Tag: adults

Categories
COVID-19 India News

India now considering boosters for all adults

Lawmakers in parliament have called for boosters to be authorised soon for all adults…reports Asian Lite News

India is considering making all adults eligible for booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Monday, as infections grow in some countries and some Indians find it hard to travel abroad without a third dose.

Only frontline workers and those older than 60 are now allowed to take booster doses in India, whether free in government centres or paid for in private hospitals.

The government is debating whether to provide boosters to other groups for free, said one of the sources, who both sought anonymity as the government has yet to make a decision.

A health ministry spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lawmakers in parliament have called for boosters to be authorised soon for all adults.

Last week, the health ministry urged Indian states to boost surveillance measures for the disease, citing a resurgence in some parts of Asia and Europe. Countries such as China and Italy have seen a recent rise in cases.

Infections in India have fallen to their lowest in more than a year, however, with 1,549 new cases reported in the past 24 hours and 31 deaths.

Devastated last year by a wave of Delta infections that saw morgues run out of space and people die in parking lots, India’s tally of infections during the pandemic now stands at more than 43 million, with 516,510 deaths.

Of the 1.81 billion vaccine doses distributed among the population of about 1.4 billion, more than 20 million are boosters.

On Twitter, some Indians have said organisers of some events overseas have limited attendance to those who have taken booster doses. Countries such as Israel, for example, do not consider vaccination complete in the absence of booster doses.

India reports 1,549 fresh Covid cases

In the last 24 hours, India reported 1,549 new Covid-19 cases and 31 deaths, the Union Health Ministry announced on Monday.

The new fatalities increased the nationwide death toll to 5,16,510.

Following a continuous downward trend, India’s active caseload has further declined to 25,106 on Monday, constituting 0.06 per cent of the country’s total positive cases.

A total of 2,652 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours, raising the cumulative tally to 4,24,67,774. India’s recovery rate stands at 98.74 per cent.

Also in the same period, a total of 3,84,499 tests were conducted across the country, which took the total to 78.30 crore.

Meanwhile, both the weekly and daily positivity rates currently stood at 0.40 per cent .

As of Monday morning, India’s Covid inoculation coverage has exceeded 181.24 crore, achieved via 2,14,03,116 sessions.

ALSO READ-Covid not gone, expect uptick in cases, says Fauci

Categories
Health Lite Blogs

74 mn adults live with diabetes in India

The total number of diabetics is predicted to rise to 643 million (11.3 per cent) by 2030 and to 783 million (12.2 per cent) by 2045. Currently, one in ten (10.5 per cent) adults around the world are living with diabetes…reports Asian Lite News.

One in 12 adults or more than 74 million people living in India are diabetes patients, according to a new report from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), ahead of the World Diabetes Day on Saturday.

The figure is the second highest in the world after China, which has 141 million people living with diabetes.

The findings are from the 10th edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas to be published on December 6.

Diabetes.

The report added that another 40 million adults in India have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), placing them at high risk of developing Type-2 diabetes, while more than half (53.1 per cent) of people living with diabetes in India are also undiagnosed.

“The increasing number of people living with diabetes and at risk of developing the condition in India confirms diabetes as a significant challenge to the health and well-being of individuals and families in the country,” said Professor Shashank Joshi, Chair, IDF South-East Asia Region, in a statement.

Moreover, the report showed that worldwide, 537 million adults are now living with diabetes, a rise of 16 per cent (74 million) since the previous IDF estimates in 2019. Globally, 90 per cent of people with diabetes have Type-2 diabetes.

The total number of diabetics is predicted to rise to 643 million (11.3 per cent) by 2030 and to 783 million (12.2 per cent) by 2045. Currently, one in ten (10.5 per cent) adults around the world are living with diabetes.

Diabetes was also responsible for an estimated $966 billion in global health expenditure in 2021. This represents a 316 per cent increase over 15 years.

UAE reports fewest Covid-19 cases in a year

Excluding the mortality risks associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, approximately 6.7 million adults are estimated to have died as a result of diabetes, or its complications, in 2021.

This is more than one in ten (12.2 per cent) of global deaths from all causes. The South-East Asia Region accounts for 11 per cent (747,000) of total diabetes-related deaths, according to the report.

The rise in the number of people with Type-2 diabetes is driven by a complex interplay of socio-economic, demographic, environmental and genetic factors. Key contributors include urbanisation, an ageing population, decreasing levels of physical activity and increasing levels of people being overweight and developing obesity.

“We must do more to provide affordable and uninterrupted access to diabetes care for all in India, and around the world. Policy makers and health decision-makers must turn words into action to improve the lives of people with diabetes and prevent the condition in those at high risk of developing it,” Joshi said.

ALSO READ-India sees rise in Covid triggered diabetic cases

Categories
-Top News UK News

More than 75% of UK adults now fully vaccinated

Health Secy Sajid Javid during a visit at the Milton Keynes University Hospital (Source twitter@sajidjavid)

A total of 47,091,889 people have received first dose (89%) and 39,688,566 people have received both doses (75%), according to the latest government data, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

Three quarters of adults in the UK have now received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, the government has announced.

A total of 86,780,455 doses have been administered in the UK, with 47,091,889 people receiving a first dose (89%) and 39,688,566 people receiving both doses (75%), according to the latest government data.

Data from Public Health England (PHE) shows COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalisation from the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant. The analysis shows the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is 96% effective and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is 92% effective against hospitalisation after 2 doses.

The latest data from PHE and Cambridge University shows that around 60,000 deaths, 22 million infections and 66,900 hospitalisations have been prevented by the vaccines.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said vaccinating more than 75% of UK adults is a “huge national achievement.”

“It’s so important that those who haven’t been vaccinated come forward as soon as possible to book their jab – to protect themselves, protect their loved ones and allow us all to enjoy our freedoms safely,” Johnson said.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said the achievement is “incredible and a testament to the fantastic work of the NHS, volunteers and everyone involved in the roll-out.”

“Getting 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine is the key to enjoying a host of new freedoms safely – whether that be to enjoy a trip abroad with family or a night out with friends – as we continue to build our wall of protection,” Javid said.

“The vaccines are allowing us to reconnect with the things we love, but more than that, they’re protecting the people we love too,” he added.

In order to boost vaccination and vaccine availability, the government along with NHS had introduced several key steps, including through ‘grab a jab’ pop-up vaccine sites across the country. For example, at London-based club Heaven last weekend as well as football stadiums and festivals up and down the country.

People can make an appointment through the national booking system either online or by calling 119, and can use a vaccination centre, walk-in centre, or one of the pop-up vaccinations centres that are now in shopping centres, workplaces and high streets.

The people will be required to prove they’ve had 2 jabs to enter nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather by the end of September.

From 16 August, double-vaccinated people will also no longer be required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. People will continue to be advised to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to detect the virus and variants of concern and anyone who tests positive will still be legally required to self-isolate, irrespective of their vaccination status.

The government announced that double-vaccinated frontline NHS and social care staff in England who have been told to self-isolate will be permitted to attend work in exceptional circumstances and replaced by testing mitigations. A limited number of critical workers may also in exceptional circumstances be able to leave self-isolation to attend work if deemed a close contact and informed to do so by their employer.

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said it’s been phenomenal to see first-hand the enthusiasm of the British public for the vaccines, which have now prevented over 66,900 hospitalisations and saved at least 60,000 lives.

“Getting the jab is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones – I urge everyone to get booked in and get vaccinated as soon as possible,” he said.

ALSO READ-All over-16s in UK set to be offered Covid jabs

READ MORE-UK offers discounts on shopping, pizza for Covid shots

Categories
-Top News COVID-19 UK News

Over half of UK adults fully vaccinated

Last week, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in the UK. It is expected to be available for use later this year…reports Asian Lite News.

More than half of all adults in the UK have received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the latest figures published on Thursday.

Health services across the UK have now administered a total of 66,180,731 vaccines between 8 December and 2 June, including 39,758,428 people with first doses (75.5%) and 26,422,303 people with both doses (50.2%).

A recent study by Public Health England (PHE) shows that 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant first identified in India.

We know how important the second dose is to give protection, particularly against the Delta variant,” Heath Secretary Matt Hancock said. “That’s why we’ve brought forward appointments from 12 to 8 weeks for the most vulnerable people.”

“I encourage everyone who is eligible to join the millions who have the fullest possible protection from this virus,” he added.

Last week, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in the UK. It is expected to be available for use later this year.

The single-dose vaccine was shown to be 67% effective overall in preventing COVID-19 infection and 85% effective in preventing severe disease or hospitalisation.

Vaccines Minister, Nadhim Zahawi also invited people to comeback for the second jab.

“Everyone who has received their second dose can breathe a huge sigh of relief knowing that they have ultimate protection from the virus and the new variants,” he said.

“We have come an incredibly long way in just under 6 months with our vaccination programme. But our work is not done yet. If you’ve had one dose, please come back for your second jab when you get the offer,” he added.

ALSO READ-60 million vaccine doses administered in UK

READ MORE-UK approves single-dose J&J Covid vaccine