Sputnik V gets launched in India, priced at Rs. 995 per dose

As part of a limited pilot, Dr. Reddy’s lab has launched the Russian Sputnik V in India. The first shot of Sputnik V was administered in Hyderabad on 14^th May. The company has also confirmed the price of one dose at Rs. 995 per dose. The first batch of the vaccine arrived in India on 1st May and got approval from India’s Central Drug Laboratory on 13^th May.  Dr. Reddy’s is working closely with six manufacturing partners in India that will help in ramping up the production of the vaccine. Dr. Reddy’s is also the Indian partner of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the global commercial partner for the vaccine.

The six manufacturers in India are aiming to produce more than 850 million doses of Sputnik V.

Source: The Times of India | Livemint

Website in Pune to provide information on vaccination

Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol launched punevaccination.in on 13^th May to help residents of Pune access information on vaccine availability for any given day. So far, nine lakh doses of vaccine have been administered to the residents. All the centres in the city have been geotagged and will provide real time information on vaccination slots available across the city.  

Source: Punekar News

Cases and oxygen demand drops in Delhi

3000 beds have been cleared in the last ten days in the national capital, informed CM Arvind Kejriwal. Not only this, for the first time since April 10th, Delhi reported less than 10,000 new cases in a span of 24 hours. The positivity rate has also come down to 12% from 36% on 22^nd April. The oxygen demand has also come down to 582 MT from 700 MT. The active cases have come down to 77,717 – lowest in the last 24 hours.

Source: NDTV | Hindustan Times

Read more: Not just a supply crunch: The real reason why patients in need of oxygen are suffering

States float global tenders to buy vaccines

As states and cities struggle with vaccine shortage, the state government has decided to initiate global tenders for purchasing vaccines. Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan are a few states that have issued notice for global tendering of vaccine procurement. The states can buy only those vaccines that are approved by the Indian government. Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V are the only approved vaccines in India so far.

However, experts feel that it is a long shot as several countries are already in queue to procure their share of vaccine and it will not be easy for Indian states to get vaccines directly from global manufacturers. Some state governments have also made clear that it is the job of central government to procure the vaccines, centrally.

Source: The Indian Express

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21-40 age group constitutes 50% of deaths in Gurugram

Between April 1st and May 10th, the young in Gurgaon city remained the worst affected. Every one in two Covid patients who died in the city was in the age group of 21-40, informed the health department. Not consulting a doctor on time, unavailability of essential drugs, fatal infections and severe comorbidities are among the major reasons behind these deaths, as per the health department. The department also held that since this group remains unvaccinated, the number of fatalities among those infected has been higher.  

Source: The Times of India

Read more: Expert inputs on COVID management in residential communities

Coronavirus found in Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad

A study by the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, has found Hussain Sagar and two other lakes in the city infested with the coronavirus . Peddu Cheruvu and Nizam Tailab are the two other lakes. Scientists have however claimed that evidence on transmission of virus from water remains weak. There is only one study so far that has established a link between faecal-oral transmission.

Earlier, eight lions in the Nehru Zoological Park (NZP) in Hyderabad were found to be infected with COVID-19.

Source: The Siasat Daily

Also read:

• Bengaluru Buzz: One million cases | Acute vaccine shortage | Triaging patient care … and more
• Chennai Buzz: COVID updates | Forces in place to enforce lockdown | Buses to have cameras…and more
• Mumbai Buzz: Lockdown extended, water cuts, poor not getting vaccinated

Compiled by Rishabh Shrivastava