Sohini Das &Amp; Vinay Umarji

Stories by Sohini Das &Amp; Vinay Umarji

Russia reaches out to Kerala for Sputnik V plant

Russia reaches out to Kerala for Sputnik V plant

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2021

The government may look at areas around Thonnakkal, in Thiruvananthapuram district, for the facility. If successful, this would be one of the few sites of Sputnik V owned by Russian firms outside that country. Shine Jacob and Sohini Das report.

3rd wave: Govt creating 30-day stock of key Covid medicines

3rd wave: Govt creating 30-day stock of key Covid medicines

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2021

'The Centre is planning to procure five million vials of Remdesivir ahead of the third wave. What's better is that this time, the government is paying us in advance,' said a senior executive of a Mumbai-based pharma player which makes Remdesivir. Sohini Das reports.

Pandemic push: Demand soars for digital, technical skills across industries

Pandemic push: Demand soars for digital, technical skills across industries

Rediff.com   20 Jul 2021

The Indian IT services sector is scrambling to retain talent since digitisation-led transformation has increased the demand for a digitally skilled workforce. As a result, the pull for jobs for tech professionals is also coming from non-IT sectors, leading to higher attrition among IT companies. The average number of tech jobs from non-IT sectors has seen a 41 per cent uptick in March-May'21 versus March-May'19, according to data from Naukri.com.

Zydus Cadila to begin vaccine trials for kids above 5 yrs soon

Zydus Cadila to begin vaccine trials for kids above 5 yrs soon

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2021

So far, no other vaccine has been approved globally for children below 12 years. Sohini Das reports.

Trade margins capped at 70% for oximeters, BP meters, other medical devices

Trade margins capped at 70% for oximeters, BP meters, other medical devices

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2021

The medical devices, which have been in high demand during the Covid-19 pandemic, will now see a drop in prices, as the earlier margins were up to 709 per cent for some of these products.

Over 200 Indians stuck in Serbia due to surprise quarantine rule

Over 200 Indians stuck in Serbia due to surprise quarantine rule

Rediff.com   13 Jul 2021

Serbia has become one of the transit points for Indians heading to Canada and the US. Canada requires passengers from India to take an RT-PCR test from a third country, while the US wants them to spend 14 days outside of India. As a result, many students are taking the Serbia route to Canada, and the US.

Serum to double Covid vaccine output in 2022

Serum to double Covid vaccine output in 2022

Rediff.com   13 Jul 2021

SII would be scaling up its AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine manufacturing capacity to 200 million doses a month from 100 million a month now, reports Sohini Das.

Covid leaves Surat's textile mills in tatters

Covid leaves Surat's textile mills in tatters

Rediff.com   12 Jul 2021

Since he lives locally, Harish Patel is one of the luckier migrant workers in Surat - in that his employer was able to squeeze in a single shift for him at the weaving unit in Kamrej in Gujarat - unlike others who went home for Holi and other festivals just as the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic was waxing and ended up stranded in local lockdowns.

Explained: What the Brazil-Covaxin row is about

Explained: What the Brazil-Covaxin row is about

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2021

Three entities are at the centre of this controversy: The Brazilian government, Bharat Biotech and a Singapore-based company called Madison Biotech.

India may get 4m doses of Pfizer, Moderna by August from COVAX

India may get 4m doses of Pfizer, Moderna by August from COVAX

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2021

However, before the Moderna and Pfizer messenger ribonucleic acid (or mRNA) vaccines come to India via this route, the legalities around the indemnity clause will have to be settled, reports Sohini Das.

Fear and myths injecting Covid vaccine hesitancy

Fear and myths injecting Covid vaccine hesitancy

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2021

A June 11 survey by cLocalCircles across 299 districts puts overall vaccine hesitancy levels at 18 per cent, with 11 per cent of the respondents saying they were not convinced if the currently available vaccines would protect them against the new strains; and 5 per cent said they do not plan to take the vaccine at all.

Why Thyrocare sold out to PharmEasy

Why Thyrocare sold out to PharmEasy

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2021

'I have done enough work for many years.' 'This is a decision that many people at my age need to review.' 'I may become an exit example for people to study.'

Biological E plans to make 1.5 billion Corbevax jabs in 2021

Biological E plans to make 1.5 billion Corbevax jabs in 2021

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2021

By 2022, there is a plan to make an mRNA-technology vaccine, for which it has tied up with Canadian firm Providence Therapeutics.

'Covid vaccines are working against new variants'

'Covid vaccines are working against new variants'

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2021

'The key purpose of vaccination is to prevent hospitalisation, severe disease, and death.' 'All vaccines work equally, although mild disease cannot be prevented.'

Serum applies for EU Covishield nod through AstraZeneca

Serum applies for EU Covishield nod through AstraZeneca

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2021

We have applied for marketing authorisation to the EMA through AstraZeneca. We will not sell the vaccine in the EU, said a company source.

India's children may get 2 Covid vaccines by December

India's children may get 2 Covid vaccines by December

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2021

While Bharat Biotech's Covaxin is in trials among children already, Serum Institute of India will begin Novavax vaccine trials on children from July, whereas the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for adolescents in the United States; and Cadila Healthcare's ZyCoV-D has done trials on 12 year-olds and above already, reports Sohini Das.

At current rate, all Indians will be vaccinated by Sept 2022

At current rate, all Indians will be vaccinated by Sept 2022

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2021

865 million Indian adults require vaccination.

Covid: What is Delta, Delta Plus & can vaccines fight it?

Covid: What is Delta, Delta Plus & can vaccines fight it?

Rediff.com   24 Jun 2021

While virologists say theoretically the vaccine that works on Delta should work on the Delta Plus variant as well, more research is needed.

Novavax set for India launch with Serum Institute as partner

Novavax set for India launch with Serum Institute as partner

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2021

The Covid-19 vaccine demonstrated an overall 90.4 per cent efficacy in phase 3 clinical trials, reports Sohini Das

India could get 4th Covid vaccine as Zydus Cadila set to seek nod for ZyCoV-D

India could get 4th Covid vaccine as Zydus Cadila set to seek nod for ZyCoV-D

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2021

This could also be India's first vaccine for children aged 12 years and above as the company has conducted trials on the age group. The decision, however, lies with the regulator, reports Sohini Das