Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

[vijayk]

So true

[srai]

US will share 80mn spare Covid vaccines

[Rudradev]

This article makes the most detailed, comprehensive, and dispassionate case I have seen for this argument. It shows how growing scientific evidence points inescapably to the conclusion that COVID19 `came out of a Chinese laboratory, not from any "wet market" or wild bats.

And, far from being a "right-wing conspiracy" source, it is from the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists: the home page of the nuclear non-proliferation mullahs.

Share widely.

https://thebulletin.org/2021/05/the-ori ... -at-wuhan/

[uddu]

^^^Not only that. They have released variants that are deadly in between the pandemic when the situation stabilized. Started with the elderly, then the adults and now the third wave which the so called opposition is talking about is the Singapore variant. Most probably released in Singapore by the CCP and taken to India through some means. Either through an infected individual or infecting someone who is supposed to travel to India from Singapore. Two objective of this could be to weaken India and also get a regime change done showcasing the inability of the govt to control the pandemic and with full support from the heads of BIF's. Each variant released deadlier than the other. This indeed is Biological warfare.

[Kakkaji]

Can somebody please help me understand if these global tenders for Vaccines issued by some of the states, will get them Vaccines at a cheaper price from Foreign Vaccine suppliers than what SII & BB are already offering them (i.e. INR 400 per dose for Covishield and INR 600 per dose for Covaxin) ?

Actually the above prices were reduced under pressure by the GoI.

The current price for the states is Rs 300/dose for Covishield, and Rs 400/dose for Covaxin.

In comparison, the imported Russian Sputnik V has been priced at Rs 1,000/dose for everyone including private and Government.

I don't think any imported vaccine can beat the Covishield and Covaxin on price, except perhaps the Chinese ones.

These global tenders by the Indian states and cities are a sham, and only for showing to their public that they are doing something to increase the supply of vaccines for them.

The vaccine import route was allowed mainly with the private hospitals in India in mind, as they have the clientale to whom they can charge a higher price per dose. Their clientale is willing to pay that higher price, to get out and ahead of the Government-supply queue.

I think Phase 3 policy was well thought out by the GoI and, coupled with the steps to increase production in India, will start moving the 3 vaccination queues (the GoI queue, the State Government queue, and the private hospital queue) much faster in the next couple of months. It is a matter of holding on till then for India.

[rsingh]

^^^^^
So any bids? Nope

[Kakkaji]

^^^^^
So any bids? Nope

I don't think there will be any bids, except possibly from Sinopharm.

All that these state and city governments need to do is call up SII and BB, place their orders at the already publicly-declared price for states, and ask for delivery schedules. They can then plan their vaccinations accordingly.

[Kakkaji]

Never exported vaccines at the cost of people in India, says Adar Poonawalla

Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla in a media statement today, laid to rest all apprehensions regarding government's vaccine export policy- thereby laying down the basic premise behind SII's vaccine distribution policy, both domestically and abroad. The firm has "never exported vaccines at the cost of the people of India". "India's vaccination drive cannot be completed in two or three months given the huge population," said Poonawalla.

He also pointed out the circumstances in which consignments of vaccines were sent abroad and the commitments made by the government in the initial stages of the pandemic last year.

"People do not tend to realise that India is amongst the two most populous countries in the world and the vaccination drive for such a population cannot be completed in two to three months," added Poonawalla in his statement.

"Serum has delivered 200 million doses, even though we received emergency use authorisation (EUA) two months after the US pharma companies. If we look at the total doses produced and delivered we rank among the top three in the world," he added.

[chetak]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cit ... 649739.cms

[durairaaj]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cit ... 649739.cms

The quote from the virologists say 12 weeks is ideal gap between vaccine doses.
but the title says 4 weeks is ideal. Is this cognitive dissonance part of the psychological warfare from ToI.

[vijayk]

https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.c ... 20response

The new vaccine on the block: exploring Novavax’s Covid-19 results

Novavax is the fourth company to publish interim Phase III data for a Covid-19 vaccine. Importantly, this vaccine works differently to the three approved vaccines and it has proven to be efficacious against two emerging variants of Covid-19 in the UK and South Africa. Let’s take a closer look at the results and what comes next.

[Kakkaji]

COVID-19 Vaccination Update- Day 123

More than 18.57 Cr Cumulative Vaccine Doses administered so far

Over 64 lakh beneficiaries of age group 18-44 Vaccinated so far

More than 12 lakh Vaccine Doses administered today

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 18,57,66,518 as per the 8 pm provisional report today.

5,14,408 beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years received their first dose of COVID vaccine today and cumulatively 64,60,624 across 36 States/UTs since the start of Phase-3 of the vaccination drive.

As on Day-123 of the vaccination drive (18th May, 2021), total 12,79,896 vaccine doses were given. 10,96,815 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and 1,83,081 beneficiaries received 2nd dose of vaccine as per the provisional report till 8 P.M.

The daily numberws are going down, even over weekdays. Surprising because, as per the Min of Health data, the states have about 2 crore vaccines from the GoI quota for 45+ that are lying with them, and yet they are not being administered to this vulnerable population.

In the 18-44 group, Gujarat and Maharashtra have slowed down a lot over the last week (maybe due to the cyclone) whereas Bihar, Jharkhand and UP are picking up. Rajasthan is constantly doing the best in this age group (I hope they are not smuggling the vaccines to Pakis and listing them here).

[Kakkaji]

Vaccine report card: For all govt efforts, first doses far outnumber second shots in 45+ age group

Despite the Centre’s direction to the states to widen and prioritise the coverage of Covid-19 vaccines to those waiting for second doses in 45+ year age group, first doses far outnumber the second shots. The states have attributed this to the huge demand and vaccine uptake in 18-44 age group.

The ministry of health and family welfare statistics for May show that second doses have not kept pace with first shots.

[Kakkaji]

Covaxin phase II/III clinical trials for 2-18 age group to begin in 10-12 days: Govt

Bharat Biotech is set to begin the phase II and III clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin in children in the age group of 2 to 18 years in the next 10-12 days, informed VK Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog on Tuesday.

"Covaxin has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), for Phase II/III clinical trials in the age group of 2 to 18 years. I have been told that trials will begin in the next 10-12 days," Paul said during a press conference.

[Kakkaji]

Less than 2 pc population affected by COVID in India, 98 pc still vulnerable: Govt

Less than 2 per cent of the total population in India has been affected by COVID-19 so far and 98 per cent of the population is still susceptible or vulnerable to the infection, the government said on Tuesday. "Despite the high number of cases reported so far, we have been able to contain the spread to under 2 pc of population," said Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal.

[Kakkaji]

India's Biological E. to produce Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine

India's Biological E. will produce the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine alongside its own candidate, its managing director told Reuters on Tuesday, which could boost the country's overall supplies amid a shortage.

"The infrastructure and plants are completely separate for both the products and we will be producing both independent of each other," Biological E's managing director Mahima Datla said in a text message, declining to give any timeline or other details.

J&J said last month it had sought permission to conduct a local clinical trial in India for its single-dose vaccine.

Biological E., based in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, also plans to produce 75 million to 80 million doses of its own vaccine a month from August. The drug has been developed with Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and Dynavax Technologies Corp.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that India was unlikely to resume major exports of COVID-19 vaccines until at least October as it diverts shots for domestic use, a longer-than-expected delay set to worsen supply shortages from the global COVAX initiative.

[Kakkaji]

Bharat Biotech’s plant in Karnataka to produce its first batch of Covaxin next month

Bharat Biotech’s vaccine plant in Karnataka is expected to produce its first batch of Covaxin next month. The unit will churn out about 20 million doses to begin with, Karnataka’s health and medical education minister K Sudhakar told ET.

The Hyderabad-based vaccine and bio-therapeutics firm has repurposed its veterinary vaccine plant at Malur industrial area near Bengaluru to produce Covaxin.

[Kakkaji]

I think the smaller private hospitals, and the neighborhood diagnostic clinics that were administering vaccine in Phase 2 and have stopped doing so in Phase 3, need to be be brought back in the vaccination loop to increase the daily numbers. These smaller guys, who administer a few hundred doses per day, cannot afford to order out of the private supply quota at full price as the biggies like Apollo and Fortis are doing.

The state government can restart supplying them vaccines out of Central Govt supply (for age 45+), and the state's quota (for ages 18-44), allow them Rs 200 per dose as service charge (which is what Apollo is charging), and let them start vaccinating again.

[Amber G.]

Less than 2 pc population affected by COVID in India, 98 pc still vulnerable: Govt

Less than 2 per cent of the total population in India has been affected by COVID-19 so far and 98 per cent of the population is still susceptible or vulnerable to the infection, the government said on Tuesday. "Despite the high number of cases reported so far, we have been able to contain the spread to under 2 pc of population," said Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal.

Most likely ddm's reporting ... but sloppy/silly reporting and statistics .."what exactly does this 98% still susceptible" mean? about 10% of the population has at least one dose of vaccine ..not to mention sero survey etc estimates that more than 50% of the population in some areas of India’s large cities (for Dehli IIRC this value is around 56%) had already been exposed to the virus..

[Suraj]

Bharat Biotech’s plant in Karnataka to produce its first batch of Covaxin next month

Bharat Biotech’s vaccine plant in Karnataka is expected to produce its first batch of Covaxin next month. The unit will churn out about 20 million doses to begin with, Karnataka’s health and medical education minister K Sudhakar told ET.

The Hyderabad-based vaccine and bio-therapeutics firm has repurposed its veterinary vaccine plant at Malur industrial area near Bengaluru to produce Covaxin.

Great news. Thanks for adding this update.

[vijayk]

Bharat Biotech’s plant in Karnataka to produce its first batch of Covaxin next month

Bharat Biotech’s vaccine plant in Karnataka is expected to produce its first batch of Covaxin next month. The unit will churn out about 20 million doses to begin with, Karnataka’s health and medical education minister K Sudhakar told ET.

The Hyderabad-based vaccine and bio-therapeutics firm has repurposed its veterinary vaccine plant at Malur industrial area near Bengaluru to produce Covaxin.

is this in addition to the capacity we listed here in this earlier?

Referring to this

[sanjayc]

^^ This is the Bengaluru facility of BB that is expected to produce 50mn doses per month by August

[vijayk]

^^ This is the Bengaluru facility of BB that is expected to produce 50mn doses per month by August

Got it ...

Hope Center takes over the distribution of all vaccine. States are just playing games ... Just spread to every nook and corner ...

[Atmavik]

^^ This is the Bengaluru facility of BB that is expected to produce 50mn doses per month by August

Got it ...

Hope Center takes over the distribution of all vaccine. States are just playing games ... Just spread to every nook and corner ...

Vaccination rate has dropped by a million/day since states got involved, there maybe supply issues as well which should ease out by July.

Hope center takes the vaccination back. States are clueless and come up with ideas like this global tender and a separate app.

[Suraj]

It's not clear to me how well the states report data on CoWin. The policy guidelines require them to make all registrations via CoWin for tracking, but it's not clear what the situation on the ground is. Unfortunately there's no separate reporting of shipments from manufacturer, at least nothing reliable and consistent, just fragmentary statements by some people.

[V_Raman]

I think the states know that center is going to take control when supplies come up. They are posturing to pass blame so center cannot do that when taking over. IMO of course...

[IndraD]

The United States administered COVID-19 vaccinations to around 600,000 children ages 12 to 15 last week after regulators cleared Pfizer's shots for use in that age group
https://www.reuters.com/business/health ... 021-05-18/

[Sachin]

Hope Center takes over the distribution of all vaccine. States are just playing games ... Just spread to every nook and corner ...

Hope center takes the vaccination back. States are clueless and come up with ideas like this global tender and a separate app.

It's not clear to me how well the states report data on CoWin. The policy guidelines require them to make all registrations via CoWin for tracking, but it's not clear what the situation on the ground is.

. And then the state governments will ensure that Central Govt is setup to fail. Please remember; India is NOT Israel where opposition leaders stand together with the Government when nation faces a crisis. India and Indians never will be in that position, considering the past history of the country and its people. Health & Safety is primarily a state subject and every state government is to do their job. All these folks talk about "federal structure" and independence on easy tasks, or on activities where the states gets revenue.

It is not that states are clueless, in fact I would say they are at times smarter that Govt. of India. Because they have found ways to hood-wink the centre's system. GoI should only take care of protecting the more vulnerable part of the citizenry (old & poor). Every state is fudging the system and the vaccines coming from central pool is getting diverted. In KL for example even politicians who are aged 36 got the vaccinations done (and excuses made when got caught). In KA too a Congress-wallah congratulated their 'leader' in arranging vaccination for every one at a hotel. Where did those vaccines come from?

BJP's fault has been that it expects some of its well-minded schemes will be executed on the ground honestly and diligently. That will never work in India. For example; when demonetisation happened a lot of crucial work was to be done by bank officials, who the BJP govt thought would work honestly. The maximum shady deals done during that time was with full connivance of bank officials. Same will be the case when vaccination responsibilities are done by central government. It will have to rely on state govt officials for man power, and they would scuttle the schemes.

[Kati]

Latest paper on the second wave of Covid in India...

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101 ... 8.444675v1

Abstract
Spike (S) proteins of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are critical determinants of the infectivity and antigenicity of the virus. Several mutations in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 have already been detected, and their effect in immune system evasion and enhanced transmission as a cause of increased morbidity and mortality are being investigated. From pathogenic and epidemiological perspectives, spike proteins are of prime interest to researchers. This study focused on the unique variants of S proteins from six continents Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, South America, and North America. In comparison to the other five continents, Africa (29.065%) had the highest percentage of unique S proteins. Notably, only North America had 87% (14046) of the total (16143) specific S proteins available in the NCBI database (across all continents). Based on the amino acid frequency distributions in the S protein variants from all the continents, the phylogenetic relationship implies that unique S proteins from North America were significantly different from those of the other five continents. Overtime, the unique variants originating from North America are most likely to spread to the other geographic locations through international travel or naturally by emerging mutations. Hence it is suggested that restriction of international travel should be considered, and massive vaccination as an utmost measure to combat the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. It is also further suggested that the efficacy of existing vaccines and future vaccine development must be reviewed with careful scrutiny, and if needed, further re-engineered based on requirements dictated by new emerging S protein variants.

[Suraj]

Kerala issues global bid for 30 million COVID-19 vaccines, wants Rs 100 Million in deposit but no advance payment

So far, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra have issued global tenders for 151 million vaccines in all. With Kerala, the total number goes up to 181 million vaccines. Kerala’s bid document, reviewed by News18, has stipulated an earnest money deposit of Rs 100 million for each bidder but has promised no advance payment. The bid document also says that the state government will be splitting the total order into four equal purchase orders and expects each order to be supplied within 30 days.

“The payments of 50 percent of the ordered quantity will be made on receipt of documents at sight and the balance payment will be made within 30 days from the date of receipt of the item,” the bid document says.

Technical bids will open on June 5. The storage condition of the vaccine was put at 2-8 degrees Celsius.

While no specific mention has been made in the bid document regarding barring companies from neighbouring countries (like China) from applying for the bid, it has been said, “The bidder should hold all the essential permissions, licenses and compliances within India under different laws and regulations of Central Government as well as State Government.”

A rather elaborate handwaving exercise.

[Tanaji]

All these global tenders are simply smoke screens to make it appear they are doing something. A cursory analysis will show that there is zero chance of it being fulfilled, barring Sinopharm. I do not put it past some state governments to award tender to Sinopharm just to create ruckus with Centre.

[arshyam]

How NOT to implement a lockdown...

Chennai residents encounter glitches while applying online for e-pass to travel within city - TNIE

CHENNAI: Chennai residents have raised concerns over glitches when applying for the intra-district e-pass to travel within the city limits on the online portal (https://eregister.tnega.org).

R Ramaswamy, a resident of Sholinganallur, said he had been trying to get an e-pass since 6 am on Monday morning for his brother-in-law to undergo dialysis at MIOT hospital.

"We ran into several issues along the way. There was a delay in OTP generation and then the document that we had to submit as proof for emergency -- in this case a letter from the hospital -- was not being uploaded despite being in the specified format," he said.

ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu govt's restrictions on inter-district travel leave people stranded across state

"My brother-in-law's appointment was at 4 pm and finally after multiple attempts, we received confirmation by around 3-3:30 pm despite trying since morning. The process is very difficult for the common man," he added.

Varadharajan K, a 66-year-old resident of Royapettah, said that the entire process took him about three hours due to the software constantly throwing a 'Something went wrong' error.

"After I fill up all the details, upload all the documents and id proof and click on the submit button, it shows the error message," he said.

Ram Prasath N, who was looking to take his father for a medical emergency, said only one person was allowed on a bike.

"We have only a bike at home so we had to hire an auto. Not everyone can afford to do that, especially under these circumstances," he said.

Apparently, one needs a pass to move between police station limits within the same city/district, even in case of medical emergencies or mandatory treatment needs like dialysis. What an idiotic approach. The lockdown last year also required documentation and passes, but it was nowhere near this level of difficulty. Even with milder scrutiny, people were more disciplined back then. Wonder what necessitated this level of enforcement now.

[srai]

India's Covid crisis: The newsroom counting the uncounted deaths

[SRajesh]

Not sure if Coupta is re-hashing old news or really new thinking in the west.
https://i.ytimg.com/an_webp/OlO8sKRynBY ... aXXEPqxyrg
But looks like guys from US were neck deep in things going on in Wuhan lab.
slowly news trickling by of Fauci/Bill Gates etc funding the lab.
Why???
Apart from scientific quest was it for the dream of making billions from the vaccine industry!!
Now sudden divorce of Bill on some old affair with a company employee doesn't add up!!
If this true what should be our response to both Chinese and Unkil!!

[vijayk]

[Kakkaji]

Here is how the GoI is trying to clear up the misinformation being spread by some recalcitrant states about vaccine availability:

Government of India provides advance information on Vaccine Doses Supply availability till 15th June 2021 to States and UTs

States advised to prepare a district-wise, COVID Vaccination Centre (CVC) wise plan for administration of COVID vaccines in advance and publicise it

CVCs to publish calendars on CoWIN in advance to prevent overcrowding at Vaccination Centres

The Liberalised Pricing & Accelerated National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy has been implemented from 1st May 2021. As part of the Strategy, in every month 50% of the total Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) cleared vaccine doses would be procured by Govt. of India, and GOI would continue to make it available to the State Govts totally free of cost, as was being done earlier. In addition to this, every month balance 50% of the CDL cleared vaccine doses would be available for direct procurement by the State Govts & Private Hospitals.

Union Health Ministry has been providing advance information on availability of COVID vaccine doses to be supplied to the States and UTs during the two fortnights of the month, and also the amount available for direct procurement by the States from the manufacturers by the State and the private hospitals. The Prime Minister has highlighted this in his interaction with the State and District Officials on the COVID-19 situation yesterday.

Union Health Ministry has again written to the States and UTs on allocation of COVID vaccine doses (for both Covishield and Covaxin) during May 2021 and during first fortnight of June 2021 from the Govt of India channel (which is available free of cost), and availability of Vaccine doses (for both Covishield and Covaxin) that can be procured directly by States & Private Hospitals during months of May and June 2021. This advance visibility will enable better and more effective planning by the States.

According to the advance visibility provided by Govt of India to States/UTs, a total of 5 crore 86 lakh and 29 thousand doses will be provided free of cost by Govt of India to States from 1st May 2021 to 15th June 2021.

In addition, as per information received from vaccine manufacturers, a total of 4 crore, 87 lakh and 55 thousand doses will also be available till end of June 2021 for direct procurement by States/UTs.

In view of the above visibility of vaccines with clear supply timelines till June 2021, and in order to ensure efficient and judicious utilization of available doses for successful implementation of COVID-19 vaccination drive, the States/UTs have been advised the following:

To prepare a district-wise, COVID Vaccination Centre (CVC)-wise plan for administration of COVID-19 vaccine.
To use multiple media platforms for dissemination of such a plan to enhance awareness among the masses.
Both the States Govts & Private CVCs to publish their vaccination calendar on CoWIN digital platform in advance.
States & Private CVCs to desist from publishing single day vaccination calendars.
To ensure that there is no overcrowding at the CVCs.
To ensure that the process of booking appointments on CoWIN is hassle-free.
The States and UTs have been advised to direct the concerned officials to prepare advance plan for administration of COVID-19 vaccine till 15th of June 2021.

The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level.

NaMo has also started interacting directly with District Officials about Covid situation in their districts, instead of depending exclusively on the state-level officials.

The top district officials are usually from Central Services, so the Central Govt has some control over them.

[Kakkaji]

Dr. Harsh Vardhan reviews Public Health Response to COVID-19 and Progress of Vaccination with West Bengal and the 8 States of the North-East

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare today interacted with State Health Ministers and Principal Secretaries/ Additional Chief Secretaries of West Bengal and the 8 States of the North-eastern Region in the presence of Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare. These states are depicting a higher growth rate in the number of daily cases, high mortality and increasing positivity rate.

Shri Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister & Health Minister of Tripura, Shri Keshab Mahanta, Health Minister, Assam, Shri A.K Hek, Health Minister, Meghalaya, Shri LalpoklakpamJayantakumar Singh, Health Minister, Manipur, Dr R Lalthangliana, Health Minister (Mizoram), Shri AloLibang, Health Minister (Arunachal Pradesh), Shri PangnyuPhom, Health Minister (Nagaland) and Dr Mani Kumar Sharma, Health Minister (Sikkim) were present virtually in this meeting.

Looks like West Bengal officials did not attend the meeting.

[vijayk]

[Kakkaji]

As daily cases decline, vacant beds count increase at hospitals in Delhi

Amid a steady fall in daily cases of COVID-19 in the national capital, the number of vacant beds has again started to go up at hospitals, offering some relief to coronavirus patients and their families. According to Delhi corona app, till about 11 am on Wednesday, 13,791 beds were available, out of the total 27,726 beds across the facilities, government or private-run.

About a few weeks ago, in the middle of the worst phase of the second wave of the pandemic, there was a massive shortage of beds with oxygen supply, and ICU beds and ICU beds with ventilators, with cases spiralling up to as high as over 28,000 on April 20, with a huge number of fatalities recorded every day.

On Wednesday, as per the corona app, 11,429 beds with oxygen supply were vacant and 1,246 ICU beds were available till about 11 am for COVID patients.

[chetak]

Very interesting analysis Q1 2021 filings of the vaccine majors from Anand Sridharan.

Makers Keepers: What can we learn from listed vaccine makers

https://buggyhuman.substack.com/p/maker ... n-we-learn

via@oommen