Jaya Ho Bharat, Jaya Ho Narendra Modi

Last evening I spent 161 minutes watching the movie ‘The Vaccine War’ and returned home feeling terribly guilty as a journalist. I also felt like a minor hero because I never compromised as a journalist and sold myself for 30 pieces of silver.

The film is about India’s success in producing anti-COVID vaccine within a short period competing with other advanced countries. This despite efforts from other countries to sabotage the efforts of our scientists to find a vaccine and by a section of our journalistic fraternity, joining hands with foreign companies and crying hoarse, ‘We can’t, we can’t.’ The theme of the film was how the sinister ‘India can’t’ narrative was rewritten as ‘India can’.

However, the boss of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), played by Nana Patekar (delivering a sterling performance with a strong screen presence as dominant as that of a Dilip Kumar and an Amitabh Bachchan), inspired, motivated and even intimidated the scientists and defeated those naysayers who said ‘India can’t.’

These India baiters wanted the Government to import the vaccine discrediting the vaccine produced by our scientists as ‘substandard’ etc. But the clarion call of ICMR Chief to his team was ‘India can’. He wanted to tell the prophets of doom in our country and abroad that they were wrong. I observed that in the team of scientists there were more than 33 percent women! This was before our Parliament passed the Women’s Reservation Bill !! Did you get me Steve?

It may be recalled that the home-made Coronavirus vaccine ‘Covaxin’ was produced post-haste, under the most inspiring leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the National Institute of Virology (NIV) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Even though the film is more than two-and-a-half hours long and sans songs, fights and overcharged emotions, it holds the attention of the viewer throughout.

The vaccine project was undertaken on a war-footing. Everything had to be done ‘immediately.’ There was no ‘afterwards’ or tomorrow. There was no room for Government red-tape nor time for family life.

I should admire the genius of the Film Director Vivek Agnihotri for delineating the story without scenes of disturbing human emotions of tears and fears in the face of the risk to life and family involved in the project to each scientist. The Director has shown all these human emotions in a touching way but in a subtle manner.

The film features Nana Patekar, Pallavi Joshi and our own Kannada ‘Kantara’ hit film’s heroine Sapthami Gowda with a cameo role. If Director Vivek Agnihotri presented to us the darker tragic side of our country in the film ‘The Kashmir Files’ here, in contrast, he is presenting the brighter, pleasant side of our country. This is a film to inform our people, specially who survived the COVID pandemic, about the life-saving work done by our scientists. The film recognises and honours the risk taken and the commitments made by those scientists and the medical persons during those dark days of the demonic COVID pandemic.

The film is based on the book ‘Going Viral’ by Prof. Balram Bhargava, Director General of ICMR. Nana Patekar has played the role of Prof. Balram Bhargava in the film. Interestingly, the film uses a few quotes from Vedas and Upanishads to create an Indian ethos, nay of the Sanatana Dharma. I learn the film is no box office hit. No matter. But those who say ‘India first’ or like the Englishmen who say ‘Right or wrong my country’ must go and see the film. I promise it is worth seeing because you will understand India and its people better and also what our people are capable of given the proper environment.

May the truth prevail and naysayers fail.

Lateral thought: After seeing the film, a thought crossed my mind about all those who are science students and those working in  research institutions and organisations, including industries, where they have science laboratories. Those who are studying science subjects in colleges and working in organisations like CFTRI, DFRL, CSRTI, even Milk Dairy and such science-oriented institutions, must go and see this film so that they can inculcate the spirit of scientific temperament in pursuit of their profession as Scientists and also imbibe patriotic values as citizens of this country.

Like for example, sense of nationalism, national pride and above all placing the interest of our country above personal interest. This is what our scientists at National Institute of Virology, Indian Council of Medical Research and Bharat Biotech taught us when they won the vaccine war.

‘Sarve Janah Sukhino Bhavantu’

e-mail: voice@starofmysore.com

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Bhramara’s Prestigious Award for Distinguished Service to Humanity conferred on Covaxin-maker

Mysore/Mysuru: Dr. Krishna Ella, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, Hyderabad, that invented Covaxin (the indigenous vaccine against COVID-19) has given a clarion call for the younger generation to take innovative steps so that a conducive atmosphere is created to check the next generation from looking for green pastures in foreign countries.

Krishna Ella addressed the gathering, a mix of scientists, academicians and students, after receiving Bhramara’s Prestigious Award for Distinguished Service to Humanity from the trustees of Bhramara Trust of Y.T. and Madhuri Thathachari at Sri Rajendra Auditorium, JSS Medical College at Sri Shivarthreeshwara Nagar in city last evening.

“The younger generation should fight for innovations as the Government alone cannot change the eco-system. Or else, the next generation will leave the country, with only old aged people remaining. Unlike five years ago, the Government is different today and the youths should not refrain from taking the risk,” said Krishna Ella.

Not exploiting the pandemic situation

 Recalling a meeting held at a star hotel in Bengaluru on Dec. 5, 2019, where he had expressed an opinion that ‘Bengaluru will be empty in the event of a pandemic,’ Krishna Ella said, “Many didn’t believe in my apprehension. 30 to 40 days later, the COVID-19 pandemic struck the country.”

“When Covaxin was approved, we at Bharat Biotech decided to hand over the vaccine to the Government without asking for a single pie. The company had invested Rs. 800 crore including Rs. 500 crore on clinical trials but was firm on not exploiting the situation as the country was suffering at that time. The revenue (of the country) had taken a beating without any collection of taxes or tourism activities,” said Krishna Ella.

“A company should not think on commercial returns always as at times we have to act with a human touch. Hence, we did it accordingly during the COVID situation,” he asserted.

Colonial situation still prevails

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) former Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar described how the pandemic showed the importance of Science and Technology. “Until the pandemic struck the country, people were of the belief that science was nowhere connected to life. The pandemic has reset the man and is evident with how we learnt about the significance of ‘Namaskara’ (Indian tradition of greeting each other) in our country,” he noted.

Expressing his regrets over how colonial situation still prevails in country even after 75 years of independence, Kiran Kumar said, “150 years ago, physical raw materials in the country were exported to foreign countries and we were getting finished products.  Similarly, intellectual capability is still being targeted.”

Wadiyars set a role model

Mysore royal family member Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar described how his ancestors had set a precedent by doing many firsts for the cause of the society.

“When there was a health crisis and Wadiyar’s were ready to vaccine the people (against smallpox), attempts were made to derail the cause by traditional medicine practitioners by spreading a myth that it (vaccine) may harm lives. To ward off the myth, Maharani Lakshmammanni took a bold step asking her daughter-in-law to get inoculated in front of people,” said Yaduveer.

Likewise, the Princely Mysore State started many eponymous products like Mysore Sandal Soap, Mysore Silk and several others, which can be better described as ‘Make in Mysore’, akin to how the indigenous industries of the country nowadays are being labelled as ‘Make in India’.

Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji said, “A country can progress only when its people feel proud of the indigenous products. The contribution of Krishna Ella is remarkable,  for how he set an example by not just developing the vaccine, but also by returning to the country after completing his higher studies in USA.”

K. Vijay Raghavan, former Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India, described how vaccines are developed through a rigorous process. University of Mysore former Vice-Chancellor Prof. K. S. Rangappa, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS-AHER) Pro-Chancellor Dr. Suresh Bhojraj, Madhuri Thathachari and Prof R. Srinivasan of Bhramara Trust were present.

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Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan speaks at golden jubilee celebrations of JSS College of Pharmacy

Mysore/Mysuru: India emerged as the world’s pharmacy as her scientists not only invented breakthrough and potent vaccines for the killer COVID-19 pandemic but also were able to supply to the needy countries of the world despite the dominance and exorbitant pricing and hoarding strategies by the powerful nations, opined Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan.

 He was delivering the keynote address at the golden jubilee celebrations of JSS College of Pharmacy at Shivarathreeshwara Nagar in Bannimantap on Friday. Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji graced the occasion.

Arif Mohammad Khan further said that the two vaccines against COVID-19, developed by Indian scientists and doctors in record time and trusted by the world, will remain an endearing and epic stride in the history of Indian science, symbolising the Indian spirit of self-reliance. “India supplied vaccines and essential medicines to nearly 100 countries including the U.S. and European nations,” he noted.

Praising the Narendra Modi Government for its fight against the pandemic, Khan said it is because of the ‘Atmanirbhar’ policy announced by the PM that the vaccination drive in the nation is in full swing. “The Atmanirbhar Bharat rekindled the spark of creativity and innovation. The spirit of Atmanirbharta or self-reliance has been deep-seated in the Indian ethos,” he added.

Education without intelligence

“What India needs is education which takes the society forward in the right way. Education without intelligence is a waste. Education must give information and inculcate spirituality. It must bring changes in the life of human beings and must change our society,” the Kerala Governor opined.

On the country’s drugs and pharmaceutical sector, Arif Mohammad Khan noted that pharma exports from India had recorded an increase of 103 percent since 2013. “Our pharmaceutical industry is the third largest in the world that accounts for 20 percent of the global exports of generic drugs,” he said.

This could be only achieved by institutions and centres conducting cutting-edge innovation and research in drug discovery, he said and lauded the contributions of JSS College of Pharmacy.

Minister for Minor Irrigation, Law and Parliamentary Affairs J.C. Madhuswamy presided over the event. Praising the efforts of mutts, he said that mutts and religious institutions in the State like the Suttur Mutt continue to contribute to Karnataka’s status as an educational centre, he said that a State cannot match the contributions.

“We cannot set up such a scale of infrastructure that is required for education. In fact, the mutts are doing Government work here and this has been the tradition for decades, especially in Karnataka,” he noted.

In his address, Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji said that the JSS College of Pharmacy started with 30 students in 1973 and now has a strength of 1,100 students, 54 teaching and 45 non-teaching staff. The institution offers courses including D Pharm, B Pharm, B Pharm (Practice), Pharm D and M Pharm in ten specialisations, Ph.D and residency programmes.

Vice-Chancellor of JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS AHER) Dr. Surinder Singh, Pro-Chancellor B. Suresh and Executive Secretary of JSS Mahavidyapeetha C.G. Betsurmath and JSS College of Pharmacy Principal T.M. Pramod Kumar were also present.

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Jayadeva Hospital Director explains the crucial role of genetics and genomics

Mysore/Mysuru: The development of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines is a crucial step in helping us get back to doing more of the things we enjoy with the people we love. And genetics has played a crucial role in vaccine discovery just six months after the outbreak of the pandemic, said Director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research Dr. C.N. Manjunath.

He was speaking at the First South Zone Conference of the Indian Academy of Biomedical Sciences (IABSCON-South Zone-2022) and the International Symposium on ‘Translational Research’ held at Vijnan Bhavan, in Manasagangothri premises on Thursday. The event was organised by the Department of Studies in Genetics and Genomics.

Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases and minimise their impact on the human population. The availability of complete genome sequences, together with the progression of high-throughput technologies such as functional and structural genomics, has led to a new paradigm in vaccine development, he said.

Earlier, a country’s technological and scientific teams used to take up to 10 years to develop a vaccine and now the time gap has reduced to just six months and India has achieved it. This is a remarkable achievement by India and this stellar achievement can be compared to the world’s most developed countries.

Focusing on cardiac health, Dr. Manjunath said that young people are also developing cardiovascular diseases due to stress, addiction and poor lifestyle. “There was a time when children used to bring parents for the treatment of heart diseases but today parents, particularly in India, are bringing their children in the age group of 20 to 40, for the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases,” he added.

“Loneliness and job losses, vulnerable economy and lifestyle also caused heart-related ailments among the young lot. Screen addiction besides addiction to alcohol, narcotic drugs and smoking for rising cases of cardiac problems,” he said.

 Addiction to the screen, whether a computer or a mobile phone, is one of the important reasons for loneliness. “Today, people are forgetting how to lead a simple life. Simple life management is you should be polite in authority, simple in wealth and should be silent in anger,” he said.

Nearly 7.5 percent of all heart patients below the age of 45 have a genetic or family predisposition to cardiac problems. “The risk factor profile for young versus old is different. Smoking is a common factor between the two, but the incidence of diabetes and high blood pressure is more among older people,” Dr. Manjunath noted.

Studies at Jayadeva Hospital showed that 15 percent out of 2,000 young patients had a strong family history of heart problems. If any member of a family suffers a heart attack below the age of 50, that is the strongest indication of risk in other members of the family,” he added.

University of Mysore Vice- Chancellor Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar, retired VC Prof. K.S. Rangappa, Dr. Hari S. Sharma, University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Prof. S.S. Malini, Chairperson, DoS in Genetics and Genomics, who is also the Organising Secretary, were present.

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Mysore/Mysuru: 75-day free COVID booster dose (third dose) vaccination drive for adults aged over 18 years, marking the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence, began in the city on Monday.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. Bagadi Gautham formally launched the drive at the camp held at Vartha Bhavan on Dhanvanthri Road.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that following the Centre’s decision to administer free booster dose to all adults, the drive has been launched to vaccinate the eligible people (those who have received two doses of vaccine).

Pointing out that the 75-day drive will be completed before the commencement of Dasara festivities, he called upon the people to get vaccinated taking into consideration their own health and safety.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. K.H. Prasad said that the drive launched as per the Government’s direction will go on till Sept.30. Noting that till now, booster dose was given for free only for elder citizens aged over 60 years, health workers and frontline warriors, he said that now the dose is being given for free for all people.

Booster Dose Week

He further said that the Health Department is observing this week as ‘Booster Dose Week’ for which 540 centres in the district including 70 in Mysuru city have been set up.

Noting that 2.50 lakh elderly citizens and 10 lakh out of the 20 lakh people in the age group of 18 to 60 years of the district are yet to receive the booster dose, he asked the people to make use of the drive by visiting their nearest centre and get vaccinated.  

Earlier, a vaccination camp was held under the aegis of Mysuru District Journalists Association for journalists and their family members at the same venue, which was jointly launched by DC Dr. Bagadi Gautham, DHO Dr. K.H. Prasad and MDJA President S.T. Ravikumar.

Mayor Sunanda Palanetra, MCC Health Officer Dr. D.G. Nagaraj, Department of Information and Public Relations Assistant Director T.K. Harish Kumar, Reproductive and Child Health Officer (RCHO) Dr. M.S. Jayanth, MDJA office-bearers M. Subramanya, Rangaswamy, Nagesh Panathale, B. Raghavendra, Shivamurthy Juptimath, Krishnojirao, Beeresh and others were present.

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Mysore/Mysuru: With the Centre announcing free COVID booster dose for all adults aged between 18 and 59 years, the booster dose (Third dose) vaccination drive began across the district yesterday.

DHO Dr. K.H. Prasad said that the free vaccination drive in Mysuru commenced on Saturday soon after the drive was launched by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at Bengaluru.

Pointing out that 28,000 eligible people, who had taken the first and second doses of the vaccine earlier, were administered booster dose on the first day (July 16), he said that the drive was launched in Mysuru at the District Hospital at Metagalli on KRS Road and simultaneously at all the Primary, Community and Taluk Health Centres of the district. The drive will go on for 75 days, he added.

DHO Dr. Prasad further said that the vaccination drive for Journalists and their family members will take place at Vartha Bhavan on Dhanvantri Road tomorrow (July 18).

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Mysore/Mysuru: Children between 12 to 15 years, who have been administered with the first dose of COVID -19 vaccine about a month ago have to wait for their 2nd dose of the vaccine as there is no stock of it as of now.

“My daughter is studying in the 7th standard at a private school and as per the Government instruction, she has been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine more than a month ago. Now, we are receiving messages from the Health Department to get her administered with the 2nd dose. But when we went to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at T.K. Layout and enquired about the 2nd dose, they said that the vaccine 2nd dose for children between 12 and 15 years is out of stock and they would inform us as soon  as the stocks arrive,” said a parent from Ramakrishnanagar ‘I’ Block.

The parent also said that the health staff at the PHC asked us to have patience as the vaccine would be administered at the school itself. “We enquired about the 2nd dose of COVID Vaccine for two to three more times, but it is still not available. Children, who have taken the first dose, are now facing problems to take the second dose as it is not available,” the parent said.

Meanwhile, an officer at the Health Department told SOM that COVID Vaccine for children between 12 and 18 years is being given in their respective schools in the presence of Department of Public Instruction staff. The second dose of the vaccine will be available in a few days, the officer added.

“Students between 12-15 years and 16-18 years have been administered with the first dose and about 82 percent of the students have been administered with the second dose.                                             The remaining students will be administered with the 2nd dose in a few days and parents have to co-operate till then.” — Ramachandra Raje Urs, DDPI, Mysuru

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Mysore/Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner Dr. Bagadi Gautham has instructed the officials from the Department of Health and Family Welfare to hold health camps in every taluk from Apr. 18 to 22, with free screening and treatment. The camps should be equipped with all facilities, he added.

Presiding over a meeting to review the arrangements made for the camps, he said the camp in K.R. Nagar Taluk Hospital will be held on Apr. 18. On Apr. 19 Seth Mohandas Tulsidas Hospital on JLB Road in Mysuru and Hunsur and Periyapatna Taluk Hospital. The camp will be held at Nanjangud Taluk Hospital on Apr. 21.

The camp in H.D. Kote Taluk’s Mother and Children Hospital and T. Narsipur’s Taluk Hospital will be held on Apr. 22. The District Health Officer and the District Surveillance Officer briefed the meeting about the arrangements done for the camps.

All camps will be equipped with a special vaccination counter for COVID-19; Ayushman Bharat counter, a counter from the Ayush Department; and a counter explaining the schemes and programmes launched by the Government for public healthcare.

The DC told the health officials to spread awareness about the initiatives and programmes.

Zilla Panchayat CEO B.R. Poornima, District Health Officer Dr. K.H. Prasad, District Surveillance Officer Dr. Shivaprasad and other officers attended the meeting.

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Reasons: Sudden slashing of jab prices; Sunday holiday; unresponsive CoWIN app

Mysore/Mysuru: The administration of booster doses for the 18-plus population at private hospitals from today failed to take off in Mysuru and many other places across the country primarily because pharma majors — Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech — announced a steep reduction in prices of their vaccines.

The price of the Covishield vaccine was cut from Rs. 600 to Rs. 225 per dose and the price of Covaxin was slashed from Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 225 per dose late last night. This has put private hospitals in a quandary as they had purchased vaccine stocks in advance by paying the earlier prices. Now due to the sudden cut in prices, they have to sell the vaccines at new rates that are much lower.

Many hospitals in Mysuru that had stocks decided to wait for a directive from the Government. “We will be at a loss as we have to sell the vaccines at new rates though we paid a higher price earlier. We will wait for a Government directive or a direction from the vaccine makers before starting to administer vaccines,” sources from private hospitals told Star of Mysore.

The hospitals said that the new rates were much lower than the price they paid to vaccine manufacturing companies and, therefore, they would wait for clarity on pricing before beginning the booster process. “As of now, we have not received any communication on the new cost. The vaccine stock we currently hold was purchased at the previously approved Government prices. We will resume the vaccinations as soon as we receive clarifications, hopefully by Monday or Tuesday,” sources added.

In guidelines issued yesterday, the Union Health Ministry said that the private COVID vaccination centres must declare the price per dose charged by them on Co-WIN, in accordance with the prices declared by the manufacturers and can collect a maximum of Rs. 150 as service charges for vaccination over and above the cost of the vaccine. Also they must declare their correct stocks of vaccines on Co-WlN and must use the app’s procurement module for vaccine stocks.

Private hospitals also complained that Co-WIN App was unresponsive today and the application was hanging as soon as it was opened. Moreover, as today is Sunday and a holiday, clarity on these issues were expected to be visible only in a day or two, sources said.

Mysuru District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. K.H. Prasad said that Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Government hospitals were administering booster doses for senior citizens (above 60) and frontline workers who have completed nine months after their second dose. “Vaccination will be made available even in the PHCs for the 18-plus population in                  phases,” he added.

In Mysuru, there are 4,78,972 beneficiaries for the booster dose and among them, 1,99,034 are in Mysuru city alone. Mysuru rural has 41,237 beneficiaries, said Dr. Prasad.

Booster dose beneficiaries

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• Booster dose for 18-plus from tomorrow
• Private Hospitals in Mysuru purchase stocks; await Government directive

Mysore/Mysuru: Mysuru has achieved 61.89 percent vaccination for children in the 12-14 age group as a precaution against the COVID pandemic. The vaccination for the 12-14 age group began on Mar. 16 and Corbevax vaccine was administered. The gap between the first and second dose is 28 days.

In Mysuru district, 92,907 children aged between 12 and 14 years are eligible for the vaccination. Health workers are visiting schools and are administering the first dose. Those born in 2008, 2009 and 2010 — those who are already above 12 years of age — are eligible.

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, District Health Officer Dr. K.H. Prasad said that the response from the children to vaccination was overwhelming and they are enthusiastically taking the jabs. “We have administered vaccines to 57,498 children of the target of 92,907 (as on Apr. 8) and we will achieve the 100 percent target within a week or so,” he said.

There are 1,47,279 beneficiaries in the age group of 15 to 18 and of them, 1,36,412 have been jabbed, achieving a target of 92.62 percent. 1,07,724 children have been given the second dose in the same age group achieving a   target of 73.14 percent.

In Mysuru district, 26,59,806 first dose — 99.31 percent — has been administered. The district has achieved 96.71 percent progress in the second dose with a coverage of 25,00,223 beneficiaries. In all, 51,60,029 beneficiaries have received the first and second dose, achieving a target of 98.03 percent.

Of the target population of 1,26,643 adults to receive the booster dose, 73,767 have already been administered vaccines, achieving a target of 58.25 percent. In total, 52,33,796 doses of vaccines have been administered in the district since the launch of the vaccination in January 2021.

Booster dose from tomorrow

The Union Health Ministry yesterday announced that the precautionary or third dose of COVID-19 vaccine would be made available to the 18+ population at private vaccination  centres. It would be the same as the previous doses.

The administration of this dose would begin on April 10 (tomorrow). All those who have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose would be eligible, it stated. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya termed the extension of the vaccination drive an “extra layer of safety”.

Mysuru DHO Dr. Prasad said that many private hospitals have adopted a wait-and-watch policy for the booster vaccination from tomorrow. “We have not got any directive from the Centre regarding the booster vaccination process. Some private hospitals have already stocked up the vials and are just waiting for the Government directive,” he clarified. 

HOW MUCH BOOSTER DOSE WILL COST

Agency reports today said that the Serum Institute of India has announced that end-users will have to pay Rs. 600 for a Covishield booster dose and the hospitals will get it at a discounted price. Plus there will be vaccine administration charges that might differ from hospital to hospital.

The Centre had capped the administration charges for private vaccination centres at Rs. 150 per dose in June last year. The Government instructed private vaccination centres not to charge more than Rs. 780 for Covishield, Rs. 1,410 for Covaxin and Rs. 1,145 for Sputnik V including taxes and administration charges.

Excluding GST, Covaxin costs Rs. 1,200 per dose and Sputnik V is priced at Rs. 948 per dose. Biological E has said it would price Corbevax at Rs. 800 per dose (excluding taxes). Covovax (Novavax vaccine) is priced at Rs. 900 (excluding taxes) in the private market.

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