Covaxin: WHO wants ‘addl clarifications’

Covaxin: WHO wants ‘addl clarifications’

27.10.2021

The World Health Organisation’s technical advisory group on Tuesday sought “additional clarifications” from Bharat Biotech for its Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin to conduct a final “risk-benefit assessment” for Emergency Use Listing of the vaccine. Hyderabadbased Bharat Biotech, which has developed Covaxin, had submitted EOI to the WHO on April 19 for the vaccine’s Emergency Use Listing (EUL). The TAG may get these clarifications by the end of this week, and aims to meet on November 3 for the final risk-benefit assessment.

Planning US visit from Nov 8? Be fully jabbed against Covid

Planning US visit from Nov 8? Be fully jabbed against Covid

Must Be Inoculated With WHO-Approved Vax & Carry Report Of Covid Test Done Within 72 Hrs Of Departure

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

27.10.2021

Come November 8 and foreign travellers who are fully vaccinated with WHO-approved jabs and have a negative Covid report from a test taken within 72 hours of departure can enter the US. For travellers from India, it means the lifting of restrictions imposed on May 4 at the height of India’s second Covid wave. The existing country-bycountry restrictions will be replaced by a consistent approach worldwide under the new international air travel policy that will be effective from November 8, the US department of state said.

For the purpose of allowing entry, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has accepted vaccines that are FDA approved or authorised and those with an emergency use listing from the WHO. So, the wait for those who got Covaxin continues. “Both US citizens and foreign nationals who are fully vaccinated should travel with proof of their vaccination status to provide to their airline prior to departure to the US. That proof of vaccination should be a paper or digital record issued by an official source and should include the traveller’s name and date of birth, as well as the vaccine product and date(s) of administration for all doses the traveller received,” the state department website said. “The entry into US by air travel of non-citizens who are non-immigrants and who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 is suspended and limited (with some exceptions),” a presidential proclamation said.

Children under 18 are excepted from the vaccination requirement for foreign national travellers. Those between the ages of 2 and 17 are required to take a pre-departure test. If travelling with a fully vaccinated adult, an unvaccinated child can test three days prior to departure. An unvaccinated child travelling alone or with unvaccinated adults, will have to test within one day of departure, the White House said in a fact sheet. Air passengers will have to certify the validity of vaccination and testing, and confirm that their contact information is complete and accurate. Falsifying any information could result in criminal penalties and/or fines.

The new system incorporates a contact tracing order to respond to Covid variants. “The order requires that airlines collect contact information for all international inbound travellers to the US – including full name, as well as a phone number, email and address at which they can be reached while staying in the US. Airlines will have to keep this information on hand and promptly turn it over to the CDC when requested,” the state department website said. Fully vaccinated air travellers will continue to be required to show documentation of a pre-departure negative viral test from a sample taken within three days of travel to the US before boarding. This condition applies to all travellers, whether US citizens, lawful permanent residents, or foreign nationals. “To further strengthen protections, unvaccinated travellers – whether US citizens, LPRs, or the small number of excepted unvaccinated foreign nationals – will now need to show documentation of a negative viral test from a sample taken within one day of travel to the US,” it added.

The White House confirmed that children under 18 are exempt from the new vaccine requirements as are people with some medical issues. Those between the ages of 2 and 17 are required to take a pre-departure test

Chinese city of 4m under lockdown

China placed a city of four million people under lockdown on Tuesday, ordering them not to leave home except in emergencies, in a bid to eradicate a Covid cluster of just a few dozen cases. The fresh restrictions came as China reported 29 new domestic infections, including six in Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province in the country’s northwest. The latest outbreak has been linked to the highly contagious Delta variant, with the tally hitting 198 cases since October 17. Thirty-nine have been in Lanzhou. While the rest of the world opens up and tries to find ways to live with the virus, China has maintained a zero-Covid approach. In Beijing — which reported three new cases Tuesday — access to tourist sites has been limited. Mass testing is under way in 11 provinces. AFP

FDA advisers weigh Pfizer jab for kids

An expert panel will weigh authorisation of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine for US children aged 5 to 11 on Tuesday as it prepares to vote on a recommendation for the FDA. An authorisation is an important regulatory step toward reaching about 28 million children of these ages, most of them back in school for in-person learning. The FDA need not follow the advice, but usually does. The dose for younger children would be one-third of the strength given to people 12 and older, with two shots given three weeks apart. Only a few other nations, including China, Cuba and UAE, have cleared vaccines for this age group. AP

Kanchi bus terminus turns crime hotspot

Kanchi bus terminus turns crime hotspot

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.10.2021

The Kancheepuram bus terminus which witnesses large numbers of passengers throughout day and night, is turning into the most unsafe zone for the passengers, especially women in the night.

In the past two days alone, three snatching incidents have been reported leaving the passengers in panic.

At 9.30pm on Monday, an unidentified man snatched cell phones of an elderly couple, Srinivasan and Banu, while two other women lost their expensive mobile phones to miscreants on Sunday. On Tuesday, a woman was relieved of ₹7,000 cash.

Passengers complain that anti-social elements lurk there as many of the shops remain closed and consume liquor besides committing crimes.

Commuters say, the main bus stand, though has lights, is not an ideal place for women and it inconveniences them to a great extent. Absence of CCTV cameras has come handy for the miscreants to to have afree run.

They said that more than half of the shops have yet to start functioning. “Since many shops are closed, antisocial elements have taken up space to consume alcohol in public,” says Prathiba, a commuter who takes bus from the terminus to Uthiramerur regularly.

"Except for two or three shops with CCTV cameras, no surveillance is provided by the police for safety. We can see men openly consuming liquor and creating ruckus. They attack people who try to question them," she said.

Even if a crime happens, police will be left clueless about the identity of the miscreants, she added.

Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam district president Bethraj who recently submitted a petition to the police highlighting the problems haunting the bus depot said that people are scared even during day time.

"We have sought them to increase the policing to keep the miscreants at bay, as it is one of the main bus stops," said Bethraj.

SORE POINT: The terminus witnessed three snatching incidents in the past two days alone leaving the passengers in panic. Passengers complain about lack of CCTV cameras and proper policing

Have no faith in commission probing Jaya death, Apollo tells apex court

Have no faith in commission probing Jaya death, Apollo tells apex court

Says Won’t Be Able To Appear Before Panel

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.10.2021

Alleging bias and arbitrariness in the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission probing the circumstances surrounding the death of former chief minister Jayalalithaa, the Chennai-based Apollo Hospitals has said it would not be able to appear before the commission for inquiry.

The Supreme Court had in April 2019 stayed the commission proceedings, after Apollo Hospitals took the case to the apex court saying the commission was not in a position to understand its submissions as it did not have a doctor or an expert familiar medical procedures and protocols.

Though many political leaders, including former chief minister O Panneerselvam, were yet to appear before the commission for inquiry, the doctors who treated Jayalalitha were made to appear before it repeatedly, said the hospital.

Selective leak of testimony given by doctors resulted in the hospital’s image being tarnished in public eye, Apollo said, adding that the commission was straying beyond its terms of reference. Noting that it was ready to take party in any court proceedings, Apollo said it had no faith in the commission.

The hospital also said that the then AIADMK government had directed the hospital to remove the CCTV on the floor where Jayalalitha was being treated, saying it was a privacy issue.

After a 75-day stay at Apollo, Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016. Justice Arumughaswamy commission was set up in September 2017.

FOR A FAIR PROBE: Apollo Hospitals alleges bias and arbitrariness against the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission probing the circumstances surrounding the death of former CM Jayalalithaa

Selective leak of testimony given by doctors resulted in the hospital’s image being tarnished, Apollo said

Inspection of four medical colleges over

Inspection of four medical colleges over

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.10.2021

The National Medical Commission has completed virtual inspections for approval of seats in four proposed medical colleges, said state health minister Ma Subramanian.

In addition, the directorate of medical education has submitted a compliance report to enhance seats from 100 to 150 in four other new medical colleges. If the commission gives its nod, the state will add at least 600 more MBBS seats in addition to the 850 additional seats approved for admissions in the current academic year.

“We have been told the inspection committee is satisfied with our compliance. I will be visiting Delhi with senior officials on Wednesday. We will request the Centre to give us permission to admit students to all11 new medical colleges from the current academic year,” Subramanian said. In addition, the state has urged the centre to allow the Government Medical College in Coimbatore to increase seats from 150 to 200.

HC to medical council: Protect doctors’ interests

HC to medical council: Protect doctors’ interests

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.10.2021

While it is the responsibility of the Medical Council to act against doctors found violating code of ethics, the council also owes a duty to protect the medical practitioners, who are rendering yeomen service for the betterment of the general public, from the onslaught of frivolous complaints, Madras high court has said.

Justice R Mahadevan has also suggested a series of guidelines to be included in the new regulation to be framed under National Medical Commission Act.

The suggestion includes altering rules mandating preservation of medical documents for 3 years to 10 years by digitising the documents and disposal of complaints filed against doctors in six months.

The court made the observations while allowing a plea moved by Dr P Basumani against termination of his licence by the Tamil Nadu medical council in a hasty manner.

“The medical council is expected to act in such a manner that every area connected with the complaints can be meted out, which will pave the way for reasonable as well as legally based decisions to be arrived at,” the court said.

Justice Mahadevan has also suggested the council to constitute three experts to inquire into each complaint.

The experts shall be from the field of medicine with which the medical practitioner is associated.

The principles of natural justice, as required in quasi-judicial proceedings, will have to necessarily be followed as the proceedings may end in punishments which would entail civil consequences to either party, the court said.

In order to make the disciplinary proceedings free from any loopholes and to avoid multiplicity of proceedings, the report of the inquiry committee is to be made final and binding on the disciplinary board of the state medical council and Medical Registration Board, the judge added.

The court added that the disciplinary board of the state medical council will have a permanent tenure, fixed three-member body (constituted by election by the commission from amongst its members) will function as the disciplinary authority for the purpose of professional misconduct by registered medical practitioners under the Code/Regulation.

The court ruled on a plea moved by a doctor against hasty termination of his licence by the TN medical council

KGMU medicos showcase talent, help Shahjahan ‘sell’ Taj Mahal

KGMU medicos showcase talent, help Shahjahan ‘sell’ Taj Mahal

Cultural Fest Rhapsody Kicks Off

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow:26.10.2021

Keeping aside their aprons and stethoscopes, medical students of King George’s Medical University (KGMU) on Monday showcased their talents in extra-curricular activities — from music and dance to poetry and acting — on the opening day of the three-day annual cultural festival Rhapsody.

Around 600 students and faculty members are participating in the event that was rolled out with a ‘Kathak’ performance followed by singing, skits, plays, medi-quiz, mask-designing and poster making event.

Most of the events had a social theme, besides entertainment.

The comedy play ‘Taj Mahal Ka Tender’ depicted the problems emperor Shahjahan would have faced if he lived today and had to sell the monument.

Kavi Sammelan in the evening witnessed teachers exhibiting their poetic talent. Faculty at surgery department Dr Vinod Jain captured the audience with his poem ‘Jab Sparsh Abhi Tak Ghula tha.’ Festival coordinator and faculty at the pathology department, Dr Rakesh Dixit recited his poem, ‘24 Karat Gold Georgian’ while author Jyoti Sinha read out her poem ‘Rah Me Ishq ki Aisi Arzoo’ and MBBS student Priyanka recited ‘I Am a Cigarette’.

Earlier, the festival was inaugurated by vice-chancellor, Lt Gen (retd) Prof Bipin Puri.

The VC and his wife Dr Anita Puri answered queries related to their personal and professional lives asked by teachers and students in the event called ‘Coffee with VC’.

Students during the cultural fest on the campus on Monday