Kumaraguru Action for Relief and Empowerment (KARE), was founded in Nov, 2015 during the Chennai floods. KARE supports the victims of natural disasters such as floods, cyclone and other calamities and has supported during Kerala floods & Gaja Cyclone. This is a volunteer movement of Kumaraguru Institutions where many join hands when the need arises.

KARE COVID 19 Response Bulletin is an effort by a group of Kumaraguru alumni, students & informed citizens alike to clear the clutter around COVID 19 by providing informative, insightful news, articles & data around the world under various tags such as Research, Technology, Education, Economy & Insights with a short summary for each.

 COVID19 Basic Info & Previous Bulletin Link: tinyurl.com/blog-KARE

Pan-India launch of COVID-19 vaccination programme

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)  announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would launch the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive on the 16th of January at 10.30 am via video conferencing. It is said that the digital platform CoWIN would contain the real-time information on the vaccine stocks and tracking of patients who need to be vaccinated. A 24×7 call centre has been established to address queries related to the vaccine roll-out and CoWIN. Over 3000 sites across all states and union territories would be connected when PM launches the drive. |Hindustan Time

CoWIN: India’s digital push behind COVID-19 vaccination

The CoWIN app (COVID vaccine intelligence network) which is said to be launched on the same day as the vaccination programme by the Prime Minister on January 16, helps to  see temperature loggers and send real-time information to the central server. CoWIN beneficiary management platform will help track the beneficiary, vaccination session planning and management. One can register to get vaccinated on the CoWIN app that can be downloaded for free and has a self-registration facility. It will also be used to record vaccine data. A certificate to be given with QR code after vaccination, tracking of dropouts as well. The MoHFW has warned citizens against downloading fake CoWIN apps that are doing the rounds on app stores. |India Today

Gap of 28 days between two COVID-19 vaccine doses, effectiveness to begin after 14 days:

India had recently granted emergency use authorization to two vaccines, Oxford’s Covishield being manufactured by Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. The vaccination drive begins from January 16 with priority to be given to nearly three crore healthcare and frontline workers. Dr V K Paul, NITI Aayog member, said that these two vaccines have been tested in thousands of people, they are the safest and there is no risk of any significance.There will be a gap of 28 days between two doses of Covid-19 vaccine and its effectiveness will begin 14 days after the second dose, the health ministry said on Tuesday. So people are urged to follow appropriate COVID-19 behaviour. |Times of India

Covishield dispatch for vaccine drive a historic moment

Covishield is developed by The Oxford University and British-Swedish company AstraZeneca and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII). The first consignment of the vaccines rolled out of the SII facility in Pune for transport to various locations in the country. CEO of SII Adar Poonawalla says that the real challenge lies in taking the vaccine to the common vulnerable groups of people and to healthcare workers. He also said that once the SII gets the requisite permission, the vaccine will be made available in private markets for Rs.1000. SII is not only providing the vaccine in India, but it is also committed to provide it to other countries who are looking at India at this point. |Times of India

Bharat Biotech to supply 16.5 lakh doses free of cost

With the onset of India’s vaccination program, the airport’s cargo division is gearing up to meet the demands. The health ministry in a press briefing also informed that 100% doses of COVID-19 vaccines are to be received by 14 January which means 110 lakh doses of Covishield from Serum Institute of India (SII) at  ₹200/dose and 55 lakh doses of  Covaxin from Bharat Biotech ( BBIL) of which 38.5 lakh doses priced at ₹295/dose(excluding taxes). Also, the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that BBIL would be providing 16.50 lakh doses free of cost to the Central govt as a special gesture. |Live Mint

Serum Institute of India hopes to launch a COVID-19 vaccine every quarter

To fight against novel coronavirus, Serum Institute of India aimed to launch a new COVID-19 vaccine every quarter . Indian drug regulator earlier granted emergency authorisation for Covishield, the local version of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, by Serum Institute of India.Poonawala earlier revealed that the pharma major is increasing its production capacity by the end of 2021 to over 250 crore doses a year to cope with future disease outbreaks The central government ordered 1.1 crore doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from Serum Institute of India for COVID-19 vaccination drive. |Live Mint

Companies reach out Serum to secure COVID-19 vaccines for their employees 

According to the CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII), Adar Poonawalla, Indian companies have reached out to the drug maker to secure COVID-19 vaccines for their employees. SII is the local manufacturer of Covishield, the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca Plc and Oxford University.Poonawalla expects his company to supply 1 billion vaccine doses this year and also expects to complete Phase III safety immunogenicity trials in India in a month or two. 1.1 crore Covishield doses from Pune-based SII have been shipped to 60 consignee points across India from where they will be sent to smaller centres. |Live Mint

India looking at 4 more COVID-19 vaccines

India’s  Health secretary said  the country’s regulators are looking at four more Covid-19 vaccines in the pipeline. The Government of India is purchasing 100 million doses of the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine Covishield from Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) while Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech’s coronavirus vaccine Covaxin is being purchased at a cost of Rs. 206 per dose by the Government of India. The Centre is purchasing 38 lakh doses of Covaxin and will get the remaining 12 lakh doses free. Asked about the vaccines approved by Indian regulators, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that both Covishield and Covaxin have established safety and immunogenicity. |India Today

Indians trust COVID vaccination the most, 80% willing to take it now

A global survey showed that overall, 51 per cent of respondents were ready to get vaccinated as soon as it is available. By November 2020, only one in every three people was ready to take the vaccine as soon as possible. While India recorded the highest trust for the COVID-19 vaccine with 80 percent of them willing to take it immediately, Russians were the most hesitant with only 15 per cent willing to get vaccinated as soon as possible and 25 percent of them  comfortable with the idea of doing so within a year. In the US, which has the highest number of COVID cases and deaths in the world, 33 per cent respondents are ready to get vaccinated as soon as possible, while 26 per cent would do so within a year. |The Print

COVID-19 vaccines : All you need to know

As India gears up to commence one of the largest vaccination roll-out, a list of questions regarding the vaccines’ efficacy,  their side effects etc. are bound to emerge. During the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination, people will receive two vaccines – Covishield and Covaxin. Two doses of the vaccine will be given at a 28 day interval. Appropriate COVID-19 behavior is to be followed even after the administration of the vaccine as its effectiveness would begin only after 14 days of receiving the second dose. Covishield and Covaxin are the safest of vaccines. Persons with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 may increase the spreading at vaccination sites,  hence they should defer vaccination for 14 days after symptoms resolution.|Live Mint

At 3.6 billion, India pegged to produce most Covid-19 vaccine doses after US in 2021

India, which is known to produce a significant share of vaccines in the world routinely, is estimated to produce the second highest number of COVID-19 vaccines. China is estimated to produce 3.1 million doses of five types of vaccine.  Of the 3.6 billion doses to be produced in India, 1.3 billion are the Oxford-AstraZeneca candidate, which has been approved for vaccination in multiple countries, while 1 billion is that of Novavax, which is yet to get approvals. Among the others, production forecast is for 700 million doses of Bharat Biotech’s candidate, 300 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V, and 250 million doses of J&J candidate. The other 100 million doses will be the candidate being developed by Zydus Cadila.|Times of India

Challenges in COVID vaccination drive that are not intractable

The fight against COVID-19 is possibly entering its final stages. However, there will be initial hiccups in carrying out this task. States should be prepared for adverse events following immunisation . There can be legal issues of culpability arising out of severe adverse events. Initially, states should prioritise vaccinating people with comorbidities and elderly residing in clusters affected most by COVID-19. There is also a need for involving the private sector in vaccine delivery and administration. As things stand, we do not know whether a vaccine will have uniform efficacy rates and are not yet aware of the efficacy of these vaccines in different populations. |Indian Express

Vaccine efficacy needs a nutrition booster

The strength and duration of vaccine response is entirely dependent on the vaccine,  without taking into account the age, nutritional status or pre-existing health conditions in the person receiving the vaccine. A vaccine only provides an antigenic stimulus for the body to react. The capability to react is considerably influenced by the nutritional aspects among individuals. Studies reveal that the deficiency of several key nutrients adversely affects the strength of immune response. Although it is not possible to supplement the nutrients along with vaccine administration during the mass immunization programme, a reconsideration of policies influencing agricultural priorities thereby boosting natural immunity and building a robust immune response is needed.| Indian Express

Where can we get authentic information about Coronavirus?

KARE COVID-19 Response 

KARE is now supporting the front-line workers through local government by providing Food, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & sanitizers made in-house at the Kumaraguru Institutions. KARE is also connecting the farmers with communities who would required vegetables in bulk.

KARE COVID-19 Response So Far

43038 Cooked meals
2259 Volunteering hours clocked
10 Tons of Vegetables transacted so far
28+ Number of Farmers impacted so far
500 kg Rice
1300 Liquid sanitizer packs
2500 Masks
₹ 4,95,141 Funds Raised
₹ 6,50,000 Funds Spent
57000+  Lives Impacted

Impact areas: 

Chinnavedampatti, Saravanampatty, Vellaikinar, Sathyamangalam, Sulthanpet, Paapampatti, Sulur, Thondamuthur, Narasipuram, Kangayam, Coimbatore & Pollachi.

TO MAKE A DONATION
KARE Bank Account Details

Account name: KCT KARE
Account number: 1245155000078376
Bank: Karur Vysya Bank
Branch: KCT Extension Counter
IFSC: KVBL0001245
Bank address: Kumaraguru College of Technology, Chinnavedampatti,Coimbatore – 641036