COVID-19 vaccination dry run: States flag connectivity issue, urge Centre to allow offline registrations
The COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (Co-WIN) system a digitalised platform will be used to track enlisted beneficiaries for the vaccination and anti-coronavirus shots on a real-time basis. January 08, 2021 / 08:58 AM IST
File image of a healthcare volunteer receiving a dummy COVID-19 vaccine as part of an earlier vaccination dry run (Image: News18)
Ahead of the second nationwide COVID-19 vaccination dry run, several states have raised concerns regarding software, connectivity and broadband issues. Many have even asked the Union Health Ministry to upgrade its Co-WIN platform with details of the time and quantity of vaccine that will be made available to them.
In First Interaction with CMs Post Vaccine Approval, PM Modi to Discuss Rollout, Covid-19 Situation
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers of all states on January 11 to discuss the Covid-19 situation and the vaccination roll-out in the country, his office said on Friday.
This will be Modi s first interaction with chief ministers following the recent approval of two coronavirus vaccines for restricted emergency use by India s drug regulator.
The prime minister has often spoken with state chief ministers following the pandemic s outbreak in the country. India is preparing for the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines and the second nationwide mock drill on the drive was conducted on Friday.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said in a video conference with Union minister Harsh Vardhan, he had demanded that the Centre bear the cost of vaccination including operational expenses.
ANI photo
NEW DELHI: The second mock drill on Covid-19 vaccination was conducted on Friday in 736 districts across 33 states and Union territories with Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, who oversaw the dry run in Tamil Nadu, saying inoculating the country s entire population would soon become a reality.
He said vaccines would be made available in the next few days and those at risk such as healthcare professionals would be given priority.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on the other hand, issued guidelines to all aircraft operators who plan to transport Covid-19 vaccines packed in dry ice to various parts of the country.
Maharashtra’s plasma trial stopped as data reveals higher mortalities
BySumitra DebroySumitra Debroy / Updated: Jan 8, 2021, 08:14 IST
(This story was first published in Times of India on January 8, 2021)
Mumbai: The Platina trial that was studying the efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in treating severe Covid-19 patients has been halted in the state over concerns of higher mortality and other safety parameters. Sponsored by the state’s medical education department, it was touted as one of the largest trials in the world involving 472 participants.
A decision to pause the trial was taken three weeks ago when an interim analysis of data showed higher deaths in the group receiving the plasma. The investigators also found the possibility of the plasma increasing thrombotic tendency (clotting of blood inside the vessel) in the recipients. The trial was being carried out across the state’s 21 medical colleges, and around 150 participants had been recruited so far. Of these