Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

The Strategic Issues & International Relations Forum is a venue to discuss issues pertaining to India's security environment, her strategic outlook on global affairs and as well as the effect of international relations in the Indian Subcontinent. We request members to kindly stay within the mandate of this forum and keep their exchanges of views, on a civilised level, however vehemently any disagreement may be felt. All feedback regarding forum usage may be sent to the moderators using the Feedback Form or by clicking the Report Post Icon in any objectionable post for proper action. Please note that the views expressed by the Members and Moderators on these discussion boards are that of the individuals only and do not reflect the official policy or view of the Bharat-Rakshak.com Website. Copyright Violation is strictly prohibited and may result in revocation of your posting rights - please read the FAQ for full details. Users must also abide by the Forum Guidelines at all times.
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

Here is (only) randomized trial of a booster vaccine data (Pfizer) from today: https://cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/ ... ez-508.pdf

- 95% efficacy vs symptomatic infections, consistent across all age, sex, race, ethnicity and comorbid condition subgroups.
- Benefit seen very early.

Image

***
Very concerned for USA (5th wave is going exponential)
—122,000 new cases today, 7-day avg now >92,000
—Added ~900 hospitalization, pushing ->50,000
—And over 1,900 deaths

Image
PLEASE get vaccination (including booster) as soon as you or children etc .. are eligible. CDC is now urging it.
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

Suraj
Forum Moderator
Posts: 15043
Joined: 20 Jan 2002 12:31

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Suraj »

Zynda wrote:Amber.G, thanks for your replies...sorry for late posting.

This could be hearsay but I've heard that especially in rural areas, people who took their 1st dose and got more side effects are now hesitant to go for their 2nd one.
So what purpose is served by bringing hearsay here ? Literally ALL misinformation on vaccination is hearsay. You have no way of validating the claim you're making because... it's hearsay.

If you're going to make a claim about hesitancy, please work on digging up the data, post that and prove the claim. Otherwise don't make the same mistake the antivaxxers are.

Most of your earlier post will be deleted, because someone elsewhere will quote hearsay saying 'I heard this on BRF...'
Zynda
BRF Oldie
Posts: 2309
Joined: 07 Jan 2006 00:37
Location: J4

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Zynda »

^^Removed the non-verified content by myself in my earlier post.
Mort Walker
BRF Oldie
Posts: 10035
Joined: 31 May 2004 11:31
Location: The rings around Uranus.

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Mort Walker »

NEWS ALERT
U.S. Covid-19 Deaths in 2021 Surpass 2020

The number of U.S. Covid-19 deaths recorded in 2021 has surpassed the toll in 2020, according to federal data and Johns Hopkins University, demonstrating the virus’s persistent menace.

The total number of reported deaths linked to the disease topped 770,780 on Saturday, Johns Hopkins data show. This puts the pandemic-long total at more than twice the 385,343 Covid-19 deaths recorded last year, according to the most recent death certificate data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

U.S. Covid-19 Deaths in 2021 Surpass 2020’s
Pandemic continues to exact huge toll despite vaccines as Delta variant spreads


Top 10 states with the highest death rates:
CA: 73,948
TX: 73,768
FL: 61,081
NY: 57,702
PA: 32,911
GA: 30,162
IL: 29,157
NJ: 28,250
OH: 26,063
MI: 28,841

The active cases remains at 9.3M and 7-day moving average of deaths > 1000/day. This is very clearly a failure of policy. The governors of these 10 states should resign AND the US president should resign including his entire cabinet. They have failed public health. I have not seen the mathematical modeling, but going at the current rate, by end of January 2022 the US is likely to hit 1M deaths.
Mort Walker
BRF Oldie
Posts: 10035
Joined: 31 May 2004 11:31
Location: The rings around Uranus.

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Mort Walker »

Kati wrote:
saip wrote: May be so. More likely because of pent up demand that went up. Everyone suddenly woke up. I bought a business class ticket from Del - SFO - DEL on 11/8 for $2500. Today I checked it is like 5000! 100% increase in two weeks!
Factors affecting the tkt price hike:
1. Pent up demand suddenly going sky-high
2. The airlines cant find enough pilots/aircrafts in operational mode to meet the demand
3. The airlines want to make up for the lost revenue from this sudden surge in demand.

I won't be surprised if the carriers have colluded, and hence hoodwinked the US fair competition rules, to make a killing in this travel season. But it will take years for the trial lawyers to collect data and bring class action lawsuits.
Off-topic: However, for US based airlines, crews like such long routes as the pay is good on the long-haul international flights, but it could be a combination of all things previously mentioned. I was looking at UA ORD-DEL in April-May 2022 round-trip. Earlier it was less than $1100, but now is over $1300. Similarly, I found AA DFW-JFK-DEL in Feb 2022, but those are around $2200.
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

This is a nice thread about Covaxin (India's vaccine) posted by by Dr. Collins who is the Director of NIH. There are interesting comments on the thread - worth reading too.

Francis S. Collins @NIHDirector: COVAXIN, an inactivated-virus vaccine with an adjuvant discovered with #NIH support, has 77.8% efficacy against symptomatic #COVID19 and no safety concerns in a published interim analysis of a randomized, controlled trial with >25,000 adults in India.

It refers to the Lancet article: Efficacy, safety, and lot-to-lot immunogenicity of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (BBV152): interim results of a randomised, double-blind, controlled, phase 3 trial

Some comments (from international audience):
Replying to @NIHDirector
THANKS FROM ARGENTINA Flag of Argentina: BEST VACCINE COVAXIN
I've had J&J x2, I hope my next booster is Covaxin. I work in blood industry that supplies raw materials for Tetanus, Hep B, CMV, etc. I know this is best option
We separately need Covaxin in Europe <Folded hands>
Please bring it to the US ASAP! #COVAXIN should be the ...vaccines for our kids!!!!
COVAXIN is the ONLY vaccine developed in delta covid era & the ONLY vaccine with asymptomatic data as well can be kept for up to 3 months @ room temp 25°C This is KEY for logistics to remote countries & for the distribution. Pfizer & Moderna is 12 hrs MAX @ room temp.{Actually shelf life could be as much as 12 months from what I heard}
Interesting tidbits: Foreigners/visitors are eligible for Covaxin in India. In USA, Covaxin has withdraw the EUA and they have actually applied for "full" (vs Emergency) authorization - which may take longer but that's okay - and it may have market in US later (for example for children etc).
Mort Walker
BRF Oldie
Posts: 10035
Joined: 31 May 2004 11:31
Location: The rings around Uranus.

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Mort Walker »

Some 200+ million people have received COVAXIN. The sample size is one of the largest outside of the Astra Zeneca vaccine. It is very effective and Suraj has already tweeted about it.

The CDC is lying about Pfizer's efficacy and as Trump put it, the CDC and Pfizer are a revolving door.

The NIH director Dr. Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D. is a good scientist and doctor, he is also Dr. Fauci's boss. Neither president Trump or Obama had any issue with him unlike the head of the CDC or Dr. Fauci. He is resigning from the NIH at the end of the year because the Biden administration has failed at containing covid and are pushing an agenda favoring Pfizer ahead of public health. A public health disaster is around the corner for the US. Rather, president Biden, the head of NIAID Dr. Fauci, the head of the CDC Dr. Walensky, and the Surgeon General Dr. Murthy must ALL resign.
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

For perspective:
Among other things the last two years will also go down in history as one of science and medical research's greatest achievements. I was sometimes amazed at the cooperation and purpose shown by scientists in many fields..

Sharing a preliminary timeline of some key milestones in development of mRNA type vaccines to show how several years of work were compressed into months. (Credit: Dr. Topal):
Image
hanumadu
BRF Oldie
Posts: 5168
Joined: 11 Nov 2002 12:31

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by hanumadu »

If killed virus vaccines like covaxin are the best and proven without any long term side effects, why are they not being produced by other companies in India and abroad even as a backup to mRNA and AZ vaccine?

Also, the opportunity for big bucks is there considering how BB will not be able to fulfill the demand even for India let alone the rest of the world. There should have been several more companies in India producing killed virus vaccines.
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

Sharing an article about covidshield (which is not using killed viruses) - may be worth reading:
The Brilliant but Widely Loathed Scientist Behind the AstraZeneca Vaccine

(Story about Adrian Hill and Sarah Gilbert who were working on vaccines like malaria for many decades ..Historically, most vaccines used killed or weakened versions of a virus but Hill and Gilbert favored a more controversial approach—they used a chimpanzee virus to shepherd a malaria gene into the body’s cells..and used the similar techniques for Covid - anyway nicely written).
vera_k
BRF Oldie
Posts: 3989
Joined: 20 Nov 2006 13:45

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by vera_k »

hanumadu wrote:If killed virus vaccines like covaxin are the best and proven without any long term side effects, why are they not being produced by other companies in India and abroad even as a backup to mRNA and AZ vaccine?
The other types of vaccines are easier and therefore cheaper and faster to produce. To kill the virus, it first has to be grown. That takes time. Plus it has to be grown safely, which requires facilities not normally available easily.
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

Also sharing an article about development of Covaxin:
How Macaulay Putras Ridiculed Covaxin and Data Proved Them Wrong
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

The other types of vaccines are easier and therefore cheaper and faster to produce. To kill the virus, it first has to be grown. That takes time. Plus it has to be grown safely, which requires facilities not normally available easily.
FWIW - Some basics -
- When we get a vaccine, it activates our immune response. This helps our bodies learn to fight off the virus without the danger of an actual infection. If we are exposed to the virus in the future, our immune system “remembers” how to fight it.

- mRNA (The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines) use messenger RNA, or mRNA. mRNA vaccines do not contain a live virus. They give our bodies “instructions” for how to make and fight the spike-shaped proteins that will protect against a COVID-19 infection. While there have been research for such vaccines (may be fora few decades).. these vaccines use new technology,. These are *very* expensive considering all the R&D gone into it. Out on *many* two (Moderna and Pfizer) have gotten approval - extremely high efficacy -- Everyone was really surprised to see the efficacy data.
(But they are expensive - even the cold-storage needed for distribution for Pfizer makes it difficult for poor countries).

- Adenovirus vector vaccines (Covidshield (AZ), J&J Sputnik ), again use different but still quite new principle - practically the first time it is being used -- although research has been there for decades and may be a few prototypes developed. They use non-replicating viral vector vaccines, using an adenovirus shell containing DNA that encodes a SARS‑CoV‑2 protein. (Covidshield is developed by genetic encoding a virus found in Chimpanzee ..The viral vector-based vaccines against COVID‑19 are non-replicating, meaning that they do not make new virus particles, but rather produce only the antigen which elicits a systemic immune response.

- India also has DNA (wold's first) based vaccine (ZyCoV-D) - similar to mRNA.

- Covaxin is traditional vaccine.. In future other vaccines may (and will) become cheaper/easier to produce but at present this is the kind *most* of other vaccines have been produced. The speed at which it got produced is still quite remarkable (usually it takes *many* years). Normally traditional vaccines do not have very high efficacy so it is *very* remarkable that this vaccine has 70-80% efficacy.

Hope this helps -- any good book will have more details. Point is not which is "better" but to do research development on as many different promising types and we have more than one choice.
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

If killed virus vaccines like covaxin are the best and proven without any long term side effects, why are they not being produced by other companies in India and abroad even as a backup to mRNA and AZ vaccine?
Covaxin with it's US partner Ocugen is looking for market in US (and Canada). It withdrew EUA application and has applied for regular (not "emergency") approval in US which will take time. Perhaps it may compete for children -- (Traditional vaccines, which have been used for children for decades have excellent understanding and data for safety in kids - even new born).

Eg see: Covaxin approval requested in US for ages 2-18 by Bharat Biotech's partner
Mort Walker
BRF Oldie
Posts: 10035
Joined: 31 May 2004 11:31
Location: The rings around Uranus.

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Mort Walker »

From "Nature" magazine about mRNA history:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02483-w

Image

Anecdotally, speaking to some M.D. Ph.D. biochemist researchers, children under 12 getting booster doses of the mRNA vaccine, which has not been studied, is the concern about autoimmune disorders at a later age in life. An adult dose is 0.3cc and child's dose is 0.1 to 0.2cc. Note - mRNA vaccines are not approved by the ICMR.
Mollick.R
BRFite
Posts: 1033
Joined: 15 Aug 2016 10:26

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Mollick.R »

Apologies, if it has been posted here earlier.............

GOING VIRAL - MAKING OF COVAXIN: THE INSIDE STORY Paperback – 10 November 2021 by ICMR DG Balram Bhargava

Bezos shop link to buy the book..............

https://www.amazon.in/GOING-VIRAL-MAKIN ... 9355200226


Image
Mollick.R
BRFite
Posts: 1033
Joined: 15 Aug 2016 10:26

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Mollick.R »

How Monkeys were Tracked for Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 Vaccine Covaxin Trial

Updated: November 15, 2021 9:30 AM IST By PTI, Edited by Rajashree Seal

New Delhi: Twenty Rhesus macaque monkeys, used during trials of Covaxin, were found near Nagpur after they had moved deep inside the forests of Maharashtra losing their usual urban food sources because of the Covid lockdown in 2020, says a new book. In “Going Viral: Making of Covaxin – The Inside Story”, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Dr Balram Bhargava talks about the journey of India’s homegrown vaccine.

The book also touches upon the intricacies of science and challenges faced by Indian scientists during the fight against COVID-19, from the development of a robust laboratory network, diagnosis, treatment and serosurveys to new technologies and vaccines.

Bhargava says that it is important to remember that the heroes of Covaxin’s success story are not just human ones as 20 monkeys are “partly responsible for the fact that millions of us now have access to a life-saving vaccine”.

“Once we knew that the vaccine could generate antibodies in small animals, the next logical step was to test it out on larger animals such as monkeys, comparable to humans in terms of their body structure and immune systems,” he writes in the book, published by Rupa.The Rhesus macaque monkeys, used worldwide in medical research, are believed to be the best non-human primates for such studies. The ICMR-National Institute of Virology’s biosafety level 4 laboratory, the only state-of-the-art facility in India for primate studies, once again took up the challenge to carry out this critical research, Bhargava says. But there was a hurdle: where to get the monkeys from as India does not have laboratory-bred Rhesus macaques? The National Institute of Virology (NIV) researchers contacted multiple zoos and institutes all over India to find some without any luck. “Just to make things more difficult, they needed young monkeys with a good immune response, as a couple of ageing monkeys at the NIV were unsuitable,” Bhargava says.


“A dedicated team from ICMR-NIV travelled to areas of Maharashtra to identify sites for animal capture. Macaques, losing their usual urban food sources because of the lockdown, had gone deep into the forests. The Maharashtra forest department helped to track them down, scanning several square kilometres of forests for days to track the monkeys, before finally finding them near Nagpur,” he writes.

He, however, adds that protecting the experimental animals from SARS-CoV-2 before starting the preclinical studies was another challenge.

“As the animals could be infected from the humans, all the caretakers, veterinarians and other cleaning staff were screened for SARS-CoV-2 weekly, and had to follow strict prevention protocols,” he says.

Performing large animal experiments in the NIV’s high-security containment facility was the next challenge.

“To begin with, this required developing critical infrastructure (bronchoscope, X-ray machine, appropriate housing for monkeys), training the team, developing protocols, standardizing procedures like bronchoscopy in macaques and performing the necropsy,” he writes.

“There were a lot of balls in the air and we couldn’t afford to drop any. We had to plan very carefully. It was exhausting as well as tough to perform these experiments in the positive pressure suits, in the containment facility for 10-12 hours without food and water,” he says after the research.

“In the end, everything fell into place. The monkey business was accomplished, and the participants of both species who made it possible deserve more praise than we could possibly give them,” he says.



Read Full Article from Here// india.com news link..............
https://www.india.com/news/india/going- ... r-5095728/
chetak
BRF Oldie
Posts: 32289
Joined: 16 May 2008 12:00

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by chetak »

So, even the racist canucks have given in to India's covaxin


Canada to allow travellers vaccinated with Covaxin from November 30


Canada has approved the entry of travellers fully vaccinated with Bharat Biotech's Covaxin from November 30. Recently, the Canadian government said, "...three additional Covid-19 vaccines approved for use by the World Health Organisation (WHO) will be accepted for travel to and within Canada." These include Sinopharm (also referred to as Covilo), Sinovac (also referred to as Coronavac) and Covaxin.

Currently, Canada allows the entry of travellers vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson.

Introducing fresh Covid-19 vaccination guidelines, the Canadian government also said, "Starting November 30, 2021, Canadians or individuals who have right of entry, qualify as fully vaccinated travellers and who re-enter Canada within 72 hours of leaving, won’t have to provide a pre-entry molecular test result."

"This will also apply to their accompanying children under 12, regardless of whether or not the children are vaccinated," the Canadian government said in its latest advisory.

"To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, you must have received at least two doses of an accepted vaccine or a mix of two accepted vaccines, or at least one dose of the Janssen/Johnson and Johnson vaccine, at least 14 full days prior to the day you travel," it said.
saip
BRF Oldie
Posts: 4231
Joined: 17 Jan 2003 12:31
Location: USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by saip »

Looks like only Hawaii has SOME restrictions for travel. You have to register at their safe travel site & answer some questions and they will text you a unique QR Code and also apply for exemption from quarantine which you will get if you can prove you are FULLY vaccinated at least 14 days back. At SFO United checked our vaccine card and gave us a wrist band and when we landed at Honolulu we could just walk out without any delay. Hawaii seems to say either you get vaccinated or stay out of our beautiful islands. No one seems to mind (practically everyone on my flight - which was full - had those wrist bands proving they are all vaccinated).
hanumadu
BRF Oldie
Posts: 5168
Joined: 11 Nov 2002 12:31

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by hanumadu »

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 854698.cms
A clinical study of the US-based Akston Biosciences’ second generation Covid-19 vaccine candidate has kicked off in India.
The AKS-452 is a protein sub-unit vaccine, and does not contain mRNA technology, viral vectors or a weakened SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The vaccine has been engineered to use standard, low-cost, antibody manufacturing techniques such that a single production line would be capable of producing over one billion doses per year, the release said.
hanumadu
BRF Oldie
Posts: 5168
Joined: 11 Nov 2002 12:31

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by hanumadu »

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/co ... 861266.ece
Zydus completes ‘pragmatic trials’ for second vax
This has been completely out of news. Can anyone shed some gyan on this?
disha
BR Mainsite Crew
Posts: 8243
Joined: 03 Dec 2006 04:17
Location: gaganaviharin

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by disha »

Zydus had plan B. It will make it easier if they called their "attenuated recombinant measles virus-vectored vaccine, ZyCoV-MV" as "plan B in case their plan A fails" vaccine which is now into a phase where it is tested out of lab culture and on moonkeys* (politically correct term non-human primates).

The ZyCov-MV vaccine process and testing phase is a mouthful. From what I understand, it is on the lines of the AstraZeneca vaccine where the Chimp rhinovirus is used as a vector to deliver certain coronavirus proteins to elicit an immune response.

Now the measles virus itself is "attenuated" that is weakened and then genetically altered "recombinant" to express some antigens. This is an attractive approach, since one can than have multi-virus vaccine (depends upon what antigens you want to express).

Personally I see this as a great progress since, measles vaccine is a known entity and its formulation and how it gets into body and how humans respond is know. Unlike the chimp virus. Further, one can express different antigens (or basically proteins) that can lead to vaccines against cancers etc.

The holy grail will be a vaccine against TB. And Dengue, Chickenguinea and Malaria.

*Calling moonkeys as monkeys may get me in trouble with PETA.
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

hanumadu wrote:https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/co ... 861266.ece
Zydus completes ‘pragmatic trials’ for second vax
This has been completely out of news. Can anyone shed some gyan on this?
The article in the Hindu is from August 11.. Most of recent news article I see is Zydus DNA vaccines ZyCoV- D only.

FWIW: There are about 7 Vaccines approved/EUA in India - About 13 Clinical Trials .
Approved:
- Zydus Cadila (ZyCoV-D) DNA
- Moderna (mRNA-1273) - mRNA

(Non Replicating Viral Vector)
- Gamaleya ( Sputnik V) - :
- Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) (Ad26.COV2.S)
- Covidshield (Serum India AZ formula)
-Oxford/AstraZeneca (AZD1222) - Same formula as above.
- Inactivated Virus -
Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.
---
The following ones are on clinical trials but not approved in India yet (to best of my knowledge)
Novovax, and Covavax (same formula) (Covavax has been approved in at-least 2 countries)
Biological E Limited (BECOV2A, 2B, 2C, 2D - all protein subunit also).
We also have mRNA type vaccine on clinical trials - (Gennova Biopharmaceutical's HGCO19)
BB also has viral vector vaccine (BBV154 - Covaxin has been quite successful - this is their other vaccine).

There are a few more but above ones are quite well known.
(For perspective there are *many* trials and vaccine candidates on various stages in India (and other countries)
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

chetak wrote:<snip> have given in to India's covaxin


Canada to allow travellers vaccinated with Covaxin from November 30



Currently, Canada allows the entry of travellers vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson.
Earlier this year Canada has received MILLIONS of covidshied vaccines from India and these have been distributed in Canadian's arms. Covidshield name (in addition to AZ) is *explicitly* approved in Canada (one sees them in vials) and Canada has thanked India for supplying it when they needed the most... There were tweets from Canadian PM and billboards thanking GoI and Indian PM.
Image

There were many stories in Canadian in Indian papers ==Here is one story:
Canada's message after receiving vaccine doses from India
Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested a shipment of Covid-19 vaccines and PM Modi had assured his Canadian counterpart of full cooperation.
Image
Canada received 500,000 doses of coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine from India on Thursday. ..
"The AZ/CoviShield vaccine is now in Canada. The first tranche of 500,000 doses arrived this morning from Serum Institute of India with 1.5 million more doses to follow. Thank you to all whose hard work made this happen. We look forward to future collaboration"

Trudeau lauded India's tremendous pharmaceutical capacity under PM Modi's leadership and said that the country would deserve a significant amount of credit if the world conquered the pandemic.

"The two leaders agreed to work together on access to vaccines and recognised the need for continued global coordination to respond to the pandemic and to promote recovery,” Canada's Prime Minister's Office had said.

The Covishield doses were sent to Canada under India's ‘Vaccine Maitri
BTW Canada may be among the first countries to approve India's Covavax...(I already posted about Covaxin/Ocugen marketing in Canada etc..
chetak
BRF Oldie
Posts: 32289
Joined: 16 May 2008 12:00

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by chetak »

Amber G. wrote:
chetak wrote:<snip> have given in to India's covaxin


[url=https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-o ... 2021-11-22]Canada to allow travellers vaccinated with Covaxin from November 30[url]



Currently, Canada allows the entry of travellers vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson.
Earlier this year Canada has received MILLIONS of covidshied vaccines from India and these have been distributed in Canadian's arms. Covidshield name (in addition to AZ) is *explicitly* approved in Canada (one sees them in vials) and Canada has thanked India for supplying it when they needed the most... There were tweets from Canadian PM and billboards thanking GoI and Indian PM.
[img]https://images.news18.com/ibnlive/uploa ... ight=0[img]

There were many stories in Canadian in Indian papers ==Here is one story:
[url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-ne ... 29206.html]Canada's message after receiving vaccine doses from India[url]
Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested a shipment of Covid-19 vaccines and PM Modi had assured his Canadian counterpart of full cooperation.
[img]https://images.hindustantimes.com/img/2 ... 09.jpg[img]
Canada received 500,000 doses of coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine from India on Thursday. ..
"The AZ/CoviShield vaccine is now in Canada. The first tranche of 500,000 doses arrived this morning from Serum Institute of India with 1.5 million more doses to follow. Thank you to all whose hard work made this happen. We look forward to future collaboration"

Trudeau lauded India's tremendous pharmaceutical capacity under PM Modi's leadership and said that the country would deserve a significant amount of credit if the world conquered the pandemic.

"The two leaders agreed to work together on access to vaccines and recognised the need for continued global coordination to respond to the pandemic and to promote recovery,” Canada's Prime Minister's Office had said.

The Covishield doses were sent to Canada under India's ‘Vaccine Maitri
BTW Canada may be among the first countries to approve India's Covavax...(I already posted about Covaxin/Ocugen marketing in Canada etc..
Amber G ji,

By some chance, would you know where exactly keneda used/distributed these Indian made vaccines
hanumadu
BRF Oldie
Posts: 5168
Joined: 11 Nov 2002 12:31

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by hanumadu »

Zydus has developed a live, attenuated recombinant measles virus-vectored vaccine, ZyCoV-MV, which is believed to provide long-term immunity from the infection. The development is seen as significant in the backdrop of the limited-period immunity provided by most vaccines that are currently available.
The significance of the Zycov-MV seems to be it offers longer lasting immunity in contrast to the 5 or 6 months of immunity of mRNA vaccines. And 'measles virus vector' seems to be the reason behind it.
hanumadu
BRF Oldie
Posts: 5168
Joined: 11 Nov 2002 12:31

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by hanumadu »

vera_k wrote:
hanumadu wrote:If killed virus vaccines like covaxin are the best and proven without any long term side effects, why are they not being produced by other companies in India and abroad even as a backup to mRNA and AZ vaccine?
The other types of vaccines are easier and therefore cheaper and faster to produce. To kill the virus, it first has to be grown. That takes time. Plus it has to be grown safely, which requires facilities not normally available easily.
I am aware of the difficulty in scaling up killed virus vaccines. My point is since they seem to be the oldest vaccine technology, most proven, expected to be most effective against variants and with the least side effects, wouldn't it have been prudent to develop more of such vaccines for booster doses even if the initial vaccines were mRNA or covishield. If it was needed to invest more money in production facilities so be it.
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

chetak wrote:
Amber G ji,

By some chance, would you know where exactly keneda used/distributed these Indian made vaccines
I know Toronto area for certain - many of people I know (including some members of my family) who got it.. (Earlier there was vaccine shortage in Canada as Pfizer/Moderna was not fulfilling and US was not sending any of its stock - and India sent vaccines when they really needed it-- after they fast-tracked/approved covidshield in a short time.).. Pharmacies in places like Walmart had these vaccines, for example, and "covid-sheld" labels were on vials etc)
chetak
BRF Oldie
Posts: 32289
Joined: 16 May 2008 12:00

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by chetak »

Amber G. wrote:
chetak wrote:
Amber G ji,

By some chance, would you know where exactly keneda used/distributed these Indian made vaccines
I know Toronto area for certain - many of people I know (including some members of my family) who got it.. (Earlier there was vaccine shortage in Canada as Pfizer/Moderna was not fulfilling and US was not sending any of its stock - and India sent vaccines when they really needed it-- after they fast-tracked/approved covidshield in a short time.).. Pharmacies in places like Walmart had these vaccines, for example, and "covid-sheld" labels were on vials etc)
Thank you.

Much obliged
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

For the record:COVID-19 Vaccination Update - Day 312 (2021/11/23 7PM
Cumulative 1st dose administered = 770,622,080 (82% of adults)
Cumulative 2nd dose administered = 412,951,566 (44% of adults)
Total = 1,183,573,646
anishns
BRFite
Posts: 1382
Joined: 16 Dec 2007 09:43
Location: being victim onlee...

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by anishns »

Chetak & Amber G

The first batch of Covishield was initially given out to over 60 population, because they could not procure Pfizer and Moderna in significant numbers. Initially the massa vaccines were only given out to healthcare staff. Turdeau only initiated a request after one of the opposing parties MP's (conservatives) went on air and asked why the Canadian PM has not reached out PM Modi?

AFAIK that was the only batch of Covishields received from India
After that although the US did not approve the Astra-Zeneca vaccine for internal use, they still manufactured the doses and shipped to Canada & Mexico. I myself got one of the US manufactured AZ shots back in April.

Eventually, Canada started hoarding the AZ vaccines only for the elderly, who had received the first dose of AZ. Eventually in June I was offered a dose of Moderna which I took and wife got 2 Pfizer doses.

In short I don't think there was a follow up shipment of AZ(CoviShield) from India.
chetak wrote:
Amber G. wrote: I know Toronto area for certain - many of people I know (including some members of my family) who got it.. (Earlier there was vaccine shortage in Canada as Pfizer/Moderna was not fulfilling and US was not sending any of its stock - and India sent vaccines when they really needed it-- after they fast-tracked/approved covidshield in a short time.).. Pharmacies in places like Walmart had these vaccines, for example, and "covid-sheld" labels were on vials etc)
Thank you.

Much obliged
anishns
BRFite
Posts: 1382
Joined: 16 Dec 2007 09:43
Location: being victim onlee...

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by anishns »

anishns wrote:Chetak & Amber G

The first batch of Covishield from India was initially given out to over 60 population, because Turdeau could not procure Pfizer and Moderna in significant numbers. Initially the massa (mRNA) vaccines were only given out to healthcare staff. Turdeau only initiated a request to Modi, only after one of the opposing parties MP's (conservatives) went on air and asked why the Canadian PM has not reached out to PM Modi yet?

AFAIK that was the only batch of Covishields received from India

After that although the US did not approve the Astra-Zeneca vaccine for internal use, they still manufactured the doses and shipped to Canada & Mexico. I myself got one of the US manufactured AZ shots back in April.

Eventually, Canada started hoarding the AZ vaccines only for the elderly, who had received the first dose of AZ. Eventually in June I was offered a dose of Moderna which I took and wife got 2 Pfizer doses.

In short I don't think there was a follow up shipment of AZ(CoviShield) from India.
chetak wrote:
Thank you.

Much obliged
vera_k
BRF Oldie
Posts: 3989
Joined: 20 Nov 2006 13:45

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by vera_k »

hanumadu wrote:I am aware of the difficulty in scaling up killed virus vaccines. My point is since they seem to be the oldest vaccine technology, most proven, expected to be most effective against variants and with the least side effects, wouldn't it have been prudent to develop more of such vaccines for booster doses even if the initial vaccines were mRNA or covishield. If it was needed to invest more money in production facilities so be it.
There was urgency to get *any* vaccine out, so the fastest routes were taken. Given enough time, I'm sure other types of vaccines will be made available to overcome objections based on religious or safety concerns. It's not been that long since Covid burst on the scene.
IndraD
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9320
Joined: 26 Dec 2008 15:38
Location: भारत का निश्चेत गगन

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by IndraD »

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161 ... pl_1.10712 mRNA vaccines seem to increase chances of vascular injury & heart attacks (ACS) significantly. biomarkers remain high for heart injury many months after vaccination.
IndraD
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9320
Joined: 26 Dec 2008 15:38
Location: भारत का निश्चेत गगन

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by IndraD »

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/1 ... rope-says/

AstraZeneca vaccine may give longer protection that is shielding UK from new Covid wave.
-oxfrod vaccine better than pfizer in inducing T cell immunity
-Oxford followed by Pfizer gives best immunity
-Oxford provides longer lasting immunity than pfizer
-Oxford vaccination could be the reason UK is faring better than Europe against c19
nandakumar
BRFite
Posts: 1638
Joined: 10 May 2010 13:37

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by nandakumar »

IndraD wrote:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/1 ... rope-says/

AstraZeneca vaccine may give longer protection that is shielding UK from new Covid wave.
-oxfrod vaccine better than pfizer in inducing T cell immunity
-Oxford followed by Pfizer gives best immunity
-Oxford provides longer lasting immunity than pfizer
-Oxford vaccination could be the reason UK is faring better than Europe against c19
The article is behind a paywall. Are the bullet points posted above the gist of it? Thanks.
IndraD
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9320
Joined: 26 Dec 2008 15:38
Location: भारत का निश्चेत गगन

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by IndraD »

nandakumar wrote:
IndraD wrote:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/1 ... rope-says/

AstraZeneca vaccine may give longer protection that is shielding UK from new Covid wave.
-oxfrod vaccine better than pfizer in inducing T cell immunity
-Oxford followed by Pfizer gives best immunity
-Oxford provides longer lasting immunity than pfizer
-Oxford vaccination could be the reason UK is faring better than Europe against c19
The article is behind a paywall. Are the bullet points posted above the gist of it? Thanks.
AstraZeneca may offer longer-lasting immunity than other vaccines, scientists have said amid claims that the jab has helped Britain avoid the latest Covid wave in Europe.

Pascal Soriot, the chief executive of AstraZeneca, said the decision to give the Oxford vaccine to older people in Britain could be one of the reasons the UK was not seeing not "so many hospitalisations relative to Europe" despite a high number of cases.

The Telegraph understands that the pharmaceutical company is preparing to release data showing that its jab offers long term T-cell immunity for older people even after antibodies wane. Mr Soriot said the immunity provided by T-cells may be "more durable".

Several countries – including France, Germany, Spain and Belgium – restricted the AstraZeneca vaccine to under-65s in the early stages of their rollouts, claiming there was not enough data to prove it worked for older people.


In France, daily infections passed 30,000 for the first time since August on Tuesday, with an increase of 63 per cent in a week. Germany confirmed it was planning to make vaccination mandatory for soldiers. The seven-day average of Covid deaths in the country is now twice that in Britain.

"European leaders had all these unfounded concerns about AstraZeneca and its use in older people," a senior government source said. "If you look at the data, you can see us using it early has been incredibly helpful in terms of protecting older and vulnerable people from this disease for longer."


British experts said Mr Soriot's claims were "plausible" and may be the reason why hospitalisations and deaths have been relatively low even though cases are high.

Dr Peter English, a former editor of Vaccines in Practice who previously chaired the BMA public health medicine committee, said: "People whose immune systems have produced a strong T-cell response but a weaker antibody response might be more likely to be infected in the first place but more likely to be able to fight the infection, and they will be much less likely to develop severe disease."

Commenting on the UK's high infection but low hospitalisation rates, he said: "It is plausible that this generated an excellent T-cell response, which means that while people can still be infected and infectious, they are unlikely to be seriously unwell."

Prof Matthew Snape, of Oxford University, who was chief investigator on booster jabs trials, said: "The best T-cell responses seem to come if you give a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine followed by Pfizer."

Steve Baker, the deputy chairman of the Covid Recovery Group of lockdown-septic Tory MPs, criticised European politicians for snubbing the jab and called for AstraZeneca's data to be made public.

"Serious politicians ought not to need reminding that what they say and what they do is often a matter of life and death," Mr Baker told The Telegraph. "Once more, it looks like political condemnation from Europe of AstraZeneca may have cost lives.

"I hope we will see the data and find the facts. If the Government and AstraZeneca have the data, it would be helpful to get it into the public domain."

Mr Soriot told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the ability of the AstraZeneca jab to stimulate a long-lasting T-cell response in older people "could be" the reason Britain was faring better than Europe.


"We haven't seen many hospitalisations in the UK – a lot of infections for sure – but what matters is are you severely ill or not, are you hospitalised or not?" he said. "And we haven't seen so many of these hospitalisations in the UK.

"The antibody response is what drives the immediate reaction or defence of the body when you're attacked by the virus, and the T-cell response takes a little longer to come in, but it's actually more durable – it lasts longer and the body remembers that longer."

Although Covid cases in Britain are rising again, with 42,484 recorded on Tuesday, deaths are down 5.5 per cent and hospitalisations by 9.5 per cent since last week.

Ahead of the booster vacciness programme decision, several members of the Oxford/AstraZeneca team, including Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert, said third jabs may be unnecessary because two doses offered such good long-term protection.

Eleanor Riley, professor of immunology and infectious disease at the University of Edinburgh, said a growing number of trials had shown that AstraZeneca initially gives higher levels of T-cells, even if mRNA vaccines like Pfizer are better at producing antibodies.

"Since the AstraZeneca vaccine is slightly better at inducing these T-cells, the implication is that it may provide longer term protection against hospitalisation and death," she added.

Earlier this month, a team of researchers from University College London published data showing that some people already have T-cell protection against Covid as a result of previous infection with a different coronavirus such as a common cold.

Experts also said high levels of infections in the summer and early autumn meant many people in Britain had gained natural immunity to the virus.

New estimates from the Office for National Statistics and the Covid Infection Survey show that over nine in 10 adults across the UK have antibodies to Covid.
full article sir!
Sonugn
BRFite
Posts: 446
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 12:03
Location: DeceptyKon Workshop

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Sonugn »

There is a new "real word study" done by "The Lancet" that claims only 50 % protection against symptomatic Covid-19.

This is now being carried by bloomberg & other media outlets.

The people who participated in the study were high risk group AIIMS staff. (Sample - 2714)
Amber G.
BRF Oldie
Posts: 9265
Joined: 17 Dec 2002 12:31
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Wuhan Coronavirus Resource Thread

Post by Amber G. »

Meanwhile in the last 24 hours there were 9.2 million shots ..(6.6 Millions second dose adding to fully vaccinated) in India.

Form COVID-19 Vaccination Update - Day 313 - 2021/11/24
Cumulative 1st dose administered = 773,274,130 (82% of adults)
Cumulative 2nd dose administered = 419,503,875 (45% of adults)
Total = 1,192,778,005 (128 shots per 100 eligible adults)

Wishing these Crore per Days become routine again for next few months and then accelerate - We still have those under 18 years to take care of.

PLEASE get vaccinated and ask every loved one you know to do so as fast as they become eligible.... Meanwhile, also avoid big crowds, and indoor big gatherings - wear mask (preferable N95) if you are in a poorly ventilated area with strangers.
Post Reply