Vaccines are safe but we don’t know how effective they are as we don’t have data

FOR THE RECORD

Vaccines are safe but we don’t know how effective they are as we don’t have data

As the much-awaited Covid vaccine rollout happens in the country, Rema Nagarajan speaks to Shahid Jameel, a top virologist and director of the Trivedi School of Biosciences at Ashoka University, about the notion of ‘desi’ vaccines and the need for transparency when it comes to trial data

Some health workers have expressed vaccine hesitancy and said they feel like guinea pigs. How justified are these fears?

I partly agree and partly disagree with that notion that they are being made guinea pigs. Let’s say that we are fairly confident that these vaccines are safe and frontline workers are not being given a substance that is going to be harmful to them. But whether the substance actually helps achieve what it is trying to achieve, that’s still clouded in mystery because we don’t have the data. It’s not that I’m making this up. Bharat Biotech has said that their phase 3 is not over yet. They are on record as saying that. Also, in the case of Serum Institute, where is the data from the efficacy trials in India? It’s not there. Serum Institute’s vaccine has efficacy data from Brazil and the UK. And then you realise that they are combining data from Brazil and the UK and arriving at a 70% efficacy when the dosing was different in those two trials. They keep saying that it’s statistically possible. I’m not a biostatistician. But to my mind if one trial uses half dose-full dose and the other trial uses two full doses, I cannot combine data from those two trials.

So there is insufficient data in the public domain right now about the vaccines that are going to be used in India?

The publications of phase 1 and 2 trials are there. But phase 3, the trial isn’t even over yet. Nobody has seen the data except the subject experts committee and nobody knows who they are. So a lot of opacity exists. Data should be available to those who know about it and people who don’t have a direct conflict of interest should evaluate it. That’s how science works. We are forgetting that vaccines are a product of science. They are not a product of religion that we are going on belief. Science looks at data and evidence.

But should we have started before the efficacy data comes out?

Let me first say that I have no interest in either Covishield (by Serum Institute) or Covaxin (by Bharat Biotech). They are both privately owned companies, and I don’t own shares in either. I would say that there is at least some evidence of efficacy for Covishield so we could have just started with it. And then let data come in for Covaxin and then deploy Covaxin. That could have evoked far more trust in the system. Krishna (Ella, Bharat Biotech CMD) is a friend, someone I have known for 30 years, but I am looking at science. I’m not willing to let my personal relationship cloud my professional judgement.

In the Covishield vaccine insert, they are saying 53% efficacy if given less than six weeks apart, 79% efficacious if given after 12 weeks. But India is talking about giving it within four weeks. Would that work?

In India, the trial that was done was four weeks apart. So India is right in choosing that, but where is the data for it? How do we know whether it’s 50% or 60% or 70%? We don’t know.

What about the notion that vaccines are being developed in a rush?

Yes, there is that perception, but I really don’t think corners have been cut. The protocol has been followed. What has been done is that sometimes phases have run in parallel and regulators have looked at data very expeditiously and given their views on it, which sometimes used to take a long time. Of course what we haven’t done is waited six months to figure out whether there will be a safety issue after six months. We can’t afford to do that. We are in a pandemic. If you want to quell a pandemic with a vaccine, you have to give it now. So yeah, there is always going to be this issue. But I feel that it’s important to tell people exactly what it is instead of using all kinds of smokescreens.

There seems to be the perception that there is an extra push for an Indian vaccine.

What is an Indian vaccine? A vaccine is a product of science and science is global. So I don’t subscribe to this view that something is an Indian vaccine. The Indian vaccine also includes a US adjuvant, without which the vaccine may not work very well. I think it’s very misleading to label things like that. I mean the Serum Institute vaccine is also an Indian vaccine.

Why would asking questions about the vaccine be called anti-national?

I’m possibly one of those perceived anti-nationals. So how can I answer that? It’s people who are calling us anti-nationals who should possibly answer that question. I would only say that we are like canaries in a coal mine. And if you kill your canaries, your coal mine will someday explode without warning.

As a virologist, what is your assessment of the bird flu outbreak?

Bird flu keeps happening in winters. Actually between 2006 and 2015, India alone had 25 separate episodes of bird flu across 15 states. So it’s not something that has just dropped out of the sky. I think we are being extremely sensitive these days because of Covid. So anything adds to the level of our anxiety. But the thing with bird flu virus is that it infects humans very, very poorly. So, we don’t really have to worry about it unless it’s people who come into very close contact with infected birds. They have to be careful. And it is treatable, there are drugs for it.

Leading doctors get shots, say vaccination process is safe

Leading doctors get shots, say vaccination process is safe

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:  17.01.2021

Not just healthcare workers, top doctors in Bengaluru and other cities also took the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine on Saturday to instil confidence among others. Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, the chairman of Manipal Hospitals, described the nationwide launch of the vaccination programme as a red-letter day for the healthcare sector.

“After being bruised and battered by Covid for a year, we finally have come up with a vaccine, which has been tested and manufactured in India and rolled out by the prime minister. I am privileged to be among the first recipients of this vaccine,” he said. “The process was extremely smooth, right from the time I entered the centre to the time I left. The personnel were courteous and professional, and they explained the whole procedure and mentioned possible side effects. I’m feeling fine. The next dose will be after four weeks.”

Dr Ballal urged citizens to ignore rumours and get inoculated when their turn came. “We need all the tools available to fight Covid. Please don’t go by rumours about side effects and have faith in the scientists who have developed and delivered the vaccine in record time. It’s a matter of pride for us; please don’t insult their achievements,” he said. He strongly recommends continued adherence to mask use, social distancing and other precautions: “Please don’t let your guard down just because the vaccine is here.”

Dr MK Sudarshan, the chairperson of Karnataka’s technical advisory committee, said that the benefits of vaccination outweighed the risk. “The vaccine is safe and everyone should come forward to take it. I got the vaccine on my left arm and there is no pain. During observation after vaccination, we were chatting. There were no side effects and I don’t see any difference in my routine work,” he said.

Virologist Dr V Ravi, who is also a member of the committee, said that India had covered an important milestone. “I feel a deep sense of pride that we are capable of competing with the rest of the world by producing high-quality vaccines. Very few people get the chance of getting the vaccine in the first phase and I was fortunate. As a virologist, I know how safe the vaccine is,” he said. Dr Pratima Murthy, professor of psychiatry, Nimhans, was also among the senior doctors who received a shot. “The maximum reaction I think is pain in the recipient’s arm. It’s very exciting to be one of the first recipients,” she added.

SETTING AN EXAMPLE

Don’t stop taking Covid precautions

Paediatric surgeon Dr K Anand Pai of the Regional Advanced Paediatrics Care Centre at Wenlock District Hospital was among the first doctors to receive the vaccine in Mangaluru. He went to the vaccination booth after completing a surgery. He said that though vaccines had been rolled out, people should not stop following Covid-19 rules such as wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing. “Everyone had been waiting for this day. We didn't expect the vaccine to come this fast,” said Dr Pai, who contracted Covid in August last year. “I advise everyone to take the shot when their turn comes. But don’t stop wearing masks.”

Few object to Covaxin

Few object to Covaxin

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  17.01.2021

Amid some concerns over safety and efficacy, state health officials on Saturday achieved a higher level of Covaxin acceptance at the six designated vaccination sites.

Karnataka had received 20,000 doses of Covaxin and half of these were sent to the six centres, one each in Ballari, Chamarajanagar, Davanagere, Hassan, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts. Most of these centres are medical colleges.

At the Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences in Ballari, 62 out of 100 registered beneficiaries turned up. Of these, 58 took the vaccine. “Some raised issues like why the college was given Covaxin, while other centres were supplied with Covishield. Four refused to take it,” said Dr Gangadhar Gowda, the dean of the institute.

At the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS), 74 out of 100 registered beneficiaries took the vaccine. “There was some confusion, but very few have refused,” said the HIMS dean. At the Chamarajanagar Medical College, 64 out of 100 registered healthcare workers took Covaxin. Full report toi.in

The women who administered the first vaccines say it’s a matter of pride

The women who administered the first vaccines say it’s a matter of pride

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

17.01.2021

Bengaluru: It was a night of apprehension for nursing officer Jesima Jalarmathi, who works with Nimhans, after she got a call on Friday evening, asking her to be prepared to administer Covid vaccines on Saturday. “I have been a nurse for 21 years, but this is a new vaccine and I was a bit worried. I could not sleep the entire night and kept praying all through,” Jalarmathi told STOI on Saturday, after vaccinating 38 people at Nimhans.

The first dose was given to Nimhans director Dr G Gururaj. Jalarmathi says she was a bit tense while administering the first injection, but was at ease later. “My colleagues gave me confidence and I felt better and was able to administer the injection gently,” said Jalarmathi, who overcame the initial jitters after giving the first dose. By day-end, senior professors at Nimhans appreciated Jalarmathi, saying she was gentle with the task at hand.

While administering the shots, Jalarmathi couldn’t stop thinking of her many colleagues, who contracted the virus in the last few months and a nursing officer who succumbed to Covid-19.

She left for work at 5.45am

Nurses at PMSSY Hospital attached to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, had undergone training in Covid vaccination and Jyothi N was one among them. On Friday night, they attended another online session conducted by the health and family welfare department on the vaccination procedure.

Jyothi, a trained nurse, boarded a bus from her house at Vijayapura near Devanahalli in Bengaluru Rural district at 5.45am to reach the hospital. “I had explained to my ten-year-old daughter that I’d be returning home late because of the vaccination drive. She knows about Covid-19 and was excited that I am going to give the first vaccine. It’s a matter of pride,” said Jyothi, who had no doubts in her mind while vaccinating the listed people and was seen explaining healthcare workers about the jab and the mandatory 30-minute observation period thereafter.

Jyothi, who had worked in Covid-19 wards multiple times, never tested positive for the virus. “Initially, there was fear of working in Covid wards, but we got used to it. There is no need to fear the vaccine as it is safe. I will also be getting it in a couple of days,” the nurse said.

TOP EFFORT: Jesima Jalarmathi works at Nimhans, while Jyothi N (right) is a nurse at PMSSY Hospital, which is attached to BMCRI

WhatsApp delays its new privacy policy till May 15

WhatsApp delays its new privacy policy till May 15

Says It Will Protect Users Through End-To-End Encryption

Anam.Ajmal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  17.01.2021

WhatsApp announced on Saturday that it has delayed the implementation of its new privacy policy and terms of service until May  15.

“Thank you to everyone who’s reached out. We’re still working to counter any confusion by communicating directly with @WhatsApp users. No one will have their account suspended or deleted on Feb 8 and we’ll be moving back our business plans until after May,” the company tweeted around 1.15 am, while sharing a blogpost on the microblogging platform.

The company also said it would instead “go to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace before new business options are available on May 15”. On January 6, the instant messaging platform had announced that it was making it mandatory for users to share their data with its parent company, Facebook. The company had not given an option to users to opt out of the changes and had said people would lose access by February 8, if they did not accept the new terms. The move, digital experts had said, was a blow to privacy as it maximised data collection.

Reacting to WhatsApp’s new post, cyber security expert Jiten Jain pointed out that privacy concerns around the update still exist since WhatsApp has not rolled back the policy. “They have just delayed the new policy by a couple of months. It’s only a tactic to escape public anger and stop the mass exodus of people to other platforms,” said Jain.

The blog post said there had been a “lot of misinformation causing concern (around the new policy) and we want to help everyone understand our principles and the facts.” The statement further said that WhatsApp would continue to protect users through end-toend encryption, a method which doesn’t allow the company to read content of people’s messages.

“It’s why we don’t keep logs of who everyone’s messaging or calling. We also can’t see your shared location and we don’t share your contacts with Facebook. With these updates, none of that is changing,” the company wrote, adding that “This update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook.”

In another tweet, the company added, it “never planned to delete any accounts based on this and will not do so in the future.”

EPS to meet PM ahead of Sasi release

EPS to meet PM ahead of Sasi release

Modi To Inaugurate Multi-Crore Projects

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 17.01.2021

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on January 19 to invite him to roll out multi-crore projects including Cauvery-Gundar interlink and inaugurate Chennai Metro Rail’s new line connecting Washermenpet and Wimco Nagar in north Chennai. Palaniswami is also expected to discuss with the PM the political situation in Tamil Nadu, ahead of Sasikala’s release from prison on January 27. Palaniswami will be accompanied by top bureaucrats.

“The PM might visit Chennai to launch the programmes or he might do it through video-conference as the budget session of Parliament will begin this monthend. The two leaders may have a one-on-one meeting to discuss the electoral alliance and the strategies to be adopted in the polls,” said a source. Palaniswami is making his first visit to Delhi after the AIADMK’s general council endorsed his candidature for the CM’s post. After dillydallying on the CM candidature, the BJP has finally endorsed Palaniswami’s candidature after the AIADMK general council meeting. This is in stark contrast to the national party’s earlier stand that its national leadership would decide on the CM candidature. Actor Rajinikanth’s decision not to enter electoral politics has apparently prompted the BJP to stay with the AIADMK in the polls.

Meanwhile, RSS ideologue Gurumurthy’s suggestion to the AIADMK to take V K Sasikala back into its fold to consolidate the Thevar votes and put up a tough fight with the DMK has not gone down well with many AIADMK leaders, who want to keep the Mannargudi clan at bay. What is not clear as of now is whether it is just Gurumurthy’s idea or whether the BJP national leadership also thinks along the same lines. BJP state general secretary R Srinivasan said his party’s prime target is that the DMK should not come to power. “Whenever there has been a split in the AIADMK, it has benefited the DMK. But it is for the AIADMK to decide whether to re-induct Sasikala or not. It is their internal matter. We have no say in that,” said Srinivasan.

The AIADMK leaders believe softening of stand on Sasikala would give fodder to the opposition. The party has fully endorsed the leadership of O Panneerselvam as coordinator and Palaniswami as joint coordinator. “If Sasikala’s re-entry is expected to bring in 3% votes, the party will lose 15% because of her corrupt background. There is no chance of merger nor inclusion,” a senior AIADMK leader told TOI. Partymen are apprehensive about the outcome of justice A Arumughaswamy commission of inquiry, set up to probe the cause of Jayalalithaa’s death, in the event of a merger of the AIADMK and the AMMK. Palaniswami and Panneerselvam are scheduled to open the Jayalalithaa memorial on January 27.

TTV hits out at Gurumurthy for sewage analogy

TTV hits out at Gurumurthy for sewage analogy

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  17.01.2021

AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran on Saturday hit out at Thuglak editor S Gurumurthy for his “sewage analogy” while talking about a suggestion to take V K Sasikala back into the AIADMK to fight the DMK. Dhinakaran said Gurumurthy was tarnishing the name of Cho Ramasamy.

Responding to a query from the readers at Thuglak anniversary on the possibility of BJP aligning with Sasikala and Dhinakaran-led AMMK and the possibility of Sasikala and Dhinakaran returning to the AIADMK, Gurumurthy said desperate times needed desperate measures. If a house was burning, one could wait for Ganga water, even sewage should be used to douse the fire, he said, quoting an analogy of former Union minister Arun Shourie. The RSS ideologue clarified a day later, “We in Thuglak will continue to regard Mannargudi family as Mafia and they would turn AIADMK into a family-owned affair like the DMK. Our opinion on them will not change,” Gurumurthy tweeted. Sasikala hails from Mannargudi in Thiruvarur district.

Dhinakaran said that he was reacting to the statement since many people expected his response, despite his initial thoughts of not wasting his time on “blabbering” of certain people who consider themselves as “geniuses and saints”. “Only the people of Tamil Nadu should decide what is Ganga water, sewage and mafia and not those like Gurumurthy, who consider themselves as Gangaputra Bhishma,” Dhinakaran said, adding that he was saddened by the lowering standards of Gurumurthy as ministers have questioned his integrity.

The AMMK leader said Thuglak founder Cho was a political commentator for more than five decades and was known for his strident criticism of the opponents with a sense of humour and without crossing the boundaries of decency. However, Gurumurthy’s choice of words in recent years had tarnished the name of Cho, whose chair he (Gurumurthy) was occupying, Dhinakaran said.