Pfizer, the US pharma giant, is planning to make a new version of its Covid vaccine that can be stored in standard freezer and comes ready for use. Currently, the Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius.

The very low-temperature requirement has been found to be limiting the vaccine's distribution.&nbsp;

But Pfizer's chief executive Albert Bourla told AFP in an interview that a new version is in the pipeline and that he was optimistic the vaccine will also prove effective against new virus variants.

Indian variant

Bourla said Pfizer has large amounts of real-world data from some of the variant outbreaks.

"We have already data for the UK one -- I hate using the countries, but people know them like that -- which is very prominent in Israel... efficiency was 97 percent," he said.&nbsp;

"We have data from South Africa, with the South African variant, and overall the efficacy was 100 percent. And also have data from Brazil. And it looks also this is very well controlled."

Pfizer has not yet compiled sufficient data on the efficiency of its vaccine against the so-called Indian variant, the latest to raise concerns that a new wave of infections could overcome the immunisation drive.

But he said he was "optimistic" the vaccine would prove effective, and that the firm's mRNA technology can be adapted to counter new strains.

"The thing that makes me feel more comfortable is that we have developed a process that once a variant becomes a variant of concern, we should be able to have a new vaccine within 100 days," he said.&nbsp;

"It's a tough target, but I am very comfortable that we should be able to do it.&nbsp;

"And because of the effectiveness of this mRNA technology, I believe that variants will not become an issue, we'll be able to control them."

(With inputs from agencies)

Pfizer, the US pharma giant, is planning to make a new version of its Covid vaccine that can be stored in standard freezer and comes ready for use. Currently, the Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius.

Pfizer, the US pharma giant, is planning to make a new version of its Covid vaccine that can be stored in standard freezer and comes ready for use. Currently, the Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius. The very low-temperature requirement has been found to be limiting the vaccine's distribution. But Pfizer's chief executive Albert Bourla told AFP in an interview that a new version is in the pipeline and that he was optimistic the vaccine will also prove effective against new virus variants. Indian variant Bourla said Pfizer has large amounts of real-world data from some of the variant outbreaks. "We have already data for the UK one -- I hate using the countries, but people know them like that -- which is very prominent in Israel... efficiency was 97 percent," he said. "We have data from South Africa, with the South African variant, and overall the efficacy was 100 percent. And also have data from Brazil. And it looks also this is very well controlled." Pfizer has not yet compiled sufficient data on the efficiency of its vaccine against the so-called Indian variant, the latest to raise concerns that a new wave of infections could overcome the immunisation drive. But he said he was "optimistic" the vaccine would prove effective, and that the firm's mRNA technology can be adapted to counter new strains. "The thing that makes me feel more comfortable is that we have developed a process that once a variant becomes a variant of concern, we should be able to have a new vaccine within 100 days," he said. "It's a tough target, but I am very comfortable that we should be able to do it. "And because of the effectiveness of this mRNA technology, I believe that variants will not become an issue, we'll be able to control them." (With inputs from agencies)

New version of Pfizer Covid vaccine won't need ultra-low temperature for storage

US health regulators said on Friday that use of Johnson &amp; Johnson Covid vaccine could restart. The rollout of the vaccine was paused due to worries over blood clotting. A pause on the use of the vaccine was proposed on April 14.

An expert panel has now recommended lifting the pause because the shots benefits exceeded possible dangers.

"We have concluded that the known and potential benefits of the Janssen Covid-19 vaccine outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older," said Janet Woodcock, head of Food and Drug Administration in a joint statement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

CDC head Rochelle Walensky said "exceptionally rare events" of clotting were identified, adding that regulators will continue to monitor the rollout of the vaccines.

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According to data presented Friday, of 3.9 million women who got the Johnson &amp; Johnson shot, 15 developed serious blood clots and three died.

The majority of the confirmed cases, 13 of the 15, were aged under 50 years old. There were no reported cases among men.

Europe's medicine regulator has already said on Tuesday that blood clotting should be listed as "very rare side effect of J&amp;J coronavirus vaccine.

(With inputs from agencies)

US health regulators said on Friday that use of Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine could restart. The rollout of the vaccine was paused due to worries over blood clotting.

US health regulators said on Friday that use of Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine could restart. The rollout of the vaccine was paused due to worries over blood clotting. A pause on the use of the vaccine was proposed on April 14. An expert panel has now recommended lifting the pause because the shots benefits exceeded possible dangers. "We have concluded that the known and potential benefits of the Janssen Covid-19 vaccine outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older," said Janet Woodcock, head of Food and Drug Administration in a joint statement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC head Rochelle Walensky said "exceptionally rare events" of clotting were identified, adding that regulators will continue to monitor the rollout of the vaccines. Also Read | Use of single-dose J&J COVID-19 vaccine begins in European Union According to data presented Friday, of 3.9 million women who got the Johnson & Johnson shot, 15 developed serious blood clots and three died. The majority of the confirmed cases, 13 of the 15, were aged under 50 years old. There were no reported cases among men. Europe's medicine regulator has already said on Tuesday that blood clotting should be listed as "very rare side effect of J&J coronavirus vaccine. (With inputs from agencies)

US regulators approve restarting use of Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine

Pushing against the proposed Intellectual Property (IP) waiver for Covid vaccines, Pharma companies are saying that removing IP protections from Covid-19 vaccines or pressuring companies into technology sharing will not speed up production of the jabs. The companies claimed such a measure would even slow down the vaccine production.

Supporters of the measure&nbsp;to do away with IP rights say that this can enable more countries to produce the vaccines thereby increasing accessibility.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose country is co-leading a push at the World Trade Organization to exempt Covid-19 vaccines from IP rights, insisted Friday the jabs were "a public good and must be recognised as such".

"We call on the pharmaceutical industry to directly transfer this technology free of intellectual property barriers to low and middle-income countries," he told an event hosted by the World Health Organization.&nbsp;

"Let us together challenge vaccine nationalism and show that protecting intellectual property rights does not come at the expense of human lives."

Although vaccine makers have previously voiced commitment to co-operate for boost in production, industry representatives insisted on Friday that IP waivers and forced technology sharing was the wrong way to go.

An IP waiver "wouldn't give us the tools to produce more doses of vaccines", Thomas Cueni, head of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), told reporters.

He pointed out that around 275 manufacturing deals, including on technology transfer among staunch competitors, had helped the industry go from zero to one billion Covid-19 vaccine doses already produced, with the goal of 10 billion doses by the end of the year.

Industry players said though that that target hinged not on IP restrictions or broader technology transfers, but on resolving serious challenges, linked to trade barriers and export restrictions, hindering the movement of vaccine components and the vaccines themselves.

"Vaccine manufacturing is not just about patents," said Sai Prasad, head of quality operations at Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech and president of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers' Network (DCVMN).

(With inputs from agencies)

Pushing against the proposed Intellectual Property (IP) waiver for Covid vaccines, Pharma companies are saying that removing IP protections from Covid-19 vaccines or pressuring companies into technology sharing will not speed up production of the jabs.

Pushing against the proposed Intellectual Property (IP) waiver for Covid vaccines, Pharma companies are saying that removing IP protections from Covid-19 vaccines or pressuring companies into technology sharing will not speed up production of the jabs. The companies claimed such a measure would even slow down the vaccine production. Supporters of the measure to do away with IP rights say that this can enable more countries to produce the vaccines thereby increasing accessibility. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose country is co-leading a push at the World Trade Organization to exempt Covid-19 vaccines from IP rights, insisted Friday the jabs were "a public good and must be recognised as such". "We call on the pharmaceutical industry to directly transfer this technology free of intellectual property barriers to low and middle-income countries," he told an event hosted by the World Health Organization. "Let us together challenge vaccine nationalism and show that protecting intellectual property rights does not come at the expense of human lives." Although vaccine makers have previously voiced commitment to co-operate for boost in production, industry representatives insisted on Friday that IP waivers and forced technology sharing was the wrong way to go. An IP waiver "wouldn't give us the tools to produce more doses of vaccines", Thomas Cueni, head of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), told reporters. He pointed out that around 275 manufacturing deals, including on technology transfer among staunch competitors, had helped the industry go from zero to one billion Covid-19 vaccine doses already produced, with the goal of 10 billion doses by the end of the year. Industry players said though that that target hinged not on IP restrictions or broader technology transfers, but on resolving serious challenges, linked to trade barriers and export restrictions, hindering the movement of vaccine components and the vaccines themselves. "Vaccine manufacturing is not just about patents," said Sai Prasad, head of quality operations at Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech and president of the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers' Network (DCVMN). (With inputs from agencies)

Vaccine makers oppose IP waiver, say manufacturing hurdles slowing rollout

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) urged rich countries to not block a patent waiver plan in the upcoming meeting of World Trade Organisation (WTO). The member of WTO are due to meet informally to talk about this waiver. The patent waiver will boost global production of coronavirus vaccines.

"In this COVID-19 pandemic, we are once again faced with issues of scarcity, which can be addressed through diversification of manufacturing and supply capacity and ensuring the temporary waiver of relevant intellectual property,” said Dr Maria Guevara, MSF’s International Medical Secretary.&nbsp;

“We urge all countries in opposition to this, including the US and the EU, to stand on the right side of history and join hands with those in support. It is about saving lives at the end, not protecting systems.”&nbsp;

This 'TRIPS waiver proposal was put forward by India and South Africa in October last year. Now, the proposal has official backing of 59 sponsoring governments. Around 100 countries support the proposal overall. However, the proposal continues to be stonewalled by a small number of governments.

India is struggling with huge spike in coronavirus cases. Indian health ministry on Thursday reported a spike of more than 300,000 fresh infections within 24 hours. This is the highest recorded number for any country.

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) urged rich countries to not block a patent waiver plan in the upcoming meeting of World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) urged rich countries to not block a patent waiver plan in the upcoming meeting of World Trade Organisation (WTO). The member of WTO are due to meet informally to talk about this waiver. The patent waiver will boost global production of coronavirus vaccines. "In this COVID-19 pandemic, we are once again faced with issues of scarcity, which can be addressed through diversification of manufacturing and supply capacity and ensuring the temporary waiver of relevant intellectual property,” said Dr Maria Guevara, MSF’s International Medical Secretary. “We urge all countries in opposition to this, including the US and the EU, to stand on the right side of history and join hands with those in support. It is about saving lives at the end, not protecting systems.” This 'TRIPS waiver proposal was put forward by India and South Africa in October last year. Now, the proposal has official backing of 59 sponsoring governments. Around 100 countries support the proposal overall. However, the proposal continues to be stonewalled by a small number of governments. India is struggling with huge spike in coronavirus cases. Indian health ministry on Thursday reported a spike of more than 300,000 fresh infections within 24 hours. This is the highest recorded number for any country.

MSF urges rich countries to back Covid vaccine patent waiver

Everyone above 18 years of age will be administered COVID vaccine in India,&nbsp;it was decided at a meeting chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday,&nbsp;in a boost to the fight against the pandemic that is surging in a second wave.

The liberalised and accelerated phase 3 strategy of Covid-19 vaccination will be implemented from 1st May.

Modi, attending a meeting of doctors and pharma leaders, said the government has been working hard from over a year to ensure that maximum number of Indians are able to get the vaccine in the shortest possible of time.

Pricing, procurement, eligibility and administration of vaccines are being made flexible in phase 3 of India's vaccination drive, which is the world's largest.

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All stakeholders were given flexibility to customise to local needs and&nbsp;everyone above the age of 18 to be eligible to get vaccine.

Vaccine manufacturers will be incentivised to further scale up their production, as well as attract new national and international players, according to decisions taken at the meeting.

Vaccine makers are empowered to release up to 50% of their supply to state governments&nbsp;and in the open market at a pre-declared price.

States are empowered to procure additional vaccine doses directly from the manufacturers, as well as open up vaccination to any category of people above the age of 18 for the same.

Free vaccination will continue for essential and priority populations as defined earlier. This includes health care workers, frontline workers and those aged above 45.

Everyone above 18 years of age will be administered COVID vaccine in India, it was decided at a meeting chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, in a boost to the fight against the pandemic that is surging in a second wave.

Everyone above 18 years of age will be administered COVID vaccine in India, it was decided at a meeting chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, in a boost to the fight against the pandemic that is surging in a second wave. The liberalised and accelerated phase 3 strategy of Covid-19 vaccination will be implemented from 1st May. Modi, attending a meeting of doctors and pharma leaders, said the government has been working hard from over a year to ensure that maximum number of Indians are able to get the vaccine in the shortest possible of time. Pricing, procurement, eligibility and administration of vaccines are being made flexible in phase 3 of India's vaccination drive, which is the world's largest. Also Read | India must not relax as it combats second wave of coronavirus infections All stakeholders were given flexibility to customise to local needs and everyone above the age of 18 to be eligible to get vaccine. Vaccine manufacturers will be incentivised to further scale up their production, as well as attract new national and international players, according to decisions taken at the meeting. Vaccine makers are empowered to release up to 50% of their supply to state governments and in the open market at a pre-declared price. States are empowered to procure additional vaccine doses directly from the manufacturers, as well as open up vaccination to any category of people above the age of 18 for the same. Free vaccination will continue for essential and priority populations as defined earlier. This includes health care workers, frontline workers and those aged above 45.

India to give COVID-19 vaccines to all above 18 from May 1 in major boost to fight against pandemic

Have you received both your doses of the Wuhan Virus vaccine? The CEO of Pfizer says you'll likely need a 3rd dose. Will other vaccine-makers follow suit? Watch this report by WION's Palki Sharma to find out.

Gravitas: Why do we need a third vaccine dose?

More than 100 former world leaders and Nobel Prize winners have come together to urge US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> to support a waiver of intellectual property rules for coronavirus vaccines.

Such a waiver on patents will boost vaccine manufacturing and will also speed up the response to this global pandemic, especially in poor countries, they said.

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"President Biden has said that no one is safe until everyone is safe, and now with the G7 ahead there is an unparalleled opportunity to provide the leadership that only the US can provide,"&nbsp; former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said.

Former leaders of France and the UK, other 60 former heads of state and Nobel Prize winners have drafted a joint letter to Biden about this issue.

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They urged Biden to support the proposal drafted by India and South Africa at the World Trade Organization to waive intellectual property rules on a temporary basis to help support countries related to COVID-19 vaccines.

The letter calculates that the poorer countries will have to wait till 2024 to receive vaccines, on the basis of the speed with which the virus is mutating.

"New mutations of the virus will continue to cost lives and upend our interconnected global economy until everyone, everywhere has access to a safe and effective vaccine," Nobel Economics Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz said.

The letter has been signed by Francois Hollande, Mary Robinson, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Juan Manuel Santos and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - formerly presidents of France, Ireland, Brazil, Colombia and Liberia - and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

(With inputs from agencies)

More than 100 former world leaders and Nobel Prize winners have come together to urge US President Joe Biden to support a waiver of intellectual property rules for coronavirus vaccines.

More than 100 former world leaders and Nobel Prize winners have come together to urge US President Joe Biden to support a waiver of intellectual property rules for coronavirus vaccines. Such a waiver on patents will boost vaccine manufacturing and will also speed up the response to this global pandemic, especially in poor countries, they said. Also read | US to slap new sanctions on Russia for election interference, cyber attack: Sources "President Biden has said that no one is safe until everyone is safe, and now with the G7 ahead there is an unparalleled opportunity to provide the leadership that only the US can provide," former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said. Former leaders of France and the UK, other 60 former heads of state and Nobel Prize winners have drafted a joint letter to Biden about this issue. Also read | US continues pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine over reports of blood clots They urged Biden to support the proposal drafted by India and South Africa at the World Trade Organization to waive intellectual property rules on a temporary basis to help support countries related to COVID-19 vaccines. The letter calculates that the poorer countries will have to wait till 2024 to receive vaccines, on the basis of the speed with which the virus is mutating. "New mutations of the virus will continue to cost lives and upend our interconnected global economy until everyone, everywhere has access to a safe and effective vaccine," Nobel Economics Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz said. The letter has been signed by Francois Hollande, Mary Robinson, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Juan Manuel Santos and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf - formerly presidents of France, Ireland, Brazil, Colombia and Liberia - and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. (With inputs from agencies)

Waive Covid vaccine patents: Nearly 100 former world leaders, Nobel winners join call to Biden

On the first day of 'Tika Utsav', more than 27 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered till Sunday evening, taking the cumulative number of doses given in the country to 10,43,65,035, the Union health ministry said.

The tika utsav refers to COVID-19 vaccination drive between April 11 and 14.

The day-1 of the countrywide Tika Utsav saw many workplace vaccination centres becoming operational, it said.

As it was a Sunday, most of these were operational in the private workplaces.

"On an average, 45,000 COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs) are functional on any given day, Today, 63,800 CVCs were operational, marking a rise of an average of 18,800 operational vaccination centres.

"Additionally, on an average, Sundays usually witness lower levels of vaccination numbers (about 16 lakh). But on the first day of Tika Utsav, more than 27 lakh vaccine doses were administered till 8 pm today," the ministry said.

The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated and vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2.

The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for those over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.

India launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 from April 1.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 10,43,65,035 according to the 8 pm provisional report, the ministry said.

This has been achieved across 15,55,837 sessions, including 90,12,768 HCWs who have taken the first dose and 55,23,718 HCWs who have taken the second dose. A total of 99,94,360 FLWs have received the first dose and 47,93,536 FLWs got the second dose.

Besides, 3,19,49,793 and 6,76,609 beneficiaries, 45 to 59 years old, have been administered the 1st and 2nd dose, respectively, while 4,04,76,731 and 19,37,520 individuals above 60 years have been given the 1st and 2nd dose, respectively.

"More than 9 crore (9,14,33,652) first doses of COVID vaccine have been administered to the citizens, of which more than 4 crore (4,04,76,731) are in the above 60 years of age category," the ministry said.

A total of 27,69,888 vaccine doses were given till 8 pm on Sunday, the eighty-sixth day of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination. Out of these, 25,47,691 beneficiaries were vaccinated for the first dose and 2,22,197 beneficiaries received second dose of the vaccine, according to the provisional report, the ministry said, adding that final reports would be completed for the day by late night.

These 27,69,888 beneficiaries include 16,73,140 (who got the first dose) and 35,127 people (who got the second dose), in the 45 to 60 years old category. While 8,25,101 and 1,37,314 individuals, above 60 years, have taken the first and second doses of the vaccine, respectively.

Asserting that the tika utsav marks the beginning of another major war on COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made several suggestions to people on curbing the virus and urged them to focus on personal and social hygiene.

In a blog addressed to the people of the country, he urged them to remember four things, including "each one, vaccinate one"- helping those getting vaccinated who are less educated and elderly and who cannot go for the jab themselves, and "each one, treat one"- helping those who do not have the means or do not know about the facilities available for vaccination.

On the first day of 'Tika Utsav', more than 27 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered till Sunday evening, taking the cumulative number of doses given in the country to 10,43,65,035, the Union health ministry said.

On the first day of 'Tika Utsav', more than 27 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered till Sunday evening, taking the cumulative number of doses given in the country to 10,43,65,035, the Union health ministry said. The tika utsav refers to COVID-19 vaccination drive between April 11 and 14. The day-1 of the countrywide Tika Utsav saw many workplace vaccination centres becoming operational, it said. As it was a Sunday, most of these were operational in the private workplaces. "On an average, 45,000 COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs) are functional on any given day, Today, 63,800 CVCs were operational, marking a rise of an average of 18,800 operational vaccination centres. "Additionally, on an average, Sundays usually witness lower levels of vaccination numbers (about 16 lakh). But on the first day of Tika Utsav, more than 27 lakh vaccine doses were administered till 8 pm today," the ministry said. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated and vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for those over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. India launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 from April 1. The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 10,43,65,035 according to the 8 pm provisional report, the ministry said. This has been achieved across 15,55,837 sessions, including 90,12,768 HCWs who have taken the first dose and 55,23,718 HCWs who have taken the second dose. A total of 99,94,360 FLWs have received the first dose and 47,93,536 FLWs got the second dose. Besides, 3,19,49,793 and 6,76,609 beneficiaries, 45 to 59 years old, have been administered the 1st and 2nd dose, respectively, while 4,04,76,731 and 19,37,520 individuals above 60 years have been given the 1st and 2nd dose, respectively. "More than 9 crore (9,14,33,652) first doses of COVID vaccine have been administered to the citizens, of which more than 4 crore (4,04,76,731) are in the above 60 years of age category," the ministry said. A total of 27,69,888 vaccine doses were given till 8 pm on Sunday, the eighty-sixth day of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination. Out of these, 25,47,691 beneficiaries were vaccinated for the first dose and 2,22,197 beneficiaries received second dose of the vaccine, according to the provisional report, the ministry said, adding that final reports would be completed for the day by late night. These 27,69,888 beneficiaries include 16,73,140 (who got the first dose) and 35,127 people (who got the second dose), in the 45 to 60 years old category. While 8,25,101 and 1,37,314 individuals, above 60 years, have taken the first and second doses of the vaccine, respectively. Asserting that the tika utsav marks the beginning of another major war on COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made several suggestions to people on curbing the virus and urged them to focus on personal and social hygiene. In a blog addressed to the people of the country, he urged them to remember four things, including "each one, vaccinate one"- helping those getting vaccinated who are less educated and elderly and who cannot go for the jab themselves, and "each one, treat one"- helping those who do not have the means or do not know about the facilities available for vaccination.

India: More than 2.7 million COVID vaccine doses administered on Day 1 of 'Tika Utsav'

Sputnik V, the COVID-19 vaccine from Russia, has been given 'Emergency Use Authorisation' in India by a panel of experts. It is the third vaccine Indian authorities have given approval to after Bharat Biotech's Covaxin&nbsp;and the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine.

The approval on Monday was given by&nbsp;Subject Expert Committee. The regulator Drug Controller General of India will have to give final nod for wider use of the doses on all citizens.

Russian Direct Investment Fund or RDIF is behind the Sputnik V vaccine. The vaccine will be produced in India under a pact between RDIF and Indian Pharma companies like Dr Reddy's, Virchow, Stelis Biopharma and Panacea Biotec. The pacts were already in place, given that India is the hub of global manufacturing of vaccines. Around 750 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine are expected to be produced in India.

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Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in New Delhi.

On a question about Sputnik V vaccine approval, he said,"I do not rule out that further cooperation in this area could encompass vaccine production in Russia. Specialists should discuss it and proceed on the basis of the maximum effectiveness of such cooperation."

Sputnik V is already registered in more than 59 countries. The efficacy of the two-shot vaccine is over 91.6%. According to RDIF.&nbsp;

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"The cost of one dose of the vaccine for international markets is less than $10 (Sputnik V is a two-dose vaccine)."&nbsp;

The vaccine can be stored at a temperature of +2 to +8 degrees Celsius. The vaccine is named after the first Soviet space satellite.

Sputnik V, the COVID-19 vaccine from Russia, has been given 'Emergency Use Authorisation' in India by a panel of experts. It is the third vaccine Indian authorities have given approval to after Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine.

Sputnik V, the COVID-19 vaccine from Russia, has been given 'Emergency Use Authorisation' in India by a panel of experts. It is the third vaccine Indian authorities have given approval to after Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine. The approval on Monday was given by Subject Expert Committee. The regulator Drug Controller General of India will have to give final nod for wider use of the doses on all citizens. Russian Direct Investment Fund or RDIF is behind the Sputnik V vaccine. The vaccine will be produced in India under a pact between RDIF and Indian Pharma companies like Dr Reddy's, Virchow, Stelis Biopharma and Panacea Biotec. The pacts were already in place, given that India is the hub of global manufacturing of vaccines. Around 750 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine are expected to be produced in India. Also Read | Don't ignore these new oral symptoms of Covid-19 Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in New Delhi. On a question about Sputnik V vaccine approval, he said,"I do not rule out that further cooperation in this area could encompass vaccine production in Russia. Specialists should discuss it and proceed on the basis of the maximum effectiveness of such cooperation." Sputnik V is already registered in more than 59 countries. The efficacy of the two-shot vaccine is over 91.6%. According to RDIF. Also Read | These are the three new symptoms of COVID-19. Don't take them lightly "The cost of one dose of the vaccine for international markets is less than $10 (Sputnik V is a two-dose vaccine)." The vaccine can be stored at a temperature of +2 to +8 degrees Celsius. The vaccine is named after the first Soviet space satellite.

Russia's Sputnik V COVID vaccine gets emergency nod from expert panel in India

At least 6 Indian states have complained of a scarcity of COVID-19 vaccines during a second wave of Coronavirus, that has forced some centres to turn away people.

India: COVID-19 vaccine shortages being reported by at least 6 states

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has been cleared for emergency use in India amid a record spike in COVID-19 cases. An expert committee approved the restricted use of the Russian vaccine.

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine cleared for emergency use in India

India has granted emergency use approval to the Russian Sputnik V against the Coronavirus. After Covishield and Covaxin, Sputnik V became the third vaccine approved by the country against COVID-19.

India gives green signal to Russian vaccine Sputnik V

Experts suggest that different vaccine combinations could work together to enforce the body’s immune response to the virus, there is currently no evidence it will be as effective.

No data currently available on mixing COVID vaccines: WHO

Who should be given vaccines first? Prioritising the elderly and health workers may not have helped. Younger people with co-morbidities are still at risk, and now children are being hit by the second wave.

Gravitas: Time to rethink vaccination models?

More than half a million people in the United Kingdom received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in a day, official data showed on Thursday, raising the total who have had two doses past 6 million. 
 
A total of 31.8 million people have now had at least one dose, while 6.1 million have had two after the health service delivered 99,530 first doses and 408,396-second doses in the latest 24-hour period. 
 
The daily total number of new cases of the virus was 3,030, with the seven-day total of 20,056 down by 37% compared with the previous seven-day period. 
 
The daily number of deaths was 53, with the seven-day death toll of 216 down by 32% compared with the previous seven days.

More than half a million people in the United Kingdom received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in a day, official data showed on Thursday, raising the total who have had two doses past 6 million.

More than half a million people in the United Kingdom received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in a day, official data showed on Thursday, raising the total who have had two doses past 6 million. A total of 31.8 million people have now had at least one dose, while 6.1 million have had two after the health service delivered 99,530 first doses and 408,396-second doses in the latest 24-hour period. The daily total number of new cases of the virus was 3,030, with the seven-day total of 20,056 down by 37% compared with the previous seven-day period. The daily number of deaths was 53, with the seven-day death toll of 216 down by 32% compared with the previous seven days.

UK COVID data shows more than 6 million people have had two doses of vaccine

Nepal will start its second phase of the Covid-19 inoculation drive from April 7 using a China-donated vaccine.

The first phase of the vaccination drive began in January with the one million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine provided by India under grant assistance in sync with its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

The second phase will begin from Wednesday, April 7. The 800,000 doses of the China manufactured vaccine - Vero Cell- against COVID-19 infection will be administered to the frontline workers as well as those involved in trans-Himalayan trade activities in the mountainous region, Dr Jageshwor Gautam, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, said.

Nepalese students studying in China under scholarship schemes and those preparing to visit China for further studies will also receive the Chinese vaccine.

Nepal has recorded 277,944 coronavirus infections and 3032 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. It had granted a conditional emergency approval for use of Vero Cell, the coronavirus vaccine manufactured by China's Beijing Institute of Biological Products earlier on February 18.

Nepal will start its second phase of the Covid-19 inoculation drive from April 7 using a China-donated vaccine. The first phase of the vaccination drive began in January with the one million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine provided by India under grant assistance in sync with its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

Nepal will start its second phase of the Covid-19 inoculation drive from April 7 using a China-donated vaccine. The first phase of the vaccination drive began in January with the one million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine provided by India under grant assistance in sync with its 'Neighbourhood First' policy. The second phase will begin from Wednesday, April 7. The 800,000 doses of the China manufactured vaccine - Vero Cell- against COVID-19 infection will be administered to the frontline workers as well as those involved in trans-Himalayan trade activities in the mountainous region, Dr Jageshwor Gautam, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, said. Nepalese students studying in China under scholarship schemes and those preparing to visit China for further studies will also receive the Chinese vaccine. Nepal has recorded 277,944 coronavirus infections and 3032 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. It had granted a conditional emergency approval for use of Vero Cell, the coronavirus vaccine manufactured by China's Beijing Institute of Biological Products earlier on February 18.

Nepal to administer Chinese vaccines to citizens from April 7

Indian drugmaker Cadila Healthcare Ltd said on Monday it would seek local regulatory approval to treat Covid-19 patients with an already approved Hepatitis C drug, following promising interim results from a late-stage trial.

A single dose of the Hepatitis C drug when taken early could help Covid-19 patients recover faster and avoid complications seen in the advanced stages of the disease, Cadila said in a statement to stock exchanges.

The drug, known as Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b and branded as "PegiHep" by Cadila, was originally approved for liver disease Hepatitis C and launched in India 10 years ago.

About 91 per cent of patients treated with the drug tested negative for Covid-19 in standard RT-PCR tests by day seven, compared to nearly 79 per cent who were given the standard of care, the company said citing Phase-III clinical trial data.

The news comes as daily coronavirus infections are surging to new highs in India, which has the world's third-highest caseload after the United States and Brazil. India has so far reported close to 12.5 million infections and more than 164,000 deaths.

Indian drugmaker Cadila Healthcare Ltd said on Monday it would seek local regulatory approval to treat Covid-19 patients with an already approved Hepatitis C drug, following promising interim results from a late-stage trial.

Indian drugmaker Cadila Healthcare Ltd said on Monday it would seek local regulatory approval to treat Covid-19 patients with an already approved Hepatitis C drug, following promising interim results from a late-stage trial. A single dose of the Hepatitis C drug when taken early could help Covid-19 patients recover faster and avoid complications seen in the advanced stages of the disease, Cadila said in a statement to stock exchanges. The drug, known as Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b and branded as "PegiHep" by Cadila, was originally approved for liver disease Hepatitis C and launched in India 10 years ago. About 91 per cent of patients treated with the drug tested negative for Covid-19 in standard RT-PCR tests by day seven, compared to nearly 79 per cent who were given the standard of care, the company said citing Phase-III clinical trial data. The news comes as daily coronavirus infections are surging to new highs in India, which has the world's third-highest caseload after the United States and Brazil. India has so far reported close to 12.5 million infections and more than 164,000 deaths.

India's Cadila seeks regulatory approval for Covid-19 drug

UK medicines regulator is urging people to continue taking the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, despite seven people having died from rare blood clots after getting the jab.

The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency, or MHRA, said it wasn't clear if the shots are causing the clots, and that its “rigorous review into the reports of rare and specific types of blood clots is ongoing.”

The agency said late Friday that seven people had died as a result of developing blood clots.

In total, MHRA said had identified 30 cases of rare blood clot events out of 18.1 million AstraZeneca doses administered up to and including March 24.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thirty-blood-clot-cases-found-after-use-of-astrazeneca-vaccine-uk-regulator-says-374906">Also read |&nbsp;Thirty blood clot cases found after use of AstraZeneca vaccine, UK regulator says</a>

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on Thursday said it had received no such reports of clotting events following use of the vaccine made by BioNTech SE and Pfizer Inc.

On March 18, the UK medicines regulator said that there had been five cases of a rare brain blood clot among 11 million administered shots.

On Thursday, it put the count at 22 reports of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, an extremely rare brain clotting ailment, and 8 reports of other clotting events associated with low blood platelets out of a total of 18.1 million doses given.

Some countries are restricting use of the AstraZeneca vaccine while others have resumed inoculations, as investigations into reports of rare, and sometimes severe, blood clots continue.

UK medicines regulator is urging people to continue taking the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, despite seven people having died from rare blood clots after getting the jab.

UK medicines regulator is urging people to continue taking the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, despite seven people having died from rare blood clots after getting the jab. The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency, or MHRA, said it wasn't clear if the shots are causing the clots, and that its “rigorous review into the reports of rare and specific types of blood clots is ongoing.” The agency said late Friday that seven people had died as a result of developing blood clots. In total, MHRA said had identified 30 cases of rare blood clot events out of 18.1 million AstraZeneca doses administered up to and including March 24. Also read | Thirty blood clot cases found after use of AstraZeneca vaccine, UK regulator says The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on Thursday said it had received no such reports of clotting events following use of the vaccine made by BioNTech SE and Pfizer Inc. On March 18, the UK medicines regulator said that there had been five cases of a rare brain blood clot among 11 million administered shots. On Thursday, it put the count at 22 reports of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, an extremely rare brain clotting ailment, and 8 reports of other clotting events associated with low blood platelets out of a total of 18.1 million doses given. Some countries are restricting use of the AstraZeneca vaccine while others have resumed inoculations, as investigations into reports of rare, and sometimes severe, blood clots continue.

AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine safe even after blood clot deaths, UK regulator says

In the Covid-19 intensive care unit of the Antony Private Hospital south of Paris, no bed stays free for long and medics wonder when their workload will finally peak.

As one recovered elderly patient is being wheeled out of the ward, smiling weakly, boss Jean-Pierre Deyme is on the phone arranging the next arrival and calling out instructions to staff.

Louisa Pinto, a nurse of nearly 20 years' experience, gestures to the vacated room where a cleaner is already at work, scrubbing down the mattress for the next arrival.

"The bed won't even have time to cool down," she says as the patient monitoring system beeps constantly in the background. &nbsp;

For now, everything is stable in the 20-odd beds around her where Covid-19 victims lie inanimate, in a silent battle with the virus.

Paris is going through a third wave of the pandemic which risks putting even more strain on saturated hospitals than the first wave in March and April last year.&nbsp;

"With what's coming in April, it's going to be very complicated,"&nbsp;says Pinto, a mother of three who hasn't had a holiday since last summer and like other staff will be cancelling a planned break this month.

Even with a new round of restrictions coming into force this week, Health Minister Olivier Veran predicts that infections in France will peak only in mid-April, while hospital admissions will continue climbing until the end of the month.

Alarming forecasts leaked to the French media from the Paris public hospital authority AP-HP last week showed anywhere from 2,800-4,400 people in intensive care in the Paris region by the end of April even with a strict lockdown.

In the first wave, the number peaked at 2,700.

- Staff shortages -&nbsp;

The director of the Antony hospital, Denis Chandesris, says intensive care capacity has already been increased by drastically reducing all surgery except for critical cancer, cardiological and emergency cases.

Hospitals everywhere in the region have taken similar measures, re-deploying beds and creating new wards, but they are reaching their limits.

"The difficulty is not so much beds or material, it's a question of finding medical and paramedical staff to be able to take in patients," Chandesris explained.

Last Sunday, a group of emergency care directors in Paris warned in an open letter that the situation was so bad that medics would soon have to start "triage" -- selecting patients for care based on their chances of survival.

This prospect horrifies staff -- and President Emmanuel Macron has always promised to shield hospitals and avoid the sort of scenes witnessed in Italy last March when patients piled up in corridors. &nbsp;

In a televised speech to the nation on Wednesday night, he promised to increase intensive care capacity nation-wide from 7,665 beds currently to 10,000 -- a jump of 30 percent.

"I want to thank medical students, retired people, the army health service and medical reserve volunteers. All of them will be mobilised in a larger way," he announced.&nbsp;

Opposition politicians and some experts reacted with scepticism while an Ifop poll for the Journal du Dimanche weekly found only 35 percent of French people had confidence in their government "to deal effectively with the coronavirus".

Pinto, the nurse, underlined how working in intensive care is "very technical", requiring specialised training and knowledge.

- New restrictions -&nbsp;

Macron is banking on a limited lockdown over the next month turning the rising tide of cases which have roughly doubled to 40,000 a day compared with their level a month ago.

The sharp acceleration is down to the spread of the more contagious so-called British variant which has become dominant in France.&nbsp;

New measures include nation-wide travel restrictions, which limit people to 10 kilometres (six miles) from their homes, and the closure of schools and non-essential shops.

Only a significant increase in the vaccination campaign -- which started sluggishly but is now picking up pace -- fills any of the medics at Antony Private Hospital with any hope.

After months of lacking doses, the government is promising a major rollout this month and an increase in the rate of jabbing.

Samir Taik, a taxi driver from Paris, walked out of the Antony hospital last week as the 1,000th Covid-19 patient to have benefited from oxygen therapy in the Covid-19 intensive care unit.

The 43-year-old, who enjoys boxing and sport, is still short of breath and reeling from the trauma of seeing his health deteriorate so fast.&nbsp;

He says he knows three or four people with a similar profile to him who have been hospitalised recently.

"Young people need to know that we're not talking about 80-year-olds, it's people who are 30, 40, 45-year-olds and have no health problems. The British variant is not like the old one," he told AFP.

In the Covid-19 intensive care unit of the Antony Private Hospital south of Paris, no bed stays free for long and medics wonder when their workload will finally peak.

In the Covid-19 intensive care unit of the Antony Private Hospital south of Paris, no bed stays free for long and medics wonder when their workload will finally peak. As one recovered elderly patient is being wheeled out of the ward, smiling weakly, boss Jean-Pierre Deyme is on the phone arranging the next arrival and calling out instructions to staff. Louisa Pinto, a nurse of nearly 20 years' experience, gestures to the vacated room where a cleaner is already at work, scrubbing down the mattress for the next arrival. "The bed won't even have time to cool down," she says as the patient monitoring system beeps constantly in the background. For now, everything is stable in the 20-odd beds around her where Covid-19 victims lie inanimate, in a silent battle with the virus. Paris is going through a third wave of the pandemic which risks putting even more strain on saturated hospitals than the first wave in March and April last year. "With what's coming in April, it's going to be very complicated," says Pinto, a mother of three who hasn't had a holiday since last summer and like other staff will be cancelling a planned break this month. Even with a new round of restrictions coming into force this week, Health Minister Olivier Veran predicts that infections in France will peak only in mid-April, while hospital admissions will continue climbing until the end of the month. Alarming forecasts leaked to the French media from the Paris public hospital authority AP-HP last week showed anywhere from 2,800-4,400 people in intensive care in the Paris region by the end of April even with a strict lockdown. In the first wave, the number peaked at 2,700. - Staff shortages - The director of the Antony hospital, Denis Chandesris, says intensive care capacity has already been increased by drastically reducing all surgery except for critical cancer, cardiological and emergency cases. Hospitals everywhere in the region have taken similar measures, re-deploying beds and creating new wards, but they are reaching their limits. "The difficulty is not so much beds or material, it's a question of finding medical and paramedical staff to be able to take in patients," Chandesris explained. Last Sunday, a group of emergency care directors in Paris warned in an open letter that the situation was so bad that medics would soon have to start "triage" -- selecting patients for care based on their chances of survival. This prospect horrifies staff -- and President Emmanuel Macron has always promised to shield hospitals and avoid the sort of scenes witnessed in Italy last March when patients piled up in corridors. In a televised speech to the nation on Wednesday night, he promised to increase intensive care capacity nation-wide from 7,665 beds currently to 10,000 -- a jump of 30 percent. "I want to thank medical students, retired people, the army health service and medical reserve volunteers. All of them will be mobilised in a larger way," he announced. Opposition politicians and some experts reacted with scepticism while an Ifop poll for the Journal du Dimanche weekly found only 35 percent of French people had confidence in their government "to deal effectively with the coronavirus". Pinto, the nurse, underlined how working in intensive care is "very technical", requiring specialised training and knowledge. - New restrictions - Macron is banking on a limited lockdown over the next month turning the rising tide of cases which have roughly doubled to 40,000 a day compared with their level a month ago. The sharp acceleration is down to the spread of the more contagious so-called British variant which has become dominant in France. New measures include nation-wide travel restrictions, which limit people to 10 kilometres (six miles) from their homes, and the closure of schools and non-essential shops. Only a significant increase in the vaccination campaign -- which started sluggishly but is now picking up pace -- fills any of the medics at Antony Private Hospital with any hope. After months of lacking doses, the government is promising a major rollout this month and an increase in the rate of jabbing. Samir Taik, a taxi driver from Paris, walked out of the Antony hospital last week as the 1,000th Covid-19 patient to have benefited from oxygen therapy in the Covid-19 intensive care unit. The 43-year-old, who enjoys boxing and sport, is still short of breath and reeling from the trauma of seeing his health deteriorate so fast. He says he knows three or four people with a similar profile to him who have been hospitalised recently. "Young people need to know that we're not talking about 80-year-olds, it's people who are 30, 40, 45-year-olds and have no health problems. The British variant is not like the old one," he told AFP.

Paris medics fear worst of Covid wave still to come

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is slated to set out plans for a domestic "vaccine passport" system to help the country ease itself out of lockdown.

Football cup finals, a comedy club and a cinema will be used to test vaccine passports over the next few weeks, as per plan.

The pilot venues will be unveiled on Monday by the prime minister with the NHS drawing up a system that will allow people to use an app or a paper certificate to gain access to major events and reduce social distancing measures.

Johnson, however, continues to face a mounting political backlash over the use of vaccine passports.

More than 70 British lawmakers have signalled their opposition to the introduction of so-called vaccine passports.

The system being piloted will take account of whether someone has had a vaccination, a recent negative test, or natural immunity after a positive test in the last six months

On Friday, Johnson said that a combination of immunity factors - if people have had the disease, a vaccination or had a COVID-19 test - would give businesses confidence.

Under the government’s planned “roadmap” out of the pandemic, pubs will be allowed to serve people outdoors later this month, with a further easing of restrictions in mid-May before all measures are lifted near the end of June.

Johnson suggested last month that some pubs might require customers to produce vaccine certificates. Culture minister Oliver Dowden, meanwhile, has said that such certificates could help get more people into theatres.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is slated to set out plans for a domestic "vaccine passport" system to help the country ease itself out of lockdown. Football cup finals, a comedy club and a cinema will be used to test vaccine passports over the next few weeks, as per plan.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is slated to set out plans for a domestic "vaccine passport" system to help the country ease itself out of lockdown. Football cup finals, a comedy club and a cinema will be used to test vaccine passports over the next few weeks, as per plan. The pilot venues will be unveiled on Monday by the prime minister with the NHS drawing up a system that will allow people to use an app or a paper certificate to gain access to major events and reduce social distancing measures. Johnson, however, continues to face a mounting political backlash over the use of vaccine passports. More than 70 British lawmakers have signalled their opposition to the introduction of so-called vaccine passports. The system being piloted will take account of whether someone has had a vaccination, a recent negative test, or natural immunity after a positive test in the last six months On Friday, Johnson said that a combination of immunity factors - if people have had the disease, a vaccination or had a COVID-19 test - would give businesses confidence. Under the government’s planned “roadmap” out of the pandemic, pubs will be allowed to serve people outdoors later this month, with a further easing of restrictions in mid-May before all measures are lifted near the end of June. Johnson suggested last month that some pubs might require customers to produce vaccine certificates. Culture minister Oliver Dowden, meanwhile, has said that such certificates could help get more people into theatres.

UK PM Boris Johnson to give go-ahead for trials of Covid passports

The US government has stopped a Baltimore manufacturing plant that ruined 15 million doses of Johnson &amp; Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine from making the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca Plc.

According to a report in the New York Times, AstraZeneca on Saturday said in a statement it will work with President Joe Biden's administration to find an alternative site.

J&amp;J said in a statement that it was "assuming full responsibility regarding the manufacturing of drug substance for its COVID-19 vaccine at the Emergent BioSolutions Inc. Bayview facility."

The move by the US Department of Health and Human Services' will now render the Emergent BioSolutions facility solely devoted to making the Johnson &amp; Johnson single-dose vaccine, and is meant to avoid future mix-ups, according to the newspaper report, which cites two senior federal health official

The US government's top infectious disease doctor, Antony Fauci, had earlier said the country may not need AstraZeneca's vaccine, even if it wins approval.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fauci-says-us-may-not-need-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-374863">Also read |&nbsp;Fauci says US may not need AstraZeneca Covid vaccine</a>

AstraZeneca has been under scanner for months now for the alleged blood clotting side effects the vaccine has had on its takers.

Some countries are restricting use of the AstraZeneca vaccine while others have resumed inoculations, as investigations into reports of rare, and sometimes severe, blood clots continue.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), probing links between the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine and blood clots, have repeatedly said they found no specific risk factors, including age. They are, however, investigating further.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-medical-agency-again-backs-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-374694">Also read |&nbsp;EU medical agency again backs AstraZeneca Covid vaccine</a>

The US government has stopped a Baltimore manufacturing plant that ruined 15 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine from making the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca Plc.

The US government has stopped a Baltimore manufacturing plant that ruined 15 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine from making the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca Plc. According to a report in the New York Times, AstraZeneca on Saturday said in a statement it will work with President Joe Biden's administration to find an alternative site. J&J said in a statement that it was "assuming full responsibility regarding the manufacturing of drug substance for its COVID-19 vaccine at the Emergent BioSolutions Inc. Bayview facility." The move by the US Department of Health and Human Services' will now render the Emergent BioSolutions facility solely devoted to making the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, and is meant to avoid future mix-ups, according to the newspaper report, which cites two senior federal health official The US government's top infectious disease doctor, Antony Fauci, had earlier said the country may not need AstraZeneca's vaccine, even if it wins approval. Also read | Fauci says US may not need AstraZeneca Covid vaccine AstraZeneca has been under scanner for months now for the alleged blood clotting side effects the vaccine has had on its takers. Some countries are restricting use of the AstraZeneca vaccine while others have resumed inoculations, as investigations into reports of rare, and sometimes severe, blood clots continue. The European Medicines Agency (EMA), probing links between the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine and blood clots, have repeatedly said they found no specific risk factors, including age. They are, however, investigating further. Also read | EU medical agency again backs AstraZeneca Covid vaccine

US stops AstraZeneca vaccine production at Baltimore plant

Eight states including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat account for 80.96 per cent of the 93,249 new daily COVID-19 cases, according to the Union Health Ministry.

India is seeing a steep intensification in the doubling time of the COVID-19 cases. As of April 4, it is 115.4 days, the ministry said on Sunday. &nbsp;

India's total active caseload has reached 6,91,597 and now comprises 5.54 per cent of the country's total infections. A net rise of 32,688 cases recorded in the total active caseload in a span of 24 hours.

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Punjab cumulatively account for 76.41 per cent of the total active cases in the country, the ministry said.

Maharashtra alone accounts &nbsp;for more than half (58.19%) of the total active caseload of the country.

India saw &nbsp;93,249 new coronavirus infections being reported in a span of 24 hours, the highest single day rise so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally of cases to 1,24,85,509 , according to the ministry data updated on Sunday morning.

Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 49,447. This is followed by Chhattisgarh with 5,818 cases while Karnataka reported 4,373 new cases.

Twelve states including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala are displaying an upward trajectory in daily new cases, the ministry said.

India's cumulative recoveries stand at &nbsp;1,16,29,289 with 60,048 recoveries being registered in a span of 24 hours.

Besides, 513 deaths were reported in a day.

Eight states account for 85.19 per cent of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (277). Punjab follows with 49 daily deaths, the ministry said.

Fourteen states and UTs have not reported any COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;

These are Odisha, Assam, Puducherry, Ladakh (UT), D&amp;D &amp; D&amp;N, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh.

On the issue of vaccination, the ministry said the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 7,59,79,651 &nbsp;(through 11,99,125 sessions).

These include 89,82,974 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the 1st dose, 53,19,641 HCWs who have taken the 2nd dose, 96,86,477 frontline workers who have received the 1st dose and 40,97,510 FLWs who have taken the 2nd dose.

Besides, 4,70,70,019 &nbsp;and 8,23,030 &nbsp;beneficiaries aged more than 45 years have been administered the 1st and 2nd dose respectively.

The cumulative vaccination figure includes over 6.5 crore (6,57,39,470) first doses, while the second dose numbers have crossed the 1 crore mark as well (1,02,40,181), the ministry said.

As on day-78 of the vaccination drive (3rd April), 27,38,972 vaccine doses were given. Out of which, 24,80,031 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and 2,58,941 beneficiaries received their 2nd dose of vaccine.

Eight states account for 60.19 per cent of the cumulative doses given so far. Maharashtra alone accounts for 9.68 per cent of the total doses given in India.

Maharashtra has alone distributed 65,59,094 1st doses and 7,95,150 &nbsp;2nd doses.&nbsp;

Eight states including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat account for 80.96 per cent of the 93,249 new daily COVID-19 cases, according to the Union Health Ministry.

Eight states including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat account for 80.96 per cent of the 93,249 new daily COVID-19 cases, according to the Union Health Ministry. India is seeing a steep intensification in the doubling time of the COVID-19 cases. As of April 4, it is 115.4 days, the ministry said on Sunday. India's total active caseload has reached 6,91,597 and now comprises 5.54 per cent of the country's total infections. A net rise of 32,688 cases recorded in the total active caseload in a span of 24 hours. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Punjab cumulatively account for 76.41 per cent of the total active cases in the country, the ministry said. Maharashtra alone accounts for more than half (58.19%) of the total active caseload of the country. India saw 93,249 new coronavirus infections being reported in a span of 24 hours, the highest single day rise so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally of cases to 1,24,85,509 , according to the ministry data updated on Sunday morning. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 49,447. This is followed by Chhattisgarh with 5,818 cases while Karnataka reported 4,373 new cases. Twelve states including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala are displaying an upward trajectory in daily new cases, the ministry said. India's cumulative recoveries stand at 1,16,29,289 with 60,048 recoveries being registered in a span of 24 hours. Besides, 513 deaths were reported in a day. Eight states account for 85.19 per cent of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (277). Punjab follows with 49 daily deaths, the ministry said. Fourteen states and UTs have not reported any COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours. These are Odisha, Assam, Puducherry, Ladakh (UT), D&D & D&N, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh. On the issue of vaccination, the ministry said the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 7,59,79,651 (through 11,99,125 sessions). These include 89,82,974 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the 1st dose, 53,19,641 HCWs who have taken the 2nd dose, 96,86,477 frontline workers who have received the 1st dose and 40,97,510 FLWs who have taken the 2nd dose. Besides, 4,70,70,019 and 8,23,030 beneficiaries aged more than 45 years have been administered the 1st and 2nd dose respectively. The cumulative vaccination figure includes over 6.5 crore (6,57,39,470) first doses, while the second dose numbers have crossed the 1 crore mark as well (1,02,40,181), the ministry said. As on day-78 of the vaccination drive (3rd April), 27,38,972 vaccine doses were given. Out of which, 24,80,031 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and 2,58,941 beneficiaries received their 2nd dose of vaccine. Eight states account for 60.19 per cent of the cumulative doses given so far. Maharashtra alone accounts for 9.68 per cent of the total doses given in India. Maharashtra has alone distributed 65,59,094 1st doses and 7,95,150 2nd doses.

Eight states account for over 80% of new Covid cases in India

Johnson &amp; Johnson has started testing its Covid-19 vaccine on adolescents.

The young people, beginning with those aged 16 and 17, will be added to an ongoing study of the vaccine in adults that began last September, the drugmaker said Friday.&nbsp;

After initial data from the older teens is reviewed, the trial will expand to add the ones between the ages of 12 and 15.

J&amp;J says the first teens are being enrolled in the United Kingdom and Spain. Teens in the United States, Canada and the Netherlands will be added, followed by teens in Brazil and Argentina.

The study is testing the safety and efficacy of both one-dose and two-dose regimens of the vaccine, with the two-dose regimens being studied at intervals of one, two and three months after the first shot.

Johnson & Johnson has started testing its Covid-19 vaccine on adolescents. The young people, beginning with those aged 16 and 17, will be added to an ongoing study of the vaccine in adults that began last September, the drugmaker said Friday.

Johnson & Johnson has started testing its Covid-19 vaccine on adolescents. The young people, beginning with those aged 16 and 17, will be added to an ongoing study of the vaccine in adults that began last September, the drugmaker said Friday. After initial data from the older teens is reviewed, the trial will expand to add the ones between the ages of 12 and 15. J&J says the first teens are being enrolled in the United Kingdom and Spain. Teens in the United States, Canada and the Netherlands will be added, followed by teens in Brazil and Argentina. The study is testing the safety and efficacy of both one-dose and two-dose regimens of the vaccine, with the two-dose regimens being studied at intervals of one, two and three months after the first shot.

Johnson & Johnson starts testing its Covid vaccine on teens

British regulators have identified 30 cases of rare blood clot events after the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Uk's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has also said that it had received no such reports of clotting events following the use of the vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech.

UK regulators find 30 cases of blood clot events after using AstraZeneca COVID vaccine

The United States may not need AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, even if it wins US regulatory approval, Anthony Fauci has said.

The vaccine, once hailed as another milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, has been dogged by questions since late last year -- for it has been found to show severe side-effects in patients. It has been authorised for use by dozens of countries, not including United States.

The nation's top infectious disease doctor, to this end, told Reuters on Thursday, that the United States has enough contracts with other vaccine makers to vaccinate its entire population, and possibly enough for booster shots in the fall.

Asked whether the United States will use the AstraZeneca vaccine doses, he said, "That's still up in the air. My general feeling is that given the contractual relationships that we have with a number of companies, that we have enough vaccine to fulfill all of our needs without invoking AstraZeneca."

Late last year, the drugmaker and Oxford University published data from an earlier trial with two different efficacy readings as a result of a dosing error. Then in March, more than a dozen countries temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine after reports linked it to a rare blood clotting disorder.

The United States may not need AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, even if it wins US regulatory approval, Anthony Fauci has said. The vaccine, once hailed as another milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, has been dogged by questions since late last year -- for it has been found to show severe side-effects in patients.

The United States may not need AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, even if it wins US regulatory approval, Anthony Fauci has said. The vaccine, once hailed as another milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, has been dogged by questions since late last year -- for it has been found to show severe side-effects in patients. It has been authorised for use by dozens of countries, not including United States. The nation's top infectious disease doctor, to this end, told Reuters on Thursday, that the United States has enough contracts with other vaccine makers to vaccinate its entire population, and possibly enough for booster shots in the fall. Asked whether the United States will use the AstraZeneca vaccine doses, he said, "That's still up in the air. My general feeling is that given the contractual relationships that we have with a number of companies, that we have enough vaccine to fulfill all of our needs without invoking AstraZeneca." Late last year, the drugmaker and Oxford University published data from an earlier trial with two different efficacy readings as a result of a dosing error. Then in March, more than a dozen countries temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine after reports linked it to a rare blood clotting disorder.

Fauci says US may not need AstraZeneca Covid vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday walked back controversial comments made by its director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, suggesting that people who are vaccinated against the coronavirus never become infected or transmit the virus to others.

The assertion called into question the precautions that the agency had urged vaccinated people to take just last month, like wearing masks and gathering only under limited circumstances with unvaccinated people.

“Dr. Walensky spoke broadly during this interview,” an agency spokesperson told The Times. “It’s possible that some people who are fully vaccinated could get COVID-19. The evidence isn’t clear whether they can spread the virus to others. We are continuing to evaluate the evidence.”

The agency was responding in part to criticism from scientists who noted that current research was far from sufficient to claim that vaccinated people cannot spread the virus.

The data suggest that “it’s much harder for vaccinated people to get infected, but don’t think for one second that they cannot get infected,” said Paul Duprex, director of the Center for Vaccine Research at the University of Pittsburgh.

In a television interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, Walensky referred to data published by the CDC showing that one dose of the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 80% effective at preventing infection, and two doses were 90% effective.

That certainly suggested that transmission from vaccinated people might be unlikely, but Walensky’s comments hinted that protection was complete. “Our data from the CDC today suggests that vaccinated people do not carry the virus, don’t get sick,” she said. “And that it’s not just in the clinical trials, it’s also in real-world data.”

Walensky went on to emphasize the importance of continuing to wear masks and maintain precautions, even for vaccinated people. Still, the brief comment was widely interpreted as saying that the vaccines offered complete protection against infection or transmission.

In a pandemic that regularly spawns scientific misunderstanding, experts said they were sympathetic to Walensky and her obvious desire for Americans to continue to take precautions. It was only Monday that she said rising caseloads had left her with a sense of “impending doom.”

“If Dr. Walensky had said most vaccinated people do not carry virus, we would not be having this discussion,” said John Moore, a virus expert at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York.

“What we know is the vaccines are very substantially effective against infection — there’s more and more data on that — but nothing is 100%,” he added. “It is an important public health message that needs to be gotten right.”

Misinterpretation could disrupt the agency’s urgent pleas for immunization, some experts said. As of Wednesday, 30% of Americans had received at least one dose of a vaccine and 17% were fully immunized.

“There cannot be any daylight between what the research shows — really impressive but incomplete protection — and how it is described,” said Dr. Peter Bach, director of the Center for Health Policy and Outcomes at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

“This opens the door to the skeptics who think the government is sugarcoating the science,” Bach said, “and completely undermines any remaining argument why people should keep wearing masks after being vaccinated.”

All of the coronavirus vaccines are spectacularly successful at preventing serious disease and death from COVID-19, but how well they prevent infection has been less clear.

Clinical trials of the vaccines were designed only to assess whether the vaccines prevent serious illness and death. The research from the CDC on Monday brought the welcome conclusion that the vaccines are also extremely effective at preventing infection.

The study enrolled 3,950 health care workers, emergency responders and others at high risk of infection. The participants swabbed their noses each week and sent the samples in for testing, which allowed federal researchers to track all infections, symptomatic or not. Two weeks after vaccination, the vast majority of vaccinated people remained virus-free, the study found.

Follow-up data from clinical trials support that finding. In results released by Pfizer and BioNTech on Wednesday, for example, 77 people who received the vaccine had a coronavirus infection, compared with 850 people who got a placebo.

“Clearly, some vaccinated people do get infected,” Duprex said. “We’re stopping symptoms, we’re keeping people out of hospitals. But we’re not making them completely resistant to an infection.”

The number of vaccinated people who become infected is likely to be higher among those receiving vaccines made by Johnson &amp;amp; Johnson and AstraZeneca, which have a lower efficacy, experts said. (Still, those vaccines are worth taking, because they uniformly prevent serious illness and death.)

Infection rates may also be higher among people exposed to a virus variant that can sidestep the immune system.

Cases across the country are once again on the upswing, threatening a new surge. Walensky’s comment came just a day after she made an emotional appeal to the American public to continue taking precautions.

“I am asking you to just hold on a little longer, to get vaccinated when you can, so that all of those people that we all love will still be here when this pandemic ends,” she said.

Given the rising numbers, it’s especially important that immunized people continue to protect those who have not yet been immunized against the virus, experts said.

“Vaccinated people should not be throwing away their masks at this point,” Moore said. “This pandemic is not over.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday walked back controversial comments made by its director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, suggesting that people who are vaccinated against the coronavirus never become infected or transmit the virus to others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday walked back controversial comments made by its director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, suggesting that people who are vaccinated against the coronavirus never become infected or transmit the virus to others. The assertion called into question the precautions that the agency had urged vaccinated people to take just last month, like wearing masks and gathering only under limited circumstances with unvaccinated people. “Dr. Walensky spoke broadly during this interview,” an agency spokesperson told The Times. “It’s possible that some people who are fully vaccinated could get COVID-19. The evidence isn’t clear whether they can spread the virus to others. We are continuing to evaluate the evidence.” The agency was responding in part to criticism from scientists who noted that current research was far from sufficient to claim that vaccinated people cannot spread the virus. The data suggest that “it’s much harder for vaccinated people to get infected, but don’t think for one second that they cannot get infected,” said Paul Duprex, director of the Center for Vaccine Research at the University of Pittsburgh. In a television interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, Walensky referred to data published by the CDC showing that one dose of the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 80% effective at preventing infection, and two doses were 90% effective. That certainly suggested that transmission from vaccinated people might be unlikely, but Walensky’s comments hinted that protection was complete. “Our data from the CDC today suggests that vaccinated people do not carry the virus, don’t get sick,” she said. “And that it’s not just in the clinical trials, it’s also in real-world data.” Walensky went on to emphasize the importance of continuing to wear masks and maintain precautions, even for vaccinated people. Still, the brief comment was widely interpreted as saying that the vaccines offered complete protection against infection or transmission. In a pandemic that regularly spawns scientific misunderstanding, experts said they were sympathetic to Walensky and her obvious desire for Americans to continue to take precautions. It was only Monday that she said rising caseloads had left her with a sense of “impending doom.” “If Dr. Walensky had said most vaccinated people do not carry virus, we would not be having this discussion,” said John Moore, a virus expert at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. “What we know is the vaccines are very substantially effective against infection — there’s more and more data on that — but nothing is 100%,” he added. “It is an important public health message that needs to be gotten right.” Misinterpretation could disrupt the agency’s urgent pleas for immunization, some experts said. As of Wednesday, 30% of Americans had received at least one dose of a vaccine and 17% were fully immunized. “There cannot be any daylight between what the research shows — really impressive but incomplete protection — and how it is described,” said Dr. Peter Bach, director of the Center for Health Policy and Outcomes at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. “This opens the door to the skeptics who think the government is sugarcoating the science,” Bach said, “and completely undermines any remaining argument why people should keep wearing masks after being vaccinated.” All of the coronavirus vaccines are spectacularly successful at preventing serious disease and death from COVID-19, but how well they prevent infection has been less clear. Clinical trials of the vaccines were designed only to assess whether the vaccines prevent serious illness and death. The research from the CDC on Monday brought the welcome conclusion that the vaccines are also extremely effective at preventing infection. The study enrolled 3,950 health care workers, emergency responders and others at high risk of infection. The participants swabbed their noses each week and sent the samples in for testing, which allowed federal researchers to track all infections, symptomatic or not. Two weeks after vaccination, the vast majority of vaccinated people remained virus-free, the study found. Follow-up data from clinical trials support that finding. In results released by Pfizer and BioNTech on Wednesday, for example, 77 people who received the vaccine had a coronavirus infection, compared with 850 people who got a placebo. “Clearly, some vaccinated people do get infected,” Duprex said. “We’re stopping symptoms, we’re keeping people out of hospitals. But we’re not making them completely resistant to an infection.” The number of vaccinated people who become infected is likely to be higher among those receiving vaccines made by Johnson &amp; Johnson and AstraZeneca, which have a lower efficacy, experts said. (Still, those vaccines are worth taking, because they uniformly prevent serious illness and death.) Infection rates may also be higher among people exposed to a virus variant that can sidestep the immune system. Cases across the country are once again on the upswing, threatening a new surge. Walensky’s comment came just a day after she made an emotional appeal to the American public to continue taking precautions. “I am asking you to just hold on a little longer, to get vaccinated when you can, so that all of those people that we all love will still be here when this pandemic ends,” she said. Given the rising numbers, it’s especially important that immunized people continue to protect those who have not yet been immunized against the virus, experts said. “Vaccinated people should not be throwing away their masks at this point,” Moore said. “This pandemic is not over.”

Can vaccinated people spread the virus? We don’t know, scientists say

British regulators have identified 30 cases of rare blood clot events after the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has also said that it had received no such reports of clotting events following the use of the vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech.

British regulators identifies 30 blood clot cases after use of AstraZeneca jab

British regulators said they had identified 30 cases of rare blood clot events after the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, 25 more than the agency previously reported.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on Thursday said it had received no such reports of clotting events following use of the vaccine made by BioNTech SE and Pfizer Inc.

On March 18, the UK medicines regulator said that there had been five cases of a rare brain blood clot among 11 million administered shots.

On Thursday, it put the count at 22 reports of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, an extremely rare brain clotting ailment, and 8 reports of other clotting events associated with low blood platelets out of a total of 18.1 million doses given.

The health officials said they, however, still believed the benefits of the vaccine in the prevention of COVID-19 far outweigh any possible risk of blood clots.

Some countries are restricting use of the AstraZeneca vaccine while others have resumed inoculations, as investigations into reports of rare, and sometimes severe, blood clots continue.

British regulators said they had identified 30 cases of rare blood clot events after the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, 25 more than the agency previously reported.

British regulators said they had identified 30 cases of rare blood clot events after the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, 25 more than the agency previously reported. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on Thursday said it had received no such reports of clotting events following use of the vaccine made by BioNTech SE and Pfizer Inc. On March 18, the UK medicines regulator said that there had been five cases of a rare brain blood clot among 11 million administered shots. On Thursday, it put the count at 22 reports of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, an extremely rare brain clotting ailment, and 8 reports of other clotting events associated with low blood platelets out of a total of 18.1 million doses given. The health officials said they, however, still believed the benefits of the vaccine in the prevention of COVID-19 far outweigh any possible risk of blood clots. Some countries are restricting use of the AstraZeneca vaccine while others have resumed inoculations, as investigations into reports of rare, and sometimes severe, blood clots continue.

Thirty blood clot cases found after use of AstraZeneca vaccine, UK regulator says

Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac said Friday a third production line for its Covid-19 vaccine has been put into use, doubling its annual capacity of the jabs to two billion doses.

Its CoronaVac is one of four domestic vaccines given conditional approval by Chinese authorities, which helps rush emergency drugs to market.

On Wednesday, experts from the World Health Organization said an interim analysis of clinical trial data from two Chinese vaccines, including Sinovac's product, showed they demonstrated "safety and good efficacy", although more data is still needed.

"Over 200 million doses of&nbsp;CoronaVac&nbsp;have been&nbsp;delivered to over 20 countries,&nbsp;including China," said Sinovac in its latest statement.

Although Sinovac's jab has been approved by domestic regulators, it has yet to receive authorisation by what the WHO considers "a stringent regulatory authority", noted the UN health agency's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).

Sinovac is among Chinese firms to have submitted data in applications for the WHO's emergency use listing, which opens the door for the jabs to join the global Covax programme, which aims to ensure equitable access to Covid-19 vaccinations.

Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac said Friday a third production line for its Covid-19 vaccine has been put into use, doubling its annual capacity of the jabs to two billion doses.

Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac said Friday a third production line for its Covid-19 vaccine has been put into use, doubling its annual capacity of the jabs to two billion doses. Its CoronaVac is one of four domestic vaccines given conditional approval by Chinese authorities, which helps rush emergency drugs to market. On Wednesday, experts from the World Health Organization said an interim analysis of clinical trial data from two Chinese vaccines, including Sinovac's product, showed they demonstrated "safety and good efficacy", although more data is still needed. "Over 200 million doses of CoronaVac have been delivered to over 20 countries, including China," said Sinovac in its latest statement. Although Sinovac's jab has been approved by domestic regulators, it has yet to receive authorisation by what the WHO considers "a stringent regulatory authority", noted the UN health agency's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE). Sinovac is among Chinese firms to have submitted data in applications for the WHO's emergency use listing, which opens the door for the jabs to join the global Covax programme, which aims to ensure equitable access to Covid-19 vaccinations.

China vaccine maker Sinovac doubles production capacity

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), probing links between the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine and blood clots, have again found no specific risk factors, including age. They are, however, investigating further.

The EU's drug regulator on Wednesday said however that its safety committee expected to issue an "updated recommendation" on the controversial vaccine after its monthly meeting next week.

"At present the review has not identified any specific risk factors, such as age, gender or a previous medical history of clotting disorders, for these very rare events," the Amsterdam-based EMA said in a statement. "A causal link with the vaccine is not proven, but is possible and further analysis is continuing."

The EMA statement came after experts met on Monday to discuss their latest findings on the AstraZeneca vaccine. Their comments will be discussed at the safety committee's meeting next week.

The watchdog reiterated the view it gave in a keenly-anticipated statement on March 18, saying "its benefits in protecting people from Covid-19 with the associated risks of death and hospitalisation outweigh the possible risks."

Germany on Tuesday became the latest in a series of countries to advise against using the AstraZeneca jab for younger people after rare reports of clotting, despite the EMA saying it is safe.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-halts-use-of-astrazeneca-vaccine-for-elderly-amid-reports-of-rare-disorder-374381">Also read |&nbsp;Germany halts use of AstraZeneca vaccine for elderly amid reports of rare disorder</a>

EMA's chief, Emer Cooke, and the head of the agency's pharmacovigilance and epidemiology department, Peter Arlett, told an online news conference of the cases detected of the rare clotting -- cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) -- following AstraZeneca vaccine injections. They said there were 62 cases of CVST worldwide, with 44 of them in the European Economic Area (EEA) comprising the European Union and associated states Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The figures they gave were from 9.2 million AstraZeneca jabs in the EEA region.

Cooke said that, while "at this stage of our investigations the link is possible" between rare CVST cases and the AstraZeneca vaccine, more evaluation was needed.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), probing links between the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine and blood clots, have again found no specific risk factors, including age.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), probing links between the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine and blood clots, have again found no specific risk factors, including age. They are, however, investigating further. The EU's drug regulator on Wednesday said however that its safety committee expected to issue an "updated recommendation" on the controversial vaccine after its monthly meeting next week. "At present the review has not identified any specific risk factors, such as age, gender or a previous medical history of clotting disorders, for these very rare events," the Amsterdam-based EMA said in a statement. "A causal link with the vaccine is not proven, but is possible and further analysis is continuing." The EMA statement came after experts met on Monday to discuss their latest findings on the AstraZeneca vaccine. Their comments will be discussed at the safety committee's meeting next week. The watchdog reiterated the view it gave in a keenly-anticipated statement on March 18, saying "its benefits in protecting people from Covid-19 with the associated risks of death and hospitalisation outweigh the possible risks." Germany on Tuesday became the latest in a series of countries to advise against using the AstraZeneca jab for younger people after rare reports of clotting, despite the EMA saying it is safe. Also read | Germany halts use of AstraZeneca vaccine for elderly amid reports of rare disorder EMA's chief, Emer Cooke, and the head of the agency's pharmacovigilance and epidemiology department, Peter Arlett, told an online news conference of the cases detected of the rare clotting -- cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) -- following AstraZeneca vaccine injections. They said there were 62 cases of CVST worldwide, with 44 of them in the European Economic Area (EEA) comprising the European Union and associated states Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The figures they gave were from 9.2 million AstraZeneca jabs in the EEA region. Cooke said that, while "at this stage of our investigations the link is possible" between rare CVST cases and the AstraZeneca vaccine, more evaluation was needed.

EU medical agency again backs AstraZeneca Covid vaccine

The Canadian province of Ontario will return to a lockdown on Saturday, widening restrictions on stores, gyms, restaurants and hair salons for 28 days in an effort to get Covid-19 under control.

According to CBC News,&nbsp;the restrictions would not be as tight as the province-wide lockdown that was imposed in December.

Some regions, including the city of Toronto, are already operating under similar rules.

Canada has recorded more than 982,000 cases of coronavirus as of Wednesday, with nearly 23,000 deaths.

Ontario added 2,333 new cases of Covid-19 on March 30, bringing its total case count to 349,903, according to Public Health Ontario. More than 17,000 residents have been hospitalised because of the disease, and 7,366 have died from it.

The number of patients in intensive care also rose to 421 on Wednesday, equaling the peak reached in January, according to Radio-Canada.

Essential services will remain open with capacity limited to 50 per cent, while non-essential shops will be reduced to 25 per cent.

Gyms and hairdressers will also be closed, although schools are expected to remain open until the week beginning April 12.

Ontario joins a growing number of locations, including France and Italy, that are returning to strict limits on social interactions in an effort to slow the latest surge of the virus.

The Canadian province of Ontario will return to a lockdown on Saturday, widening restrictions on stores, gyms, restaurants and hair salons for 28 days in an effort to get Covid-19 under control.

The Canadian province of Ontario will return to a lockdown on Saturday, widening restrictions on stores, gyms, restaurants and hair salons for 28 days in an effort to get Covid-19 under control. According to CBC News, the restrictions would not be as tight as the province-wide lockdown that was imposed in December. Some regions, including the city of Toronto, are already operating under similar rules. Canada has recorded more than 982,000 cases of coronavirus as of Wednesday, with nearly 23,000 deaths. Ontario added 2,333 new cases of Covid-19 on March 30, bringing its total case count to 349,903, according to Public Health Ontario. More than 17,000 residents have been hospitalised because of the disease, and 7,366 have died from it. The number of patients in intensive care also rose to 421 on Wednesday, equaling the peak reached in January, according to Radio-Canada. Essential services will remain open with capacity limited to 50 per cent, while non-essential shops will be reduced to 25 per cent. Gyms and hairdressers will also be closed, although schools are expected to remain open until the week beginning April 12. Ontario joins a growing number of locations, including France and Italy, that are returning to strict limits on social interactions in an effort to slow the latest surge of the virus.

Canada's Ontario returns to lockdown to slow coronavirus, report says

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