Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 14 Mar 2021 02:08

I think mass vaccination drives, particularly in states with rising case counts, are a very good idea. I also think that the general population should be permitted, with special hours or priority dedicated to the high risk group. However, I don't know if there's a one size fits all approach here. In the US, stores had 8-9am special shopping hours for the aged and high risk group, for example.

Phase 1 arguably took a little long, but I can see why they needed that - the HCWs vaccinated then are now handling vaccinations. It needed to be done in a clean manner to avoid the HCWs themselves being a source of transmission. Phase 2 does not need to be 45 days long like Phase 1 was. Beginning of or mid April seems like a good time to open up to everybody.

Production data from official sources:
India Can Produce 70-100 Million Covishield Doses/month; 150 Million Covaxin Doses/year

Could the docs here comment as to whether by their design, Covaxin or Covishield is likely to be more robust against variants? Is there such a thing in general or does it depend on trials to establish ? If Covaxin is a better 'allrounder' it's probably worth It to scale up its production dramatically .

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 14 Mar 2021 02:33

IMO the next step should be to open it up to those 50 plus. Going by the average life expectancy number, a 50 year old in India is liable to be in as poor of a condition as a 60 year old in the USA. Not a perfect comparison of course, but hopefully this can be a data based decision based on the distribution of hospitalizations seen so far.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 14 Mar 2021 02:44

Suraj wrote:Could the docs here comment as to whether by their design, Covaxin or Covishield is likely to be more robust against variants? Is there such a thing in general or does it depend on trials to establish ? If Covaxin is a better 'allrounder' it's probably worth It to scale up its production dramatically .

No offense, but would they know better than the molecular biologists on this forum?

From what little I know, Covaxin efficacy comes from several strains of the inactivated covid-19 virus. Covishileld efficacy comes from the adenovirus. The latter can be modified to be more effective on variants.

Here is a link from the BBC (TIFWIW but still informative for a first start):
Covishield and Covaxin: What we know about India's Covid-19 vaccines

sanjaykumar · Post by **sanjaykumar** » 14 Mar 2021 04:23

It is difficult to answer this question without more information.

What is the mRNA sequence, what is the oligopeptide length, that is what is its secondary and tertiary structure? What is the epitope structure of the antibody binding site?

XRay crystallography of antibody and receptor protein as well as the mutated sequences would be nice.

If the recent claim of AI based prediction of protein structure is true, that would be very useful.

Potentially the Indian swadeshi vaccine may be superior. Simply because it presents a greater number of targets for the immune system, both antibody and cell mediated.

At the present level of the art, clinical trials would be essential.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 14 Mar 2021 06:23

one gathers that the UK has mixed vaccines in the first/second dose schedules.

they are both dumb and crazy. The brexit mule kick to the head must have made them all woozy

The second dose was covisheild and the first dose was, IIRC, moderna and both are very different types.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 14 Mar 2021 08:09

Thanks for he helpful response, sanjaykumar .

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 14 Mar 2021 09:39

Novavax has claimed 89.3% efficacy.

They have an agreement with Serum Institute for manufacturing 1.1 billion doses

In addition, there is an agreement with Johnson and Johnson, which might be better for Indian conditions (single dose, so you dont need to track people for a second dose)

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 14 Mar 2021 09:45

Price might still be a barrier for J&J, even with single dose regimen. Covaxin has a nasal spray variant under Phase 1-2 trials now. If it clears phase 3 then it would be quite the game changer.

India, China, SA all combined to push a case at WTO for relaxing IP rights on COVID vaccines but the western bloc were against it. It’s best to leverage our substantial production resources to make our own IP as a result.

Saturday full day figure was 1.52 million . Cumulatively 29.7 million.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 14 Mar 2021 22:22

Ireland suspends the use of the Oxford vaccine. Is it possible they've been paid off like J&J in South Africa or by Pfizer?

Covid-19: Ireland suspends use of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 14 Mar 2021 22:42

White House rejects requests to send millions of AstraZeneca doses awaiting approval overseas

This is absolutely shameful of the US administration not to send 300 million doses of vaccines for those countries who need it via the COVAX program. The US has vaccinated nearly 1/3 of its population.

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 14 Mar 2021 23:01

Interesting tweet regarding the blood clots:

https://mobile.twitter.com/coronavirusg ... 61088?s=21

Essentially both Pfizer and AZ have the same level of cases and is within normal boundaries

sanjaykumar · Post by **sanjaykumar** » 15 Mar 2021 02:09

The only thing surprising is that euro gor’mints would not have known this. There is something deeper.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 15 Mar 2021 02:39

Covaxin shows effectiveness against Brazil, SA strains, initial findings show

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 15 Mar 2021 03:03

Mort Walker wrote:White House rejects requests to send millions of AstraZeneca doses awaiting approval overseas

This is absolutely shameful of the US administration not to send 300 million doses of vaccines for those countries who need it via the COVAX program. The US has vaccinated nearly 1/3 of its population.

This is just common sense. Not much different than the pre-flight advice to secure your own oxygen mask before turning to help other passengers.

Indians must question the government as to why vaccines are being exported while the vaccination program is being implemented at a snail's pace. I wonder if the recent "democracy & human rights" news cycle hasn't been created to guilt trip the Indian government into exporting vaccines before its own citizens are vaccinated.

Zynda · Post by **Zynda** » 15 Mar 2021 03:11

Take this FWIW...some one told me few weeks back that some logistical issues remained in the distribution channels...meaning lots of vaccines were either sitting at the production facility or at a centralized warehouse but distribution channels did not have enough capacity to make all or most of them vaccines reach various vaccination centers.

I guess instead of letting them vaccines sit there and to clear stocks, GoI thought why not export vaccines and get back some moolah at the same time build up some diplomatic capital as well. Not sure how much of the above was reality but I reckon GoI did not go on an export spree just out of goodwill.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 15 Mar 2021 03:35

vera_k wrote:
Mort Walker wrote:White House rejects requests to send millions of AstraZeneca doses awaiting approval overseas

This is absolutely shameful of the US administration not to send 300 million doses of vaccines for those countries who need it via the COVAX program. The US has vaccinated nearly 1/3 of its population.
This is just common sense. Not much different than the pre-flight advice to secure your own oxygen mask before turning to help other passengers.

Indians must question the government as to why vaccines are being exported while the vaccination program is being implemented at a snail's pace. I wonder if the recent "democracy & human rights" news cycle hasn't been created to guilt trip the Indian government into exporting vaccines before its own citizens are vaccinated.

It would make sense if the vaccine is approved and if there are no other sources. There is NO shortage of vaccine in the US, there never was, and I'll say it again - 1/3 of the US population have been vaccinated.

India does not have either the infection rates or the death rates per million compared to the west. India is vaccinating nearly 2 million/day during the work week and is doing very well by ramping up vaccinations in less than 2 months. I don't think any other country has ramped up as fast.

nam · Post by **nam** » 15 Mar 2021 03:42

Let's laid down this "india is more bothered about exports" nonsense once in for all.

SII alone (conservative) can produce 40-50M doses per month from Jan onwards. They had 50M by end of Dec. In 2 months another 100M.

So by Feb end, there would be around 150M doses. India has used around 30M and 45M of them were exported. That's only 50% of SII production till feb end.

India has not even used up the FIRST lot of 45M which it received from SII in Jan! Add BB to this lot and the fact that SII will now have around 70M per month production. We don't have a shortage of vaccine, nor are we prioritizing exports.

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 15 Mar 2021 04:17

Mort Walker wrote:There is NO shortage of vaccine in the US, there never was, and I'll say it again - 1/3 of the US population have been vaccinated.

Claims that there is no shortage of vaccines in the US are not valid when vaccination is restricted to the over-65 set. And this when no one knows how long immunity lasts and when the next round of vaccinations will be required.

This is where vaccinations stand in India. Note that India is not the country with the highest vaccination level per-capita in South Asia.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 15 Mar 2021 04:43

vera_k wrote:
Claims that there is no shortage of vaccines in the US are not valid when vaccination is restricted to the over-65 set. And this when no one knows how long immunity lasts and when the next round of vaccinations will be required.

This is where vaccinations stand in India. Note that India is not the country with the highest vaccination level per-capita in South Asia.

Wrong. The US is allowing vaccinations for comorbidities. Many states are in phases where they will allow 16-18 year old kids to get the Pfizer vaccine.

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 15 Mar 2021 04:49

So why are schools and colleges closed because most teachers and students aren't vaccinated?

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 15 Mar 2021 04:52

vera_k wrote:So why are schools and colleges closed because most teachers and students aren't vaccinated?

Teachers and high school students are being vaccinated and schools/colleges will open in the fall semester. This semester, in some states, they will open in April. Standardized exams such as the SAT and AP exams in person are going to happen in this semester.

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 15 Mar 2021 04:57

I don't know where the statement of no shortage of vaccine in the US comes from. Just last week the president provided a date of May 1 to have all adults be eligible to be vaccinated. Clearly not the case today.

Biden directs all states to make all adults eligible for COVID-19 vaccine by May 1

The president officially announced that he will be directing all states and territories to make all adults eligible no later than May 1.

"That doesn't mean everyone's going to have that shot immediately, but it means you'll be able to get in line" on May 1, the president said.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 15 Mar 2021 05:04

Talk to US pharmacists and large vaccinator pod organizers. By next month anyone who wants a vaccine can get it. The May 1st date is political posturing like masks in federal buildings when the GSA already made the mask mandate clear in all federal buildings on 20 Feb 2020.

Talked to some people who got vaccinated this last week with J&J at Walmart. You get your shot and then go shopping for your guns and ammo, and if you feel funny, come back to vax center near the pharmacy. Otherwise check out and head to the range.

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 15 Mar 2021 07:51

Well, next month is 2 weeks away, so I sincerely hope this is true.

sivab · Post by **sivab** » 15 Mar 2021 08:19

Mort Walker wrote: 1/3 of the US population have been vaccinated.

Don't make up your own stats. All vaccinations in US are reported to & recorded by CDC.

Here is the official data:
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations

A total of 107M doses have been administered till March 14. That includes second dose as well. Only 11% of US population has been fully vaccinated with both doses, 21% of US population have received at least one dose. Only 35% of >65 have been fully vaccinated and 63.4% of >65 have received at least one dose. Single dose J&J is very recent and doesn't have much impact so far.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 15 Mar 2021 09:53

% of Population ≥ 18 Years of Age At Least One Dose 27%

Given that CDC is getting their data from states about 24-48 hours later, it probably is nearly 1/3. J&J has been given all this week and has accounted for the jump of over 4.5 million doses/day.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 15 Mar 2021 10:01

vera_k wrote:Well, next month is 2 weeks away, so I sincerely hope this is true.

My youngest son is 16+. US state and CDC guidelines recommends the Pfizer vaccine. He is in the state portal, but I have to drive 3 hours to get him vaccinated in a rural county. My other children are and will be vaccinated by their university in the coming 1-2 weeks. Speaking to pharmacists, they said wait until next week. The J&J vaccine is beginning to shoot daily vaccinations numbers up significantly.

On a side note, the remote learning for my son has been a horrible experience. He takes a couple of classes at his high school alternate days and then works on one subject once a week for 14 hours and finishes the course work for the week. Much like adults would handle work tasks. The school district considers him absent for the subject if he doesn't log in once a day for each of his subjects.

sudeepj · Post by **sudeepj** » 15 Mar 2021 11:16

vera_k wrote:
Mort Walker wrote:White House rejects requests to send millions of AstraZeneca doses awaiting approval overseas

This is absolutely shameful of the US administration not to send 300 million doses of vaccines for those countries who need it via the COVAX program. The US has vaccinated nearly 1/3 of its population.
This is just common sense. Not much different than the pre-flight advice to secure your own oxygen mask before turning to help other passengers.

Indians must question the government as to why vaccines are being exported while the vaccination program is being implemented at a snail's pace. I wonder if the recent "democracy & human rights" news cycle hasn't been created to guilt trip the Indian government into exporting vaccines before its own citizens are vaccinated.

More than the govt. its the media and the opposition parties which hyped up deaths and the odd anaphylaxis to the vaccine and led to vaccine hesitancy, something that has never been seen in India earlier! We must try to ramp up the vaccinations faster. Perhaps even open up the vaccines for everyone over 40 or 35, if not enough 60 year olds are turning up.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 15 Mar 2021 12:12

sudeepj wrote:
vera_k wrote:
This is just common sense. Not much different than the pre-flight advice to secure your own oxygen mask before turning to help other passengers.

Indians must question the government as to why vaccines are being exported while the vaccination program is being implemented at a snail's pace. I wonder if the recent "democracy & human rights" news cycle hasn't been created to guilt trip the Indian government into exporting vaccines before its own citizens are vaccinated.
More than the govt. its the media and the opposition parties which hyped up deaths and the odd anaphylaxis to the vaccine and led to vaccine hesitancy, something that has never been seen in India earlier! We must try to ramp up the vaccinations faster. Perhaps even open up the vaccines for everyone over 40 or 35, if not enough 60 year olds are turning up.

I don't which world you guys live in, but the whole thing is gamed on this basis

1) USA under Democrats have defeated the virus before the US Holiday season in July- AUg-21

2) Then Europe will declare victory

3) Then the rest of the world.

So you will see this broad pattern being followed, you get money forcefully through a few means , like debt, like high Medical bills. Some of the ways the Global Elite protect their Privilege's of leading easy life with lot of Holidays. So whole world unfortunately will now have to take series of vaccines for next few coming years whenever eligible.

Zynda · Post by **Zynda** » 15 Mar 2021 12:25

Good news about Covaxin which is showing effectiveness against SA & Brazil strains as well. I really do hope that GoI considers opening vaccination to working age groups as well by April beginning or mid by the latest. Cases are rising at an alarming levels...at least in BLR, time to revert to online classes for schools, colleges & Univs...it seems like Namma Metro is getting crowded again & much of the crowd is due to student travellers...so moving online will benefit in multiple ways...

Raja · Post by **Raja** » 15 Mar 2021 17:58

People are getting turned back in Pune because the hospitals have not received enough vaccinations. Apparently, the govt. communication (state govt.?) was to use only covaxin for people coming for their first dose. Not sure what is going on but sounds like a mess.

prahaar · Post by **prahaar** » 15 Mar 2021 18:02

I got feedback that due to the easy availability there is no need for appointment but walk-ins are convenient (in Pune). I wonder if the situation is ward or region dependent.

sajo · Post by **sajo** » 15 Mar 2021 19:19

Raja wrote:People are getting turned back in Pune because the hospitals have not received enough vaccinations. Apparently, the govt. communication (state govt.?) was to use only covaxin for people coming for their first dose. Not sure what is going on but sounds like a mess.

From first hand feedback, almost no vaccination has happened in Pune since Saturday. Maybe a skeletal ~10% or so is happening, but today morning when I had called hospitals around here were actively asking people to come back only on Wednesday. This is true for both government and private hospitals.
The issue seems to be with replenishment or rather entering the replenishment info in the system. Maybe beneficiary numbers are not adding up with respect to the replenishment number, which is getting flagged before more supplies are sent to be squandered (?) away. The truth will probably never be known.

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 15 Mar 2021 20:08

Aditya_V wrote: I don't which world you guys live in, but the whole thing is gamed on this basis

1) USA under Democrats have defeated the virus before the US Holiday season in July- AUg-21

2) Then Europe will declare victory

3) Then the rest of the world.

So you will see this broad pattern being followed, you get money forcefully through a few means , like debt, like high Medical bills. Some of the ways the Global Elite protect their Privilege's of leading easy life with lot of Holidays. So whole world unfortunately will now have to take series of vaccines for next few coming years whenever eligible.

Happy to point out why your conspiracy theory is just that a conspiracy theory, but it's not for this thread.

Dumal · Post by **Dumal** » 15 Mar 2021 20:20

Got Covaxin today in Chennai at Omandurar Hospital Med College. None of the private hospitals or the smaller Corporation Health centers had Covaxin. They only have Covishield. Only the larger GH's have the option for getting Covaxin in Chennai, apparently. The process was quite straightforward and easy but I thought the numbers they were handling was quite underwhelming. Would probably do about 200 a day for Covaxin and maybe a similar number for the Covishield at this place.

Zynda · Post by **Zynda** » 15 Mar 2021 21:14

I think the max numbers they are permitted to do in this phase is 200...100 via appointments & 100 walk-ins. Even the parliamentary committee today has commented about slow pace of vaccination...

sampat · Post by **sampat** » 15 Mar 2021 21:52

Germany to halt AstraZeneca vaccinations: Health Ministry]Germany to halt AstraZeneca vaccinations: Health Ministry

57 year old man got vaccinated , got hight fever at night and passed away next morning. this is not mentioned in above link but was reported in local newspaper in another country.

sanjaykumar · Post by **sanjaykumar** » 15 Mar 2021 23:13

But 40 million didn’t.

Uttam · Post by **Uttam** » 15 Mar 2021 23:55

18,63,623 vaccine doses were given till 7 pm today

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 16 Mar 2021 00:38

sanjaykumar wrote:But 40 million didn’t.

Exactly right. It appears there is real dishonesty in the major developed economies about the vaccine, particularly in the EU and US. Even the Chinese and Russians may be spreading FUD. I think they sense that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine being a adenovirus vector vaccine coupled with the fact that SII can crank out 70-100 million doses per month will kill the revenue of BionTech, Pfizer, Moderna and even J&J. It is between Dec. 2020 to Jun. 2021 that the most lucrative contracts can be made with various governments to buy vaccines at $20-$30/injection. At $4 or $5/injection is a most significant loss of revenue.

Without the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, the US is vaccinating over 4 million/day, but still sitting on a stock of 300 million doses for countries that need it. The EU is playing games with bans. The UK has its intellectual property integrity as their prestige and will support SII.