How soon can we have a Covid-19 vaccine? - Times of India

Posted: 16 Jun 2020 11:21 PM PDT

If all goes well, vaccination could start as early as October this year. At the current rate, less than 60 million people will be infected with the coronavirus by this time next year. That's a long way from the roughly 3.6 billion cases needed to create herd immunity in a global population of 7.5 billion. Our best bet, then, is a vaccine that can immunise the world in months and throw open the door to normal social and business life. How far are we from it? The New York Times reports 12 of the 140-plus vaccines under development worldwide are already in different stages of human trials.

HOW FAR FROM THE FINISHING LINE?

The 12 leading vaccine candidates fall under five different categories. Here's how far each one has progressed since January, when the SARS-CoV-2 genome was deciphered.

GENETIC VACCINES
Use one or more of the coronavirus's own genes to provoke an immune response. By now, all four candidates are in the first or second stage of human trials.
Moderna - Phase II
Moderna's mRNA vaccine was tried on eight people in May, but experts gave a lukewarm response to its results. Part of Operation Warp Speed — a US govt programme funding five vaccines — the American company is eyeing Phase III trials in July and hopes to have vaccines ready by early 2021.
BioNTech - Phase I, Phase II
Another Warp Speed project. German company BioNTech is collaborating with USbased Pfizer and Chinese drug maker Fosun Pharma to develop an mRNA vaccine. Pfizer announced human trials in May, and hopes to have a few million doses for emergency use in the fall.
Imperial College London - Phase I, Phase II
Imperial College London researchers have developed a 'self-amplifying' RNA vaccine, which boosts production of a viral protein to stimulate the immune system. They began Phase I/II trials on June 15 and have partnered with Morningside Ventures to manufacture and distribute the vaccine through a new company called VacEquity Global Health.
Inovio - Phase I
In May, American company Inovio published a study showing that their DNA-based vaccine produces antibodies in mice. Phase I trials are underway in the United States and will start in South Korea at the end of June.
PROTEIN-BASED VACCINES
Uses a coronavirus protein or a protein fragment for an immune response.
Novavax - Phase I, Phase II
In May, US-based Novavax started Phase I/II trials on a vaccine made up of microscopic particles carrying fragments of coronavirus proteins. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations is investing $384 million in the project.
Clover Biopharmaceuticals - Phase IClover Biopharmaceuticals has developed a vaccine containing a protein from coronaviruses. The vaccine would be taken in conjunction with a so-called adjuvant, made by British drugmaker GSK, to further stimulate the immune system.
REPURPOSED VACCINES
These vaccines are already in use for other diseases and may also protect against Covid-19.
BCG Vaccine - Phase III
The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine was developed in the early 1900s to protect against tuberculosis. The Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Australia is conducting a Phase III trial with it, and several other trials are underway to see if the vaccine partly protects against the coronavirus.
VIRAL VECTOR VACCINES
Use a virus to deliver coronavirus genes into cells and provoke an immune response.
University of Oxford - Phase II, Phase III
Supported by Operation Warp Speed, the University of Oxford and the British-Swedish company AstraZeneca are developing a vaccine based on a chimpanzee adenovirus called ChAdOx1. It is going into phase II/III testing in England and Brazil, and may be ready.
CanSino Bio - Phase II
Chinese company CanSino Biologics is testing a vaccine based on the Ad5 adenovirus, in partnership with the Institute of Biology at the country's Academy of Military Medical Sciences. In May, they published a paper in the Lancet — the first time Phase I trial data from any Covid-19 vaccine appeared in a scientific journal.
WHOLE-VIRUS VACCINES
Use a weakened or inactivated version of the coronavirus to provoke an immune response. All three are being developed in China.
Sinovac - Phase I, Phase II
This private Chinese firm is testing an inactivated vaccine called CoronaVac. On June 13, it announced that Phase I/II trials on 743 volunteers found no severe adverse effects and produced an immune response. Sinovac is readying for Phase III trials in China and Brazil.
Sinopharm Phase I, Phase II
State-owned Chinese company Sinopharm has started Phase I/II trials on two inactivated vaccine viruses. The company has announced it has built a facility in Beijing to make up to 200 million doses per year.
Institute of Medical Biology - Phase I
Researchers at the Institute of Medical Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, which has invented vaccines for polio and hepatitis A, are running a Phase I trial of an inactivated virus vaccine for Covid-19 for emergency use by October.

EVEN AN 'IMPERFECT' VACCINE IS BETTER THAN NONE

About 3% of people get measles even after vaccination. The whooping cough vaccine doesn't let you fall sick, but you can still carry the bacteria and spread it to others. No vaccine is 'perfect', says a Bloomberg report, and the coronavirus vaccines that will hit the shelves a few months from now might have limitations, too.

The goal right now is to prevent disease and death, not infection with the coronavirus. If people get infected but not sick, it's alright, experts say. "It's quite possible a vaccine that only protects against severe disease would be very useful," Robin Shattock, who is leading vaccine work at Imperial College London, tells Bloomberg. However, Michael Kinch, associate vice chancellor at Washington University in St. Louis, says such a vaccine could increase the rate of infection, as people who have been vaccinated will behave as though it's 2019 all over again.

Compiled by Kenneth Mohanty & Abhilash Gaur
Source: WHO, NYT, US Dept of Health and Human Services, media reports

02:38

How close is the world to a Covid-19 vaccine?

‘Expired’ polio vaccine given to 50 children of CRPF jawans at Delhi camp, probe ordered - ThePrint

Posted: 19 May 2020 12:00 AM PDT

At the CRPF camp in south Delhi where at least 50 children of jawans were administered 'expired' polio vaccines on 16 May 2020 | By special arrangement

Text Size:

New Delhi: Expired polio and Easy 6 vaccines were allegedly administered to at least 50 children, aged between one and four months, of jawans posted with the Special Duty Group (SDG) of CRPF, ThePrint has learnt.

The jawans were also charged Rs 300 for two drops of polio vaccine, which usually costs around Rs 20 in private hospitals, and Rs 3,000 for each shot of Easy 6 vaccine at a camp organised on 16 May by an SDG-commandant rank officer at Sector 4 Pushp Vihar in south Delhi. SDG, CRPF, takes care of PM's security.

Easy 6 vaccine provides immunity against six diseases — diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, meningitis, hepatitis B and polio.

Commandant Harsh Vardhan allegedly roped in a private doctor, Dr R.K. Sinha, for the camp, which was organised without taking permission from the medical directorate of the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) or local authorities.

In order to set up any such camp to administer vaccines, due permission is required from local authorities, which then appoints a vaccine superintendent, who oversees that the medicine is being administered properly and also keeps a data of each child who is given the shot. A report of all these is then sent to the Health Ministry and then to the World Health Organisation. Administration of expired medicines is also punishable under law.

"No proper procedure was followed while setting up this camp and a private doctor was roped in for the same. They not only charged Rs 300 from each family but also administered expired medicines," a source in the CRPF said.

"A jawan pointed it out when he saw the card given to him in which there was a bar code, which mentioned the expiry of the medicines as 'April 2020'," he said.

"Then most jawans checked their cards and found that their kids too were given expired medicines. When they asked the doctor, they were told to return their cards. Most of them were torn, but a few jawans managed to take pictures," he added.

According to the source, the doctor then apologised and allegedly asked the jawans not to raise the issue with the higher authorities.

CRPF Director General (DG) A.P. Maheshwari was later apprised of the matter, following which he has ordered an inquiry.

Dr Sinha, however, told ThePrint the 'expired' vaccines would have "no reaction or side-effects".

Speaking to ThePrint, a CRPF spokesperson confirmed the immunisation programme was not official. He, however, said the parents of the children knew it was a private camp and not organised by the forces.

'Will not have any side-effects'

Dr Sinha told ThePrint he had gone to administer the medicines on request and that only 3 to 4 medicines were found to be expired.

"We do not hold these private camps but went there only in good faith. The vaccines too were brought by distributors, who often supply the same to us. Some of those vaccines were later found to be expired. We assured the parents that it will not have any side-effects as in such a case only the potency of the medicine gets lower," he said.

"It was not intentional. We have also given an undertaking to the parents that nothing will happen to the children. There will no reaction or side-effects. We have also told them these shots will be repeated after a month," he added.

Also read: Kashmir to Assam, Tripura to Jharkhand, India's CRPF is stretched, stressed and it's showing

'Not all vaccines were expired'

A senior officer of the CRPF said out of 116 doses administered, only four were expired.

"We were also told by doctors that the expired dosages also have an extended time limit until which they can be used and they also do not have any side-effects," he added.

The officer said around 50 children of jawans posted with the SDG of CRPF were due for vaccination. As they could not be given shots due to the lockdown, the parents of these children tied up with a private clinic and were facilitated into the camp for vaccination after observing Covid protocols, he added.

"These families wanted to get their children the vaccines and the officer concerned had contacted CGHS (central government health scheme), but because of the lockdown, nothing could be arranged. This is when the officer approached the local clinic," he added.

"The doctor involved is a prestigious pediatrician and was a registrar at the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital and Safdarjung hospital," he added.

The officer also said the SDG commandant tied up with the private doctor only to ensure the children are vaccinated.

"An inquiry has been ordered by CRPF Medical Directorate and a report is likely to be received soon and findings of the report will be taken to its logical end as per the facts," the CRPF spokesperson told ThePrint.

Wife of a jawan writes to Modi, Amit Shah

Concerned about the health of their children who were administered the 'expired' medicines, the wife of a jawan has written a letter on 17 May to the DG, CRPG, marking the same to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging them to take appropriate action.

The woman wrote she has been duped by authorities by putting her child's life in danger.

She also alleged after the jawans at the camp pointed out the expired medicines, the staff there tore the slips pasted on the cards, which were proof of the expired vaccines.

She also claimed the medicine bottles were thrown out of the room and some even burnt to junk evidence.

"Sir, it is my request to kindly look into this matter and get it thoroughly investigated," she wrote.

The woman also asked in the letter as to why a doctor from the CRPF was not at the camp and why they were asked to hush up the matter when the jawans pointed out the expiry of the vaccines to the doctor.

She also alleged that when the jawans threatened to complain to the higher authorities, they were told they will be transferred to Chhattisgarh.

The woman in her letter also said that while the jawans risk their lives for the security of the PM, their kids are being subjected to this treatment.

When ThePrint asked a second senior CRPF officer to comment on the allegations, he said the inquiry is on and he will comment on the matter once the report comes out.

This report has been updated to reflect that 'expired' Easy 6 vaccine was also administered to the children, and to include the version of the doctor who administered the medicines.

Also read: New twist in tussle as CRPF withdraws cooks, drivers posted with retired IPS officers

ThePrint is now on Telegram. For the best reports & opinion on politics, governance and more, subscribe to ThePrint on Telegram.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel.