Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

India hails 'life saving' Covid-19 vaccine rollout

India hails 'life saving' Covid-19 vaccine rollout

India's Covid-19 vaccination drive had a successful start with more than 224,000 people receiving their first jabs and just three people hospitalised for experiencing side effects, the health ministry said Sunday, as reports emerged about concerns over a homegrown vaccine.

Authorities have given emergency-use approval for two jabs -- "Covishield", a version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, and the Indian-made "Covaxin", which has yet to complete its Phase 3 trials.


The government plans to immunise some 300 million people out of its population of 1.3 billion by July.

Frontline workers such as hospital staff, people over 50 and those deemed to be at high risk due to pre-existing medical conditions are on the shortlist to receive the vaccines.

"We have got encouraging and satisfactory feedback results on the first day," health minister Harsh Vardhan told his state counterparts on Saturday.

"This vaccine will indeed be a 'Sanjeevani' (life saver)" in the fight against the virus, he added.

The health ministry said Sunday that 447 people reported experiencing side effects -- mostly fever, headache and nausea -- after being given their shot, with three people admitted to hospital.

Two have already been discharged, the ministry added.

Just six states carried out vaccinations on Sunday, the second day of the rollout. The government has advised local authorities to limit inoculations to four days a week so as to reduce disruptions to routine health services.

- Vaccine fears -

The updated vaccination figures came as a doctors' representative body at the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi wrote a letter asking for the Covishield vaccine to be supplied instead of Covaxin.

"The residents are a bit apprehensive about the lack of complete trial in case of Covaxin and might not participate in huge numbers thus defeating the purpose of vaccination," said the letter addressing the hospital's medical superintendent, seen by AFP.

"We request you to vaccinate us with Covishield, which has completed all stages of trial before its rollout."

Pathologist Arvind Ahuja told AFP at the hospital on Saturday that he shared some of the concerns.

"I hope when the data comes out, it is good. Ideally, they should have waited for one month at least as then we would have known better about its efficacy," the 45-year-old said.

Vaccine hesitancy has emerged as a major concern, with a recent survey of 18,000 people across India finding that 69 percent were in no rush to get a shot.

Leading scientists and doctors have called on authorities to release efficacy data about Covaxin to boost confidence about the vaccine.

Covaxin recipients on Saturday had to sign a consent form that stated its "clinical efficacy... is yet to be established".

Officials had hoped to inoculate 300,000 people on Saturday but said glitches with an app used to coordinate and monitor the process meant not all potential recipients were alerted.

India has the world's second-largest known caseload with more than 10.5 million coronavirus infections and over 152,000 deaths so far.

More For You

Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow's interest in wellness and food began in part due to her father’s battle with throat cancer

Getty

Gwyneth Paltrow returns to sourdough and pasta after years of ‘hardcore’ diets

Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed that she is returning to eating foods she once restricted, including sourdough bread, pasta, and cheese, after following a strict paleo diet for several years. The Oscar-winning actress, who has become a prominent health and wellness advocate, has been vocal about her diet choices throughout her career, particularly through her lifestyle business, Goop.

In a recent episode of her Goop podcast, Paltrow discussed her food journey and how her eating habits have evolved over the years. She explained that she had previously gone through a "hardcore macrobiotic" phase, describing it as an "interesting chapter" where she became deeply focused on eating extremely healthy foods. This period saw her embracing a diet rich in seasonal and local foods, with an emphasis on fish, vegetables, and rice, while eliminating dairy and sugar.

Keep ReadingShow less
5 Surprising Penguin Facts to Celebrate World Penguin Day

It’s a perfect opportunity to reflect on these fascinating facts about penguins

iStock

Top 5 fascinating facts about penguins on World Penguin Day

As World Penguin Day arrives, it serves as a reminder to celebrate one of nature’s most beloved and unique creatures. Penguins have long captured our imaginations with their tuxedo-like appearance, charming behaviour, and extraordinary ability to thrive in some of the harshest environments on Earth. While these remarkable birds are most closely associated with the icy expanses of Antarctica, their story is far more diverse and fascinating. Here are five fascinating facts about penguins that highlight their resilience, adaptability, and their role in the animal kingdom.

1. Penguins aren’t confined to Antarctica

Although penguins are often linked with the cold and icy landscapes of Antarctica, they are not confined to this frozen continent. In fact, penguins inhabit a wide range of environments across the Southern Hemisphere. While species such as the Emperor and Adélie penguins breed exclusively in Antarctica, other penguin species have adapted to life in warmer climates. For instance, the Galápagos penguin resides on the Galápagos Islands, located just north of the equator, where temperatures are much warmer than those in the icy waters of the South Pole.

Keep ReadingShow less
Harrogate flower show

Organised by the North of England Horticultural Society

Getty

Harrogate to host UK’s largest flower show with 40,000 visitors

An estimated 40,000 visitors are expected to attend the Harrogate Spring Flower Show over the next four days, making it one of the UK’s largest events for horticulture and floral art. The event, which opened today (Thursday 24 April), is being held at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre in Harrogate and runs daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm until Sunday 27 April.

Organised by the North of England Horticultural Society, the Harrogate Spring Flower Show is recognised for hosting the UK’s biggest exhibition of creative floral art. This year’s floral art theme, Swords & Sorcery: Fantasy Heroes, features imaginative displays inspired by fantasy and mythical tales.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian community

Menopause is a universal transition - one every woman will experience in her lifetime

iStock

Breaking the silence: Why Asian women must talk about menopause

Kiran Singh

For many women in the Asian community, the journey through perimenopause and menopause is still shrouded in silence, confusion, and, at times, shame. It’s often seen as something we just have to “put up with” quietly, as though struggling through it alone is a badge of honour. But the truth is, menopause is a universal transition - one every woman will experience in her lifetime - and it is time we start talking about it, especially within our cultural communities where silence often masks suffering.

We all go through it - so why don’t we talk about it?

Menopause doesn’t arrive overnight. For most women, it begins subtly during perimenopause, which can start as early as your late 30s or early 40s and last for several years. According to the NHS and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), over 30 recognised symptoms of perimenopause range from hot flushes and night sweats to anxiety, low mood, brain fog, and joint pain.

Keep ReadingShow less
How AI and music could transform dementia care for south Asians

AI tunes into dementia needs

How AI and music could transform dementia care for south Asians

THE recent World Health Congress Awards in Mumbai were a revelation. Stepping into that room overlooking the Arabian Sea, I was surrounded by pioneers and individuals shaping the future of healthcare with bold ideas.

Amid the buzz of innovation, one topic resonated deeply: dementia. It was not just the medical complexities, but the human stories, the silent struggles of carers, and the potential for technology to bridge the widening gaps in care.

Keep ReadingShow less