Latest news with #Covishield
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Karnataka reports third COVID-19 death
Karnataka recorded its third COVID-19 fatality this year with a 63-year-old male succumbing to septic shock, COVID-19 pneumonia, and multi-organ dysfunction on May 25 at a private hospital in Mysuru. The death was reported to the Health Department on Friday (May 30, 2025). The patient, who was admitted to the hospital with breathlessness, altered sensorium, oliguria, and generalised swelling of the body, was vaccinated with two doses of Covishield and had chronic kidney disease (CKD) and bronchiectasis, a chronic lung condition. The other two deaths were also reported in male patients. An 84-year-old in Bengaluru and a 70-year-old in Belagavi, who also had several comorbid conditions and developed COVID-19, succumbed to the disease on May 17 and May 26 respectively. Active cases cross 200 With 114 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, the number of active cases touched 234. Of these, 11 are being treated in hospitals. While the test positivity rate touched 24.7%, case fatality rate touched 0.8%. Meanwhile, the Health Department has directed hospitals to mandatorily test all SARI cases and 5% of ILI cases through RT-PCR in government laboratories only.
India Today
6 days ago
- Health
- India Today
Covid-19 cases rising: What is the status of India's vaccine stockpile?
As cases of Covid-19 show signs of resurgence, sources in the government have assured that India has enough vaccine stockpile for its citizens and support exports to other countries, if 1,010 active cases were recorded as of May 26, with new infections reported from Noida, Lucknow, Karnataka, Mumbai, Arunachal Pradesh, and Varanasi, raising concerns of another potential sources told India Today that there is an ample stockpile of Covid-19 vaccines ready for deployment. "We are fully prepared for any situation. We have enough stockpile to meet the requirements of our citizens. Moreover, if needed, we can even supply vaccines to other countries," the sources Most of India, nearly 1 billion people, have received at least one dose of Covishield or manufactured under licence from AstraZeneca by the Serum Institute of India (SII), ceased its production in December 2021 due to reduced Covaxin, India's first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine, developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Virology, stopped production in early the halt in manufacturing, officials say that vaccine availability is not a concern. India's existing vaccines were not designed to target these newer subvariants. () While doctors attribute this surge to the unpredictable seasonal pattern of respiratory illnesses, global health authorities point to diminishing protection from previous infections and vaccinations that could be playing a role in regional India, the dominant strains currently in circulation are LF.7, XFG, and JN.1, alongside the new Omicron sub-lineage variants have overlapping symptoms that closely mimic the common flu: cough, runny nose, sore throat, low-grade fever, headaches, body aches, and, in some cases, gastrointestinal the seasonal behaviour of SARS-CoV-2 now mirrors that of other respiratory viruses, driven by periodic mutations, there's a main difference: India's existing vaccines were not designed to target these newer this, health experts maintain that those who have been previously infected or vaccinated, especially within the past year, are still expected to retain some degree of protection against severe illness, even if they contract a mutated version of the virus. Most of India, nearly 1 billion people, have received at least one dose of Covishield or Covaxin. () Whether India will require updated Covid-19 vaccines remains under evaluation. However, emerging research offers reassurance.A recent study by the University of Arizona Health Sciences, published in Nature Immunology, found that prior vaccination continues to provide strong immune protection, even against newer variants like Delta and it may reduce the body's ability to generate variant-specific antibodies, vaccinated individuals still mounted a more robust immune response compared to those who were never InMust Watch
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Indian pharma will be key to countering the next pandemic
India is uniquely positioned to lead the global response to health threats, provided timely investments are made in its pharmaceutical capabilities. The country's ability to produce affordable medicines at scale, coupled with its untapped potential for innovation, positions it to evolve beyond its role as the pharmacy to the world and into an innovation hub. Such a transformation can address the unmet needs of the Global South, which often lacks access to life-saving solutions like vaccines. India's pharmaceutical sector demonstrated unmatched agility during the Covid-19 pandemic. Producing over 60% of the global vaccine supply, including Covaxin and Covishield, India exported essential drugs and vaccines to more than 150 countries. According to the ministry of commerce, pharmaceutical exports surged to $24.62 billion in 2021–22, largely driven by pandemic-related supplies. Over 50% of Africa's generics, nearly 47% of the US's generic demand, and approximately 25% of the UK's medicine needs are met by Indian pharma, per the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers. Initiatives like Vaccine Maitri further highlighted India's commitment to health equity, supplying over 100 million vaccine doses to low- and middle-income countries. These efforts underscore the sector's potential to become an innovation hub capable of addressing global health challenges. While India's role as the pharmacy of the world is well-established, its next frontier lies in becoming a hub for pharmaceutical innovation. Fragmented ecosystems and insufficient research and development (R&D) investment have hindered progress. However, the pandemic revealed the sector's latent potential when supported by targeted policies and public-private collaborations. For instance, Covaxin's development exemplified how partnerships can spur innovation. The development of mRNA vaccines during the pandemic—hailed as rapid breakthroughs—was the result of decades of sustained investment and collaboration between governments, industry, and academia. India must adopt a similar model by fostering an ecosystem that integrates government support, private sector ingenuity, and academic excellence. Innovation thrives in robust ecosystems, not in isolation. The pandemic exposed the risks of over-reliance on a single source for drug raw materials, leading to shortages. Recognising this, India has launched initiatives like the Make in India programme for bulk drug production and established dedicated Bulk Drug Parks with state-of-the-art infrastructure. These parks aim to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and rebuild end-to-end drug manufacturing capabilities. The $2 billion Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme further boosts domestic production of key starting materials (KSMs) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). To maximise these initiatives, industry players must proactively invest in technology, upskill their workforce, and collaborate with academia and global counterparts. Effective execution could make India self-reliant in critical drug manufacturing within five years and position it as a viable alternative source for drug raw materials globally. India's pharmaceutical sector stands at a critical juncture. The achievements of the past—rooted in perseverance, innovation, and excellence—provide a strong foundation for a future where India leads not just in drug manufacturing but also in drug discovery. The decisions made today will determine whether we are prepared to meet tomorrow's health challenges. With coordinated efforts between the government and the industry, and a global vision, India can build an innovation-driven pharmaceutical sector. This sector would not only address domestic needs but also offer groundbreaking solutions to the world, ensuring readiness for the next health crisis. This article is authored by Anil Agrawal, former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha.
NDTV
21-04-2025
- Health
- NDTV
"File Suit": Top Court To Man Who Claimed Disability Due To Covid Vaccine
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday told a petitioner, who allegedly suffered disability due to the side-effects of Covid-19 vaccine's first dose, to file a suit for damages instead of pursuing his plea. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih made the observation while hearing the plea for a direction to lay down appropriate guidelines for an effective resolution of side effects following immunisation (AEFI) with specific reference to Covid-19 vaccination. "If you keep your petition pending here, nothing will happen for ten years. At least if you file a suit, you will get some quick relief," the bench said. The petitioner's counsel said the man was suffering from the adverse effects of immunisation after taking the first dose of Covid vaccine as he developed 100 per cent lower limb disability. "How can a writ petition be filed for that? File a suit for damages," Justice Gavai said. The counsel said there were two separate petitions raising a similar issue pending in the top court and the coordinate benches had issued notice on them. If the petitioner wanted, the court said, it would tag his plea with the pending petitions. The bench said the plea might be pending in the top court for long and for 10 years, it might not see the light of the day. The counsel requested the bench to grant him a week's time to discuss it with his client. "At least if a suit is filed, within one year or two years or three years, you will get some relief," the bench observed. The matter was then posted after a week. The plea sought a direction to the Centre and the manufacturer of Covishield vaccine, Serum Institute of India, to ensure the petitioner was able to live with dignity as a physically disabled person. It also sought a direction to them to reimburse his medical expenses and take responsibility for his future medical expenses for the treatment of his physical disability after being administered the first dose of the vaccine. Aside from these, the plea sought a direction to grant compensation to the petitioner for his physical disability if his condition was found to be untreatable.
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Supreme Court asks man to file suit for damages after he claims disability post COVID-19 first dose
The Supreme Court on Monday (April 21, 2025) told a petitioner, who allegedly suffered disability due to the side-effects of COVID-19 vaccine's first dose, to file a suit for damages instead of pursuing his plea. A Bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih made the observation while hearing the plea for a direction to lay down appropriate guidelines for an effective resolution of side effects following immunisation (AEFI) with specific reference to COVID-19 vaccination. 'If you keep your petition pending here, nothing will happen for ten years. At least if you file a suit, you will get some quick relief,' the Bench said. The petitioner's counsel said the man was suffering from the adverse effects of immunisation after taking the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as he developed 100% lower limb disability. 'How can a writ petition be filed for that? File a suit for damages,' Justice Gavai said. The counsel said there were two separate petitions raising a similar issue pending in the apex court and the coordinate Benches had issued notice on them. If the petitioner wanted, the court said, it would tag his plea with the pending petitions. The Bench said the plea might be pending in the apex court for long and for 10 years, it might not see the light of the day. The counsel requested the Bench to grant him a week's time to discuss it with his client. 'At least if a suit is filed, within one year or two years or three years, you will get some relief,' the Bench observed. The matter was then posted after a week. The plea sought a direction to the Centre and the manufacturer of Covishield vaccine, Serum Institute of India, to ensure the petitioner was able to live with dignity as a physically disabled person. It also sought a direction to them to reimburse his medical expenses and take responsibility for his future medical expenses for the treatment of his physical disability after being administered the first dose of the vaccine. Aside from these, the plea sought a direction to grant compensation to the petitioner for his physical disability if his condition was found to be untreatable.
