China’s current surge of COVID cases, Here are 10 things you should know about Nasal vaccine
When the world was opening again with a slight sigh of relief, COVID knocked our doors with a new variant. Hospitals and clinics in China are struggling with a surge of corona cases. There are reports of houses queuing at crematoriums in Beijing even though China records zero COVID deaths.
Now a data firm is claiming that the real scale of infection could be far greater than what the official data is showing. According to British based health data firm, Affinity, “Infections in China are likely to be more than a million in a day with deaths at more than 5000 a day’. The data firm says, “It examined data from China’s regional provinces noting that COVID cases are rising quicker in Beijing and southern province of Guangdong.
The health firm’s revelation contradicts China’s official data as the National Health Commission reported only a handful of Coronavirus related deaths.
However, taking precautions, the Government of India is on its toes.
Nasal Vaccine Gets Nod from the Centre
Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has given a nod to Bharat Biotech’s nasal vaccine and soon to be added to all the COWIN platform.
10 things you should know about Nasal vaccine
- It is BBV154, a novel adenovirus vector, an intranasal vaccine for COVID -19.
- An intranasal vaccine stimulates a broad immune response – neutralizing IgG, mucosal IgA, and T cell responses, says Bharat Biotech.
- It effectively blocks infection and transmission by initiating an immune response at the injection site, the nasal mucosa.
- If infected, the immune system prevents the corona virus infection in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts.
- It is non-invasive and needle-free.
- It can be easily administered, unlike the other vaccines.
- There is a complete elimination of injuries and infections associated with needles and syringes.
- It is highly suitable for kids.
- This vaccine is expected to be administered to those above 18. The pricing and availability details will soon be updated in the Cowin portal.
- iNCOVACC received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India under Restricted Use in Emergency Situation for ages 18 and above on September 6.
- Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN and Serum Institute’s COVIDSHIELD are primarily used in the country.
- An intranasal vaccine stimulates a broad immune response – neutralizing IgG, mucosal IgA, and T cell responses, says Bharat Biotech.
3 cases of New Variant detected in India
The New variant related tension is likely to rise in India. Three cases of Omicron sub variant BF.7, apparently the strain driving China’s current surge Nasal Vaccine of COVID cases, have been detected in India so far, as per the official sources.
Read more: Will Rahul Gandhi Stop Bharat Jodo Yatra?
The first BF.7 in India was detected in October by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre. So far, two cases have been reported from Gujarat, while one has been reported from Odisha, they said.
"आज हम #COVID से लड़ने के लिए पूरी तरह से तैयार हैं। लेकिन एक बात का ध्यान रखना होगा कि यह वायरस अपना स्वरूप बदलता रहता है, तो हमें लापरवाही नहीं करनी चाहिए और कोविड अनुरूप व्यवहार का पालन करते रहना चाहिए।": केंद्रीय मंत्री @mansukhmandviya@MoHFW_INDIA @PIB_India @airnewsalerts pic.twitter.com/1jxjIc3X3q
— Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) December 22, 2022
In the COVID review meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Experts urged people to wear masks and take the precautionary dose. However, there is no overall increase in the COVID caseload as of now; there is a need for continued surveillance to keep track of existing and emerging variants.
According to official sources, Chinese cities are currently hit by the highly virulent Omicron strain, mostly BF.7, which is rapidly spreading in Beijing and is contributing to a broader surge of COVID infections in the country.
The Centre has released guidelines. All travelers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary vaccination schedule in their country, it said.
It has also made wearing masks and social distancing compulsory in flight and at entry and exit points of airports.
