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Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
86.5 lakh deaths in 2022, 15% dip over Covid-hit 2021: CRS data
India witnessed a notable decrease in deaths in 2022, with 86.5 lakh fatalities reported. This marks a 15% decline from the 1.02 crore deaths in 2021, a year heavily impacted by Covid-19. Birth registrations increased to 2.54 crore in 2022, a rise of 5.1% from the previous year. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Nearly 86.5 lakh deaths were reported in the country during 2022, a significant decline of more than 15% from Covid-affected 2021 which had recorded over 1.02 crore deaths, according to a new data from the Civil Registration System CRS ).The dip of 15.74 lakh from 2021 brought mortality figures broadly back in line with pre-pandemic patterns last seen in 2020, the data for 2022 brought out by the office of the Registrar General of India through CRS report to the CRS data, 2021 registered a sharp spike with 1.02 crore deaths across the country as compared to 81.1 lakh in 2020, 76.4 lakh in 2019, and 69.5 lakh in 2018, underscoring the impact of COVID-19."In the case of registered deaths, the number has decreased from 102.2 lakh in 2021 to 86.5 lakh in 2022, i.e. a decrease of 15.4%. Some of the major states namely, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar and Haryana have contributed significantly to the decreased number of registered deaths," the report 5.26 lakh deaths were reported due to COVID-19 till July 26, 2022, according to a reply given by the government in the Lok Sabha on July 29, World Health Organisation had reported over 47 lakh COVID-19 linked deaths in India which was strongly disputed by the government. The Centre had said the WHO estimates suffered from "a number of inconsistencies and erroneous assumptions"."India had registered a strong objection to the process, methodology and outcome of this unscientific modelling approach especially when India had provided authentic data published through Civil Registration System by Registrar General of India to WHO," the government reply had CRS report also showed that over 2.54 crore births were registered in 2022."The number of registered births has increased from 242.0 lakh in 2021 to 254.4 lakh in 2022, an increase of about 5.1%," the report has been an increase in 2022 in registered births in almost all states and UTs, except Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, Ladakh, and Lakshadweep as compared to major states namely, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Assam have contributed significantly to the increase in registered births in 2022 over 2021, the report said."On the other hand, decrease in registered births in six figures has been observed in two major states namely, West Bengal and Bihar during 2021-2022," it said.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Economic Times
86.5 lakh deaths in 2022, 15% dip over Covid-hit 2021: CRS data
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Nearly 86.5 lakh deaths were reported in the country during 2022, a significant decline of more than 15% from Covid-affected 2021 which had recorded over 1.02 crore deaths, according to a new data from the Civil Registration System CRS ).The dip of 15.74 lakh from 2021 brought mortality figures broadly back in line with pre-pandemic patterns last seen in 2020, the data for 2022 brought out by the office of the Registrar General of India through CRS report to the CRS data, 2021 registered a sharp spike with 1.02 crore deaths across the country as compared to 81.1 lakh in 2020, 76.4 lakh in 2019, and 69.5 lakh in 2018, underscoring the impact of COVID-19."In the case of registered deaths, the number has decreased from 102.2 lakh in 2021 to 86.5 lakh in 2022, i.e. a decrease of 15.4%. Some of the major states namely, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar and Haryana have contributed significantly to the decreased number of registered deaths," the report 5.26 lakh deaths were reported due to COVID-19 till July 26, 2022, according to a reply given by the government in the Lok Sabha on July 29, World Health Organisation had reported over 47 lakh COVID-19 linked deaths in India which was strongly disputed by the government. The Centre had said the WHO estimates suffered from "a number of inconsistencies and erroneous assumptions"."India had registered a strong objection to the process, methodology and outcome of this unscientific modelling approach especially when India had provided authentic data published through Civil Registration System by Registrar General of India to WHO," the government reply had CRS report also showed that over 2.54 crore births were registered in 2022."The number of registered births has increased from 242.0 lakh in 2021 to 254.4 lakh in 2022, an increase of about 5.1%," the report has been an increase in 2022 in registered births in almost all states and UTs, except Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, Ladakh, and Lakshadweep as compared to major states namely, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Assam have contributed significantly to the increase in registered births in 2022 over 2021, the report said."On the other hand, decrease in registered births in six figures has been observed in two major states namely, West Bengal and Bihar during 2021-2022," it said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
We can forget COVID-19, it's not a cause for concern, say health experts, as they explain the reason behind the surge in India
COVID-19 is becoming milder, but occasional surges are expected. Experts say the virus is endemic and constantly evolving. Rising cases are due to waning immunity and seasonal factors. Vulnerable populations should take precautions. The WHO declared the end of COVID-19 as a public health emergency two years ago. Cases are rising in Southeast Asia, including India. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Covid Becoming Milder Every Passing Year: Expert Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Surge in India part of broader trend Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 'Ups and downs expected because the virus is endemic' COVID-19 is becoming less severe over time, but occasional increases in cases are expected as the virus becomes endemic and continues to change, scientists say. They reassure the public that there is no major cause for alarm. The experts addressed concerns about the rising number of cases in different parts of India . They believe it is due to weakening immunity combined with seasonal factors, such as extreme temperatures that cause people to stay indoors in air-conditioned environments. They emphasised the need for caution, especially for those who are more vulnerable."With every passing year, COVID-19 is causing milder infections. It is (now) just another respiratory illness and less dangerous than flu. We can forget COVID-19 as a special case. It is not a cause of concern," said Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya, a global health Agarwal from Ashoka University added, "All the subvariants are similar, having a lower virulence but high infectivity. While highly susceptible people can still get severe disease, the vast majority don't, especially those who have had prior infections or vaccines."The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of COVID-19 as a public health emergency in May 2023. Health experts now describe the disease as seasonal, endemic, or restricted to certain of June 6, there were over 5,300 active cases in India, with nearly 500 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. More than 4,700 people have recovered. Since January, 55 deaths have been reported, mainly among individuals with pre-existing conditions, according to the Union Health advised that "People with pre-existing illnesses and those older than 65 should follow standard precautions, as they would against any other respiratory infection -- not just for COVID-19."Kerala is the most affected state with over 1,600 cases, followed by Gujarat, West Bengal, Delhi, and Maharashtra, according to ministry increase in cases in India is part of a broader trend in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Hong surveillance by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) has detected the presence of the virus in samples from sewage treatment plants in Pune, according to the Times of sequencing of samples from western and southern India has shown links to Omicron subvariants LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1. Rajiv Behl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said earlier this week that the cases are not severe and there is no need to WHO has classified LF.7 and NB.1.8.1 as 'variants under monitoring' (VUM). JN.1 has been circulating in India since November Satyajit Rath explained that the subvariants are likely better at binding to human cells, despite existing antibodies."However, the important issue here is not their infectivity, but their tendency to cause severe disease, or 'virulence'," Rath experts said that ups and downs in infections are expected because the virus is now endemic and constantly stated, "People need not worry themselves until they are informed of a new 'variant of concern'. VUM is not relevant to the public, but only to public health authorities."Lahariya advised the public to get information from reliable sources and avoid sharing unverified messages. Rath suggested monitoring the virulence of new emphasised that "National and state governments in India should keep a watch on cases, monitor the trends in new cases and share data widely. The linkage between infections and clinical outcomes should be explored to understand the clinical features of the variants in circulation."Rath highlighted the need to address systemic issues in public health systems and healthcare questioned, "Are we making next-generation Covid vaccines at all? Are we making them available widely and affordably? Are we even carefully tracking evidence to see how well or poorly the current vaccine-induced immunity functions against emerging strains?"He added, "And if not, we are throwing poor communities onto their own resources even for taking such simple precautions, and that is a systemic problem."(Inputs from PTI)
Economic Times
24-05-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
COVID is back in a big way: Over 350 people are dying from the coronavirus in the U.S. each week, says CDC data
Despite available vaccines and treatments, COVID-19 continues to cause an average of 350 deaths weekly in the U.S., according to the CDC. Low vaccination rates, waning immunity, and delayed treatment contribute to these ongoing fatalities. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Are we using COVID treatments effectively? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Who is most at risk now? FAQs COVID is still around, and it is still deadly for a lot of Americans. The CDC says that the virus is killing multitudes in the U.S. each week, even though there are vaccines and treatments say that a lack of vaccinations and missed treatment opportunities are two of the main reasons why these deaths keep month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that COVID killed an average of 350 people every week, as per a report by CDC data indicates that although the number of deaths is high, it is declining and is less than the weekly deaths observed in prior spring months as well as the peak of 25,974 deaths recorded the week ending Jan. 9, health experts told ABC News that while the United States has made significant progress in recent years, high-risk groups are still at risk from COVID-19."The fact that we're still seeing deaths just means it's still circulating, and people are still catching it," Dr. Tony Moody, a professor at Duke University Medical Center's infectious diseases division's pediatric department, spoke to ABC News.A few factors, according to the experts, could be contributing to the virus's continued death toll, including low vaccination rates, declining immunity, and a lack of treatment to CDC data, as of the week ending April 26, only 23 percent of adults aged 18 and older received the updated COVID-19 vaccine during the 2024–25 to the data, only 13% of children received the updated COVID vaccine during the same time COVID deaths are likely a result of insufficient vaccination uptake, according to Dr. Gregory Poland, a vaccine specialist and president and co-director of the Atria Research Institute, which focuses on disease prevention. Some recipients of the vaccine, however, might not be exhibiting a healthy immune response."Some individuals might have a genetic predisposition to react poorly to the vaccine. Poland told ABC News, "The more common issue is that people are immunocompromised and can't respond well."Poland added that the chance of contracting COVID-19 increases as immunity to the vaccine wanes over is currently advised that people 65 and older get two doses of the updated COVID vaccine, spaced six months medications, such as Paxlovid from Pfizer and molnupiravir from Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, are currently available for COVID-19 are administered twice daily for five days and must be initiated within five days of the onset of COVID symptoms. Within seven days of the onset of COVID symptoms, the intravenous drug remdesivir must be elderly and those in high-risk groups are still very vulnerable. Many people don't use vaccines and antivirals correctly, which means the virus is still to CDC data, the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths is currently 4.66 per 100,000 in people 75 years of age and people are not receiving updated vaccines, and some are delaying treatment, allowing the virus to spread more adults, particularly those over 75, and people with weakened immune systems are still the most vulnerable.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
New Trump vaccine policy might limit access to your future COVID shots: 10 points
Stricter FDA policy for Covid vaccines: 10 points Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The US Food and Drug Administration is changing the way it approves Covid-19 vaccines for Americans. The FDA has announced that it will only recommend COVID-19 vaccines for adults 65 and older and people at risk for severe agency is changing the type of evidence it will accept from vaccine manufacturers to approve updated Covid-19 shots, Dr. Vinay Prasad, the new director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said in an editorial published Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.-The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Tuesday that it will limit access to seasonal Covid-19 boosters for healthy Americans under 65. Critics said the move will make access difficult for people who are not high risk but want to be vaccinated against the disease.-The new strategy would continue the current vaccine approval process for people ages 65 and older and younger people with health problems that put them at high risk, according to an article published Tuesday in The New England Journal of Medicine.-Top FDA officials have introduced a new framework for approving COVID-19 vaccines. Under this plan, booster shots will be made available to Americans aged 65 and older, as well as to adults and children over 6 months old who have at least one condition that heightens their risk of developing severe COVID-19.-The FDA framework, published Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, urges companies to conduct large, lengthy studies before tweaked vaccines can be approved for healthier people, reports news agency AP. It is in contrary from the previous federal policy recommending an annual COVID shot for all Americans six months and older.-Vinay Prasad, the controversial director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, described the new approach as a 'reasonable compromise' that will allow vaccinations in high-risk groups to continue while generating new data about whether they still benefit healthier people.-The nation's leading pediatrics group said FDA's approach will limit options for parents and their children. 'If the vaccine were no longer available or covered by insurance, it will take the choice away from families who wish to protect their children from COVID-19, especially among families already facing barriers to care,' said Dr. Sean O'Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics -According to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 47,000 Americans died from causes related to COVID-19 last year. In two-thirds of those cases, the virus was identified as the primary cause of death, while in the remaining cases, it was a contributing factor.-The new FDA approach is the culmination of a series of recent steps under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. scrutinizing the use of COVID shots and raising questions about the broader availability of vaccines. It was released two days ahead of the first meeting of FDA's outside vaccine experts under Trump.-Last week, the FDA granted full approval to Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine, but with significant restrictions on eligibility — restrictions that were echoed in Tuesday's guidance. The decision followed an intervention by Trump-appointed officials, who overruled FDA scientists' initial plans to approve the vaccine without limitations.-For years, federal health officials have advised most Americans to anticipate yearly COVID-19 vaccine updates, much like the annual flu shot. As with flu vaccines, the FDA has so far approved updated COVID vaccines as long as they provide immune protection comparable to the prior year's formulation.(With inputs from AP)
