Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS: Bharat Biotech Submitted COVAXIN's Phase 3 Clinical Trial Data To DCGI, Say Govt Sources
Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, Monday, June 21, 2021: With a view to inoculate more citizens against the Covid-19 disease, the Centre on Monday launched its campaign to administer vaccine doses to all beneficiaries above 18 years free of cost. Andhra Pradesh has set a new record by administering over 13 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines till Sunday. A total of 13,45,004 vaccine doses were administered to people across the state in a special drive
"Delta plus variant of coronavirus has been detected in 21 people in Maharashtra," State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said.
"Out of 21 cases of Delta plus variant detected in Maharashtra, 9 are from Ratnagiri, 7 from Jalgaon, 2 from Mumbai, and one each from Palghar, Thane & Sindhudurg. We are ascertaining their vaccination status & travel history," he added.
Bharat Biotech submitted Phase 3 clinical trial data of COVAXIN to Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) over the weekend: Govt sources told ANI.
More than 80 lakh doses of anti-COVID vaccine have been administered so far, on day one of the implementation of 'Revised Guidelines for COVID Vaccination' today: Union Health Ministry announced.
Tamil Nadu reports 7,427 new Covid cases, 15,281 recoveries and 189 deaths today.
Active cases: 61,329
Total recoveries: 23,37,209
Death toll: 31,386
Kerala reports 7,499 new Covid-19 cases, 13,596 recoveries and 94 deaths today.
Total recoveries: 27,04,554
Death toll: 12,154
Russian vaccine Sputnik V that was expected to be administered in few hospitals of Delhi has been delayed for few more days: Sources.
New Delhi: More than 69 Lakh vaccine doses were administered across the country till Monday afternoon on the first day of the revised guidelines for Covid-19 vaccination coming into effect, the Union Health Ministry said.
India's cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 28 crore on Sunday with 28,00,36,898 doses being administered through 38,24,408 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 AM by the ministry.
According to the revised guidelines which came into effect from June 21, vaccine doses provided free of cost by the Centre will be allocated to states and UTs based on criteria such as population, disease burden and the progress of vaccination, and all above the age of 18 will be eligible for the free jabs.
Any wastage of vaccine will affect the allocation negatively, they said.
The Centre will now procure 75 percent of the vaccines being produced by the manufacturers in the country.
It had earlier allowed states and private hospitals to procure 50 percent of the vaccines following demands for decentralisation of the process. However, after several states complained of problems including funding, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the revision of the vaccine guidelines on June 8.
In order to incentivise production by vaccine manufacturers and encourage new vaccines, domestic vaccine manufacturers are given the option to also provide vaccines directly to private hospitals. This would be restricted to 25 percent of their monthly production, the new guidelines stated.
Within the population group of citizens more than 18 years of age, states and UTs may decide their own prioritisation factoring in the vaccine supply schedule, the revised guidelines issued by the health ministry stated.
The states and UTs would aggregate the demand of private hospitals keeping in view equitable distribution between large and small private hospitals and regional balance, they said.
"Based on this aggregated demand, the Government of India will facilitate the supply of these vaccines to the private hospitals and their payment through the National Health Authority's electronic platform.
This would enable the smaller and remoter private hospitals to obtain a timely supply of vaccines, and further equitable access and regional balance," the ministry said.
The price of vaccine doses for private hospitals would be declared by each vaccine manufacturer, and any subsequent changes would be notified in advance.
The private hospitals may charge up to a maximum of Rs150 per dose as service charges. State Governments may monitor the price being so charged, the guidelines said.
All citizens irrespective of their income status are entitled to free vaccination. Those who have the ability to pay are encouraged to use private hospital's vaccination centres, the guidelines said.
"To promote the spirit of 'Lok Kalyan' (public good), use of non-transferable Electronic Vouchers, which can be redeemed at private vaccination centers, will be encouraged.
"This would enable people to financially support vaccination of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) at private vaccination centres," the revised guidelines said.
The Covid vaccination in the country commenced with the vaccination for all healthcare workers from January 16.
The programme was expanded with time to include vaccination of frontline workers, citizens more than 60 years of age, citizens more than 45 years of age and eventually citizens more than 18 years of age.
Under the National Covid Vaccination Program, from January 16 to April 30, 100 percent of vaccine doses were procured by the Government of India and provided free of cost to state governments.
State Governments were, in turn, asked to administer vaccination free of cost to defined priority groups.
To increase the pace of vaccination, participation of private hospitals was also enlisted where individuals could also choose to get vaccinated at a prescribed rate, the ministry said.
In response to the suggestions of many state governments to be permitted the flexibility to procure vaccine directly and administer them as per their own prioritisation based on local requirements.
From May 1, the Centre was procuring 50 percent of the vaccine produced and was continuing to provide them to states free of cost for administering to priority groups.
The state government and private hospitals were now also empowered to directly procure from the remaining 50 percent vaccine pool.
"Many states have, however, had communicated that they are facing difficulties in managing the funding, procurement and logistics of vaccines, impacting the pace of the National Covid Vaccination Program.
"Also it was noted that smaller and remoter private hospitals were also facing constraints.
"Keeping in view these aspects and the repeated requests received from states, the Guidelines for National Covid Vaccination Program were reviewed and revised and new guidelines were issued on June 8," the ministry said. (PTI)
Karnataka government includes Udupi, Bengaluru Rural, Shivamogga, Ballari, Chitradurga and Vijayapura districts to Category I of Covid guidelines; paving way for reopening of all shops (except for malls), hotels, restaurants, eateries, bars and clubs between 6 am and 5 pm in these districts
Mumbai: Mumbai will continue to remain in 'level 3' of the coronavirus-induced restrictions till June 27 even though the city's COVID-19 positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy have come down and it is eligible to be upgraded to 'level 1', the local civic body has said.
The state government earlier this month announced a five-level plan to ease restrictions as per weekly COVID-19 positivity rate and oxygen bed occupancy.
As per the government order, cities and districts which have a positivity rate of five percent and the oxygen bed occupancy of less than 25 per cent come under level-1, where curbs can be lifted completely.
The level-3 category is applicable for places where the positivity rate is five percent to 10 percent and the oxygen bed occupancy is more than 40 per cent.
In Mumbai, the positivity rate has come down to 3.79 per cent and the oxygen bed occupancy is 23.56 per cent, the BMC said.
A civic order said even though Mumbai is eligible to be upgraded to 'level 1', the current curbs will remain considering the population density and geography of the city, the local train commuting from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to the city and the threat of a possible third wave voiced by medical experts.
The local train services here are currently being run only for those under the essential and emergency services category.
As per the Maharashtra government's order of June 4, municipal corporations and districts have been notified as independent administrative units and they can take decisions on categorisation for unlocking as per the criteria laid down by the government. (PTI)
The Prime Minister has taken a historic decision to provide free vaccine jabs to people above 18 years of age. This is an important decision in the fight against Covid-19: Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Gandhinagar, his parliamentary constituency:
Delhi reports 89 new Covid-19 cases, 173 recoveries and 11 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Active cases: 1,996
Total recoveries: 14,05,460
Death toll: 24,925
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday said the central government will be supplying only 15 lakh Covid vaccine doses for use in the national capital in July, and it will take around 16 more months to inoculate the city's entire population at this rate.
On June 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that all citizens aged 18 years and above will be vaccinated free of cost from June 21 with the central government distributing doses to states.
"I got to know that no free vaccine has been supplied for use beyond June 2," Sisodia said at a digital press conference. The central government will be supplying only 15 lakh doses in July, he said. "Going by this rate, it will take 15-16 more months to vaccinate entire Delhi," Sisodia said.
"You have been saying India has been conducting the largest vaccination drive globally, but it has turned out to be the most mismanaged, derailed and messed up exercise in the world," he alleged. PTI GVS GJS
India will have 257 crore Covid vaccine doses by December to take up double dose vaccination of people in full swing, BJP national president JP Nadda said on Monday. He said this while visiting a vaccination centre at the RML hospital in the national capital.
Nadda said 130 crore people of the country have come forward to take vaccines on the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite the opposition trying to mislead them and create obstructions.
Starting Monday, all people above 18 years of age are eligible for vaccination in Andhra Pradesh as the government has made arrangements for the same.
"Vaccination for all above 18 years from Monday. Everybody can go to their village secretariats and primary health centres for inoculation," said a health official on Monday.
As per the directions of the Central government, the state government made arrangements for vaccination at 578 locations in Visakhapatnam.
AP health department officials called upon all the people in the state to make use of the vaccination facility and not believe in myths.
Meanwhile, the southern state vaccinated as many as 13.59 lakh people on Sunday by 10 p.m. as part of its mega vaccination drive.
In a significant development, India's cumulative vaccination coverage has exceeded 28 crores on Sunday, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) said on Monday.
In its latest provisional report till 7 a.m. on Monday, the Ministry said a total of 28,00,36,898 vaccine doses have been administered through 38,24,408 sessions, however, 30,39,996 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours.
Of the total vaccination, 1,01,25,143 Healthcare Workers (HCWs) have received their first dose while 70,72,595 have been administered the second dose. Similarly, 1,71,73,646 Frontline Workers (FLWs) have been inoculated with the first dose while 90,51,173 have received their second dose.
People aged between 18 and 44 years who received their first dose are 5,59,54,551 while 12,63,242 have been inoculated second dose. A total of 8,07,11,132 people aged between 45 and 59 have received their first dose and 1,27,56,299 have been administered the second dose.
A total of 6,47,77,302 people aged over 60 years have received their first dose while 2,11,51,815 have been inoculated with the second dose.
Speaking to the reporters, Home Minister Amit Shah said that Covid Vaccination drive will be ramped up in July and August. The Home Minister advised people to come in maximum numbers and get vaccinated.
Under PM Modi's leadership, a new stage in fight against Corona begins today. PM had made an important decision that from 21st June people who are 18 yrs of age & above will be vaccinated free of cost by Cental Govt & the process of vaccination will be sped up: HM in Ahmedabad
India reports 53,256 new COVID 19 cases (lowest in 88 days), 78,190 discharges & 1422 deaths in last 24 hours as per Union Health Ministry.
Total cases: 2,99,35,221
Total discharges: 2,88,44,199
Death toll: 3,88,135
Active cases: 7,02,887
Total Vaccination: 28,00,36,898
India's Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami said on Sunday that the country is keen to resume the exports of vaccine doses against the Covid-19 disease to Bangladesh as soon as possible, but there is no clarification on when the exports will resume. "The corona situation in India is still at a dangerous stage. So we are not yet able to say the exact time of giving vaccines to Bangladesh," Doraiswami said.
The Haryana government on Sunday extended the statewide Covid-19 restrictions till June 28, but allowed bars and restaurants to operate till 10 pm.
It also eased restrictions on weddings and funerals, and allowed corporate offices to operate with full attendance.
According to an order, up to 50 guests can now attend weddings and funerals or cremations, up from 21 earlier, but they have to strictly adhere to the Covid appropriate behaviour and social distancing.
Corporate offices can now open with full attendance, it said.
Weddings can now take place in courts, but processions are not allowed, the order said.
It, however, said swimming pools and spas in the state would remain closed.
Describing COVID-19 as the worst health crisis in the recent memory, an American scientist leading the research wing of one of the top 20 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world has said that lack of preparedness has been the "greatest failure" of the collective ecosystem.
"I don't want to point a finger at anyone. In some ways it's a collective failure of our system. (While) it's the greatest success in our ecosystem our response to COVID-19 you might argue, it's also perhaps the greatest failure of our collective ecosystem, which was our lack of preparedness," Dr Andrew Plump, president of R&D, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, told PTI in an interview.
"COVID-19 is the worst health crisis of our generation or the generation before us. It has been a travesty. It's horrible what's happened across the world," said Dr Plump ahead of the 15th annual India-US Biopharma and Healthcare Summit on June 22, being organised by Boston-based USA India Chambers of Commerce (USAIC).
The national capital on Sunday reported 124 new Covid-19 cases, while its daily test positivity rate stood at 0.17 per cent, according to the health bulletin issued by the Delhi government.
With seven more deaths reported on Sunday, daily deaths were below 10 for the second consecutive day. With these, the total toll has risen to 24,914.
During the same time period, 398 people recovered from the disease, taking the national capital's total recoveries to 14,05,287 till date.
Delhi presently has 2,091 active cases, of which 600 are under home isolation.
Andhra Pradesh has set a new record by administering over 13 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines till 8 pm on Sunday. A total of 13,45,004 vaccine doses were administered to people across the state in a special drive that ended at at 9 pm.
In the process, the state also crossed the one-crore mark in vaccinating people with the first dose.
"At 8 pm, over 1.3 million vaccinations have been completed across the state which is almost 50 per cent of the national vaccination drive. It is a remarkable achievement to show that our medical team and other staff can take up over 1 million vaccinations a day if government of India maintains the supply," the state government said in a statement.
With a view to inoculate more citizens against the Covid-19 disease, the Centre on Monday launched its campaign to administer vaccine doses to all beneficiaries above 18 years free of cost. The announcement for the same was made by Prime Minister Modi earlier where he said the Centre would take over the nationwide vaccination drive, procure 75 per cent of vaccines and give them to states and UTs for free. The Centre is also taking over the 25 per cent vaccination which was with states and UTs till now
Background
Coronavirus HIGHLIGHTS, Monday, June 21, 2021: Andhra Pradesh has logged 5,646 new Covid cases and 50 deaths during the 24 hour period ending 9 a.m. on Sunday. A total of 1,00,001 samples were tested during the period.
With this, the cumulative number of cases jumped to 18,50,563, while the fresh fatalities pushed the cumulative death toll to 12,319. According to the daily media bulletin issued by the state command control room, Chittoor district accounted for 11 deaths during the 24 hour period.
Seven people succumbed to the virus in West Godavari followed by six in Guntur, five in East Godavari, four in Srikakulam, three each in Anantapur, YSR Kadapa, Krishna, and Prakasam, two each in Kurnool and Visakhapatnam, and one in Nellore.
During the last 24 hours, East Godavari district reported a maximum number of cases at 1,098. According to the bulletin, 890 new cases were traced in Chittoor, 761 in West Godavari, 441 in Krishna, and 396 in Srikakulam.
he national capital on Sunday reported 124 new Covid-19 cases, while its daily test positivity rate stood at 0.17 per cent, according to the health bulletin issued by the Delhi government.
With seven more deaths reported on Sunday, daily deaths were below 10 for the second consecutive day. With these, the total toll has risen to 24,914.
During the same time period, 398 people recovered from the disease, taking the national capital's total recoveries to 14,05,287 till date.
Delhi presently has 2,091 active cases, of which 600 are under home isolation.
A total of 72,670 Covid samples were tested in the last 24 hours, including 52,790 through RT-PCR and 19,880 through Rapid Antigen method.
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