HOUSTON: India’s rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines in partnership with leading global institutions has “saved the world” from the deadly coronavirus and the country’s contributions should not be underestimated, said a top US scientist.
India has been called the world’s pharmacy during the Covid-19 pandemic with its vast experience and deep knowledge of medicine. The country is one of the world’s largest drug manufacturers and an increasing number of countries have already approached it to purchase coronavirus vaccines.
Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston said during a recent webinar that the two mRNA vaccines may not affect the low- and middle-income countries, but on the vaccines of India, made in collaboration. with universities around the world, such as BCM and Oxford University, have “saved the world” and its contributions should not be underestimated.
During the webinar “Covid-19: Vaccination and Potential Return to Normalcy – If and When,” Dr. Hotez, an internationally recognized physician-scientist in neglected tropical diseases and vaccine development, said India’s introduction of the Covid-19 vaccine. gift “to the world in the fight against the virus.
Indian drug regulator authorized Covishield for emergency use, produced by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India after obtaining a license from British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, and Covaxin, indigenously developed by scientists at Bharat Biotech of Hyderabad and the Indian Council of Medical Research.
The webinar was hosted by Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH).
“This is something very special and I see it myself because I have weekly conference calls with our colleagues in India, you make a recommendation, and within days it is done and not only done but it is also good and with incredible accuracy and thought through creativity, “said Dr. Hotez, stressing that he felt compelled to make this statement because” India’s tremendous efforts to combat the global pandemic is a story that doesn’t really go out into the world. ”
Dr. Hotez, considered the vaccine authority, is working with Indian pharmaceutical companies on an affordable coronavirus vaccine.
Evidence is growing that vaccines not only “interrupt symptomatic illnesses and keep you out of the hospital,” but also stop asymptomatic transmission. The disturbing news, however, is that the vaccines work well against the British B.1.1.7 variant, which is now accelerating in the US, but not as well against the variant coming from South Africa.
It is likely that all vaccines need a booster for two reasons: the durability of the vaccines’ protection is unknown, and to create an additional immune response that is more tailored to the South African variety.
India’s Consul General in Houston, Aseem Mahajan, joined a leading panel of doctors in this webinar, which identified the potential for a return to some semblance of normalcy as a result of the accelerated roll-out of vaccines across the country.
Consul General Mahajan appreciated Dr. Hotez for praising India’s efforts to get vaccines out into the world and said, “In keeping with our tradition of sharing with the world, India has exported vaccines to many countries around the world. . ”
India has provided 56 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines under grants to a number of countries. The vaccines have been shipped to Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles.
This pandemic also boosted medical partnerships between the US and India. Additionally, India is one of Asia’s fourth largest destinations in Asia for medical device manufacturing, and many US companies have expressed interest in partnering in this field, Mahajan said.
Founding Secretary / Executive Director of the IACCGH Jagdip Ahluwalia said that “India’s response to the Covid crisis, as acknowledged by Dr. Hotez, is consistent with Chamber’s vision. be a future global player in key areas such as technology, medicine, manufacturing and international trade. This belief has been proven time and again, especially over the past decade.
President of Chamber Tarush Anand was proud that India has risen to this global challenge by making the most efficient use of the genius of its scientific community and extensive manufacturing capabilities to help the world recover from a deadly pandemic.
Dr. Vivek Kavadi, Chief Radiation Oncology Officer and moderator, described vaccines as “ one of the highest displays of science in the pursuit of humanitarian goals, ” noting that more than 28 million people had contracted the virus in the U.S. and more than half a year. million Americans had died tragically. . Lives and businesses had been turned upside down, but the vaccine breakthrough was cause for cautious optimism.
More than 73 million vaccine doses have been administered to date, 15 percent of the population has received 1 dose, while 7 percent have received both doses, Dr. Kavadi said.
India has been called the world’s pharmacy during the Covid-19 pandemic with its vast experience and deep knowledge of medicine. The country is one of the world’s largest drug manufacturers and an increasing number of countries have already approached it to purchase coronavirus vaccines.
Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston said during a recent webinar that the two mRNA vaccines may not affect the low- and middle-income countries, but on the vaccines of India, made in collaboration. with universities around the world, such as BCM and Oxford University, have “saved the world” and its contributions should not be underestimated.
During the webinar “Covid-19: Vaccination and Potential Return to Normalcy – If and When,” Dr. Hotez, an internationally recognized physician-scientist in neglected tropical diseases and vaccine development, said India’s introduction of the Covid-19 vaccine. gift “to the world in the fight against the virus.
Indian drug regulator authorized Covishield for emergency use, produced by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India after obtaining a license from British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, and Covaxin, indigenously developed by scientists at Bharat Biotech of Hyderabad and the Indian Council of Medical Research.
The webinar was hosted by Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH).
“This is something very special and I see it myself because I have weekly conference calls with our colleagues in India, you make a recommendation, and within days it is done and not only done but it is also good and with incredible accuracy and thought through creativity, “said Dr. Hotez, stressing that he felt compelled to make this statement because” India’s tremendous efforts to combat the global pandemic is a story that doesn’t really go out into the world. ”
Dr. Hotez, considered the vaccine authority, is working with Indian pharmaceutical companies on an affordable coronavirus vaccine.
Evidence is growing that vaccines not only “interrupt symptomatic illnesses and keep you out of the hospital,” but also stop asymptomatic transmission. The disturbing news, however, is that the vaccines work well against the British B.1.1.7 variant, which is now accelerating in the US, but not as well against the variant coming from South Africa.
It is likely that all vaccines need a booster for two reasons: the durability of the vaccines’ protection is unknown, and to create an additional immune response that is more tailored to the South African variety.
India’s Consul General in Houston, Aseem Mahajan, joined a leading panel of doctors in this webinar, which identified the potential for a return to some semblance of normalcy as a result of the accelerated roll-out of vaccines across the country.
Consul General Mahajan appreciated Dr. Hotez for praising India’s efforts to get vaccines out into the world and said, “In keeping with our tradition of sharing with the world, India has exported vaccines to many countries around the world. . ”
India has provided 56 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines under grants to a number of countries. The vaccines have been shipped to Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles.
This pandemic also boosted medical partnerships between the US and India. Additionally, India is one of Asia’s fourth largest destinations in Asia for medical device manufacturing, and many US companies have expressed interest in partnering in this field, Mahajan said.
Founding Secretary / Executive Director of the IACCGH Jagdip Ahluwalia said that “India’s response to the Covid crisis, as acknowledged by Dr. Hotez, is consistent with Chamber’s vision. be a future global player in key areas such as technology, medicine, manufacturing and international trade. This belief has been proven time and again, especially over the past decade.
President of Chamber Tarush Anand was proud that India has risen to this global challenge by making the most efficient use of the genius of its scientific community and extensive manufacturing capabilities to help the world recover from a deadly pandemic.
Dr. Vivek Kavadi, Chief Radiation Oncology Officer and moderator, described vaccines as “ one of the highest displays of science in the pursuit of humanitarian goals, ” noting that more than 28 million people had contracted the virus in the U.S. and more than half a year. million Americans had died tragically. . Lives and businesses had been turned upside down, but the vaccine breakthrough was cause for cautious optimism.
More than 73 million vaccine doses have been administered to date, 15 percent of the population has received 1 dose, while 7 percent have received both doses, Dr. Kavadi said.