Category:

Pandemic

Canada halts AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for adults under 55 years

In a statement issued on Monday, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization said the cases, known as vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia (VIPIT), “have been recently reported in Europe following post-licensure use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine”.

“Cases identified so far have been primarily in women under the age of 55 years, although cases in men have also been reported and have mostly occurred between four and 16 days after receipt of vaccine.”

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DGCA may impose spot fines at airports for violation of Covid guidelines

In a circular on Tuesday, the regulator said, “During the surveillance of some airports, it has come to notice that compliance (of COVID-19 protocols) is not satisfactory.”

“All airport operators, therefore, are requested to ensure that the instructions on COVID-19 protocol from the standpoint of wearing face mask properly, covering nose and mouth, as well as maintaining social distance norms within the airport premises are followed scrupulously,” it said.

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India extends shelf life of AstraZeneca vaccine

The approval, given to a licensed version of the drug made by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and exported to dozens of countries, could help health authorities minimise vaccine wastage and better plan their inoculation programmes.

Some African countries have only until the middle of next month to use up more than a million doses of the vaccine – branded Covishield by SII – if the shelf life is not extended.

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Harsh Vardhan releases document chronicling India’s response to COVID-19 pandemic

On how the success on the front of COVID-19 can be replicated in the fight against tuberculosis, the minister said, ”Another goal in front of us is to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025. Our efforts of testing, tracing and treating in COVID-19 can be replicated for treatment of tuberculosis. The experience from the pandemic can be used to achieve the goal of eliminating TB by 2025.”

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