Coronavirus | Key ICMR panel on vaccines dissolved
4 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus | Key ICMR panel on vaccines dissolved

The Hindu  

The Indian Council for Medical Research has dissolved a key committee, which was part of the National COVID-19 Task Force and tasked with developing a research protocol, a team and partners for vaccines and drug development. The group for ‘Vaccines/Drug Research and Development’ — one among five constituted by ICMR Director-General Balram Bhargava on April 6 — was to identify ‘research priorities, review evidence and develop concept notes’. One member told The Hindu that the team was probably constituted to help ICMR gain an overview of potential vaccines, existing capabilities in India and research institutions with expertise in specific areas of drug- and vaccine-development. Coronavirus | Vaccine, therapeutic drug development for COVID-19 going on, says DRDO chairman Dr. Mitra told The Hindu that the group was “likely reconstituted” and that he was unaware of further developments. Dr. Bhargava, in response to queries, referred this correspondent to ICMR’s Saturday announcement of the Council partnering with Bharat Biotech International Ltd/ for developing an indigenous potential COVID-19 vaccine.

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History of this topic

India’s virus research and diagnostic laboratory network has expanded to 164 labs: ICMR-NIV Director
2 weeks, 5 days ago

India’s virus research and diagnostic laboratory network has expanded to 164 labs: ICMR-NIV Director

The Hindu  

Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology, Pune director Naveen Kumar on Sunday, March 9, said India’s Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory network has expanded to 164 labs, complemented by 22 new BSL-3 labs for faster outbreak response. Discussing India’s progress in viral disease surveillance, Mr. Kumar, highlighted the growth of virus detection capabilities, noting that the number of …

ICMR initiates process of vaccine against avian influenza
1 month, 3 weeks ago

ICMR initiates process of vaccine against avian influenza

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: The ICMR has initiated the process of development of an ingenious human vaccine candidate against highly-pathogenic avian influenza. The avian influenza H5N1, a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu, continues to pose a significant threat to animal and human health in India. The document stated that avian influenza H5N1 virus poses a grave public health risk because of …

ICMR seeks 'out of the box' ideas from Indian scientists to solve complex health problems
4 months, 2 weeks ago

ICMR seeks 'out of the box' ideas from Indian scientists to solve complex health problems

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: In an effort to encourage Indian scientists to come up with innovative ideas for finding solutions to difficult health problems, apex health research body ICMR has launched a new initiative The initiative-- First in the World Challenge -- aims to foster novel, out of the box, futuristic ideas, new knowledge generation, discovery or development of breakthrough health technologies …

India to undertake mega study of covid-19 samples to help prepare for future pandemics
4 months, 3 weeks ago

India to undertake mega study of covid-19 samples to help prepare for future pandemics

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The Department of Biotechnology plans to undertake a study of thousands of samples and clinical material collected during covid-19 to help Indian scientists understand the susceptibility of individuals and changes in metabolic activity that will be useful in fighting future pandemics. The department will give the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium, a consortium of 54 laboratories, the mandate to …

ICMR signs agreements to advance first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trials
6 months, 2 weeks ago

ICMR signs agreements to advance first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trials

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: In a significant stride towards strengthening India's clinical research ecosystem, the Indian Council of Medical Research has formalised memorandum of agreements with multiple sponsors to advance first-in-human phase 1 clinical trials. "The agreements mark a ground-breaking entry into first-in-human clinical trials for four promising molecules," the Union Health Ministry said in a statement. These include collaborative research over …

ICMR got ₹172 cr. from Bharat Biotech for Covaxin: Nadda
7 months, 3 weeks ago

ICMR got ₹172 cr. from Bharat Biotech for Covaxin: Nadda

The Hindu  

The Indian Council of Medical Research has received ₹172 crore as royalty from Bharat Biotech International Limited for jointly developing Covaxin, an indigenously developed vaccine for COVID-19, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said, during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha on Friday. Covaxin was jointly developed by ICMR, National Institute of Virology, and Bharat Biotech International Ltd, in two phases. …

Patent filings credit Bharat Biotech as ‘inventor’ of Covaxin, omit ICMR
9 months, 1 week ago

Patent filings credit Bharat Biotech as ‘inventor’ of Covaxin, omit ICMR

The Hindu  

India’s first indigenously developed coronavirus vaccine, Covaxin, was a joint collaboration between the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Limited with intellectual property rights jointly shared between the two organisations. The Minister’s statement said the ICMR would provide a “well characterised” virus strain for vaccine development, the BBIL would develop the final vaccine formulation and, …

ICMR distances itself from BHU’s Covaxin study
10 months, 1 week ago

ICMR distances itself from BHU’s Covaxin study

The Hindu  

The Indian Council of Medical Research has distanced itself from the Banaras Hindu University researchers for “incorrectly” associating it with an observational study on the side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin. The ICMR said that the recently published research paper entitled Long-Term Safety Analysis of the BBVl52 Coronavirus Vaccine in Adolescents and Adults: Findings from a 1-Year Prospective Study …

'Poor methodology': ICMR dissociates itself from Covaxin safety study
10 months, 1 week ago

'Poor methodology': ICMR dissociates itself from Covaxin safety study

Hindustan Times  

The Indian Council of Medical Research, India's premier medical research body, has asked the authors of a study on the Covaxin vaccine to remove ICMR's acknowledgement. The study, titled "Long-Term Safety Analysis of the BBVl52 Coronavirus Vaccine in Adolescents and Adults: Findings from a 1-Year Prospective Study in North India" by Kaur et al., was published in the journal Drug …

ICMR institutes to take on broader role in healthcare
11 months ago

ICMR institutes to take on broader role in healthcare

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The Centre has renamed and repurposed four institutes under the Indian Council of Medical Research to broaden their scope of work by incorporating data science, artificial intelligence and Anti-Microbial Resistance. As a part of the plan, the National Institute of Medical Statistics which came into existence in 2005 has been renamed as the National Institute for Research in …

New Blueprint for Pandemic Preparedness in Place: Dr Bhargava
1 year, 3 months ago

New Blueprint for Pandemic Preparedness in Place: Dr Bhargava

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: The Government of India has prepared a blueprint for pandemic preparedness that includes lessons learnt in combating Covid-19 in the country, former ICMR director general Dr Balram Bhargava said. There were learnings, there were a lot of mistakes and we learnt from them,” Dr Bhargava said at a press conference on Wednesday, replying to a question on whether ‘red …

Accelerating Routine Immunization in India: Insights from Covid-19 Drive
1 year, 4 months ago

Accelerating Routine Immunization in India: Insights from Covid-19 Drive

The Quint  

In the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing vaccination drive in India, the country's healthcare system gained invaluable insights into strengthening routine immunization programs. Learnings for Health Sector: The drive provided crucial insights into routine immunization systems, leveraging existing infrastructure and expertise effectively. Role of MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation & Equity Project: National Roll-Out Support: Initiated in August 2021, the …

India Gearing Up To Tackle Next Likely Pandemic After Coronavirus Antibiotic Resistance Influenza
1 year, 7 months ago

India Gearing Up To Tackle Next Likely Pandemic After Coronavirus Antibiotic Resistance Influenza

ABP News  

Arboviruses, multi-drug resistant bacteria, Nipah, Marburg virus and the dreaded "Disease X" -- one among them may cause the next Covid-like pandemic if the World Health Organization is to be believed. READ | India May Have Seen An 'Invisible' Covid Wave Larger Than 2022 Third Wave, Wastewater Surveillance Shows 'India Better Prepared After Covid' Experts said while India was better …

A new regime: On the Emergency Use Authorisation regime in India and clinical trials
1 year, 9 months ago

A new regime: On the Emergency Use Authorisation regime in India and clinical trials

The Hindu  

Last week, the Drug Controller General of India cleared, under the provisions of ‘emergency use authorisation’, a new mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 developed by Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, a pioneer in India in developing mRNA vaccines. More than evidence-based assessment, it was a technicality in India’s ‘New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019’ that allowed EUA in India for COVID-19 vaccines. …

India urges G-20 countries to join vaccine research collaborative in wake of COVID vaccine inequity
1 year, 9 months ago

India urges G-20 countries to join vaccine research collaborative in wake of COVID vaccine inequity

The Hindu  

With the COVID-19 pandemic exposing the acute inequity in vaccine development and access, the Indian government is working in partnership with two leading global non-profits to convene and build consensus among the G-20 member States and others, for a proposed Global Vaccine Research Collaborative. “International cooperation is essential to advance vaccine development for emerging pathogens, and the G-20 can serve …

COVID-19: WHO tracking VOI XBB.1.5, six other corona variants under monitoring | DETAILS
1 year, 11 months ago

COVID-19: WHO tracking VOI XBB.1.5, six other corona variants under monitoring | DETAILS

India TV News  

COVID-19: The Centre today told the states and Union territories that currently the World Health Organisation is closely tracking one variant of interest, XBB.1.5 and six other variants are under monitoring BQ.1, BA.2.75, CH.1.1, XBB, XBF and XBB.1.16. During a review meeting on the COVID-19 situation, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya virtually interacted with the health ministers of the states …

Coronavirus Alert! India logs 1,805 new Covid-19 cases, active tally at 10,300
2 years ago

Coronavirus Alert! India logs 1,805 new Covid-19 cases, active tally at 10,300

India TV News  

Coronavirus Alert: Once again, India is witnessing a spike in covid-19 cases. Union Health Ministry data reflects that India has logged 1,805 new coronavirus cases on Monday. Active tally at 10,300 The daily positivity rate has been recorded at 3.19 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 1.39 per cent. National Covid recovery rate recorded at 98.79 per cent …

Modi holds review meeting on influenza, Covid cases
2 years ago

Modi holds review meeting on influenza, Covid cases

Hindustan Times  

Prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting on Covid-19 and influenza to review the country’s response and preparedness to deal with a rising number of cases of influenza and a slight increase in the number of Covid-19 cases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a high-level meeting to review the Covid situation, in New Delhi on Wednesday. The …

Enhance lab surveillance, ramp up genome sequencing: PM Modi in Covid review meet
2 years ago

Enhance lab surveillance, ramp up genome sequencing: PM Modi in Covid review meet

India TV News  

PM Modi's Covid review meeting: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a high-level meeting to review the Covid-related situation and public health preparedness, amid rising cases in the country. The Prime Minister was briefed that India has been witnessing a slight rise in new cases with average daily cases reported as 888 and weekly positivity reported as 0.98% in …

Covid vaccine mission is a lesson for the world
2 years, 1 month ago

Covid vaccine mission is a lesson for the world

Hindustan Times  

When Covid-19 began in early 2020, most experts predicted India could face disastrous consequences. India’s response to the pandemic highlighted the underlying strengths of our scientific and technological prowess Not only did India succeed in protecting its population, but it also sent vaccines to other countries, thus proving to the world its capability of developing the first-ever DNA vaccine and …

‘Erroneous’: Centre dismisses Covid vaccine's ‘multiple side effects’ report
2 years, 2 months ago

‘Erroneous’: Centre dismisses Covid vaccine's ‘multiple side effects’ report

Hindustan Times  

Union ministry of health and family welfare on Tuesday dismissed media reports regarding the Indian Council of Medical Research and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation admitting to ‘multiple side-effects Covid-19 vaccines'. Terming the report “erroneous”, the ministry said that ICMR has only provided a list of benefits and drawbacks of the Covid-19 vaccine. Read| Centre unlikely to procure more Covid …

Braving a Viral Storm tells the tale of India’s COVID vaccine journey
2 years, 2 months ago

Braving a Viral Storm tells the tale of India’s COVID vaccine journey

The Hindu  

India’s development and production of its own vaccines against COVID-19 was an important part of dealing with the pandemic, pushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s view that the “entrepreneurial state” of government would bear the front-loaded risks of the effort, cushioning the private sector, according to a new book. The authors of Braving a Viral Storm: India’s Covid-19 Vaccine Story, …

Indian Army issues advisory on Covid, asks defence personnel to take safety measures
2 years, 3 months ago

Indian Army issues advisory on Covid, asks defence personnel to take safety measures

India TV News  

The Indian Army issued an advisory on Friday asking defence personnel to take up adequate measures to tackle COVID. The advisory asked them to take up measures such as the usage of face masks in closed or crowded places, practising hand sanitisation, and maintaining social distancing among others. Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya is set to hold a virtual …

Covid-19: Govt mulls mandating forms with RT-PCR, vaccination details for air travellers from abroad
2 years, 3 months ago

Covid-19: Govt mulls mandating forms with RT-PCR, vaccination details for air travellers from abroad

India TV News  

Covid-19: Govt mulls mandating forms with RT-PCR, vaccination details for air travellers from abroad Covid-19: According to reports, the ministry will take a decision on it after examining the situation for the next few weeks. Covid-19: Amid the growing threat of the latest Omicron variant, the Union health ministry is mulling to reintroduce the mandatory 'air suvidha' forms with details …

A concerning sequence: The Hindu Editorial on a new coronavirus strain and a spurt in cases in China
2 years, 3 months ago

A concerning sequence: The Hindu Editorial on a new coronavirus strain and a spurt in cases in China

The Hindu  

The spurt in coronavirus cases reported out of China has triggered global alarm. India’s Health Ministry has issued a directive to States to send positive samples to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium to check for new, concerning strains. There is scarce monitoring and mask mandates for public gatherings, airports and railway stations have been removed everywhere; so, low numbers do …

Covid News Updates: Maha Govt to Set Up Task Force to Keep An Eye on Coronavirus Situation, Coordinate With Centre
2 years, 3 months ago

Covid News Updates: Maha Govt to Set Up Task Force to Keep An Eye on Coronavirus Situation, Coordinate With Centre

News 18  

Covid-19 News Updates: Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases globally, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday held over an hour-long review meeting to discuss the coronavirus situation in the country. Advising Indians not to worry amid rising cases in China, Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of Serum Institute of India, said that we need not panic “given our excellent vaccination …

'COVID not over yet, ready to manage any situation': Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya after review meeting
2 years, 3 months ago

'COVID not over yet, ready to manage any situation': Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya after review meeting

India TV News  

'COVID not over yet, ready to manage any situation': Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya after review meeting COVID-19 India update: The secretaries of health, Ayush, department of pharmaceuticals and dept of biotechnology, ICMR Director General Rajiv Bahl, Member of NITI Aayog VK Paul and NTAGI Chairman NL Arora and other senior officials attended the meeting. COVID-19 India update: Union Health Minister …

Mandaviya's Covid review meet tomorrow as China sees sharp spike in cases
2 years, 3 months ago

Mandaviya's Covid review meet tomorrow as China sees sharp spike in cases

Hindustan Times  

With China reporting a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya decided to chair a coronavirus review meeting on Wednesday. "ln view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, the United States of America, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples …

Health Ministry asks States to hike genome sequencing for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus
2 years, 3 months ago

Health Ministry asks States to hike genome sequencing for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

The Hindu  

With a spurt in coronavirus cases reported in China, the United States and South Korea, India’s Health Ministry has asked States to bolster genome sequencing of coronavirus samples. “In view of the spurt in positive cases, it is essential to gear up the whole-genome sequencing of positive case samples to track variants through Indian Sars Cov2 Genomics Consortium network. India …

COVID-19: India reports 1,542 fresh cases in past 24 hours; Health Minister Mandaviya to review situation
2 years, 5 months ago

COVID-19: India reports 1,542 fresh cases in past 24 hours; Health Minister Mandaviya to review situation

India TV News  

COVID-19: India reports 1,542 fresh cases in past 24 hours; Health Minister Mandaviya to review situation COVID-19 Update: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will review the coronavirus situation and the ongoing vaccination drive today. COVID-19 Update: India reported 1,542 fresh Covid positive cases in the past 24 hours which took total active cases to 26,449 with 0.68% positivity rate on …

How the COVID-19 pandemic altered the vaccine story in India
2 years, 5 months ago

How the COVID-19 pandemic altered the vaccine story in India

The Hindu  

Last week, Twitter temporarily blocked a post by Florida’s surgeon general Joseph A. Ladapo. Such DNA vaccines, older in provenance than mRNA vaccines, involve inserting DNA for an antigen — or the part of the virus that stimulates the immune system — into a special kind of circular DNA called plasmids that are usually only found in bacteria. In the …

Covid-19: India's first intranasal vaccine by Bharat Biotech gets DCGI approval
2 years, 6 months ago

Covid-19: India's first intranasal vaccine by Bharat Biotech gets DCGI approval

India TV News  

The Bharat Biotech on Tuesday got emergency use authorisation from the Drugs Controller General of India for the Intranasal Covid-19 vaccine. Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya termed it a 'Big boost' to India's fight against Covid-19. Bharat Biotech's ChAd36-SARS-CoV-S COVID-19 recombinant nasal vaccine approved by CDSCO_INDIA_INF for primary immunization against COVID-19 in 18+ age group for …

Exclusive: Coming soon, second generation, variant specific anti-Covid vaccine
2 years, 8 months ago

Exclusive: Coming soon, second generation, variant specific anti-Covid vaccine

India Today  

The Centre has invested in developing a strain specific vaccine that would help in countering the changing nature of coronavirus. An official who facilitated developing this ecosystem for second generation vaccines told India Today that research and development work is underway to develop strain-specific vaccines in India. A bivalent vaccine will target the specific spike mutations seen in the Omicron …

Focus on adequate testing, surveillance: Mandaviya at Covid review meeting
2 years, 9 months ago

Focus on adequate testing, surveillance: Mandaviya at Covid review meeting

India TV News  

Highlights India again reported a rise on Wednesday with 12,249 fresh Covid infections Active caseload of the country has risen to 81,687 India's daily positivity rate was reported at 3.94 per cent Covid-19 cases in India: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandviya directed the officials to continue to focus on surveillance and whole-genome sequencing to scan for any possible virus mutation …

ICMR calls a high-level meeting as covid-19 surges, driven by Omicron
2 years, 9 months ago

ICMR calls a high-level meeting as covid-19 surges, driven by Omicron

Live Mint  

Priyanka Sharma priyanka.sharma@livemint.com A high-level meeting has been called in the coming week to chalk out a strategy to stem the recent spike in covid cases and to review the efficacy of current surveillance measures. Last week, scientists at the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium reviewed the genomic surveillance data which showed the surge is being driven by Omicron variants BA.4 …

Bharat Biotech Nasal Covid Vaccine's Phase 3 Trials Completed
2 years, 9 months ago

Bharat Biotech Nasal Covid Vaccine's Phase 3 Trials Completed

News 18  

Bharat Biotech on Saturday said that the clinical Phase III trials of the nasal vaccine for Covid-19 have been completed and that the company will submit its data with Drugs Controller General of India next month. Dr Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech on Saturday said, if everything is okay, then they will get permission to launch …

Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 nasal vaccine phase III trials completed
2 years, 9 months ago

Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 nasal vaccine phase III trials completed

India TV News  

Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 nasal vaccine phase III trials completed Krishna was in Paris as a speaker at Viva Technology 2022 where India was declared country of the year. Highlights Clinical phase III trials of COVID-19 nasal vaccine have been completed Bharat Biotech will submit its data with DCGI next month India was declared country of the year at Viva Technology …

U.S. to fund 3 Indian research institutions
2 years, 9 months ago

U.S. to fund 3 Indian research institutions

The Hindu  

The United States has announced a funding of $122 million to top three Indian medical research institutions to prevent avoidable epidemics, early detection of disease threats, and rapid and effective response. The total funding of $122,475,000 will, over a period of five years, be distributed to the three top Indian health research institutions — Indian Council of Medical Research, National …

COVID-19: High Court Seeks Delhi Govt's Response On Mechanism To Ensure Regulation Of Non-Accredited Labs & Online Health Service Aggregators
2 years, 10 months ago

COVID-19: High Court Seeks Delhi Govt's Response On Mechanism To Ensure Regulation Of Non-Accredited Labs & Online Health Service Aggregators

Live Law  

The Delhi High Court has sought the response of the Delhi Government on the mechanism being followed to ensure regulation of labs and online health service aggregators, which are not accredited by NABL and had not received approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research to collect samples and provide reports for COVID-19. First, that there was no monitoring by …

Adequate scientific data required to make recommendation on mixing Covid vaccines: Govt
2 years, 11 months ago

Adequate scientific data required to make recommendation on mixing Covid vaccines: Govt

India Today  

Adequate scientific data is required for the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization to make a recommendation on the mixing of Covid-19 vaccines. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization has granted permission to the Christian Medical College, Vellore to conduct the phase-IV study with Covishield and Covaxin to compare the immunogenicity of mixed vaccine regimen and to Bharat Biotech for …

Meet The Fab 5 Who Helped India Successfully Surf The Third Covid Wave And Safely Reach Shore
3 years ago

Meet The Fab 5 Who Helped India Successfully Surf The Third Covid Wave And Safely Reach Shore

News 18  

The credit for saving the country from the third wave of the Covid pandemic goes to the unsung heroes around us who worked day and night to ensure the latest iteration did not turn out like what it was expected to be – super deadly. Until January 21, when the third wave peaked and India reported close to 3.5 lakh …

India's first mRNA vaccine under final trials: Dr V.K. Paul
3 years, 1 month ago

India's first mRNA vaccine under final trials: Dr V.K. Paul

India TV News  

India's first mRNA vaccine under final trials: Dr V.K. Paul Indian Council of Medical Research Director General, Dr Balram Bhargava, said that this is another vaccine which really establishes that India is heading towards becoming a vaccine superpower. Highlights India's first homegrown mRNA vaccine is being developed by Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals The vaccine is currently under final clinical trials With …

Indian scientists claim to have designed vaccine against all variants of coronavirus
3 years, 1 month ago

Indian scientists claim to have designed vaccine against all variants of coronavirus

India TV News  

Indian scientists claim to have designed vaccine against all variants of coronavirus With new variants of the SARS-COV-2 virus triggering fresh waves of the highly infectious disease, scientists at the Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneshwar have designed a peptide vaccine. Indian scientists claim to have designed a universal vaccine that can be …

Two years on, India's battle with COVID-19, its variants continue with no end in sight
3 years, 1 month ago

Two years on, India's battle with COVID-19, its variants continue with no end in sight

Firstpost  

Till now, India has reported 4,10,92,522 cases and 4,94,091 fatalities due to COVID-19 and its variants New Delhi: Amid the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, India has completed two years since the first coronavirus case was reported in the country and during this time, it has not just battled the virus but also its mutated variants, even as uncertainty …

PM Modi calls for non-stop research to manage COVID-19
3 years, 2 months ago

PM Modi calls for non-stop research to manage COVID-19

The Hindu  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while reviewing the measures being taken to counter the steep surge in COVID-19 infections, on Sunday stressed the importance of non-stop scientific research in testing, vaccines and pharmacological interventions, including genome sequencing, given that the coronavirus is evolving continuously. The Prime Minister was apprised of the steps being taken to support the States for an upgrade …

ICMR approves India-made kit to detect Omicron
3 years, 2 months ago

ICMR approves India-made kit to detect Omicron

The Hindu  

The Indian Council of Medical Research has approved a testing kit for detecting the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Responsibility for batch-to-batch consistency lies with the manufacturer.” The kit currently in use to detect Omicron in India has been developed by the U.S.-based scientific instrumentation company Thermo Fisher. India’s COVID-19 tally continued its rise on Tuesday with the country …

Explained | How has India responded to SARS-CoV-2 variants?
3 years, 3 months ago

Explained | How has India responded to SARS-CoV-2 variants?

The Hindu  

The story so far : India began 2021 with the hope that cases would continue to decline as had been the trend from September 2020 and that the two vaccines would help stem the spread of COVID-19. On April 8, with daily cases close to a lakh and higher than it had ever been as per India’s official count, India …

Expert Panel deliberating scientific evidences on Covid vaccination of children: Govt to Rajya Sabha
3 years, 3 months ago

Expert Panel deliberating scientific evidences on Covid vaccination of children: Govt to Rajya Sabha

India TV News  

Highlights Govt informs Rajya Sabha on Vaccines for children Govt has issued multiple advisories to cover eligible beneficiaries with both doses of COVID vaccine The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization are deliberating and considering scientific evidences related to vaccination of children, Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. The central …

Coronavirus Updates: Maha Sees 854 New Covid-19 Cases, 11 Deaths; Omicron Tally Rises to 48
3 years, 3 months ago

Coronavirus Updates: Maha Sees 854 New Covid-19 Cases, 11 Deaths; Omicron Tally Rises to 48

News 18  

As the World Health Organization grants an emergency approval to Serum Institute of India’s Covovax, a top Indian government scientist has recommended that it be used as a booster shot to counter the threat posed by the emerging omicron variant of coronavirus, India Today reported. French Prime Minister Jean Castex says the Omicron variant will be the dominant strain of …

India needs vaccines that can quickly adapt to corona variants: VK Paul
3 years, 3 months ago

India needs vaccines that can quickly adapt to corona variants: VK Paul

India Today  

Amid the Omicron threat, Niti Aayog member Dr VK Paul said on Tuesday that there is a potential scenario that our Covid-19 vaccines may become ineffective and India should have vaccine platforms that are 'adaptable quickly' with changing nature of the coronavirus variants. Addressing an event organised by industry body CII, the Covid Task Force chief called for modifying the …

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