-PTI/ The Hindu Using test positivity as guiding factor may create challenges: Oxford Economics States’ reopening strategy in the wake of a decline in COVID-19 cases is not “prudent” and might even result in a rise in infections as vaccine coverage remains low in many States, global forecasting firm Oxford Economics said on Wednesday. In a report, it also said, “we remain cautious and maintain our 2021 growth forecast at 9.1%”, pointing out...

-Hindustan Times The Union health ministry has still not classified the Delta plus variant as a ‘variant of concern’. Last week, NITI Aayog’s Dr VK Paul said the way forward is to watch for the variant’s potential presence in the country and take appropriate public health responses. As India continues to fight the second wave of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, it is also struggling to control the increasing spread of the...

-PTI/ Business Standard The findings of the study are under consideration for publication in a peer-reviewed medical journal A multi-centre study on a cohort of over 31,000 vaccinated healthcare workers of a leading private facility, spanning across the country, has found that Covid vaccine provided protection against infection in "95 per cent" of the beneficiaries, hospital authorities claimed on Wednesday. The study by Apollo Hospitals took place over four and a half months,...

-The Hindu They are misled by some videos which predicted death within two hours of vaccination, says official BHUBANESWAR: Tribals in Odisha’s Rayagada district fled their village after locking up their houses afraid of being given the COVID-19 vaccine. The incident took place at Champakana under Kolnara block of Rayagada on Wednesday. The district administration had held an awareness camp explaining the benefits of inoculation. “However, when our team reached the village with 100 doses...

-Livemint.com * Centre to take over vaccination programme from states, provide free jabs to Indians aged 18 years and above * PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana extended till November this year, to benefit 80 crore Indians Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a slew of decisions on Monday regarding the vaccination drive against coronavirus. The Prime Minister announced that central government will take back control of the vaccination programme from states and provide free...