With inputs from Dr Monica Vasudev

Interim results show 77.8% effectiveness of Covaxin against symptomatic Covid

Interim results from a phase III trial show that Covaxin (BBV152) was highly effective against laboratory-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 disease in adults. In the final per-protocol analysis, measured 14 days after the second dose, the overall vaccine efficacy was 77·8% against symptomatic COVID-19 disease and a higher efficacy against severe COVID-19 of 93·4%. It was well tolerated with no safety concerns. Covaxin is an inactivated whole virus vaccine formulated with a novel adjuvant and has a two-dose regime given at a gap of 28 days… (Source: The Lancet, Nov. 11, 2021)

France recommends against Moderna vaccine for people younger than 30 years

The Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) or the French National Authority for Health has recommended that people younger than 30 years should be given the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in place of the Moderna vaccine citing "very rare" risks linked to myocarditis with the Moderna vaccine. According to HAS, this risk appears to be around five times lesser with Pfizers Comirnaty jab compared to Modernas Spikevax jab... (Source: Reuters, Nov. 9, 2021)

ECG findings in Covid-19 patients

A review of the ECG findings in Covid-19 patients reported in the journal Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics has described QRS axis changes, conduction abnormalities, arrhythmias (most commonly atrial fibrillation) and ST segment and T wave changes. The study authors write, “Clinicians should be cognizant of some of the reported ECG changes, such as abnormal QRS axis in nearly 20% of patients, conduction abnormalities in approximately 20%, atrioventricular block in about 2.5%, and premature beats in nearly 10% of patients.” ST and T wave changes can be due to myocardial infarction or myocardial injury secondary to myocarditis, or microthrombi and so should be clinically correlated… (Source: Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics, Oct.30, 2021).

Unvaccinated persons have 20 times higher mortality risk 

A study from Texas Department of State Health Services, US has concluded that compared to fully vaccinated people, unvaccinated persons were 13 times more likely to become infected with COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people. They were also 20 times more likely to die from Covid-19-related complications. The risk of death was 23 times higher in unvaccinated people in their 30s and 55 times higher for unvaccinated people in their 40s…(Source: Texas Department of State Health Services, Nov. 9, 2021)

Covid-19 generates 8 million tons of plastic waste

Covid-19 has resulted in over 8 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste globally as of August reports the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. And, more than 25,000 tons has entered the global ocean. Nearly 90% of the excess plastic waste generated during the pandemic were the medical waste from hospitals; individual PPE (personal protective equipment) contributed to just 7.6% of the plastic waste, while 4.7% came from packaging. Almost half of all the mismanaged plastic waste was produced in Asia…(Source: PNAS, Nov. 23, 2021)

EMA adds transverse myelitis as a side effect of J&J vaccine

The European Medicines Agency (EMA), the drug regulating agency in Europe, has recommended adding transverse myelitis as a side-effect of Johnson & Johnsons single-dose Covid-19 vaccine.