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Covid case update: India logs 16,156 cases, highest recoveries since March 2020

by Medically Speaking Team October 28, 2021

India recorded its highest COVID-19 recovery rate since March 2020 at 98.20 per cent on Thursday, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

According to the ministry, the recovery of 17,095 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally of recovered patients to 3,36,14,434.

Meanwhile, with 16,156 new COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India’s total caseload has reached 3,42,31,809.

The country’s active caseload is presently at 1,60,989 which is the lowest in 243 days.

Also, the active cases presently constitute 0.47 per cent of the country’s total positive cases, which is the lowest since March 2020.

As per the health ministry, with 733 new fatalities in the last 24 hours, the death toll has gone up to 4,56,386 and the fatality rate is at 1.33 per cent.The weekly positivity rate at 1.19 per cent and it remained less than 2 per cent for the last 34 days now.While the daily positivity rate is currently at 1.25 per cent. The daily positivity rate has remained below 2 per cent for the last 24 days and below 3 per cent for 59 consecutive days now.

The testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded.In the last 24 hours, the country tested a total of 12,90,900 samples.India has so far conducted 60,44,98,405 cumulative tests.

Meanwhile, with the administration of 49,09,254 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has reached 1,04,04,99,873.

October 28, 2021 0 comment

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Centre to launch ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ campaign to ramp up COVID-19 vaccination

by Medically Speaking October 28, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

Centre will soon start a mega COVID-19 vaccination campaign ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ in poor-performing districts aiming to achieve full vaccination by the end of November, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday.

“We are going to launch a mega vaccination campaign ‘Har Ghar Dastak’. We have decided that for the next one month, healthcare workers will go door-to-door to vaccinate people eligible for the second dose and also those who have not takenthe first dose,” the minister told media persons.

Mandaviya on Wednesday chaired a national review meeting with health ministers of states and UTs to discuss the scaling up of the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country.

According to the minister, 77 per cent of the eligible population in India has been vaccinated against COVID with the first dose while 32 per cent people have received both doses. “More than 10 crores people have not taken the second dose of vaccine. People who are eligible for the second dose should take the vaccine,” he added.

Highlighting the need to accelerate the pace and coverage of vaccination, he stated that there are more than 10.34 crore people in the country who have not taken the second dose after the prescribed interval.

Speaking to ANI, Chhattisgarh Health Minister TS Singh Deo raised concerns about the number of people who have dropped out of taking the second dose of the COVID vaccine. A cause of worry is that a huge number of people have dropped out from taking the second dose of COVID vaccine. Wherever there is vaccine hesitancy, we should reach out to people through social, religious, and other organisations,” Deo said.

He added, “Wherever there is a deficiency, there is always scope for trying to do better.” Deo also said that vaccination hesitancy has not been witnessed in Chhattisgarh.

Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh told ANI that 67 per cent of the eligible population in the state have taken the first dose while the second dose has been administered to about 21 per cent of people. “We will fully vaccinate people with the first dose while for the second dose we will try our best with the solutions given by the Union Health Minister,” he added.

Uttarakhand Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat after the meeting told ANI that people in the state have been fully vaccinated with the first dose while more than 50 per cent have been administered the second dose.

The Union Health Minister also stated that adequate vaccine doses were available in the country, and more than 12 crore balance unutilized doses are available with the States for administering. “No district should be without full vaccination”, he exhorted the States. He further added- “Let us aim to cover all eligible with 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine by end-November 2021.

During the meeting, the state health ministers were requested to ensure continuous oversight on the progress of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme. Mandaviya urged the State and UTs to make regional and local level plans with all the stakeholders to reduce the number of people with vaccination overdue. He also urged for innovative strategies to encourage them to achieve their targets to review the planning and execution of district-wise plans for coverage of due beneficiaries of the second dose as available on the Co-WIN portal.Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar was also present during the national review meeting. State Health Ministers Alo Libang (Arunachal Pradesh), Keshab Mahanta (Assam), Mangal Pandey (Bihar), T S Singhdeo (Chhattisgarh), Satyendra Jain (Delhi) Rushikesh Patel (Gujarat), Dr Narrotam Mishra (Home Minister Madhya Pradesh), Dr Mani Kumar Sharma (Sikkim), M A Subramanian (Tamil Nadu), Jai Pratap Singh (Uttar Pradesh), Dhan Singh Rawat (Uttarakhand), Dr Subhash Garg (Rajasthan), Banna Gupta (Jharkhand) participated in the review meeting. State officials along with Mission Directors (NHM) from various states were also present. Mandaviya highlighted the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi guiding the recently launched PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-BHIM).”COVID has given us the opportunity to analyse the gaps in our existing health infrastructure. We have also learned that in a federal democracy, the Centre and States working in a synchronized collaborative mode can achieve significant milestones”. He informed that with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore, PM-AB HIM, announced in the Budget 2021-22, is the largest pan-India Health Infrastructure Scheme and would provide a much-needed fillip to India’s capacityto address emergent Public Health issues. This will give a major boost to India’s healthcare infrastructure and make it more resilient, he added. He urged the States to make strategies for timely utilization of the allocated funds under the new Mission. Mandaviya also requested State Health Ministers to ensure that plans and implementation schedules for the ECRP-II are reviewed for timely completion of the proposed initiatives and schemes. Speaking about India’s philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Dr. Mandaviya said that India’s pharma sector is fulfilling this philosophy by catering to people with new cost-effective treatments and vaccines. “India supplied essential drugs to the world during first wave of COVID. The world reciprocated and helped India during the second wave”, he stated. Praising the efforts of Indian scientists and researchers, he said that there is no dearth of brain and manpower in India. “India is rightly called ‘pharmacy of the world’ due to its quality drugs. It is a matter of immense pride for India that we have manufactured the COVID vaccine and also administered 100 Cr doses in a short span since 16th Jan 2021″, hestated. The Union Health Minister further exhorted the State Health Ministers to ensure that the country’s goals for TB elimination, AIDS control and treatment, and other non-COVID schemes are kept in sharp focus. Dr Mandaviya assured the Health Ministers that the Centre will extend all support and assistance to the States/UTs in matters of health. “In a federal democracy, the Centre and States form a collaborative platform. We should work as a team for ensuring Swastha Bharat, Samruddh Bharat”, he said. The State Health Ministers heartily thanked the Union Health Minister for this interactive meeting which gave them the opportunity to discuss various issues at a personal level. As desired and assured by Mandaviya, an interactive group with State Health Ministers has been created on WhatsApp to facilitate real-time interaction with the Union Health Minister.

October 28, 2021 0 comment

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Merck Approves Generic Manufacturing of Its COVID Pill, Molnupiravir

by Medically Speaking October 28, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

Merck announced on Wednesday a collaboration with the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) that will allow more companies to produce generic versions of its COVID-19 pill.

The licencing agreement will make molnupiravir, Merck’s antiviral medication developed in collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, available to millions of people in developing countries.

What is the deal about?

Under the agreement, Merck grants a license to MPP which can then sub-license to manufacturers of generic drugs.

MPP is a Geneva-based international organisation backed by the UN that works to facilitate the development of medicines for low- and middle-income nations.

The royalty-free license would apply to 105 such countries.

This means that Merck will not receive sales royalties while COVID-19 remains classified as a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ by the World Health Organisation.

“This is the first transparent, public health-driven voluntary license for a COVID-19 medical technology,” Merck and MPP said in a joint statement.

What is the antiviral pill?

Molnupiravir, an experimental oral antiviral pill, has been found to reduce the risk of serious disease and death by 50% when given within days of a positive test, according to phase three clinical trials.

No deaths were reported in patients who received the pill, while eight deaths had been recorded in patients who received a placebo.

“The interim results for molnupiravir are compelling and we see this oral treatment candidate as a potentially important tool to help address the current health crisis,” said MPP executive director Charles Gore.

The US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency are already reviewing the drug, and a decision could come within weeks.

Earlier this year, Merck signed bilateral licensing deals with eight Indian generic drug makers, including Cipla, Dr Reddy’s Labs and Sun Pharmaceuticals, among others.

“We all along knew that we would want to diversify the geographic footprint of our generic partners so that we did not only have generic suppliers in India but in other geographies as well,” Paul Schaper, Merck’s executive director of global public policy, told Reuters news agency.

October 28, 2021 0 comment

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Study: Drug to treat OCD could reduce hospitalisation risk in Covid patients

by Medically Speaking October 28, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

According to the findings of a new clinical trial published in The Lancet Global Health, fluvoxamine, an antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), can reduce the need for hospitalisation among high-risk Covid-19 patients.

The research was conducted as part of the TOGETHER trial, which aims to investigate the efficacy of eight repurposed Covid-19 treatments in high-risk adult patients who are not hospitalised.

The fluvoxamine part of the trial began in January 2021. Researchers recruited adults in Brazil who were symptomatic, had tested positive for Covid, were unvaccinated, and had at least one criteria for high risk.

For the study, 741 participants were given 100 mg of fluvoxamine twice daily for 10 days and 756 participants received a placebo.

The participants were observed for 28 days. The researchers recorded how many patients spent more than six hours receiving physician treatment at a specialised Covid-19 emergency setting, or hospitalisation.

Of the 741 participants who received fluvoxamine, 79 required an extended stay for more than six hours in an emergency setting or hospitalisation, compared to 119 out of the 756 participants who received the placebo.

The results show that using fluvoxamine to treat high-risk outpatients with early-diagnosed Covid reduced the need for prolonged observation in an emergency setting or hospitalisation, compared to a control group who received a placebo.

“Recent vaccination developments and campaigns have proved to be effective and important in reducing the number of new symptomatic cases, hospitalisations, and deaths due to COVID-19. However, COVID-19 still poses a risk to individuals in countries with low resources and limited access to vaccinations,” said Edward Mills of McMaster University in Canada, co-principal investigator on the trial.

“Identifying inexpensive, widely available, and effective therapies against COVID-19 is therefore of great importance, and repurposing existing medications that are widely available and have well-understood safety profiles is of particular interest,” Mills said.

October 28, 2021 0 comment

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World Stroke Day: Foods to avoid for prevention of stroke

by Medically Speaking October 28, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

World Stroke Day: A stroke occurs when blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, causing brain tissues to be damaged. There are numerous lifestyle factors that can increase your risk of stroke, ranging from poor eating habits and obesity to a lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle.

It is possible to reduce the risk of a stroke by managing certain health conditions like blood pressure, cardiac diseases, diabetes, cholesterol, obesity, refraining from tobacco, staying away from alcohol and reducing stress. Regular exercise and balanced diet could also help.

“Stroke is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Various lifestyle habits can increase the risk of stroke. Food habits are not far behind so let’s look at food stuff that we may eat routinely that increases our risk of stroke,” says Dr Praveen Gupta, Principal Director & Head, Department of Neurology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram.

1.Processedfoods

If you begin and end your day with junk food and look for excuses to indulge in trans-fat laden food, you should be very careful as you are increasing your risk of getting a stroke. “Processed foods or junk foods, such as crackers, chips, store-bought goods and fried foods, typically contain a lot of trans fat, which generates bad cholesterol called LDL which deposits in the wall of arteries leading to blockage. It also leads to inflammation in the body. It is this increase in the inflammation of the body that is a foundation of many diseases like stroke and heart attacks,” says Dr Gupta.

2.. Smoked and processed meats

There are certain preservatives in smoked and processed meats like sodium nitrite that can damage the blood vessels and thus increase stroke risk. They cause oxidative stress leading to vessel wall damage and tissue injury. Examples of smoked and processed meats include hot dogs, bacon and salami. Ideally, you should limit smoked and processed meats completely from your diet.

3. Table salt

Salt here refers to processed salt found in packaged foods and table salt. Natural, unrefined salt, such as Himalayan salt, is not associated with increased stroke risk and can be used to flavour food. Salt elevates blood pressure giving rise to injuries of arteries, brain and the heart. In fact, reducing salt by 5 gm a day can significantly lower blood pressure and hence stroke risk.

4. Diet soft drinks

“Diet drinks are misleadingly attractive. Many people think because a soda is labeled “diet” it’s a better choice, but studies have linked diet soft drink consumption with an increased risk of stroke and vascular disease. In a nine-year study of more than 2,500 people, those who drank diet soda daily were 48 per cent more likely to have a heart attack or stroke or die from those events, compared with those who rarely or never drank soda,” says Dr Gupta. Thus avoiding certain foods can decrease stroke risk and set stage for a long healthy life.

October 28, 2021 0 comment

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Health Minister: 77% eligible Indian population inoculated with first dose of Covid-19 vaccine

by Medically Speaking October 28, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

Following a meeting with state and union territory health ministers on Wednesday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that at least 77% of the eligible population in India had received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

“With the first dose, 77% of the eligible population in India has been immunised against Covid.” Both doses were administered to 32% of the population. Over ten crore people have not received the second dose of the vaccine. “People who are eligible for the second dose should get the vaccine,” Mansukh Mandaviya told news agency ANI.

“We’re going to launch a mega vaccination campaign ‘Har Ghar Dastak’. We’ve decided that for the next one month, healthcare workers will go door-to-door to vaccinate people eligible for second dose and also those who have not taken the first dose,” he added.

The health minister also informed that during the special vaccination drive, “a special focus” would be given to 48 districts where less than 50 per cent of the eligible population has been vaccinated.

Mansukh Mandaviya urged the health ministers of states and Union Territories to “aim to cover all eligible with 1st dose of Covid-19 vaccine by end-November 2021”. He also called for complete vaccination in all districts across the country.

October 28, 2021 0 comment

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Covaxin receives WHO approval due to a delay in submitting virus inactivation data

by Medically Speaking October 28, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

DELHI, NEW DELHI: According to sources, the World Health Organization (WHO) is pushing Covaxin’s emergency use listing due to a lack of complete details of the virus inactivation process used in its production. The WHO has requested “additional clarifications” from Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech in preparation for a final assessment on November 3.

According to sources in the Union Health Ministry, because Covaxin is a whole inactivated virus-based vaccine, the WHO has been meticulously gathering data to ensure that the inactivation process is complete and without any gaps.

They also pointed out that the company has WHO approval for three out of nearly 12 vaccines it manufactures but no inactivated virus based vaccine made by the firm has got the approval till now.

“Therefore, WHO approval for Covaxin will be a first for the company if it gets the nod and that’s the reason the company needs to show a meticulously documented inactivation process,” said an official.

A query seeking response from Bharat Biotech on delay in WHO EUL has remained unanswered so far.

A vaccine expert in Delhi pointed out that while there may not be problems with the “the inactivation process itself, it is possible that the company might not have documented the procedure carefully”.

India has been pushing for WHO recognition of Covaxin as without it, the two-dose vaccine is struggling to be accepted as a valid vaccine globally and has complicated travel plans for Indians who have received it. The UN health body had on October 18 made it clear that it “cannot cut corners” and “must evaluate it thoroughly to make sure it is safe and effective” before recommending the product for emergency use.

The WHO rigour on the vaccine inactivation process comes in the backdrop of Brazil’s health regulator rejecting an application to give Covaxin a certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices following an inspection of the company’s site in Hyderabad earlier in April this year.

October 28, 2021 0 comment

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Guidelines for Covid vaccination in children likely to be out soon

by Medically Speaking October 27, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

People familiar with the development said that government experts are finalising a list of comorbidities that will make children in India eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and that a paediatrician’s clearance may be required to receive the anti-Covid shot.

“Several top experts in the field are being consulted to determine how best to incorporate [Covid-19] vaccination among children into the programme.” “Because it involves children, people are taking their time,” said a government official familiar with the situation who asked not to be identified. “Guidelines on a list of specified comorbidities, as well as other procedural clarifications, should be available shortly.”

The Covid-19 vaccination drive for children is likely to be introduced next month in a phased manner. It could start with giving anti-Covid shots to those aged 12 and above, much like there was a phased approach with the country’s adult population, with children considered vulnerable to Covid-19 getting the first jabs.

Zydus Healthcare’s Covid-19 vaccine, ZyCoV-D, which received emergency-use authorisation last month, has been tested in those aged 12 and above.

“The list of comorbidities will be specified as it was done in [the case of] adults. While age was a major criterion for adults, in the case of children, comorbid conditions are likely to be the deciding factor for eligibility. The specified condition may need confirmation from a certified doctor, and whether it’s okay to take the shot. The guidelines will clarify these things,” said the government official.

Health-related conditions that are likely to be included on the list are all types of cancers, congenital heart disease, chronic liver and kidney diseases, and lung-related ailments.

Children who have undergone an organ transplant will also be prioritised.

Meanwhile, the national drugs regulator continues to analyse Covaxin data before granting approval for emergency use in children, said union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday, even though an expert committee of the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) already recommended its use in children two weeks ago.

“This is a sensitive matter as it deals with children. Therefore, the government has been clear and taken a stand, from the start, to not interfere in the decision-making on this technical topic. Let technical experts handle it,” said Mandaviya.

“However, according to the information that I have, the technical committee has granted its approval on the matter, and the data is being further analysed. Decision on the [Covid-19] vaccine’s use in children will be based on the outcome of that analysis. The analysis is not only based on local data, but also on what’s the global trend, as it deals with children,” the health minister said.

October 27, 2021 0 comment

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NHRC notice to Labour Ministry over ‘medical negligence’ leading to patient’s death

by Medically Speaking October 27, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

According to officials, the National Human Rights Commission has issued a show-cause notice to the Union Labour Ministry for alleged medical negligence in the treatment of a suspected coronavirus patient at an ESI hospital here, which resulted in his death at a tie-up facility.

The notice was sent to the ministry’s secretary, who was also directed to investigate the matter and submit a detailed report, according to the NHRC.

The rights panel said in a statement that it has issued a notice to the secretary of the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment “to show cause why it should not recommend Rs 2 lakh as monetary relief to the next of kin of the patient who died due to medical negligence” of an ESI facility.

The complainant had alleged that “his father was seriously ill and was suspected of having Covid-19 infection. The ESI hospital in Jhilmil, Delhi, kept referring to him from one government hospital to another, without admitting to the emergency ward, or providing treatment,” the statement said. “The hospital did not refer him to even a private hospital attached with ESI timely, where he could get a bed and timely treatment,” it added.

According to the proceedings of the case, available on the NHRC website, the death took place at Prakash Hospital in May last year. The man was brought to the ESI hospital by his son, for the first visit on May 25, 2020. The patient was clinically evaluated and found to be a Covid-19 suspect, according to the case proceedings.

“After a persuasive search, one of the tie-up hospital, namely Prakash Hospital agreed to take the patient. The patient was immediately referred to Prakash Hospital on 28.05.2020, and he was admitted there. The patient succumbed to his illness on 29.05.2020,” it said. The rights panel in the statement said that earlier, on the basis of the material on record, the Commission had found that there was a “gross negligence in treatment, referral by the doctors at the ESI hospital, which caused delay in the treatment of the patient leading to his death”.

The Commission observed that this “act of negligence” violated the Right to Health and Right to Life of the victim under Article 21 of the constitution. The NHRC has also asked the secretary of the ministry to submit a report, responding to several queries, including whether Covid-19 negative report is a pre-requisite for getting treatment at ESIC hospital.

“Why the doctors including CMO/superintendent were not aware about any tie-up hospital (the doctors took three days to find the hospital) where the patient could have been referred to,” the NHRC wrote in another query. Why the patient was not checked up or treated by the emergency duty medical officer, is another query, the rights panel has asked while seeking the report, according to the statement. The Commission has also sought additional details from the director general of the ESIC (Employees State Insurance Corporation) in this case, officials said.

October 27, 2021 0 comment

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Covid-19 and oral health!

by Medically Speaking October 27, 2021

written by Medically Speaking

According to one study, people who were infected with Covid-19 had poor oral health. According to a recent study conducted by the department of dentistry at ESIC Medical College in Hyderabad, poor oral health hygiene was significantly associated with the pandemic. The study, which lasted from August 2020 to February 2021, discovered that gum bleeding and plaque were more common in people who had Covid. Dr. Namrata Rupani, founder and CEO of Capture Life Dental Care, discusses the importance of oral health awareness and the disruptions caused by lockdown and Covid 19 cases.

Q. How has the pandemic’s impact on oral health been felt in the last 18 months?

A. Safeguarding one’s oral health is now more than just a priority. What the pandemic taught the world about immunity also applies to dental health. Severely transforming the oral health landscape, the pandemic has had far reaching dental implications. This period has been sensitive for people’s oral health. There has also been limited access to dental practitioners and fear of infections aggravated the problem for many.

Q. How are oral health and severity of Covid-19 related?

Oral health plays a major role but is the most neglected. The need to brush twice a day, flossing and thoroughly rinsing the mouth on a daily basis in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums. It is also important to ensure a healthy PH balance in the mouth region. These routines help maintain good oral health. What we realised in Covid-19 patients was bad oral health compromised their situation further leading to their deterioration. Studies across the world are highlighting a strong oral health defence system which will help in increasing the overall immunity.

Q. Which age group neglects dental health?

A. Dental neglect is common amongst many preteens, teens, and students. This age group is usually not well aware of dental hygiene and typically neglects oral care to a huge extent which affects them afterwards. Women in their pre-menopause, menopause and postmenopause stage also need to take care of their teeth and gums. Calcium deficiency in them during these stages leads to complications. It has been noted that regardless of age and gender, it is the socio-demographic variables which significantly influence oral health attitude and behaviour.

Oral care requires mental and emotional preparedness. Counselling is an extremely important part of dental practice as it involves motivating patients by making them aware of the benefits of good oral hygiene. In a human body, all aspects of health are interrelated and it requires constructive influence to embrace dental care as a part of overall health.

Q. What are the challenges noted in people for dental care?

A. One of the major challenges is lack of access to routine oral care in a significant number of the population. This has resulted in a wide variety of oral diseases among the general public. Another problem is the lack of initiative in people to approach professionals for their long pending dental problems. There is a need to prioritise oral care by creating awareness on its role on the overall well-being of the body.

October 27, 2021 0 comment

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