Medical Science

We need to modify the existing COVID19 vaccines to deal with new variants: DAK

(Asian News Hub) – With the emergence of new Covid-19 variants, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday said Covid-19 vaccines should be tweaked to tackle new mutated versions of the novel coronavirus.

“We need to modify the existing Covid-19 vaccines to deal with new variants,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“Currently, three Covid-19 variants – South African variant, Brazilian variant and UK variant are circulating in the human populations which appear to spread more swiftly than the original strain,” he said.

“Some of these variants have been found to evade the effectiveness of the existing vaccines that have been developed against the original strain of the novel virus.”

“A study from University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg has showed that Oxford vaccine had significantly reduced efficacy against the South African variant,” DAK President said.

“An inability to protect against variant strains may severely limit the strategic benefit of vaccines containing only the original strain.”

“In order to have long term efficacy against Covid-19, it may be necessary for vaccines to include multiple variants of the novel virus,” he said adding “this strategy is routinely applied against influenza and all formulations in recent years have included three to four variant forms.”

“Vaccines containing only one variant may induce little or no protection against variant strains that are already circulating among highly mobile human populations.”

“Only those vaccines which are able to provide protection against multiple variants of the virus can bring the Covid-19 pandemic to an end,” Dr Nisar said.

“Vaccine manufacturers need to update their existing shots to address the ongoing genetic evolution of Covid-19.”

“Some vaccine developers have started to redesign their vaccines so that they could better target the variant forms of Covid-19 that are currently circulating in the human population,” he said.

Medical Science

COVID19 vaccines effective enough, no need for third booster jab: Lancet

AFP

(Asian News Hub) – Vaccines are effective enough at preventing severe cases of Covid-19 that there is no current need for the general population to be given third doses, according to a report in The Lancet published Monday.

Some countries have started offering extra doses over fears about the much more contagious Delta variant, causing the World Health Organization to call for a moratorium on third jabs amid concerns about vaccine supplies to poorer nations, where millions have yet to receive their first jab.

Also Read: Even after 5 decades, CRP Sgr hasn’t seen even 50 percent completion, reveals report

The new report by scientists, including from the WHO, concluded that even with the threat of Delta, “booster doses for the general population are not appropriate at this stage in the pandemic”.

The authors, who reviewed observational studies and clinical trials, found that vaccines remain highly effective against severe symptoms of Covid-19, across all the main virus variants including Delta, although they had lower success in preventing asymptomatic cases of the disease.

Also Read: Sgr turns COVID hotspot again; Admin mulls curbs

“Taken as a whole, the currently available studies do not provide credible evidence of substantially declining protection against severe disease, which is the primary goal of vaccination,” said lead author Ana-Maria Henao-Restrepo, of the WHO.

She said vaccine doses should be prioritised to people around the world still waiting for a jab.

“If vaccines are deployed where they would do the most good, they could hasten the end of the pandemic by inhibiting further evolution of variants,” she added.

Medical Science

COVID-19: Samba becomes first district to complete vaccination for all above 18 years

Instead of waiting for people to come, we reached out to them: DC Samba; LG congratulates for achieving milestone

(Asian News Hub) – Amid the ongoing Covid vaccination drive in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, Samba has become the first district in giving the first dose of Covid vaccine to all above 18 years of age.

A top health official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that there are around 241,000 persons in the district in between 18-44 age group and all of them have already got their first dose of Covid vaccine.

Also Read: DAK urges flu vaccination for children ahead of third Covid wave

He said that around 78,000 (33 percent) people have also got second dose of Covid vaccine and the process of vaccinating more and more people is going on. “It was possible only due to the efforts of health workers and front line workers who have worked tirelessly to achieve this milestone,” the official said.

District Magistrate Samba Anuradha Gupta said that since the beginning Samba district started the vaccination process strategically and Samba was among first few districts which completed vaccination process of all above 45 years of age.

“Instead of waiting for people to come to us, we went to them. We had constituted mobile teams to reach everyone. We were vaccinating above 45 age group the positivity and mortality rate started declining and people understood the importance of vaccination,” Gupta said.

Also Read: WHO says Covid will mutate like the flu and is likely here to stay

She said that then people above 18 years came on their own without need of any mobilisation and “our efforts are on complete second dose process at an earliest.”

Meanwhile LG Manoj Sinha has congratulated the Covid management team of Samba and health care workers for their tireless efforts in completing 100 percent vaccination of above 18 years of age. He hoped that other districts will catch up soon and complete this process as well.

“Congratulations to Covid mgmt team of Samba & health care workers for their tireless effort to ensure 100% vaccination of above 18 yrs of age.Samba becomes first distt. of J&K to achieve this milestone & I am sure other districts will catch up soon,” Office of LG tweeted.

Congratulations to Covid mgmt team of Samba & health care workers for their tireless effort to ensure 100% vaccination of above 18 yrs of age.Samba becomes first distt. of J&K to achieve this milestone & I am sure other districts will catch up soon. @dcofficesamba @ByYatishYadav
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) September 8, 2021

Medical Science

DAK urges flu vaccination for children ahead of third Covid wave

(Asian News Hub) – Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday urged parents to get their children vaccinated against flu ahead of third Covid wave which is predicted to happen sometime in the fall of this year and is expected to affect kids the most.

“Receiving a flu shot could make it easier to tell if your child has Covid-19 in the event he/she gets sick as both illnesses have similar symptoms,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

Also Read: WHO says Covid will mutate like the flu and is likely here to stay

“This year’s flu season will likely coincide with the predicted third Covid wave. Administering flu vaccine would reduce the number of unnecessary Covid-19 tests that would limit the burden on hospitals and healthcare workers,” he added.

Quoting a recent study conducted at the University of Missouri School of Medicine Columbia, Dr Hassan said flu vaccination may offer some protection against Covid-19 in the pediatric population.

Also Read: PEC condoles demise of Afghan journalist Fahim Dashty

“The study found that those Covid-19 positive patients who had been administered the flu vaccine in the 2020 flu season had reduced odds of experiencing symptoms, respiratory complications and severe disease,” he said.

The DAK President said we would be facing a double whammy of flu and Covid this fall.

“You can catch the flu and Covid at the same time which could increase your risk of ending up in ICU or on a ventilator. That makes this season’s flu vaccine vitally important,” he said.

Also Read: Akshay Kumar’s mother Aruna Bhatia passes away, actor pens emotional note

“Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine before the start of flu season which begins in October and can last late into May. Since it takes 2 weeks for the flu vaccine to become fully effective, it is best to get the vaccine in September,” said Dr Nisar.

“This season’s flu vaccine has been updated to better match currently circulating viruses. This year a quadrivalent influenza vaccine containing H1N1, H3N2 and two B viruses – Victoria and Yamagata is recommended,” he said.

“While the vaccine is recommended for all, it is especially needed in young children, elderly, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions.

Also Read: Magnitude 7.0 quake strikes Mexico, no reports of serious damage

Vaccination to expectant mothers is critically important to protect their new born babies’ upto 6 months who are too young to receive the vaccine,” he added.