Live Updates: 110 lakh doses of Covishield are being procured at Rs 200 per dose. (File)
The first stage of the rollout of the vaccines against the coronavirus began with Serum Institute of India - the manufacturer of Oxford University's Covishield - shipping out its first lot of vials. The Union Health Ministry said the inoculation programme, billed as the world's largest, is on track.
Four more COVID-19 vaccines are being developed and their manufacturers may approach the drug controller for emergency use authorisation, the Health Ministry. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said Zydus Cadila, Sputnik V, Biological E and Gennova are other vaccines that are currently in an advanced clinical trials stage in India. "In the coming days you may see some of these vaccines too approaching the drug controller for emergency use authorisation," Mr Bhushan said.
There will be a gap of 28 days between two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and its effectiveness will begin 14 days after the second dose, the Health Ministry said. Mr Bhushan said vaccine effectiveness will be seen only after 14 days. "So we urge people to keep following Covid-appropriate behaviour," he said.
According to the Health Ministry, 110 lakh doses of Covishield are being procured at Rs 200 per dose (excluding taxes). 55 lakh doses of Covaxin -- developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech -- are also being procured. Both these vaccines have been approved by the country's drug regulator for restricted emergency use. Bharat Biotech is charging Rs 295 per dose for 38.5 lakh doses. The company, which has partnered with the Indian Council of Medical Research for the vaccine, will give 16.5 lakh doses to the centre free of cost.
The centre has received 54,72,000 doses of vaccines against the coronavirus so far, the Health Ministry said.
Here are the LIVE updates:
Chinese province of 37million declares 'emergency' to control virus
A Chinese province of more than 37 million declared an "emergency state" on Wednesday to snuff out a handful of Covid-19 cases, as the country moved decisively to contain infections.
China had largely brought the coronavirus under control since its emergence in Wuhan late in 2019.
But recent weeks have seen smatterings of cases, prompting localised lockdowns, immediate travel restrictions and widespread testing of tens of millions of people.
More than 20 million are now under some form of lockdown in the country's northern regions.
Mumbai airport begins COVID-19 vaccine transportation; 2,400 vials airlifted to Goa
COVID-19 vaccine transportation from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) commenced on Wednesday with budget carrier GoAir airlifting 2,400 vials of Covishield to Goa.
The Wadia Group-owned no-frills airline has scheduled flights carrying vaccines to Lucknow, Cochin and Chandigarh as well, besides Goa, during the day, a GoAir spokesperson told PTI.
GoAir's first flight carrying 2,400 vials (24,000 doses) of Covishield vaccine took off at 5.20 am and reached Goa at 6.30 am, the spokesperson said.
A massive pan-India inoculation drive against COVID-19 was set in process on Tuesday with more than 56 lakh doses of the Covishield vaccine leaving Pune for 13 cities across the country, four days before the vaccinations are scheduled to begin on January 16.
US Releases Millions Of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses
The Trump administration said on Tuesday it is releasing millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses it had been holding back for second shots and urged states to offer them to all Americans over age 65 or with chronic health conditions.
Read HereCoronavirus news updates: Brazil sees 1,110 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours
Brazil registered 1,110 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the national deaths to 204,690, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday.
The country confirmed 64,025 new cases, taking the nationwide count to 8,195,637, it added.
The state of Sao Paulo, the most populous in the country and also the most affected area, reported 1,561,844 cases and 48,662 deaths in total, followed by Rio de Janeiro, with 465,150 cases and 26,976 deaths from the virus.
Delhi Police steps up security ahead of nationwide COVID vaccine roll-out
The Delhi Police has made adequate security arrangements in the city for the smooth transportation of COVID-19 vaccines when the countrywide vaccination roll-out will begin later this week, officials said on Tuesday.
The first batch of Covishield vaccine containing 2.64 lakh doses reached Delhi''s central storage facility at Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital (RGSSH) on Tuesday amid high security, they said.
Special Commissioner of Police (Operations and Licensing) Muktesh Chander said the security force ensured smooth transportation of vaccines from the airport to RGSSH where adequate police arrangements have been made.
Puducherry Chief Minister writes to PM Modi to allow politicians to get Covid vaccine in first phase
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Tuesday that he had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to allow political party leaders, ministers and legislators to be vaccinated in the first phase of the nationwide inoculation drive against Covid-19.
"I have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to allow political party leaders, Ministers, and legislators to be vaccinated in the first phase and set an example so that the people can have confidence," Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy said.
Coronavirus live updates: China's Coronavac Vaccine Shows 50% Efficacy In BrazilThe Chinese-developed Coronavac Covid-19 vaccine has demonstrated a 50 percent efficacy following tests in Brazil, the organization in charge of its production in the South American country said. Coronavac has been given to frontline health care workers in close contact with coronavirus patients.
The Butantan Institute repeated its claim from last week that the vaccine is 78 percent effective in mild cases that needed treatment and showed 100 percent efficacy in moderate to serious cases. "It's a safe, effective vaccine that ticks all the boxes to justify its use in an emergency," said Butantan director Dimas Covas.
Delhi Police steps up security ahead of nationwide vaccine roll-outThe Delhi Police has made adequate security arrangements in the city for the smooth transportation of COVID-19 vaccines when the countrywide vaccination roll-out will begin later this week, officials said.
The first batch of Covishield vaccine containing 2.64 lakh doses reached Delhi's central storage facility at Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital (RGSSH) on Tuesday amid high security, they said.
Special Commissioner of Police (Operations and Licensing) Muktesh Chander said the security force ensured smooth transportation of vaccines from the airport to RGSSH where adequate police arrangements have been made.
Coronavirus update: Temporary morgues set up as UK hospitals run out of spaceBritish authorities have had to set up a temporary morgues in some areas after local hospital mortuaries ran out of space due to a surge in deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Britain has reported record levels of deaths and new infections in the last few weeks, fuelled by a new variant of the coronavirus which has caused a surge in cases, especially in London and southeast England.
In Surrey, to the south of London, the county's hospital mortuaries have reached their 600 capacity, meaning local authorities have had to start using a temporary morgue.
Air Passengers Entering US Will Need COVID-19 Negative Test, Says Official
