The nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive starts on Saturday amid speculation among some doctors whether the home-grown vaccine, which is yet to prove its efficacy, is being sent to public institutions that have fewer opportunities to question the decision.
The doctors who have questioned the inclusion of the home-grown Covaxin from Bharat Biotech alongside the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine at the start of the inoculation campaign say the proposed split of the two vaccines in Delhi has amplified their concerns.
Six government hospitals in Delhi will receive Covaxin while all the 42 private hospitals will receive the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, Covishield, produced in India by the Serum Institute of India, according to a document received by the sites.
Fruit flies evolve in response to environment
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Males modulate their reproductive investment based on perceived competition
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Shaped by competition: Evolved traits enabled the fruit flies to maintain fitness in adverse conditions.
| Photo Credit:
Vijaya Anand
Males modulate their reproductive investment based on perceived competition
A study of fruit flies bred in the lab shows that they may actually evolve to modulate their reproductive traits based on the extent of competitiveness of their competing males. This study of 150 generations of fruit flies, spanning about six years, shows how the environment can influence evolution of reproductive traits.
India readies for COVID-19 vaccination but vexed questions on the solution remain downtoearth.org.in - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from downtoearth.org.in Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Top virologist says will not take Covaxin until efficacy data is out India s national drug regulator has approved the Covid-19 vaccines of both Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech for restricted use in the country. However, experts have severely criticised the regulator for clearing Bharat Biotech s Covaxin even though the efficacy data is available yet. Noted Indian virologist Gagandeep Kang shares her views in a report in The Hindu. Kang said Bharat Biotech has data from animal challenge studies that are supportive of efficacy, but that doesn t automatically imply human efficacy. From humans, the drugmaker must be following up their Phase I and Phase II participants for safety and immunogenicity and may have some data, but that is not going to be sufficient. Bharat Biotech will need efficacy data from its Phase III trial which may take a few weeks or months to come as the company is still in the process of recruitment, vaccination, and data collection.
Coronavirus | Use of a vaccine without knowing its protection potential is unethical, says immunologist Vineeta Bal
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January 08, 2021 23:55 IST
Dr. Bal, a former scientist of the National Institute of Immunology, says emergency use approval for COVID-19 vaccines over fears of mutant strains is not reasonable on a scientific basis.
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Dr. Vineeta Bal. File
Dr. Bal, a former scientist of the National Institute of Immunology, says emergency use approval for COVID-19 vaccines over fears of mutant strains is not reasonable on a scientific basis.
Dr. Vineeta Bal
, immunologist and Faculty, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, and former scientist, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, disagrees with the emergency use approval given to Covaxin, the COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech, on the grounds that there was no evidence yet on if and how it provided protection. Excerpts from an interview with The Hindu’s