Immunisation

Boosting anti-viral immune response could slow down aging, says study

Scientists have uncovered details regarding an immune response to a virus present in all human tissues, that kicks in in the elderly and eliminates senescent, or aging, cells in the skin. Senescent cells are those that stop dividing but do not die, accumulating in the body over time, fuelling chronic inflammation and contributing to conditions such as cancer and degenerative disorders. Eliminating senescent cells from aging tissues has been found to restore tissue balance in mice, leading to an increased healthy lifespan. When a team of scientists, led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), US, found that the number of senescent cells in samples from old individuals did not increase as the individuals got older, they realised that there is some mechanism kicking in to keep the aging in check. The scientists have described their findings in the journal Cell. Experiments have proved that in the elderly, certain immune cells called killer CD4+ T cells keep senescent cells from ...

Govt launches U-WIN to digitise India's universal immunisation programme

Carrying vaccination cards of children and pregnant women, struggling to keep a tab on the next jab and other such hassles may soon become a thing of the past. After the success of the Co-WIN platform, the government has now replicated it to set up an electronic registry for routine vaccinations. Named U-WIN, the programme to digitise India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) has been launched in a pilot mode in two districts of each state and Union Territory. The platform will be used to register and vaccinate every pregnant woman, record her delivery outcome, register every newborn delivery, administer birth doses and all vaccination events thereafter, official sources told PTI. The platform that replicates Co-WIN, which has served as the "digital backbone" for India's COVID-19 vaccination programme, was launched on January 11 in 65 districts. The U-WIN is going to be the single source of information for immunisation services, updating vaccination status, delivery outcome, .

Polio immunisation booths to be set up at multiple metro stations in Delhi

Pulse polio immunisation booths will be set up at several Delhi Metro stations on the Violet Line which can be availed by people during September 18-20, the DMRC said on Saturday. The booths will set up at Sarai, NHPC Chowk, Bata Chowk, Old Faridabad, Escorts Mujesar, and Raja Nahar Singh (Ballabhgarh), among other stations, the DMRC said in a poster shared on Twitter. "Pulse Polio Booths will be set up at select metro stations of Violet Line for SNID round of Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme 2022-23 from 18-20 September 2022 from 09.00 AM to 04.00 PM," it said. National Immunisation Day (NID) commonly known as Pulse Polio Immunisation programme was launched in India in 1995, and is conducted twice in early part of each year. Additionally, multiple rounds (at least two) of sub national immunisation day (SNID) have been conducted over the years in high-risk states or areas. In these campaigns, children in the age group of 0-5 years are administered polio drops.

India is one of the worst-hit major economies in child immunisation

India's coverage of the TB vaccine dipped eight percentage points in 2022 - from 92% in 2019 to 84% in 2021

India implementing largest immunisation programme in the world: Mandaviya

India is implementing the largest immunisation programme globally where annually more than 3 crore pregnant women are covered through the UIP, said Mansukh Mandaviya

Booster dose of Covid-vaccine

The government recently rolled out booster or precautionary dose of Covid-19 vaccine for citizens with comorbidities. Frontline workers are getting the third shot. This report tells us about the dose

Immunised but banned: EU says not all Covid-19 vaccines are equal

Although AstraZeneca vaccine produced in Europe has been authorised by the continent's drug regulatory agency, the same shot manufactured in India hasn't been given the green light.

Odisha govt to launch Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine on June 30

The Odisha Government on Thursday said that it will launch Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) under the universal immunisation programme on June 30."The introduction of PCV in the routine immunization will benefit nearly 8 lakh young children annually in the State and it will help in reducing the risk of morbidity and mortality due to pneumonia and meningitis among children in the State", said the additional Chief Secretary PK Mohapatra in a letter to district and municipal authorities."Inviting in reference to the subject cited above, I am to say that Minister, Health & Family Welfare will launch Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) under Universal Immunization Programme on 30th June 2021 at 11.30 AM at State level through virtual mode. After the introduction of PCV in the Routine Immunization, it will benefit nearly 8 lakh young children annually in our State and this will help in reducing risk of morbidity & mortality due to Pneumonia and meningitis among children in .

Herd immunity is both mystical and mythical: NTAGI chairman N K Arora

Herd immunity works when immunised and unimmunised individuals are mixed in a true random process and around 80 per cent are immunised, said Arora

Mix-and-match approach to Covid vaccines may provide immunological benefits

Researchers hope that a mix-and-match approach to Covid-19 vaccines will help create more flexibility in the immunisation regimens available to people

Covid-19 vaccination: Serum Institute to gain from G7's boost to COVAX

The immediate contribution will be $2 billion. More than 180 nations are yet to administer a single dose of the Covid vaccine

Covid vaccination drive: India well prepared to store, distribute vaccines

India has about 29,000 cold chain points, 1.6 million shipper boxes, 76,000 cold chain equipment, 700 reefer vans and 55,000 cold chain handlers

National Polio immunisation programme rescheduled to January 31

The National Polio immunisation programme, as part of which children in the age group of 0-5 years are administered polio drops, has been rescheduled

Review panel asks vaccine makers to submit more data to get authorisation

Experts ask Bharat Biotech for phase 3 data, Serum's UK approval status

World counting on us for affordable coronavirus vaccine, says PM Modi

The PM said the cost of the vaccine was an issue that would be discussed with state governments.

Private health care providers gear up for Covid-19 vaccination drive

The industry, on its part, is drafting out the road map for vaccination and where they can chip in.

Moderna vaccine 100% effective in severe cases; to seek US, EU approval

The primary analysis, which included 196 cases, found the vaccine was 94.1 per cent effective, in line with preliminary findings released earlier this month.

India's Covid-19 vaccination plan may match tried and tested election drill

Aadhaar, voter ID cards may be used to draw up first round of names

Indian Immunologicals to set up new vaccine plant, raise capacity by 35%

Commissions a Rs 75 cr viral antigen unit, inaugurates new filling plant

India's Covid dilemma: Adults need vaccine, supply chains geared for kids

India plans to immunise 200-250 million people--a sixth of its population--with 400-500 million Covid-19 vaccine shots by July 2021