First 6 cases of new Covid strain found in India as UK returnees test positive

‘3,81,305 beneficiaries received Covid vaccine, 580 adverse events’: Health Ministry

Union Health Ministry informed that a total of 3,81,305 beneficiaries have so far been vaccinated for Covid-19 and 580 adverse events following immunisation were reported in the country till 5 PM on January 18. Addressing a press briefing, Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary in the ministry of health, said 1,48,266 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 25 states and union territories till 5 pm on Monday. “A total of 3,81,305 beneficiaries have so far been vaccinated (till 5 pm on Monday) till today through 7,704 sessions, as per the provisional reports,” the ministry said. Agnani said a cumulative 580 adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs) and seven hospitalisations have so far been reported in the country since the nationwide Covid inoculation drive began on January 16. Watch the full video for more.

Brazil begins COVID vaccinations amid delay of ingredient imports

Lagging immunisation drive further hampered by wait on active ingredients from abroad to finish doses for distribution.

USF Professor says COVID-19 mutations will continue, but vaccines should still work

At least 50 cases of the Coronavirus mutation have been found in the United States, and almost half are in Florida.

How does the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine work?

Trials of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine suggest it is 94% effective againstCovid-19, and it has now been approved for UK use. Furthermore, no person whowas vaccinated with the jab, known as mRNA-1273, developed severe coronavirus.US firm Moderna has said its trial results indicate the jab is generally welltolerated with no serious safety concerns.

One UK returnee tests positive for new strain of COVID in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan informed that a total of 22 UK returnees tested positive for COVID, however only one tested positive for new strain of coronavirus. "Only one UK returnee has tested positive for the new strain of Coronavirus. He is doing well. During last 12 hours, two more UK returnees from Coimbatore and Chennai have tested positive for COVID-19, taking total number of returnees with COVID to 22," said Tamil Nadu Health Secretary

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Bharat Biotech vaccine could've advantage over others on new strain, hopes ICMR DG

Director General of ICMR, Dr. Balram Bhargava, said that indigenously developed Bharat Biotech vaccine might have some advantages over other vaccines on the new strain of COVID that was found in UK. He said, "NIV scientists have successfully isolated the new virus strain and this will be tested against different vaccines. We hope potentially Bharat Biotech vaccine will have some advantages over other vaccines on this new strain because it is a whole virus." "New virus variant which is now more than 60% infective and creating havoc in the UK is worrisome. There are 29 patients in India with the same variant for which we should be cautious. We have been able to isolate the new virus very soon," added Dr. Balram Bhargava.

PGIMER sends 80 random samples to Pune to check for new virus strain

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Director Jagat Ram said that the institute has sent 80 random samples of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 since September to National Institute of Virology, Pune to ascertain if there is mutation in the virus. The PGIMER director informed that 20 samples each from the last four months have been sent.

COVID-19 vaccination drive begins in India

The mega COVID-19 vaccination drive began in India on January 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the drive and around 100 healthcare workers will get vaccinated at each session site on the inaugural day. Manish Kumar, a sanitation worker, became the first person to receive COVID-19 vaccine jab at AIIMS. In the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive, healthcare workers will receive the vaccine. The beneficiaries reached to their respective health centres. Two COVID vaccines have been approved in India- Pune-based SII's 'Covishield' and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's 'Covaxin'.

COVID vaccine reaches length and breadth of country

As India is set to start the vaccination program against COVID-19 on January 16, millions of doses of Covishield vaccine, manufactured by Pune's Serum Institute of India, have reached the length and breadth of the country. Himachal Pradesh has received 93,000 shots on Thursday evening as part of the first consignment which was dispatched from SII's Pune facility. The hilly state has more than 800 active cases of COVID-19. Kerala, which is struggling to keep rising cases under control also received the first batch of the vaccine in Mallapuram. The southern state has more than 65,000 active cases of coronavirus, the highest in the country. Ladakh also got 11,500 doses of the Covishield vaccine as part of the first phase of the vaccination program. BJP MP Jamyang Namgyal and state Health Department Director Dr Phuntsog Angchuk received the vaccine at Leh airport. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the vaccination program at 10:30 AM on January 16 with 3 crore health and frontline workers being listed to get the shots in the first phase.

Hyderabad-based non-profit organisation provides free education to tribal children

Once a child labour, Santosh, who is currently running his own NGO in Hyderabad, provides free primary education to the tribal children. People Helping Children was set up in 2019 and aims towards providing solution to the problems faced by the underprivileged children. Education and nutritious food are the two top priorities of the NGO. With branches in 6 states, NGO runs with the support of around 50 members and over 1000 volunteers. Founder of People Helping Children, Santosh said, "I lost my childhood, I worked as a child labourer, so I don't want anyone to lose their childhood, this is the main reason, why I started this NGO." The goal of this NGO is that every child gets primary education in the country.

Vaccines approved only after testing: G Kishan Reddy confident of efficacy

Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy inaugurated vaccination drive at Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad on January 16. On the rumours around the efficacy of the vaccine, G Kishan Reddy said that medicines tested in other countries are considered good but when our scientists toil and develop made in India medicines, people view it like that. He further assured that vaccines have been approved only after testing."I request people to not say such things. Medicines tested in other countries are considered good but when our scientists toil and develop made in India medicines, people view it like that. I request not to discuss things like this. Vaccines have been approved only after testing. I say this confidently that the vaccines will benefit everyone," said MoS Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy.

Holding big protest to support farmers on Jan 20: Congress' DK Shivakumar

Speaking to ANI in Bengaluru on January 19, president of Karnataka state in Congress, DK Shivakumar said, "We all stand by the farmers of this country. Supreme Court (SC) has stayed the laws. They should scrap it. This is what Congress demands." "The farmers' demand is justified. On behalf of Congress party, we are holding a big protest tomorrow to support them," he added.

K'taka Health Minister inaugurates COVID vaccination drive at Manipal Hospitals

Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister, K Sudhakar inaugurated COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 17 for the healthcare workers. He inaugurated the drive at Manipal Hospitals in Bengaluru today. Billed as the world's largest vaccination programme, covering the entire length and breadth of the country, the drive aims to first inoculate millions of its healthcare and frontline workers and reach an estimated 3 crore people by the end of its first phase. The mega COVID-19 vaccination drive began in India on January 16. Speaking to ANI, K Sudhakar said, "Doctors expect around 70-80% turn out today. Whatever issues we faced yesterday (January 16) in the CoWIN app, will be sorted out by Monday."

‘Entire nation needs to be linked to Covid vaccination drive’: Amit Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah said that there is a need for the entire nation to be linked to the Covid-19 vaccination drive which began on January 16. He also urged people not to spread rumors so that different opinions don’t emerge in public regarding the vaccination drive. Amit Shah is on a two- day visit to Karnataka. The Home Minister reached the state on January 16. Shah, on Saturday, flagged off Emergency Response Support System vehicles in Bengaluru. He also laid the foundation stone of the Bhadravathi Rapid Action Force Centre in Bhadravathi. Watch the full the video for more.