1 3 ; , ( #)5 " )5 " 5 VRGR '%&((!1#VCEB R BP A"'!#$#1!$"#0$"T utqBVQWBuxy( +-./+0 12 -44+ 5'6 )-'(/ (# % *,063@ 248*:-63+08 80+-'0 ,0-23-7*9+:1 '2:(-'27'+018 132-3 2:,0,3+'-:*23+ 10'8:6 8+*2383(78 *2+,382 ,028,7+ 2>,08',?3/>1, <- * )* =++, = < 0 "" # ! " ( '" 2 3 34 3 5 R +01,0-23 efficacy of the British-devel- oped AstraZeneca/Oxford vac- & earing up to launch one of cine is 70.42 per cent, though he Gthe world’s largest coron- did not give out the efficacy per avirus vaccination drive any- cent of the jab developed by the % $ time soon, India on Sunday Hyderabad-based biotechnolo- gave final approval for the gy firm, Bharat Biotech. emergency use of Hyderabad- Somani, however, (" +01,0-23 vinced as they termed it ‘a based Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin described the Indian-devel- dangerous step’ given that and the Serum Institute of oped Covaxin vaccine as “safe mid concerns raised by details of Stage 3 clinical trials India’s Covishield. Both vac- which provides a robust Avarious quarters regard- were yet not available. +01,0-23 take the shot. On Sunday, the cines are being produced in the immune response.” He said ing the efficacy of the Covaxin They argued that the prob- former Uttar Pradesh Chief country. the Indian vaccine was indigenously developed by lem is that the Government in he grant of approval to Minister said the Covid-19 India’s approval of the UK- approved “in the public inter- Bharat Biotech that is yet to its eagerness to promote ‘vocal TBharat Biotech’s Covid-19 vaccination programme is a developed AstraZeneca/Oxford est as an abundant precaution, complete phase 3 trial, the for local’ notion has bypassed vaccine for “emergency use” “sensitive process”, and the University jab follows Britain’s in clinical trial mode, to have DCGI said it will be used in key parts of the standard drug has kicked a major controversy Government should not treat it recent approval of the vaccine. more options for vaccinations, restricted cases and was and vaccine-development pro- with several senior Congress as a “cosmetic” event as it is a India plans to inoculate some especially in case of infection by approved “in public interest as tocol and have questioned leaders raising serious concern matter of lives. 30 crore people on a priority list mutant strains”. an abundant precaution, in DCGI’s claims that “it is 110 over the way the approval has Sharma, who heads the this year by July 2021 with three Somani also did not take clinical trial mode, to have per cent safe”. been granted. The party has offi- Parliamentary panel on Home crore health workers, doctors, any question from the reporters more options for vaccinations, Experts also warned that cially lauded the scientists and Affairs which dealt with the and front carona warriors to be except saying, “We’ll never especially in case of infection by the decision may lead to dis- researchers for the achievement. issue at length, said the matter given the free jab. approve anything if there is mutant strains”. trust among people regarding Senior Congress leaders of granting authorisation for The country’s top drug slightest of safety concern. The request of the SII, Bharat across the country. “We’ll never approve any- vaccines and that it may and former Union Ministers vaccine use needs to be taken regulator DCGI in its presser vaccines are 100 per cent safe. Biotech International Ltd as The DCGI said both man- thing if there is slightest of safe- become difficult for the Union Anand Sharma, Jairam Ramesh up carefully as no country has on Sunday said, “Emergency Some side effects like mild well as about phase-III trials of ufacturers had submitted data ty concern. Government to defend it in the and Shashi Tharoor sought to dispensed with the mandatory restricted approval has been fever, pain, and allergy are Cadila Healthcare Ltd. showing their vaccines were “The vaccines are 110 per international fora. know from the Health Minister phase 3 trials and verification given for the two vaccine can- common for every vaccine. It India, which has recorded safe to use and shared that SII cent safe. Some side effects like Dr Rahul Bhargava, why mandatory protocols and of data. didates and that it is paying is absolute rubbish that people the second-highest number of has presented a recombinant mild fever, pain and allergy are Director (Institute of Blood verification of data “had been In its report submitted on close attention to the increas- may become impotent.” infections in the world with chimpanzee adenovirus vector common for every vaccine. Disorder and Bone Marrow dispensed with”. December 21 to Rajya Sabha ing cases of the UK’s Covid-19 As per the official release, more than 10.3 million con- vaccine (Covishield) encoding “It is absolute rubbish that Transplant) Fortis Hospital, Samajwadi Party leader chairman and Vice President M new strain in the country and the Subject Expert Committee firmed cases to date, killing the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) gly- people may become impotent,” Gurgaon said that the Akhilesh Yadav had on Venkaiah Naidu, the commit- was prioritising its threat while (SEC) met on Friday and nearly 150,000 held nationwide coprotein with technology trans- he said at a Press conference Government is trying to mod- Saturday termed the anti-Covid tee noted that the CDSCO has conducting clinical trials”. Saturday had made its recom- drills on Saturday to prepare fer from AstraZeneca/Oxford here. ify the protocols related to vaccine to be rolled out in the given no emergency use autho- India’s Drugs Controller mendations in respect of the more than 90,000 healthcare University. However, the doctors and phase three trials. country as a “vaccine of the risation in the past. General VG Somani said the accelerated approval process workers to administer vaccines Continued on Page 2 research experts were not con- Continued on Page 2 BJP” and said he would not Continued on Page 2 * % & ''()% *+ & ! "#$% "#$% +01,0-23 +01,0-23 ollowing the overnight rain- t a time the “boycott China” Ffall in the national Capital, Achorus has been getting the farmers protesting and louder, China-based Shanghai camping at city borders wit- Tunnel Engineering Company nessed waterlogged tents, (STEC) has been awarded a Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor soaked firewood and blankets. contract to construct 5.6 km have been awarded and the The continuous rainfall underground stretch from New construction is going on in full throughout the day also led to Ashok Nagar to Sahibabad of swing to commission the pro- waterlogging at agitation the Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail ject in time, an NCRTC venues and water also entered Transit System project. spokesperson said. in the tents of the farmers. A major controversy had Five national and multina- Heavy rain lashed across erupted in June last year after tional bidders including L&T, ! " #$% the national Capital on Sunday the STEC emerged as the low- Tata Projects Limited took part leading to waterlogging in est bidder for a contract worth in the bid. The NCRTC had ,-. Rescue workers sifted Police said they have iden- some parts of the city. & ( Rs 1,126 crore for the con- invited global bids for the first through the rubble for hours to tified the bodies of 14 deceased According to a meteorological " #$% struction of the 5.6-km tunnel underground civil construction / 0 ensure that more victims were persons out of the 23 dead. department official, the mini- on one of the stretches of the package in November last year not trapped there. They have been identified as mum temperature in the city the protesting farmers are in high prevent from soaking in water. Delhi-Meerut RRTS project and the technical bids for this 0 A National Disaster Omkar (45), Neeraj alias Bunty settled at 9.9 degrees Celsius, spirits. “Farmers continue to be At Tikri border, Bharatiya amid a standoff between India contract package were opened Response Force (NDRF) was (40), Joginder (42), Sunil (44), while the maximum settled at in high morale and are consoli- Kisan Union Ugrahan leader and China along the Line of on March 16. also sent to the spot Om Prakash Arya (68), Robin, 15.8 degrees Celsius. The dating forces. All four major Sukhdev Singh, said arrange- Actual Control (LAC) in The scope of work includes in Muradnagar's Ukhlarsi vil- Pramod (34), Nitin Chauhan humidity oscillated between protest sites are being coordi- ments made by farmers to Ladakh. The National Capital design and construction of lage. (34), Pappu Singh (45), Babu 100 and 82 per cent. The nated, more forces are joining in brave the cold weather are not Region Transport Corporation twin tunnels from near New 243',5678,+8 Apart from the 23 dead, 20 (45), Akshay (48), Vinod (58), Safdarjung observatory, which and protests in other places are helping much because of rains (NCRTC), which is executing Ashok Nagar DN Ramp to others are admitted at different Dilip Batra (68) and Mayank provides official figures for the continuing,” said AIKSCC. and subsequent waterlogging. the country’s first Regional Sahibabad UP Ramp and one n a tragic incident, at least 23 hospitals, officials said on (18), all residents of city, recorded 14.8 mm rainfall Following the rainfall, the Veerpal Singh, a protesting Rapid Rail Transit System underground station at Anand Ipeople were killed and sev- Sunday evening. Muradnagar district. at 5.30 pm, while the Palam farmers on Sunday said they farmer, said their blankets, (RRTS), said the contract was Vihar.