Coronavirus
Coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19),
also known as the coronavirus or COVID, is a infectious disease caused
by severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The
first known case was identified in Wuhan,
China, in December 2019.The
disease has since spread worldwide, leading to an ongoing
pandemic.
Symptoms of COVID-19
COVID-19 affects different people in different
ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover
without hospitalization.
Most common symptoms:
- fever.
- dry
cough.
- tiredness.
Less common symptoms:
- aches
and pains.
- sore
throat.
- diarrhoea.
- conjunctivitis.
- headache.
- loss
of taste or smell.
- a
rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes.
Serious symptoms:
- difficulty
breathing or shortness of breath.
- chest
pain or pressure.
- loss
of speech or movement.
Transmission
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through
droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or
sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for
example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
Testing
Method
Several testing methods have been developed
to diagnose the disease. The standard diagnostic method is by detection of the
virus' nucleic acid by real-time
reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR), transcription-mediated
amplification (TMA), or by reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) from a nasopharyngeal swab.
To prevent infection and to slow transmission of
COVID-19, do the following:
- Wash
your hands regularly with soap and water, or clean them with alcohol-based
hand rub.
- Maintain
at least 1 metre distance between you and people coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid
touching your face.
- Cover
your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
- Stay
home if you feel unwell.
- Refrain
from smoking and other activities that weaken the lungs.
- Practice
physical distancing by avoiding unnecessary travel and staying away from
large groups of people
Vaccine
A COVID‑19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to provide acquired immunity against severe
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2),
the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19). Prior to the COVID‑19 pandemic, there was an established
body of knowledge about the structure and function of coronaviruses causing diseases like severe
acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle
East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which enabled accelerated development of
various vaccine technologies during early 2020. On
10 January 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequence data was shared through GISAID, and by 19 March, the global pharmaceutical
industry announced a major commitment to address COVID-19.
In Phase III trials, several COVID‑19
vaccines have demonstrated efficacy as high as 95% in preventing
symptomatic COVID‑19 infections. As of April 2021, 13 vaccines are
authorized by at least one national regulatory
authority for public use: two RNA vaccines (the Pfizer–BioNTech
vaccine and the Moderna
vaccine), five conventional inactivated vaccines (BBIBPCorV, CoronaVac, Covaxin, WIBP-CorV and CoviVac), four viral vector vaccines (Sputnik V, the Oxford–AstraZeneca
vaccine, Convidecia, and the Johnson
& Johnson vaccine), and two protein subunit vaccines (EpiVacCorona and RBD-Dimer).In total, as of March 2021, 308
vaccine candidates are in various stages of development, with 73 in clinical research, including 24 in Phase I trials, 33 in Phase I–II trials, and 16 in Phase III development.
As of 27 April 2021, 1.06 billion doses of COVID‑19 vaccine
have been administered worldwide based on official reports from national health
agencies. AstraZeneca-Oxford anticipates producing three billion doses in 2021,
Pfizer–BioNTech1.3 billion doses, and Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Johnson & Johnson
one billion doses each. Moderna targets producing 600 million doses and Convidecia 500 million doses in 2021. By December 2020, more than ten billion
vaccine doses had been preordered by countries with about half of the
doses purchased by high-income countries comprising 14% of the world's population
What Do We Know About Covaxin?
Covaxinis an inactivated vaccine which
means that it is made up of killed coronaviruses, making it safe to be injected
into the body.
Bharat Biotech, a 24-year-old vaccine maker with a portfolio of
16 vaccines and exports to 123 countries, used a sample of the coronavirus,
isolated by India's National Institute of Virology.
When administered, immune cells can still recognise the dead
virus, prompting the immune system to make antibodies against the pandemic
virus.
The two doses are given four weeks apart. The vaccine can be
stored at 2C to 8C.
The vaccine has an efficacy rate of 81%, preliminary data from
its phase 3 trial shows.
India's regulators gave the vaccine an emergency approval in
January while the third phase of the trial was still underway, sparking
scepticism and questions from experts.
Bharat Biotech says it has a stockpile of 20 million doses of
Covaxin, and is aiming to make 700 million doses out of its four facilities in
two cities by the end of the year.
What About Covishield?
The Oxford-AstraZeneca
vaccine is being manufactured locally by the Serum Institute of India, the
world's largest vaccine manufacturer. It says it is producing more than 60
million doses a month.
The vaccine is made from a weakened version of a common cold
virus (known as an adenovirus) from chimpanzees. It has been modified to look
more like coronavirus - although it can't cause illness.
When the vaccine is injected into a patient, it prompts the
immune system to start making antibodies and primes it to attack any
coronavirus infection.
The jab is administered in two doses given between four and 12
weeks apart. It can be safely stored at temperatures of 2C to 8C and can easily
be delivered in existing health care settings such as doctors' surgeries.
The jab developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, which is currently being
administered in several countries, must be stored at -70C and can only be moved
a limited number of times - a particular challenge in India, where summer
temperatures can reach 50C.
India has vaccinated
1.7 per cent of its population with both doses so far. "By the end of May
2021, total cases plus people vaccinated with both doses will cross 9 per cent
of the population for overall India.
Amid an
unprecedented number of cases in the country, vaccination drive for 18 years
and above is set to open on May 1. Registration for the new phase begins today.
One can register for the vaccine on the CoWin
app as well as on the AarogyaSetu app.
However,
as the country struggles with a shortage of vaccine doses, some states might
not start the latest phase on May 1. While Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and
Andhra Pradesh have stated that they are expecting more doses to cater to the
new additions, some states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh
had stated that they might not be able to open up the vaccination from Saturday.
Meanwhile,
the Centre allowed states to procure vaccines directly from the manufacturers.
COVID-19
vaccine makers can supply 50 per cent of their stock to states and private
hospitals. To that end, Serum Institute has priced Covishield at Rs 400 per dose for states and Rs 600 per dose for
private hospitals. Bharat Biotech, on the other hand, has priced Covaxin at Rs 600 per dose for
government and Rs 1,200 per dose for private hospitals. Amid the subsequent
furore that ensued because of the differential pricing, the Centre asked both
the vaccine makers to lower their prices.
The
government will continue to provide the COVID-19 vaccine for free but for those
who take the vaccines at state government-run or private hospitals, the price
will be as aforementioned. The Centre also said that it will continue to give
vaccine doses from its quota to state and union territories for free.
Get Registered for Vaccination - https://selfregistration.cowin.gov.in/
Planning your Investments?
ZebPay
Get Degree From Home With KL University
Apply Now
