The World Health Organisation (WHO) has given a nod of approval to the Serum Institute of India’s (SII), emergency use vaccine Covovax. CEO of the Serum Institute of India Adar Poonawalla shared this news through his Twitter handle saying “This is yet another milestone in our fight against Covid-19, Covovax is now WHO approved for emergency use, showing excellent safety and efficacy. Thank you all for a great collaboration.”
Covovax is Serum Institute’s version of protein-based Covid-19 NVX-CoV2373 developed by a company named Novavax, based in the USA. Covovax targets the spike protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus — the protein that allows the virus to penetrate the human cell. Once launched. This vaccine can be administered to the age group of people as young as three-year-old.
Until now 101 cases of Omicron variant of Covid-19 infection have been recorded across 11 states, according to the Health Ministry. While briefing the media, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agrawal said, “Omicron variant reported in 91 countries in the world. WHO has said that Omicron is spreading faster than the Delta variant in South Africa where Delta circulation was low. Omicron will likely outpace Delta variant where community transmission occurs, WHO added.”
ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava also warned the citizens against lowering the guard, he said, “This is the time to avoid non-essential travel, mass gatherings and it is very important to observe low-intensity festivities.”
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said that the national capital has registered 10 new Omicron cases, which has taken the total cases in the city to 20. He also shared that Out of this total, 10 people have been discharged.
India recorded 7,447 new Covid cases today, taking the total tally of cases to 3,47,26,049, while the active cases declined to 86,415, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. According to the data updated at 8 am, the death toll climbed to 4,76,869 with 391 fresh casualties. A decline of 830 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in 24 hours.
