‘Extended dose-gap of Covishield showed better immune response’

‘Extended dose-gap of Covishield showed better immune response’

Puts To Rest Any Immediate Need For Booster Shots: Study

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:14.11.2021

The extended gap of at least 12 weeks between the two doses of Covishield has resulted in better immune response among majority of vaccinated Indians, subsiding any immediate requirement for booster shots, an official assessment of real-life data from sero prevalence studies has shown. Citing the findings, experts have also ruled out any possibility of reducing the gap between two shots of Covishield.

The findings will soon be submitted to the health ministry for further consideration for policy making, an official source said. “We have been reviewing the data on a regular basis and now since large scale data of vaccinated people is available, we have studied that too. Any decision will be driven by these scientific facts,” the source said.

According to the source, there is “no question of reducing the gap because the data shows that the immune response has improved with a gap of three months between two doses of Covishield”.

Of the total more than 112 crore doses of Covid vaccine administered in the country so far, 88% are Covishield, a vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZencea. The vaccine is manufactured locally by the Serum Institute of India.

India is currently administering the second dose of Covishield at 12-16 weeks gap.

While more than 79% of the eligible adult population has received at least the first dose of a Covid vaccine, around 39% are fully vaccinated with two doses. While there are around 12 crore people overdue for a second dose, a major reason for the slow progress of second-dose coverage is also the long gap between two jabs of Covishield, which constitutes the majority of vaccination.

As the majority of eligible population is now covered with the first dose of the vaccines and there is also adequate stock, some states, as well as public health experts, have written to the Centre asking it to reduce the gap so that people have increased protection with two doses of Covishield.

Full report on www.toi.in

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MMC told to settle ₹23 lakh dues to mess contractor

MMC told to settle ₹23 lakh dues to mess contractor

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.11.2021

A city civil court has directed the Madras Medical College dean to settle dues worth ₹23 lakh to a contractor who was running the mess at the MMC post graduates hostel.

The contractor, K Srinivasan of Arumbakkam, in his petition stated that he entered into an agreement with the institution in June 2008 to run the mess. His contract was renewed every year and he ran the mess until 2016.

Subsequently, a fresh tender was issued and the petitioner had moved the Madras high court against it. The act of the authorities spoiled the goodwill and reputation the petitioner had earned among the students, the petition stated and citing various heads, sought dues of ₹41 lakh.

In response, the authorities submitted that the petitioner and his son had attacked students for complaining about non-availability of food during dining hours and had indulged in unauthorized sale of food to outsiders. After perusing all submissions and documents, additional sessions judge, S T Lakshmi Ramesh held that the contractor be paid ₹23 lakh dues alone and not the claims towards vessels, groceries and other compensation.

Bhopal’s Habibganj station to be renamed after Rani Kamalapati

Bhopal’s Habibganj station to be renamed after Rani Kamalapati

Dipak.Dash@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:13.11.2021

The revamped Habibganj railway station in Bhopal is likely to be renamed as Rani Kamalapati station. The Madhya Pradesh government has recommended this name to the Centre. Rani Kamlapati was the widow Gond ruler of Nizam Shah, chief of Ginnorgarh. This gains significance considering that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate this redeveloped station on Monday, the day his government launches the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, a week-long celebration of contribution of tribal leaders. Gond comprises the largest tribal group of India with more than 1.2 crore population. Linguistically, Gond belongs to the Gondi–Manda subgroup of the South Central branch of the Dravidian language family.

This will be the second such redeveloped station after Modi was re-elected in 2019. The earlier one was in Gandhinagar. The world-class railway station with airport-like facilities has been revamped in public-private partnership (PPP) mode at a cost of Rs 450 crore. The modern station will have several features such as segregation of passengers based on arrivals and departures, enough sitting arrangement at platforms, lounges, concourse as well as dormitories and retiring rooms.

PM Modi will inaugurate this redeveloped station on Monday, the day his govt launches the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, a week-long celebration of contribution of tribal leaders in the country

Now, Bennett University’s engineering bachelors can opt for master’s from Florida

Now, Bennett University’s engineering bachelors can opt for master’s from Florida

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:13.11.2021

Bennett University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with University of Florida, which will offer its engineering students a shorter way to get a master’s degree from the American university after completing their engineering bachelors at Bennett. The universities also look forward to develop joint study programmes.

Under the MoU, the faculty from the US university will teach special courses to Bennett students. The faculties can also explore joint research funding by applying for various international grants.

“Bennett University is fast moving to have its international tie-ups across all continents to give multiple options to its students for international experience. It ranges from summer immersion programmes, semester abroad programmes to vertical mobility,” said Deepak Garg, dean of international relations and corporate outreach.

“Through our tie-ups, we also endeavour to promote collaborative research, faculty exchange, joint academic publications and beyond. In the fast-changing world, international collaborations have become key to success as they offer access to latest innovations and knowledge,” he added.

Sanjay Ranka, distinguished professor at the department of computer information science and engineering at University of Florida, discussed his research about 21st century smart city transportation solutions with students and the Bennett faculty.

These solutions are being field-tested at intersections in City of Gainesville and Seminole County.

Bennett University has recently renewed its relations with University of Nebraska, Omaha that encompasses different facets of collaboration, including cultural exchange, seminars and joint research.

Previously, the university has also collaborated with Georgia Tech, Cornell and Babson for enhanced teaching-learning experience of its students.

Healthcare professionals in Mysuru protest salary cut, unpaid allowance

Healthcare professionals in Mysuru protest salary cut, unpaid allowance

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mysuru:13.11.2021

A day after members of the Resident Doctors Association of Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute launched an indefinite protest demanding full salary and payment of arrears of Covid allowances, they took out a rally on Friday to the deputy commissioner’s office pressing for the immediate release of funds.

Abstaining from all work except emergency services, resident and junior doctors began their rally from KR Hospital and reached the DC’s office after passing through Irwin Road, JLB Road, and Vinobha Road. They later submitted a memorandum to the government through the DC.

Protesting doctors said they risked their lives while toiling during the pandemic. The government had promised to pay Rs 10,000 as Covid allowance to resident and junior doctors, PG students and interns, and junior nurses but these healthcare professionals haven’t received the allowance for the past three months.

“About Rs 15,000 has been deducted from the stipend of senior resident doctors. Junior nurses have not received salary for several months now, nor have they received the Covid allowance,” protesting doctors said. “The government is keeping mum and has not given a valid reason for the delay.”

Protestors say they have been hearing different explanations. While local officials say grants have not been given, senior officials in Bengaluru claim grants have been released.

GIVE US OUR DUE: Except essential services, doctors abstained from work and took out a march in Mysuru on Friday

No takers in pvt hosps, state goes from negative figures to wasting 0.3% doses

No takers in pvt hosps, state goes from negative figures to wasting 0.3% doses

WOES MOUNT Docs Say Of 10 Shots Of Covishield In A Vial, They Administer Only Five Or Six; Wastage Within Permissible Limits

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:13.11.2021

Private hospitals say they are struggling to exhaust the massive stock of Covid-19 vaccine doses they have in their possession and, as a result, a number of shots, especially Covishield, are being wasted. Private hospitals in Bengaluru have nearly two lakh doses of Covishield in stock, and hospital managements say there are few takers for these paid doses.

A private medical college in Bengaluru said they administer only about four or five doses of Covishield from a vial of 10 doses. The remaining doses go to waste since they must be used within a stipulated number of hours of opening a vial.

“We had 1,000 vials of which we have so far administered 645 doses,” said the hospital while admitting that vaccine wastage is a major cause of concern. “We have had to waste 62 doses of Covishield.” This, despite hospitals quietly providing booster doses for staff and their relatives.

College authorities say they are at their wits’ end and don’t know what to do. “Typically, two or three people come in the morning seeking Covishield. If we do not administer the doses, we don’t know if they will return. These vaccines will expire in February and must be exhausted. Once we open a vial, not more than five or six doses are administered. The rest go to waste,” college authorities said.

They also admitted booster doses are being provided for their staff based on requests.

“If we stop administering booster doses for those most vulnerable, wastage will only go up,” the hospital said.

For every dose lost, the hospital incurs a loss of Rs 630. One dose of Covishield in a private hospital costs Rs 780, including Rs 150 that goes towards administrative charges.

Stock redistributed

Another private hospital which faced a similar situation in early October, has now redistributed all its doses to sister concerns. Hospitals have been urging the government to buy their stock of vaccines which will go to waste if they are not utilised.

However, Dr Arundhathi Chandrashekar, mission director, National Health Mission, Karnataka, said the government’s hands are tied. “There is no provision for the government to buy these doses. Private hospitals have to judiciously use them,” she said.

Karnataka, one of the first states to record negative Covid-19 vaccine wastage, is now seeing 0.3% wastage. “While it is no longer negative wastage, the 0.3% wastage is still within permissible limits,” said Dr Arundhathi.

Dr KV Trilok Chandra, special commissioner, health, BBMP, said hospitals have a list of all those who are due for the second dose and suggested they contact these individuals and persuade them to take the shot to prevent wastage.

However, hospitals TOI spoke with said there is no demand for paid vaccination.

“In many cases, those who took the first dose in our hospital, have availed the second dose elsewhere, perhaps in government facilities,” said a hospital. “When we call them, these individuals say they are fully vaccinated.”

No walk-ins

Dr Sharan Patil, chairman, Sparsh Hospital, said they have a stock of 50,000 doses of Covishield. “We try to ensure doses are not wasted as the vaccines are administered only based on prior appointments. We do not allow walkins. However, despite our efforts, a small quality of doses are wasted sometimes. This is nothing but a national waste,” he said.

At Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Jayanagar, which has a huge quantity of vaccines, no vial is opened post lunch unless there are 10 vaccine seekers, said Dr Yateesh Govindaiah, unit head. He said if there are an insufficient number of people, the hospital takes contact details of those who walk in and ask them to come back the next day. Follow up calls are also made the next day.

Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) had earlier broached the matter with brass of the state’s health and family welfare department. “We can only issue an advisory to hospitals to make sure that they don’t waste doses,” said Dr HM Prasanna, president, PHANA.

ALL-ROUND WASTE: While private hospitals charge Rs 780 per shot, they incur a loss of Rs 630 for every dose of Covishield lost

Hospitals have been urging the government to buy their stock of vaccines. However, Dr Arundhathi Chandrashekar, mission director, National Health Mission, Karnataka, said the state’s hands are tied. “There is no provision for the government to buy these doses. Hospitals must judiciously use them,” she said.