India seeks Russian vaccine data; 61K +ve cases in 24 hrs
While Covid-19 vaccine trials are on track in India, the government is also engaging with Russia on the possible use of its SputnikV vaccine.
“Some initial information has been shared… (but) detailed information is awaited,” Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said Tuesday. No immediate imports are, however, planned.
With nearly 61,000 cases in the last 24 hours, the total coronavirus cases in India reached 31,67,323 till Tuesday morning, and
with 848 fresh fatalities, the death toll rose to 58,390.
But for the first time, total active cases fell in the past 24 hours, the health secretary said.
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Even though the trials for the Covid-19 vaccines are on track in India, the government is simultaneously engaging with Russia on the possible use of its Sputnik-V vaccine.
“India and Russia are in communication on SputnikV. Some initial information has been shared. Some detailed information is awaited,” said Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday.
The government may not be in a real hurry to import the Russian vaccines given the fact that three vaccine candidates are already in the advanced stages of clinical trials in India. However, since the two countries are also strategic partners, the possibility of having SputnikV vaccine to boost the vaccination drive for the huge Indian population cannot be ruled out.
“The Serum Institute of India (Oxfrord University trials) vaccine studies consisting of 1700 persons are in phase 2 and 3, the one by Biotech has completed phase 1 with 375 persons while that of Zydus Cadilla has entered Phase 2 with about 50 persons being tested. These are two dose vaccines and antibody response is checked after two to four weeks,” said Dr Balram Bhargava, chief of ICMR.
As per Union health ministry, the total number of cases of novel coronavirus in India so far reached 31, 67, 323 till Tuesday morning with nearly 61,000 fresh cases being detected. The death toll was 58, 390 out of which 848 fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours.