COVID

Different Booster Shots The Way Forward? | Coronavirus: Facts Vs Myths   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhLlseiJjPU Jun 23, 2021  Canada, Spain, UAE and several countries are now offering Pfizer or Moderna vaccines as a booster to AstraZeneca. Russia and China, too, are looking at a mix and match of other vaccines. Russia, for instance, has been planning on testing a combination of the AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines - which could be interesting for India. NDTV speaks to experts on whether this could lead to better immune response and solve delays due to vaccine supply shortage.

My COVID ANTIBODIES + VACCINE? A call for AUTHORITIES to recognize NATURAL IMMUNITY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7PJT9D7twUThe rush for vaccine certificate and passports..

COVID-19 2nd Wave: A Look At Official Death Count And Actual Numbers | Reality https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gUnl9zFDGI  Check New data suggests that India's COVID-19 death count could be higher than the official numbers released by the government. On Reality Check, a look at the Covid death numbers from various states.

Madhya Pradesh saw nearly three times more deaths than normal after second wave of Covid-19 struck https://scroll.in/article/996772/madhya-pradesh-saw-nearly-three-times-more-deaths-than-normal-after-second-wave-of-covid-19-struck  Official data on all-cause mortality in the state in April and May 2021 raises questions about the official Covid-19 death toll.
Rukmini S Jun 12, 202

https://twitter.com/Rukmini/status/1397394246244597762

Excess death may not be COVID death, but the death are in the time of COVID which at least has put pressure on the health system. 

Fake Address, Numbers: At Peak of 2nd Wave, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZtYcNJHVgY

while India was struggling with the Second wave, mass gatherings like Kumbh Mela were organized.
There were large crowds. Lakhs of people gathering on the Ghats of Ganga. They were happy and celebrating. They were taking holy dip in Ganga and Going about their rituals. There was hardly any social distancing, some were going maskless, leave alone the covid appropriate behaviour. 1 Lakh Fake COVID free Test Reports Issued During Kumbh

Kumbh Mela: Probe flags around 1 lakh 'fake' COVID-19 test results; an overview of the controversy https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/kumbh-mela-probe-flags-around-1-lakh-fake-covid-19-test-results-an-overview-of-the-controversy/ar-AAL3GiD A large number of the four lakh COVID-19 test results issued during the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar may have been fake, as per a preliminary probe by the Uttarakhand health department.

Preparing for a post Pandemic Economy: from Sunset to Sunrise areas of growth.. amitabh kant 4th March 2021

http://niti.gov.in/preparing-post-pandemic-economy-sunset-sunrise-areas-growth  Firstly, the future lies in mobility that will be shared, connected and electric. To support the EV segment, the government has already brought about numerous interventions, including a lower GST structure, tax deduction on interest for loans, and has supported procurement through the FAME II scheme.
Secondly, we must focus on Advance Cell Chemistries. India should take the lead in supporting the manufacturing and scale up of these new age chemistries which will advance battery storage.
The third area for rapid transformation is Artificial Intelligence (AI). An AI enabling policy environment supplemented by young, data hungry entrepreneurs and product managers is crucial to evolve as a global technology leader.
The fourth key area of transformation is the 5th generation mobile network technology which will radically transform the world of communication, mobile technologies and flow of data. License conditions for 5G in India should therefore ensure that Indian companies get access to background IPR from global players on FRANDS terms. It is imperative that we create our own end-to-end 5G ecosystem so that we can address our critical security concerns.
The fifth key area is Genomics. We need to set in motion a virtuous cycle of private investment in genetic testing, analysis counseling and therapy.

The production linked incentive schemes, reforms in labour laws, GST, corporate tax rationalization and an overall ease in doing business will give a fillip to India’s growth. India must seize the opportunity in sunrise areas of growth - this would require size, scale, speed of action and a focus on technological disruption.

Parakala Prabhakar​ https://youtu.be/PiiK4S47tM4?t=86 The ruling dispensation seems to be mired in a shamanic view of COVID. Also the planning for the post covid economy seems to be limited  to talk about e mobility, next gen batteries, artificial intelligence, and 5G technologies.   No bread and butter issues, that afflict the marginal and vulnerable today or in the next few years.. 

There is very little post pandemic scenario planning, and the parliamentary committee on Finance reportedly expressed dissatisfaction the Niti Aayog presentation, while it spoke of two extreme possibilities, did not outline anything about what India could need to do.. Public Universities are also not working on post pandemic scenarios..

Obscurantist narratives prevail in the current dispensation which has lead to underestimation of the challenge and overestimation of our exceptionalism.. preceding an assault on scientific temper.

Ref: Preparing for a post Pandemic Economy: from Sunset to Sunrise areas of growth.. amitabh kant 4th March 2021 http://emeets.lnwr.in/index.php/covid/813-preparing-for-a-post-pandemic-economy-from-sunset-to-sunrise-areas-of-growth

 Ref: Indian economy to bounce back soon from effects of COVID-19: NITI Aayog Vice Chairman https://dst.gov.in/indian-economy-bounce-back-soon-effects-covid-19-niti-aayog-vice-chairman 

For other posts on COVID see: http://emeets.lnwr.in/index.php/covid

On Economy & Equity see http://emeets.lnwr.in/index.php/economy-equity

If You Extend Intervals, You May Become Vulnerable To Variants: Dr Fauci https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2Nj40Trpy8

the delta variant is of concern. It spreads more easily.. in the UK and India.  When 617 spread among non-vaccinated people it becomes dominant.  that is why   Get the vaccine as soon as possible, 

Fortuantely, the vaccine that are being used in the US are doing very well against alpha.  but a little less against Delts variant.. but still well enough .  

Anthony Fauci interview | ‘Push hard to get as many people vaccinated in India as possible’ https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-push-very-hard-to-get-as-many-people-vaccinated-as-you-possibly-can-fauci-on-india/article34616482.ece  Sriram Lakshman MAY 21, 2021 Until more people get vaccinated, one needs to be concerned about making sure people wear masks, particularly in indoor settings when the ventilation is not as good as you would expect, compared to the outdoors...You don't need to shut down for an extended period of time. You could shut down just enough to break the transmission cycle, which you can do. So I think continue wearing a mask, pushing on the vaccination to the extent you possibly can and where you have a high degree of infection to make sure you keep it shut down until it starts to come down.

US Eager To Involve India In Covid Clinical Trials: Dr Fauci  PTI https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/dr-anthony-fauci-us-eager-to-involve-indian-investigators-in-clinical-trials-on-covid-19-2455967 June 04, 2021 Top US Expert Dr Anthony Fauci said they are eager to involve Indian investigators in sites in global clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of various COVID-19 therapeutics

India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu "Looking ahead, we need to invest in preparing for the future. Future global resilience will depend on how well prepared we are in dealing with future pandemics. We need to work to further expand our bilateral programmes in areas such as epidemiology, digital health and patients'' safety to tackle communicable, and non-communicable diseases and improve infectious disease modelling, prediction and forecasting.

Similarly, the sharing of clinical expertise, standards, and experiences of hospitals, in the management of infectious diseases, especially COVID-19, would add to the knowledge base," Mr Sandhu said.

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Ambiguities in the COVID guideness

The official guidelines say
Government of India will procure 75% of the vaccines being produced by the manufacturers in the country.
Will they procure 75% of the all vaccine being produced in India or does it mean that for every 75 vaccines procured by the Central government, the manufacturer is free to sell it to private hospitals at a price to be decided by the manufacturer.
The issue is what is the price at which government will buy the vaccine from the manufacturers. And is there are cap of or formula of the price from the manufacturer to the private hospitals, which is allowed to charge only Rs. 150 . https://indianexpress.com/article/india/centre-places-order-for-44-crore-doses-of-covishield-and-covaxin-7349987/

The Indian Express (Kaunain Sheriff), Jun 8, https://indianexpress.com/article/india/centre-places-order-for-44-crore-doses-of-covishield-and-covaxin-7349987/  interpret this guidelines as "centre will procure 75 % of the total doses to vaccinate every adult, free of cost. and has said that Health department has placed advance order on June 8th for 44 crore doses from the two vaccine manufacturers (25 crore doses- SII , and 19 crore doses - Bharat Biotech. )
Post August - 74 crore additional doses (including 30 crorre from Biological E)

Five Months after Launch of Vaccination, the Union Government Provides a Hint How the Vaccine Doses Would Be Disbursed
Jun 8, 2021,

The vaccination programme had been launched, with the Union Government monopolising 100% of all available vaccines, in mid-January (ref.: < https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-worlds-largest-vaccination-programme-begins-in-india-on-january-16/article33582069.ece >).
It took almost five months to come out with a sort of protocol to determine allocation between states. Never mind, that even now, if it reads rather like a Sudoku puzzle.

Hope the Supreme Court would make the maker of the puzzle solve it for the benefit of the common Indians, Apart from asking for a detailed roadmap as regards augmenting the supply in the foreseeable future.

The whole episode goes to underline how enormous damage recent Judgement  have done.
Just to illustrate, last year, over a crore of migrant workers - as per government figures (ref.: < https://www.news18.com/news/india/over-1-crore-migrant-workers-walked-to-their-home-states-during-covid-19-lockdown-till-june-2899161.htm l>), had to trek back home - maybe hundreds of miles away, braving the scorching sun under the impact of the brutal lockdown, with less than 4 hours notice, meant to lock them up at their places of work so that they become available to their employers at their convenience as and when the lockdown eases.

Also  thanks to the Supreme Court  (ref.: < https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/supreme-court-order-on-covid-19-vaccines-cant-be-silent-spectators-2454705 >.)  twelve major opposition parties have, in unison, asked for universal free vaccination  (ref.: < https://indianexpress.com/article/india/12-oppn-leaders-write-to-pm-modi-demand-free-mass-vaccination-suspension-of-central-vista-project-7312541/ >), The Congress also sought to credit the Supreme Court for the change in the Centre's vaccination policy and said the announcement came after the apex court reprimanded it and sought an affidavit on the inoculation drive.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "The prime minister is guilty of endangering the lives of Indians by repeatedly changing the (vaccination) policy and instead of accusing the states, he should be tendering an apology for endangering people's lives." He alleged that the government has brought these changes in its vaccination policy after it was reprimanded by the Supreme Court. He alleged that the PM is "Pulling the wool over someone's eyes", as his government has ignored and rejected the demand made by several Congress leaders for universal free vaccination. (Ref.: <https://www.deccanherald.com/national/as-centre-changes-policy-congress-says-universal-free-vaccination-still-not-achieved-995004.html>.)

Fact-checking PM Modi's address to nation | TV Newsance Episode 135 https://youtu.be/30hzpq0khRw?t=300  

Full text of  the Prime Minister's complete "address to the nation": <https://www.narendramodi.in/prime-minister-narendra-modis-address-to-the-nation-555691>.

Full text of Guidelines: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/RevisedVaccinationGuidelines.pdf

Now, the hint -  in ANI tweet extracted the following three lines when enclosing the guideline..

Vaccine doses to be allocated to States/UTs based on population, disease burden & vaccination' progress. Wastage will affect allocation negatively

Vaccine doses provided free of cost by Government of India will be allocated to States/UTs based oncriteria such as population, disease burden and the progress of vaccination. Wastage of vaccine will affect the allocation negatively.

The price of vaccine doses for private hospitals would be declared by each vaccine manufacturer, and any subsequent changes would be notified in advance. :

Within the population group of citizens more than 18 years of age, States/UTsmay decide their own prioritization factoring in the vaccine supply schedule.

Sukla Sen  10th June 2021

Right now, this is the status:

Covishield would be available to the Union Government at Rs.150 per dose, to the state governments at Rs. 300 per dose and to private hospitals at Rs.600 per dose.
For Covaxin, the corresponding rates would be Rs.150, 400 and 1,200.

There's no announcement to the effect that the price to be paid by private enterprises June 21st onwards would be any different.
Moreover, caps on the prices that the private enterprises can charge an individual have been fixed.

By Sukla Sen 9th June 2021 in PUCL group

The vaccination policy in India, as it appears, is slated to have three phases.

Under the phase (i) - that had been launched mid-January this year (ref.: https://www.unicef.org/india/stories/covid-19-vaccine-launch-india ), the Centre was monopolising all available vaccine doses from the two producers in the country and then disbursing as per its sweet will - with no norms fixed.

When the severe scarcity of vaccine doses became all too stark, the phase (ii) was initiated (w.e.f. May 1, ref.: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1712710 ) under which the Centre would keep 50% of the vaccines and disburse as per its own sweet will.
For the rest 50%, the states will compete among themselves and with various private entities. For each vaccine there are, now, three levels of selling price by the producers.
(Ref.:  https://groups.google.com/g/greenyouth/c/SqAGrD-JtK0/m/0ohtVNwbAQAJ .)

Moreover, quite strikingly, when vaccine supply was already running short, a new category - from 18 to under 45 years of age, was made eligible for vaccines - without any augmentation in supply. That sparked off a regular chaos.
Not because the Modi regime didn't foresee it, but because the regime precisely intended it. In order to shift the blame of gross vaccine mismanagement from itself to the states - to the non-BJP states, in particular. It was also meant to provide an opportunity to the two vaccine producers and other private enterprises to make bumper profits.

Now, with the Supreme Court coming in between and taking a tough posture (ref.: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/supreme-court-order-on-covid-19-vaccines-cant-be-silent-spectators-2454705 ) - a sort of course correction (ref.: <https://groups.google.com/g/greenyouth/c/YKiZNo4ncbE> and <https://www.bbc.com/news/57400891>) - under a phase (iii) to be launched on the coming June 21st has been put forward.
I, for one'd guess, that the specifics would get further updated as and when the Court delivers its final verdict.

The basic problem is that there's serious shortage of vaccines - in India and globally.
Apparently, the regime was only interested in mopping up cut-money - following the dictum that no good crisis should be wasted; didn't spend a rupee to ensure augmentation of production.

India is, btw, the largest manufacturer of vaccines in the world  and has long experience in mass vaccination - since well before Independence (ref.: < https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/news-analysis-history-shows-india-did-not-lack-access-to-vaccines-as-claimed-by-pm-modi/article34758021.ece  >).
That initial advantage was simply wasted.
It, perhaps, believed in its own bluff that Taali/Thaali/Diya is enough to tackle the pandemic.
The visuals of dead bodies burning in parking slots and floating in the Ganga have, however, made a difference.

The basic issue is that

(i) the production of vaccines has got to be augmented. And

(ii) the produced vaccines are to be fairly and efficiently disbursed.

Hope the Supreme Court - would pay attention to both the aspects.

COVID-19 Vaccine launch in India 28 January 2021  https://www.unicef.org/india/stories/covid-19-vaccine-launch-india  India is well prepared for the largest vaccine drive to combat COVID-19 Brian Alfred Boye