,” he said.

Dr Purkayastha is a native of a nondescript village Mahishashan in South Assam’s Karimganj district.

Published at Wed, 26 May 2021 20:58:34 +0000

Published at Thu, 27 May 2021 00:22:04 +0000

British tourists had been due to be allowed to visit France without restrictions from June 9.

Paris:

France on Wednesday declared a mandatory quarantine period for people coming from Britain, due to the increasing prevalence there of a highly contagious coronavirus variant first detected in India.

France follows Austria, which said on Tuesday it was banning direct flights and tourist visits from Britain, and Germany, which said on Friday that anyone entering from the UK would have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival.

Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said, “(France) will set up compulsory isolation for people coming from the United Kingdom.”

The isolation will need to last seven days, Clement Beaune, France’s junior minister for European Affairs, said on Twitter, adding visitors would also need to present a COVID-19 test carried out less than 48 hours before departure.

The measures are expected to come into force on Monday.

Coronavirus infections in Britain have been rising again, but the overall incidence is still low in a country with one of the world’s fastest vaccine rollouts. The number of hospitalised COVID-19 patients fell last week to its lowest level since September.

Clusters of the B.1.617 India-dominant variant have grown quickly, however, to 3,424 as of last Thursday, up by 2,111 from similar numbers the previous week. The India-dominant variant has been reported in at least 17 countries.

The French government’s announcement will be a blow to parts of the beleaguered tourism industry, which is desperate for a return to normal business ahead of the peak summer season.

“It’s reasonable in terms of saving the French summer but will be very punishing for those regions which depend on British holidaymakers,” said Ge Kusters, owner of Le Paradis campsite in the Dordogne area and president of the regional campsite union.

“More financial support is going to have to follow.”

Published at Thu, 27 May 2021 02:42:04 +0000

Pfizer wants legal protection from claims over adverse events to roll out its vaccine in India (File)

New Delhi:

Pfizer has told the government its Covid vaccine shows “high effectiveness” against the India-dominant variant of the virus experts believe is behind the devastating second wave of infections and deaths in the country, sources told news agency PTI Wednesday.

Sources said Pfizer also told the government its vaccine had been proven suitable for everyone over 12, and can be stored for a month in cold storage facilities with a temperature range of 2-8 degrees Celsius.

The American pharma giant is in talks with the government over fast-track approval to roll out five crore doses between July and October – if it receives significant regulatory relaxations, including indemnification, or protection from compensation claims in case of adverse events.

The two sides have held a series of meetings over the past few weeks, some of which also involved Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla, to resolve issues, including grant of legal indemnity.

None of the three vaccines currently approved for use in India – Covishield, Covaxin or Sputnik V – have been given such protection. Pfizer has insisted on this, which it has been given by other countries that use the drug, including the United States and several European nations.

According to PTI, sources told the Indian government it should “rely on the 44 authorisations, including WHO approval (to) facilitate emergency use authorisation…”

The company, however, is open to considering surveillance of the first 100 subjects to get its vaccine.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 95 per cent effective in protecting against COVID-19 (File)

Pfizer, sources told PTI, has shared the most recent data points regarding trials, efficacy rates and approvals from various countries and by the World Health Organization (WHO).

These include data from the UK’s Public Health England, which said an observational study concluded the Pfizer vaccine offered 87.9 per cent protection against the B.1.617.2 variant reported in India. 26 per cent of study participants were of “Indian or British Indian” ethnicity.

Other issues key to accelerating approval for the Pfizer vaccine are procurement through a central government pathway and regulatory requirement for post-approval bridging studies.

Pfizer (and Moderna, another US pharma giant with a Covid vaccine) was last week approached by the Delhi government, which was looking to buy vaccines directly from them. The offer was rejected; Pfizer cited company policy to say it would only deal with the centre.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine uses the mRNA method to deliver protection from COVID-19 (File)

Moderna cited similar policies to refuse the Punjab government.

India has administered over 20 crore vaccine doses so far, but is still a long way short of vaccinating a significant-enough proportion of its 130-crore population.

A shortage of vaccine doses is believed to be one of the primary reasons for the recent slowdown, with several states flagging low stocks and being forced to suspend vaccination for the 18-44 age group.

At present India has Covishield (manufactured by the Serum Institute) and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.

A third vaccine – Russian-made Sputnik V – is to be rolled out soon.

None of these have been cleared for those below 18, although Covaxin is expected to begin trials for the 2-18 age group by the month’s end.

Published at Thu, 27 May 2021 02:51:30 +0000

New Delhi: BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra on Wednesday (May 26) slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal or criticising the Modi government over the vaccination programme, as it charged him with doing ‘politics of self-promotion’ and asked him to desist from ‘abuse and accuse’ tactics.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said Kejriwal had earlier advocated decentralisation of the vaccination programme and opening it up, but after the Centre did so, he has taken a u-turn and is indulging in lies, misinformation and credit-taking.

Patra said the Delhi chief minister holds two to three press conferences almost daily to do politics. “He appears to be doing the politics of self-promotion. Now is not the time for such politics,” he said, adding the AAP chief should shun “accuse and abuse” tactics.

Hitting out at the Delhi CM over his claim that the national capital is running short of COVID vaccines, Patra claimed that even today the Kejriwal government has over 1.5 lakh vaccine doses. The Centre has made over 20 crore doses of vaccines available to states in 130 days, he added, noting that India ranks second only to the US in this regard. “Over 42 percent of Indians over 60 years of age have got at least one dose of vaccine,” he added.

Patra also took potshots at Kejriwal over his recent claim that his government is preparing for the third wave of the pandemic and asked why he did not prepare for the second wave. “During the second wave, Kejriwal blamed the Modi government for the lack of oxygen and other matters, then how is he preparing now for the third wave,” Patra said. He asked CM Kejriwal to apologise for his mistake of not taking adequate measures to deal with the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the national capital.

Sambit Patra attacks Arvind Kejriwal over Pakistan reference 

Sambit Patra took a swipe at Arvind Kejriwal for his Pakistan reference. “When India was indeed in a war with Pakistan, Kejriwal was seeking evidence,” Patra said, referring to the surgical strikes by the Indian forces inside Pakistani territory to target terror camps.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had lashed out at the Centre holding it responsible for the shortage of vaccines in the country. The CM drew an analogy between the need for vaccines during the pandemic and the need for tanks during wars.

“It is something like Pakistan declaring a war on India and then they ask if Delhi has manufactured a nuclear bomb and Uttar Pradesh bought a tank…. It is the central government’s responsibility to procure and supply vaccines. Delhi can be held accountable if they (the Centre) give us vaccines and we do not open up centres,” he had said. 

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NEW DELHI: Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak on Tuesday said that the BJP ruled MCD has not provided books to around seven lakh students who study in the MCD schools. He said that the BJP ruled MCD has not yet started the tendering process or begun the procurement of books for these seven lakh students. Pathak said that the Aam Aadmi Party demands that the BJP ruled MCD should immediately, within 15-20 days, start the tendering, procuring and distribution process of the books for the seven lakh students. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party demands that the BJP should immediately stop playing with the future of these seven lakh students during the time of a pandemic.

Durgesh Pathak addressed a press conference on this issue and said, “In these times of Covid every section of the society has been affected. One area that has suffered in particular is the education of children; children’s studies are being conducted through online classes for the past 1-1.5 years. Governments are trying that their future is not ruined. You all must also know that in Delhi the MCD has 1,625 schools in which about 7 lakh students study; the future of these 7 lakh students is already in the dark as the level of education is not good, for the situation has deteriorated due to online classes. But the most unfortunate thing is that the books that have to be provided to students have not yet been given.”

He explained, “Generally this should happen in April. But I can understand that since the first week of April the Covid wave came, and there must have been a problem. But if the books that were to be given in April, the process of their purchase should have started earlier; its tender should have been given, books should have been obtained, the distribution was to be done in April. Yet, till now, the MCD has not begun even a single process; neither the tender process has started, nor the purchase process has been initiated, forget about distribution. You must remember that even last year through press conferences we raised the issue with you and the public. In the 2020 session, children got the books after 9 months; they should have received it in April but got it by December-January. Similarly in 2019, the books were received 8 months late. Since the last 5 years, and the situation is especially worse in North MCD, since the past 5 years children have been present in schools, they do online classes, but they don’t have books; and we all know that the poorest sections attend Delhi MCD’s schools. Such groups go (to these schools) who work as daily-wage labourers, such sections that have the least income. The future of around 7 lakh such students lies in the dark now.”

He also said, “Through the medium of media, we would like to send this message to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s leaders that last time you gave the books after 9 months, before that you gave the books 8 months latre, and even before that you gave the books 6-7 months late. At least in this session, if you want then within 10-15 days you can give the tender and obtain the books, it’s not a big deal, and start the process of distribution. Corona cases are decreasing in Delhi, so all agencies will have to slowly return to their work, all agencies will have to be slowly nudged towards their responsibilities. And in the end the 7 lakh students that are there, their futures should not be toyed with.”

Finally, Pathak said, “So with folded hands I request the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders that don’t waste this session, you wasted the previous session, you wasted the one before, and wasted the one even before that. Since the last 5 years, you haven’t given the books to the children on time. This time you have a chance that in the next 10-15 days books are provided to the children. Aam Aadmi Party, with great responsibility and with great emotion attached to Delhi, demands that the 7 lakh students that study in the MCD’s schools, their futures must not be played with because once their future is spoilt the rest of the things will never be right. So I demand this from the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders that the process of purchasing books for these 7 lakh children is completed within the next 15-20 days.” 

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New Delhi: Less than two hours after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the central government of undercounting the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the country, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan hit back at him with a counter tweet.

In a scathing reply to Gandhi, Vardhan said that doing politics over corpses was Congress’ style. He took a dig at the Congress leader for trusting a foreign publication more than the government.

“Politics on corpses, INC Style! Although vultures are disappearing from trees, it seems their spirit has been absorbed by vultures of the earth. @RahulGandhi ji trusts #NewYork more than #Delhi. One should learn to play politics on corpses from the vultures of the earth,” Vardhan tweeted.

लाशों पर राजनीति, @INCIndia स्टाइल !

पेड़ों पर से गिद्ध भले ही लुप्त हो रहे हों, लेकिन लगता है उनकी ऊर्जा धरती के गिद्धों में समाहित हो रही है।@RahulGandhi जी को #Delhi से अधिक #NewYork पर भरोसा है।

लाशों पर राजनीति करना कोई धरती के गिद्धों से सीखे।@PMOIndia @BJP4India https://t.co/29D0yWU5wS

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) May 26, 2021

Earlier, Gandhi shared a New York Times report titled “Just How Big Could India’s True Covid Toll Be” that said the country’s total death count due to the virus could be around 6 lakhs in “a conservative scenario”, 1.6 million in a “more likely scenario” and 4.2 million in “a worse scenario”.

“Numbers don`t lie… GOI does,” Gandhi wrote.

Numbers don’t lie… GOI does. pic.twitter.com/5YLSnaeKzK

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 26, 2021

Several media reports have claimed that the COVID death toll in India is being under-reported. 

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