Tag: vaccination

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-Top News COVID-19 UK News

Covid infections in UK drop to late Summer levels

Health Secretary Matt Hancock holds a COVID-19 press conference alongside Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England and Dr Nikki Kanani, Medical Director of Primary Care for NHS England in the Briefing Room in 9 Downing Street. Picture by Tim Hammond/ No 10 Downing Street

In the week to 24 April, the Coronavirus infections had dropped in all four nations of the United Kingdom and were 20 times lower than in January, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

The UK Office for National Statistics suggests the Covid-19 cases in the country are back to levels seen at the end of last summer with around one in 1,000 people infected, it was reported.

According to ONS, in the week to 24 April, infections fell in all four nations of the UK and were 20 times lower than in January, the BBC reported.

This was after a new UK study has found very small numbers of people have been admitted to hospital with Covid several weeks after having one vaccine dose.

Meanwhile, BBC analysis shows about 22 million people are now living in areas where there were no Covid deaths in April.

Covid
People are seen at an NHS COVID-19 vaccination center in London. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

The Office for National Statistics survey, which tests a random selection of thousands of people in the community, estimates that about 66,000 people in the UK would have tested positive for coronavirus in mid-April.

This is down from the previous week’s estimate – and way down on the figure of 1.25 million infected at the peak of the second wave in January.

Also Read | British Biz Forum CBI Seeks Support For India’s Covid Fight

The ONS estimates that in the week to 24 April. In England, 1 in 1,010 were infected, compared to 1 in 610 the previous week. In Wales, 1 in 1,570 were infected, compared to 1 in 840 the previous week. While in Northern Ireland, 1 in 940 were infected, compared to 1 in 660 last week and in Scotland, 1 in 640 were infected, compared to 1 in 560 the week before, the BBC cited ONS data.

For England, it is the lowest figure since the week to 5 September, when the estimate stood at one in 1,400, while in Wales it is the lowest since 10 September.

A pedestrian walks by a pub, The Hope, shuttered in London due to coronavirus regulations. Photo: Yui Mok/PA

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, who joined the survey later, the figures are the lowest since their estimates began.

Another 2,381 new cases were reported in UK and also 15 Covid-related deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

A quarter of all adults in the UK have received both coronavirus vaccine doses – that’s more than 13m people.

Also Read | Quarter of UK adults receive both jab doses

The milestone means one in four adults in the UK has received the strongest possible protection against COVID-19 and it comes as the NHS is now inviting 42 and 43 year olds to get their jab.

But the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned Cabinet colleagues the UK is “not out of the woods” yet as virus variants of concern continue to emerge.

The government’s latest figures also show 34.2 million people have now received a first dose of a vaccine, while 14.5 million people are fully vaccinated having received two jabs.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Photo: No 10, Downing Street)

The government has already hit its target of offering everybody in cohorts 1 to 9 – those aged 50 and over, the clinically vulnerable and health and social care workers – a first dose of the vaccine by 15 April and remains on track to offer a jab to all adults by the end of July.

According to health officials, vaccinated people are far less likely to get COVID-19 with symptoms. They are far less likely to get serious COVID-19, to be admitted to hospital, or to die from it and there is growing evidence that vaccinated people are less likely to pass the virus to others. 

Recent data from Public Health England shows vaccines are already having a significant impact in the UK in reducing hospitalisations and deaths, and saved more than 10,000 lives between December and March.

Data from the ONS and Oxford University shows that COVID-19 infections fell significantly by 65% after the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, rising further after the second dose.

The latest vaccine effectiveness data from PHE show that in those aged over 70, both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines reduce the risk of getting symptomatic disease by around 60% after a single dose. This protection lasts for several weeks.

In those aged over 80, protection against hospitalisation is around 80% and the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is 85% effective at stopping people aged over 80 dying from COVID-19.

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-Top News India News

Over 80 lakh registered for 3rd phase of vaccination

The Union Health Ministry highlighted that vaccination is a critical component of the containment and management strategy of the Government of India in its fight against the Covid pandemic…reports Asian Lite News.

More than 80 lakh people registered themselves on the first day of registration for the third phase of Covid vaccination starting May 1.

In the third phase of vaccination drive, everyone above the age of 18 will be eligible to get incolculated against Covid-19.

The Union Health Ministry highlighted that vaccination is a critical component of the containment and management strategy of the Government of India in its fight against the Covid pandemic.

“A liberalised and accelerated Phase 3 strategy of Covid-19 vaccination will be implemented from May 1. Registration for the new eligible population groups commenced today from 4 pm. Potential beneficiaries can register directly on the Co-WIN portal (cowin.gov.in) or through the Aarogya Setu app,” the ministry said.

The government claimed that the Co-WIN software is a robust, dependable and agile technology and it offers anytime anywhere registration for Covid-19 vaccination.

“The capacity of the servers and other parameters have been ramped up to match the unprecedented scale of immunisation so that the Co-WIN system can provide citizen-centric services. Inclusivity, speed and scalability have been kept in mind while designing the unique digital platform with all components being portable and synchronous without excessive and unnecessary dependencies,” the ministry said.

AstraZeneca vaccine

The Ministry also denied reports suggesting that the Co-WIN platform was unresponsive/overshooting the server capacity and was not able to respond to the unprecedented number of registrations taking place.

“It is clarified that the media reports that the server has crashed are incorrect and are without any basis. The server supporting the Co-WIN digital portal continues to work smoothly at its highest efficiency,” it said.

People registering on the platform are mostly the age group of 18 to 44 years.

According to reports, more than 80 lakh people registered themselves on the dedicated vaccination portal between 4 pm and 7 pm.

“The statistics indicate that far from crashing or performing slowly, the system is performing without any glitches. It is recording 55,000 hits per second and is completely stable,” the government said.

Also Read-India Fights Back To Stem Covid Tsunami

Read More-Denmark imposes travel curbs on India

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-Top News EU News Europe

Italy crosses 5mn jabs milestone

5mn inoculations made Italy the third European Union (EU) member state to reach that milestone…reports Asian Lite News

Italy’s coronavirus vaccine rollout hit a major milestone, though it appeared unlikely the country would reach its end-of-month target for daily vaccinations.

The country’s Ministry of Health reported on Saturday that five million Italian residents had been fully vaccinated, making Italy the third European Union (EU) member state to reach that milestone, following Germany and France, Xinhua news agency reported.

A total of 17.3 million people in Italy have received at least the first dose of a vaccine, which means that around 28.5 per cent of the country’s population is partially vaccinated.

The Italian vaccine rollout, which was launched on December 27, 2020, had seen problems so far, including a four-day pause in the distribution of the AstraZeneca vaccine amid worries about blood clots in some patients.

Earlier this month, the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was halted before it was set to start due to similar safety worries. But the government started limited use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Wednesday, with more doses expected to arrive next week.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires just one dose for full effect. All the other vaccines approved for distribution in Italy — the AstraZeneca, BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna — require two doses.

Also read:Italy PM receives AstraZeneca jab

Italian General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, the country’s Covid-19 Emergency Commissioner, set a goal earlier this month of administering at least 500,000 jabs a day by the end of April.

That target no longer appears feasible despite recent developments, according to statistician Giovanni Sebastiani, who was quoted by the ANSA news agency as saying the daily vaccination rate should reach 350,000 per day by the end of the month, up from fewer than 300,000 per day currently.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Fabrizio Curcio, head of the country’s civil defence agency, admitted the 500,000-vaccination-per-day goal was unlikely to be met, though he said the target would be reached by early May.

He said his main worry was whether vaccine supplies would allow that level to be sustained.

“We will reach half a million daily shots by early May, but what will matter will be keeping it over time,” Curcio said. “This is crucially linked to the availability of vaccines.”

A staff member measures a visitor’s temperature at Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy, on Sept. 4, 2020. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)


Curcio said the earlier temporary halt in the distribution of the AstraZeneca vaccine “has weighed not only because there have been delays but because it has affected public trust.”

“We measure this loss of confidence with cancellations at around 30 per cent to 40 per cent in some areas, about 10 per cent on average across the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, 275 candidate vaccines are being developed — 91 of them in clinical trials — in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on Friday.

Also read:Italy sets out roadmap for reopening

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-Top News COVID-19 World News

WHO chief condemns global vax divide

“There remains a shocking imbalance in the global distribution of vaccines,” said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus…reports Asian Lite News

The World Health Organization (WHO) has criticised what it describes as a “shocking imbalance” in the distribution of coronavirus vaccines between rich and poor countries.

“There remains a shocking imbalance in the global distribution of vaccines,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference on Friday, the BBC reported.

The group’s chief said a target of seeing vaccination programmes under way in every country by Saturday would be missed.

The WHO has long called for fairer distribution of Covid-19 vaccines.

It is leading the Covax scheme which is designed to get jabs to poorer nations.

So far, more than 38 million doses have been delivered to around 100 countries under the scheme.

Zulema Riquelme, a 46-year-old nursing technician, receives a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine at the Metropolitan Hospital in Santiago, Chile

Covax hopes to deliver more than two billion doses to people in 190 countries in less than a year. In particular, it wants to ensure that 92 poorer countries will receive access to vaccines at the same time as wealthier countries.

“On average in high-income countries, almost one in four people have received a Covid-19 vaccine. In low-income countries, it’s one in more than 500,” he said.

Also read:WHO backed Covid origin report unveiled

The Covax scheme had been expected to distribute at least 100 million doses worldwide by the end of March, but only 38 million jabs have been delivered so far.

“We hope to be able to catch up during April and May,” Tedros said.

A medical worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Istanbul, Turkey

He also criticised countries that have sought their own vaccine deals outside of the Covax scheme. “Some countries and companies plan to do their own bilateral vaccine donations, bypassing Covax for their own political or commercial reasons,” Tedros said.

“These bilateral arrangements run the risk of fanning the flames of vaccine inequity,” he added. “Scarcity of supply is driving vaccine nationalism.”

Earlier this year, Tedros warned that the world was facing a “catastrophic moral failure” over vaccine inequality. He said a “me-first” approach would be self-defeating because it would encourage hoarding and prolong the pandemic.

Also read:WHO lashes out at Europe’s slow vax rollout

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-Top News Arab News Travel

Only vaccinated pilgrims allowed in Mecca

Permits for Umrah and to visit the Grand Mosque will be granted to those who have received two Covid-19 vaccine shots…reports Asian Lite News

Only pilgrims and worshippers who have been vaccinated against the novel coronsvirus or have recovered will be allowed into the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabias Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced.

Permits for Umrah (Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca) and to visit the Grand Mosque will be granted to those who have received two Covid-19 vaccine jabs; those who have received a first dose at least 14 days before their visit to Medina and Mecca; and those who have had the virus and recovered, Arab News quoted the Ministry as saying on Monday.

Before embarking on a trip, a visitor’s vaccination status will have to be registered on Saudi Arabia’s Covid-19 app, ‘Tawakkalna’, which was launched last year to track the Covid-19 situation in the Kingdom.

Also read:Saudi’s anti-discrimination policy soon

According to the Ministry, the people who wish to visit the two mosques or perform Umrah will have to register via the Tawakkalna app and the Umrah app, ‘Eatmarna’.

It added that the two apps are the only platforms that issue genuine permits.

Nearly 10,000 Grand Mosque workers have already been inoculated as part of the Ramadan operational plan, Arab News reported.

Five areas will be available for prayers at the Grand Mosque.

More than 13 million worshippers wearing masks and observing physical distancing rules have visited the mosques since the seven-month prayer and Umrah suspension was lifted last October.

Also read:‘Saudi Female Business Leaders To Break The Jinx’

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COVID-19 Lite Blogs

Must read before you take the jab

Vaccine is safe in patients with hypertension, diabetes, renal failure, and heart disease, among those who have undergone bypass, post-angiography, and those on dialysis…writes Rahul Pandit.

Covid 19 and vaccination is still the important topic for people around the world. We have entered the second phase of the worlds largest immunisation programme. However, several looming questions could hamper the success of this programme and weaken the fight against Covid-19.

Yes, vaccination is the most effective tool to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and help us succeed in our mission to restore normalcy! Having said that, the Covid-19 vaccination drive in India has seen much momentum since Day 1. With an enthusiastic push from the civic bodies, we are slowly but steadily approaching our target goals. After successful round of vaccination for the healthcare providers and frontline workers, we have now moved to vaccinate and protect seniors above 60 years of age, and those above 45 years with comorbidities.

Here’s a guideline to help proceed with vaccinating yourself and your loved ones:

1. All adults should take the Covid-19 vaccine and encourage others to take it as well

2. You should have had your meals, and be well hydrated for your vaccination

3. Only people who have an Anaphylaxis (allergic reaction) to any of the vaccine contents, should not take the vaccine

4. All approved vaccines, including ‘Covishield’ and ‘Covaxin’ have;

*100 per cent efficacy in preventing death due to Covid-19

*Very high efficacy against severe Covid-19

*High to moderate efficacy (60%-95%) against symptomatic Covid-19

*Poor efficacy only against asymptomatic Covid-19

5. Vaccinating the high-risk vulnerable population — above 60 years and above 45 years with comorbidities will bring down the mortality rate to ‘very low’, as currently, this group forms almost 90 per cent of patients who succumb to the disease. Therefore, we must encourage people in these age groups to be vaccinated

6. People with previous Covid-19 infection should take the vaccine only after 8-12 weeks of recovery from Covid-19

7. A person who has received plasma therapy to treat a previous Covid-19 infection should wait for 8-12 weeks before taking the vaccine

8. Vaccine is safe in patients with hypertension, diabetes, renal failure, and heart disease, among those who have undergone bypass, post-angiography, and those on dialysis

9. In pregnant women, if the benefit outweighs the risks of the vaccine, then you may take the vaccine. e.g. a frontline pregnant worker should take the vaccine

10. There is no data on how long pregnancy should be avoided post-vaccination. However, as it is an inactivated or dead virus it should be safe after 6-8 weeks of vaccination to conceive

11. Vaccine is safe among those with a food allergy, drug allergy (other than the vaccine components) and common allergic conditions like asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic dermatitis. But consult your doctor before enrolling yourself

12. People on anti-platelet agents like aspirin and clopidogrel should take the Covid-19 vaccine without stopping their medication

13. Patients on blood thinners like warfarin or newer anti-coagulation agents have a small risk of injection site swelling. Patients who are on these newer agents can skip their morning dose, take the vaccine and continue the next regular dose

14. Patients with neurological complications like stroke, Parkinson’s, dementia should take the vaccine as it is safe for them

15. Patients on immunosuppressant’s (i.e. patients who’ve undergone organ transplants) of any type can safely take the vaccine. However, immune response may not be complete. Check with your doctor before enrolling

16. It is false that alcohol is not allowed post-vaccine or that vaccine causes impotency or that vaccine will change the DNA of a person

17. There are currently no trials available on children, hence vaccination for those below 18 years can be delayed for now

18. Patients with cancer and those undergoing chemotherapy should consult their doctor and seek an appropriate window for vaccination between the chemotherapy cycles. Ideally, the patient should wait for at least 4 weeks post-chemotherapy to take their vaccine

19. Fever, body ache, dizziness, headaches are common symptoms post-vaccination

20. A simple paracetamol can be taken post-vaccination if required, and most symptoms would be well controlled

Do not believe in rumours, the best way to get the right information is to speak to doctors at medical centres who are offering the Covid-19 vaccination. Remember, vaccine-induced immunity is as important as herd immunity. It is the current and the only way to tackle the growing menace of the virus. Let’s all come together to fight back and end the pandemic once and for all.

(The author is Director-Critical Care, Fortis Hospitals Mumbai and Member–Maharashtra’s Covid Taskforce)

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-Top News COVID-19 India News

93,249 new Covid cases, highest since Sep

The active caseload was the lowest at 1,35,926 on February 12 and comprised 1.25 per cent of the total infections…reports Asian Lite News.

India recorded 93,249 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike since September 2020, taking the total tally to 1,24,85,509 on Sunday.

The country has been recording an unabated spike in cases from over three weeks. The daily cases peaked on September 16, 2020, with 97,894 people testing positive for the virus in a single day.

The active cases have now increased to 6,91,597 comprising 5.54 per cent of the total infections, while a total 1,16,29,289 patients recovered in the last 24 hours with the recovery rate reported to be 93.14 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry reports.

The active caseload was the lowest at 1,35,926 on February 12 and comprised 1.25 per cent of the total infections.

Meanwhile, the death toll increased to 1,64,623 on Sunday with 513 new fatalities and the fatality rate was reported 1.32 per cent.

A total of 11,66,716 samples tested for Covid-19 as of Saturday taking the total sample tests so far 24,81,25,908.

The Centre has advised high-burden states and union territories to take stringent measures for containment of the surge. Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Haryana are the states with grave concern.

So far, 7,59,79,651 doses of the corona vaccine have been administered in the country since the drive began on January 16 after the approval for Covishield and Covaxin. On April 1, the third phase of the vaccination drive began under which anyone 45 years or older is allowed to get a jab.

Vaccine registration for healthcare, frontline workers closed

The Central government has decided to close the registration of healthcare and frontline workers for Covid-19 vaccination after reports of fake registration under these categories came to the fore. About 24 per cent spike in registration under these categories has been observed in last few days.

In a letter to states and union territories, Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that some ineligible beneficiaries are being registered as healthcare and frontline workers and getting vaccinated in complete violation of the prescribed guidelines.

He stated that there has been 24 per cent increase in healthcare workers database in the past few days. “…it has been decided that no fresh registrations in categories of HCWs and FLWS will be allowed with immediate effect. Registrations of persons aged 45 years and above will continue to be permitted on Co-WIN portal.”

“I request you to kindly direct the concerned officials for wider dissemination of this policy decision for compliance. However, universal vaccination of already registered HCWs and FLWs should be ensured at the earliest,” the Health Secretary stated in the letter.

So far, 7.44 crore doses of corona vaccine have been administered in the country since the drive began on January 16 after approval for ‘Covishield’ and ‘Covaxin’.

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-Top News India News

Highest single day spike in India

On October 22 last year, India recorded a single-day spike of 54,366 infections…reports Asian Lite News.

Vaccine roll out is going on all over the world and India reported 53,476 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, highest single-day spike since October taking the total tally to 1,17,87,534 on Thursday.

According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra and Punjab are turning out to be a major cause of worry. Cases have been increasing over the last two weeks.

On October 22 last year, India recorded a single-day spike of 54,366 infections.

The central government is closely monitoring and actively engaging with states and union territories over the resurge.

Also Read-Reimagining Diplomacy in the Post-COVID World: An Indian Perspective | Opinion

A medical worker prepares to inoculate a man with a Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine at a government hospital in New Delhi on March 1, 2021, as the country begins a vaccination programme for senior people (Photo:Pallav Paliwal)

With death of 251 people in the last 24 hours, the toll has reached 1,60,692 in India. The active caseload in the country has mounted to 3,95,192.

With the discharge of 26,490 patients in a day, a total of 1,12,31,650 persons have been discharged so far. A total of 10,65,021 tests were done on Wednesday.

The country begins vaccination programmes for senior people (Photo: Pallav Paliwal)

So far, 5.31 crore doses of corona vaccine have been administered in the country since the drive began on January 16 after approval for ‘Covishield’ and ‘Covaxin’.

Now, those over 45 years of age will also get Covid-19 vaccine from April 1, irrespective of the co-morbidities, the Central Government has announced.

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Read More-Massive surge in India Covid cases

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Bollywood Lite Blogs

’16 to 40′ also need priority

Her tweet comes at a time when senior citizens in India are being given the vaccine on priority…reports Asian Lite News.

As we all know, senior citizens are being vaccinated in the first phase of roll out. Veteran actress Soni Razdan tweeted that people belonging to the age group of 16 to 40 should get vaccinated for Covid-19 first, because they are the ones going out for work and other purposes.

“When it’s really the 16 to 40 age group that’s ‘socialising’ going out to work, bars, nightclubs etc (the last 2 without masks mostly) just can’t understand why they aren’t getting the vaccine first @uddhavthackeray @AUThackeray,” Razdan wrote.

Her tweet comes at a time when senior citizens in India are being given the vaccine on priority.

Soni Razan (Pallav Paliwal)

Earlier this week, Razdan tweeted sharing her thoughts on the coronavirus.

“I’m getting the feeling we are never going to be rid of this thing. We somehow need to manage to live with it without it overwhelming our lives. Even after the vaccine it’s going to mutate. I’m told to a milder version like flu. I sincerely hope so,” she wrote.

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COVID-19 India News

Massive surge in India Covid cases

With the death of 197 people in the last 24 hours, the fatality toll has reached 1,59,755 in India…reports Asian Lite News Desk.

Even the vaccine rollout is on full mode, no great change is not visible in the number of cases in India. The nation is witnessing a massive surge in coronavirus cases and recorded 43,846 infections in the last 24 hours, highest so far since November, taking the total tally to 1,15,99,130 on Sunday.

A single-day spike of 44,489 new infections were recorded on November 26. The country has been registering an increase in cases for the eleventh consecutive day.

According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Haryana are exhibiting a steep rise in daily cases.

The Central government is closely monitoring and actively engaging with the states and union territory over the rising cases in the country.

With the death of 197 people in the last 24 hours, the fatality toll has reached 1,59,755 in India. The active caseload in the country has mounted to 3,09,087.

With the discharge of 22,956 patients in a day, a total of 1,11,30,288 persons have been discharged so far. A total of 11,33,602 tests were done on Friday.

Also Read-Covid-19 worsens health inequalities

So far, 4.46 crore doses of corona vaccine have been administered in the country since the drive began on January 16 after the approval for ‘Covishield’ and ‘Covaxin’.

More than 16.12 lakh doses were administered on a single day on Saturday.

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