Coronavirus vaccine highlights: India was the fastest to reach 1 million vaccinations, says govt

The United States' top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci said that a handful of new coronavirus strains would be able to adjust to the vaccines but remained positive of scientists' ability to make the Covid-19 vaccine more effective. He was particularly concerned about the South African variant's ability to diminish the power of the vaccine. In Karnataka, an estimated 44% of the designated beneficiaries have received the coronavirus vaccine. Stay tuned for more updates..

WHO EU chief: Nations clamouring for vaccine

The European chief for the World Health Organization says “the telephone line is very hot” in conversations with European Union officials and others clamouring for more coronavirus vaccines.

Dr. Hans Kluge, speaking in a video conference from WHO Europe headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, says he spoke recently with European Council President Charles Michel and EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, citing a “general goodwill” and “understanding that no one is safe until everyone is safe.” (AP)

India is saving the lives of people in many other countries of the world by sending Covidvaccines and developing the necessary infrastructure for the vaccination: PM Narendra Modi during World Economic Forum's Davos address

India has vaccinated 2.3 million in under 2 weeks: PM Modi

"In just 12 days, India has vaccinated more than 2.3 million healthcare workers. In next some months, we will achieve our target of vaccinating 300 million elderly people and people with comorbidities,"PM Narendra Modi said during his address at Davos.

Over 100 Covid vaccines could not be administered at community health centre in UP's Sambhal: CMO

A total of 103 Covid-19 vaccines could not be administered at the Gunnaur Community Health Centre here on Thursday as they were found to be in a semi-frozen state, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) said.

Due to this, more vaccines had to be brought for continuing the vaccination drive, CMO, Sambhal, Ajay Kumar Saxena said. (PTI)

Delhi reports 199 new Covid-19 cases

Vaccine factory inspected amid EU dispute with AstraZeneca

Belgian health authorities announced Thursday they have inspected a pharmaceutical factory in Belgium to find out whether expected delays in the deliveries of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine are due to production issues.

The European Commission had asked the Belgian government to inspect the factory amid a heated public dispute between the 27-nation bloc and the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker. EU officials are under tremendous political pressures because the bloc's vaccine rollout has been much slower than that of Israel or Britain. (PTI)

Only two states have cases over 40k: Union Health Secy

Two states still have 40,000 or more active cases,Kerala with 72,000 active cases and Maharashtra with 44,000 active cases, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said during a media briefing.

India's cumulative Covid-19 positivity rate is 5.51% and is declining, he added.

'A steady and declining trend in India's Covid cases'

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that India has administered over 25 lakh vaccine doses so far, as per data available till 2 pm. "The number of active cases are declining, there are 1,75,000 active cases in the country as of now. Asteady and declining trend is being exhibited," he said. (ANI)

Pfizer and BioNTech say their Covid-19 vaccine is effective against UK and Africa variants

Pfizer andBioNTech saytheir Covid-19 vaccine is effective against UK andAfrica variants. (AFP)

South Korea to review use of AstraZeneca vaccine on elderly over limited overseas efficacy data

South Korea said on Thursday it would begin Covid-19 vaccinations for the general public in the third quarter but review the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine to the elderly because of limited efficacy data overseas.

Health authorities will expand vaccinations towards the second half of the year with an aim to reach herd immunity by November, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) director Jeong Eun-kyeong told a news briefing. (Reuters)

Inequitable distribution of coronavirus vaccines risks exacerbating financial vulnerabilities: IMF

The IMF has warned that the inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines risks exacerbating financial vulnerabilities, especially for frontier market economies, even though their approval and rollout have boosted expectations of a global recovery and lifted risk asset prices.

In its Global Financial Stability update released on Wednesday, the International Monetary Fund underlined that until the coronavirus vaccines are widely available, the market rally and the economic recovery remain predicated on continued monetary and fiscal policy support.

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260 new infections in Thane district, 85% vaccinated against the coronavirus

The Covid-19 count in Thane district of Maharashtra reached 2,52,723 with 260 new cases, while two more fatalities pushed the death toll to 6,140, an official said on Thursday.

In neighbouring Palghar district, the Covid-19 tally has gone up to 45,083 while the death toll is 1,196, he said.

Meanwhile, 17,763 health workers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in Thane so far, District Health Officer Dr Manish Renge said.

A total of 85.40 per cent health workers in the district have been administered the vaccine, he said.

On Wednesday alone, 4,527 health workers were vaccinated, he said. (PTI)

South Korea to begin vaccinating general public against Covid-19 in Q3

South Korea said on Thursday it would begin Covid-19 vaccinations for the general public in the third quarter of this year, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) director Jeong Eun-kyeong told a news briefing.

Inoculations would begin in February starting with key groups, including medical workers and the elderly in nursing homes, Jeong said.

The country said it aimed to reach "herd immunity" levels through mass vaccinations by November. (Reuters)

Three test positive for Covid in Arunachal Pradesh, over 7k vaccinated

Three more people including an Army man, tested positive for Covid-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, taking the tally in the northeastern state to 16,824, a senior health department official said on Thursday.

Two people recuperated from the disease on Wednesday, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 16,753.

State Immunization Officer (SIO) Dr Dimong Padung said that a total of 7,087 health workers have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine so far. (PTI)

No new cases of Covid-19 in 147 districts over the past week

Brazil's Covid-19 response worst, New Zealand's best: study

Brazil's handling of the coronavirus pandemic has been ranked the world's worst, while New Zealand topped the class, according to research published by a leading Australian think tank on Thursday.

Sydney's Lowy Institute assessed almost 100 countries on six criteria, including confirmed cases, deaths and testing metrics.

"Collectively, these indicators point to how well or poorly countries have managed the pandemic," according to the report by the independent body.

Aside from New Zealand -- which has largely kept the virus at bay with border closures and "go early, go hard" lockdowns and testing regimes -- Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, Cyprus, Rwanda, Iceland, Australia, Latvia and Sri Lanka made the top 10 for their responses. (AFP)

Philippines approves AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use, second vaccine after Pfizer

The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the emergency use of AstraZeneca PLC's COVID-19 vaccine, the second to be approved in the Southeast Asian nation.

The known and potential benefits of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine outweighed the risks to date, FDA chief Rolando Enrique Domingo told a news conference. The Philippines' FDA has previously approved Pfizer and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine. (Reuters)

AstraZeneca to produce 90 mn Covid-19 vaccine shots in Japan - govt spokesman

AstraZeneca Plc will make more than 90 million coronavirus vaccine shots in Japan, the top government spokesman said on Thursday, as concerns mount over whether the country will have enough doses to begin its delayed inoculation campaign.

The British company confirmed to Japan's health ministry it will make the bulk of the vaccines within the Asian nation, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters.

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India has plenty of coronavirus vaccines but few takers

Most of the world is struggling to secure enough vaccines to inoculate their populations. India has the opposite problem: Plenty of shots, but a shortage of people willing to take them.

As India rolls out one of the world’s biggest inoculation programs, some health-care and other frontline workers are hesitating because of safety concerns over a vaccine that has yet to complete phase III trials. As of Monday, only about 56% of people eligible to get the shot have stepped forward in a nation with the world’s second-worst Covid-19 outbreak.

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1 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to arrive from India on Feb 1: South African health minister

South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Wednesday a million coronavirus vaccine doses will arrive from India in the country on February 1.

After the arrival of the vaccine doses via Dubai, these will undergo some processes for 10 to 14 days, after which these will be distributed among provinces, he said during a virtual press conference.

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Five or six doses? Controversy over Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine vials

The US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which is manufacturing the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Germany's BioNTech, now considers each vial contains six doses compared to five previously.

The difficulty in obtaining that sixth dose in practice means many countries are at loggerheads with Pfizer and facing a drop in supply.

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44% of the designated beneficiaries vaccinated in Karnataka

An estimated 44 per cent of designated beneficiaries earmarked for Wednesday were administered the Covid-19 vaccine in Karnataka, data showed. With this, the total number of vaccinated in the state so far is 2,66,155, said the data released by the office of the state Health Minister.

Out of the 79,022 targeted beneficiaries, 34,551 got the shot till 8:30 pm in 923 sessions. Cumulatively, the number of healthcare workers vaccinated since January 16 till 8:30 pm today stands at 2,66,155. It is against the targeted 5,00,407 beneficiaries with a cumulative coverage of 53 per cent.

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India to send 5 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine to Sri Lanka

India is expected to send 5,00,000 doses of Covishield vaccine to Sri Lanka on Thursday.

It is learnt that the consignments are being sent to the island nation as a "gift" from India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a commitment to his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa during a virtual summit in September last that India will provide all possible support to the island nation to minimise the health and economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Covid-19 vaccines can adjust to coronavirus variants: Dr Anthony Fauci

Dr Anthony Fauci says there's reason to be concerned about the impact of some coronavirus mutations on vaccines, but scientists have plenty of options for adjustments to maintain the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments.

The government's top infectious disease expert says there's particular concern about the so-called South African variant, because lab tests have shown that it can diminish the protective power of the vaccines approved to date.

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