Corona Vaccine HIGHLIGHTS: 8 New Cases Of Mutant Covid Strain Detected In Maharashtra

Amid political controversies over the use of Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN, the company's MD Krishna Ella held a press conference citing that they do not belong to any political party and said that they are not just conducting clinical trials in India. We have done clinical trials more than 12 countries including UK and the vaccine is completely safe for the people. Stay tuned for latest updates

Background

The chief of India’s drugs regulator will address a press conference on Sunday, a day after its experts recommended that the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech vaccines against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) be allowed for emergency use in the country, reports have said. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) will speak at 11 am and is likely to announce the approval of 2 vaccines.

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The country’s top drug regulator had indicated earlier this week that India is likely to get a vaccine against Covid-19 in the New Year. “We will have a Happy New Year with something in hand, that’s all I can hint at,” VG Somani, DCGI, had said on Thursday.

If DCGI grants his nod, India will be among a handful of countries, including the US and UK, that have begun vaccinations. Both the US and the UK too have approved two vaccines, but in their case, all of the candidates have completed the requisite scientific process.

India conducted a massive dry run for vaccination across the country on Saturday and Union Health Minister appealed to people not to be misguided by "rumours" regarding the safety and efficacy of the coronavirus vaccine, and said the most prioritised beneficiaries would be vaccinated for free. Vardhan stressed that there would be no compromise on any protocol while approving the vaccine.

He added that details were being finalised about how 27 crore priority beneficiaries -- those above 50 years of age and those below it having comorbidities -- would be vaccinated until July.

The minister dispelled doubts regarding the country's capability to undertake such a massive vaccination drive, describing how India had unparalleled experience in dealing with immunisation and runs one of the largest such programmes in the world.

22:00 PM (IST)  •  04 Jan 2021

Six people -- two each in Kozhikode & Alappuzha & one each in Kottayam & Kannur -- have tested positive for new mut… https://t.co/12fReXYH6Q

20:42 PM (IST)  •  04 Jan 2021

After 8 patients were found positive for the new Covid strain in Maharashtra, CM Uddhav Thackeray has decided to request the Centre to quarantine passengers arriving from the United Kingdom at other international airports in the country. It has been brought to the notice of govt that due to strict quarantine rules for UK returnees in Maharashtra, people returning from UK are taking flights to airports outside the state. Later they travel to Mumbai to avoid quarantine: Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office

19:22 PM (IST)  •  04 Jan 2021

8 passengers who returned from Britain have been found positive for the new strain of COVID-19. Five of them are fr… https://t.co/dikrfph30k

18:47 PM (IST)  •  04 Jan 2021

Many people just gossiping, it's just a backlash against Indian companies. That is not right for us. We don't deser… https://t.co/w1VMvuhPTn

18:37 PM (IST)  •  04 Jan 2021

It is a vaccine. It is not a backup. People should be responsible before making such statements: Bharat Biotech MD Krishna Ella on comments that Covaxin is a 'back-up vaccine'