14 states start getting Covaxin supply directly

A SHOT OF HOPE

14 states start getting Covaxin supply directly

New Delhi:11.05.2021 

Bharat Biotech has commenced direct supply of its Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin to 14 states, including Delhi and Maharashtra, with effect from May 1, according to the company’s joint managing director Suchitra Ella.

The Hyderabad-based firm has started supplying its Covid-19 treatment vaccine to the states based on the allocations received by the central government.

“Bharat Biotech confirms direct supplies of Covaxin to the following state govt’s since 1/5/21, based on the allocations received by GoI. Requests have been received from other states, & will be processed for distribution based on availability of stocks 24x7,” Ella tweeted.

The company is supplying vaccines to Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

On April 29, Bharat Biotech announced a cut in the price of ‘Covaxin’ for states to Rs 400 per dose from the earlier Rs 600 per dose.

This followed widespread criticism of its pricing policy as it sold Covaxin to the central government at Rs 150 per dose. India has announced expansion of its Covid-19 vaccination drive by allowing its large18-plus population to get inoculated from May1.

Meanwhile, the Bombay high court has permitted Biovet Private Limited, an associate company of Bharat Biotech, to take possession of a fully operational and ready-touse vaccine manufacturing plant on a 12-hectare plot in Pune to produce Covaxin. PTI

NRI couple who came for family time die of Covid

NRI couple who came for family time die of Covid

Yagnesh.Mehta@timesgroup.com

Surat:11.05.2021 

“It would have been better had they not come to India. Despite trying for days, we did not get a hospital bed for my ‘mama’ (maternal uncle). We had to toil for hours to arrange oxygen cylinders for him. My ‘mama’ was on oxygen for over four days,” rues Piyush Bhatt, afinance consultant in Ahmedabad.

Bhatt is left lamenting as the septuagenarian NRI couple’s — Rashmikant Raval (73) and his wife Sushila (72) — died of Covid in span of two days last month. Raval, a retired hotel and catering business owner, passed away in Ahmedabad on April 23, while Sushila succumbed the next day.

“After making rounds of crematoriums, it was at the fourth one that I was able to perform the last rites of my uncle. I faced same problems while cremating my aunt,” Bhatt said. The US-based couple came to India in February spend some time with childhood friends and family after over a year of remaining locked in their house in Austin, Texas, due to global pandemic. The two had promised their grandchildren in the US that they will return soon.

The couple arrived in India on February 27 and did not take Covid-19 vaccine in the US. As the condition worsened in India they took the first dose of the vaccine in Ahmedabad on April 3 and 4. Sushila tested positive for Covid-19 on April 16 while Raval developed symptoms on April 19. But Raval tested negative in all three test he underwent.

For days Raval searched for a hospital bed for himself, but in vain. “After approaching several hospitals and trying for over12 hours my mother was finally admitted to one. But my father did not get admission in any hospital since his reports were negative. His CT-scan showed infection in chest.

Raval, who hailed from Choila village in Sabarkantha, lived with Rakesh, a businessman, in Austin, Texas. The family owns a fuel pump, restaurant and few stores that they have currently rented out.

Rashmikant Raval with his wife Sushila

Just 9 varsities started RT-PCR testing: Govt

Just 9 varsities started RT-PCR testing: Govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:11.05.2021 

After a push from Gujarat high court, the state government on Monday submitted that it could make only nine of 26 universities in the state start RT-PCR testing laboratories and has given up hope that five universities will ever start the facility.

When HC pressured the government to increase Covid-19 testing facilities, particularly RT-PCR testing, the state government said it would make 26 universities start these testing facilities. However, after nearly a month and instructions to administrative heads of the region to use the Epidemic Diseases Act to force these universities to act, facilities at only nine universities could be made operational, an addition of only four varsities since last week. These four are National Forensic Science University, Gandhinagar; Sardar Patel University, Anand; Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat and IIPH Gandhinagar.

For Anand Agriculture University, Uka Tarsadia University in Bardoli, Ahmedbad University, Kamdhenu University in Gandhinagar and Central University of Gujarat, the government said they “do not have appropriate RT-PCR machines for testing and thus, RT-PCR testing would not be possible in the five varsities.”

Google Maps now provides hospital beds, oxygen info

Google Maps now provides hospital beds, oxygen info

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:11.05.2021 

Google is testing a new feature using the Q&A function in Maps that enables people to ask about and share local information on availability of hospital beds and medical oxygen in select locations. “As this will be user generated content and not provided by authorised sources, it may be required to verify the accuracy and freshness of the information before utilising it,” the company said in a blogpost.

Google is also amplifying vital safety and vaccination messages that includes the ‘Get the Facts’ around vaccines campaign, to encourage people to focus on authoritative information and content for vaccines. “We’re also surfacing important safety messages through promotions on the Google homepage, Doodles and reminders within our apps and services.”

When people ask questions about vaccines on Google Search, they see information panels that display the latest updates on vaccine safety, efficacy and side-effects, plus registration information that directs users to the Co-WIN website. “You will also find information about prevention, self-care, and treatment under the Prevention and Treatment tab, in easyto-understand language sourced from authorised medical sources and the ministry of health and family welfare,” it said.

The new Q&A function in Maps enables people to ask about and share local information on availability of hospital beds and oxygen in select locations

MBBS students: Postponement of exams has jeopardised our future

MBBS students: Postponement of exams has jeopardised our future

Rema.Nagarajan@timesgroup.com

11.05.2021

Lakhs of medical students are exasperated with the government wanting to postpone all exams citing surging Covid cases and then asking the same students to join for Covid ward duty. Going by the government’s logic, they point out, MBBS doctors will get infected if they appear for exams, but not if they work in Covid wards.

They pointed out that their careers have been put on hold and their training periods have been extended indefinitely citing Covid cases even as elections were held and religious gatherings were allowed. Resident doctors and medical students have been writing to all authorities concerned to express their unhappiness with the series of decisions made by the central government. None have responded.

There are about 60,000 post-graduate medical students, including roughly 15,000 Diplomate of National Board (DNB) students — mostly in private hospitals and 45,000 MD/MS students in medical colleges — who were ready to graduate and become specialists by this time. Instead, the government has announced the extension of their tenure till the next batch joins. No fresh batch can join till the entrance exams for post-graduation are conducted, which has been put off till after August 31.

When Union health minister Dr Harshvardhan tweeted on April 15 to announce the indefinite postponement of the post-graduate entrance exam just two days before it was to be held, he said “the decision has been taken keeping wellbeing of our young medical students in mind”. He added that “health & safety of our young doctors is paramount”.

“It takes about a month for results of the exam to be declared and another two months for counselling. So, we cannot expect a fresh batch of PG students to join till November-December. Resident doctors have been doing Covid duty for more than a year now and they are exhausted. Instead of getting a fresh batch to relieve them, the government has done this,” lamented a postgraduate student.

Over 1.7 lakh MBBS doctors have registered for the post-graduate entrance exam. “We had been allotted our exam centres and we had even downloaded our admit cards for the entrance when the government decided to cancel it. Most of us have been preparing for more than a year for the exam. We could have joined as residents in various hospitals if the tension of the entrance exam had got over,” said a doctor who had registered to appear for the entrance.

The PMO also wants finalyear MBBS students to be used to help in the Covid effort. Neither they nor thirdyear students have done much of clinical duties They are now expected to do Covid duty. “Hardly any of them have been vaccinated as they did not qualify as health workers since they were still studying. You are risking their lives by putting them on Covid duty,” said a PG student.

Going by the Centre’s logic, they said, MBBS doctors will get infected if they appear for exams, but not during Covid duty

No vaccine stock, Bengalureans rush to nearby districts for shot

No vaccine stock, Bengalureans rush to nearby districts for shot

Christin.MathewPhilip@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:11.05.2021 

With the city facing a severe shortage of vaccine supplies, more and more Bengalureans, primarily in the 18-44 age group, are now heading to nearby districts for inoculation.

The skewed digital divide works in favour of them since most have better access to high-speed internet and smartphones, own vehicles and thus are increasingly travelling to neighbouring districts like Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Ramanagara, Tumakuru, Mandya and Mysuru to get the shots.

This sudden influx could slow down vaccination in these regions and adversely impact locals, who may not be familiar with the rigmarole involved in online registration for a vaccine slot.

Twitter handles like Bangalore Vaccine Update @Blore-Vaccine as well as several Telegram groups provide regular information on availability of slots in and around Bengaluru to tech-savvy citizens. There are also several ‘vaccine availability tracker’ portals, which provide information about centres where vaccines are available. Police are allowing those with confirmation SMS for scheduled vaccination to travel outside the city.

Sudhir Srinivasan, who received his first shot at Chintamani in Chikkaballapur, wrote on Twitter, “Reached at 9.10am. Got tokens around 9.40am. Vaccines arrived at 10.30am. They prioritized the second dose so it took a bit longer. But was out at 11.15am. Around half the recipients were from Bengaluru. Line moves fast (sic).”

Nikhil Rajendran, who booked slots at Chintamani for him and his wife, said: “Vaccination process was smooth. When it came to travelling, I was stopped thrice by police on Bengaluru-Chintamani route, but when I showed the appointment slip, they were fine and there were no issues.”

Abhishek Humney, who travelled from Mahadevapura to Government Boys’ School, Hoskote, said: “The centre was well-managed and there was no crowding. They will ask for your ID proof and appointment confirmation message.”

Girish Valecha, a netizen, asked on Twitter: “I got my vaccination slot in Bangalore Rural (562114) for 14th May. Am I allowed to travel for vaccination from 560008 with appointment slip and SMS confirmation?.” In response, the health department wrote back: “Yes.”

Though there is nothing illegal in getting vaccines from rural areas, health experts fear it could affect the rate of vaccination in those areas. “Bengaluru Rural vaccines are for people living there. Let’s not snatch it away,” tweeted Forever Bengaluru @ForeverBLRU.

Mallikarjuna NH, a netizen, wrote: “I might be overreacting, but these people who are booking rural slots of vaccines from Bengaluru are just shameless.”

Doses administered

According to Co-Win portal, as on Monday, the total vaccine doses administrated in BBMP was 19.86 lakh, followed by Bengaluru Urban (3.02 lakh), Mysuru (7.9 lakh), Bengaluru Rural (1.82 lakh), Kolar (2.36 lakh), Tumakuru

(4.29 lakh), Mandya

(3.26lakh), Chikkaballapur

(2.59lakh) and Ramanagara

(2.29 lakh).

Police act tough across state, citizens complain of caning

Police act tough across state, citizens complain of caning

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:  11.05.2021 

Aggressive policing marked the start of the new two-week lockdown in Karnataka on Monday. There were reports of police teams caning people found outside without a valid reason in Bagalkot, Gadag, Dharwad, Kalaburgi, Belagavi, Ramanagara, Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Tumakuru districts. In north Karnataka, such incidents mainly occurred near vegetable markets and railway stations after 10am.

Long queues of vehicles were seen at checkposts in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Mysuru and Belagavi as many families tried to return to their hometowns. At several places, police personnel urged them to turn back.

In Bengaluru, authorities set up more than 300 checkpoints, including some in residential areas, to stop the non-essential movement of people and vehicles. “We are paying more attention to sending people back than seizing their vehicles,” said a senior officer. Citizens on the way to seek medical care or vaccination were allowed to proceed after they showed relevant documents.

Some people tried to mislead officials. A two-wheeler rider who was stopped near Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed he was a doctor. He had stuck a board stating ‘Doctor Covid-19 duty’ on his vehicle. When pressed for answers, he revealed he was a member of the housekeeping staff at a private hospital. A youngster driving an SUV with an MLC sticker on the windshield was flagged down near the stadium. He claimed that the car belonged to an MLC, but failed to name the legislator. Police seized the vehicle as he didn’t have a driving licence. Thirty men were caught roaming around in Koramangala.

After a 14-day curfew, the state government announced a stricter lockdown to slow the alarming spread of coronavirus infections that have strained the healthcare system. While free public movement is banned, certain industries have been allowed to operate with riders. The government notification permitting in situ construction that doesn’t involve calling workers from outside led to confusion on Monday. Police across the state came across labourers being taken to construction sites. Such groups were stopped.

“May is the time when construction activities move into top gear. A lot of work has to be completed before the monsoon sets in. The government has allowed construction by workers already at the site. But they have to move around to get materials,” said an engineer supervising a site in Bengaluru Rural.

Though the government has allowed delivery of essential items ordered online, many delivery agents complained that police beat them up. “Our colleagues were harassed by police when they were delivering orders in locations such as Kamakya-Banashankari, Sultanpalya, Mattikere, Shastrinagar, Kodigehalli and Ramamurthynagara. All the incidents took place between 10am and noon,” said Ravi Raj G from OTPxpress.