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Corbevax booster gives maximum protection, reveals Hyd hospital study

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 Amidst concerns of a new Covid wave in India following massive surge in China and other countries, research at AIG Hospitals here has revealed that Corbevax booster in individuals vaccinated with Covishield gives maximum protection against Omicron variants.

The scientific study has proved the immunity benefits of indigenous heterologous vaccine booster, Corbevax in combating Omicron variants.

The study titled “Heterologous booster dose with Corbevax following primary vaccination with Covishield enhances protection against SARS-CoV-2” has been published in the high-impact factor journal “Vaccines”.

Announcing the findings of the study, AIG Hospitals Chairman Dr D Nageshwar Reddy told media persons that the study was done on 250 healthcare workers who had received 2 doses of Covishield as the primary vaccine regimen not more than 6 months ago. None of the participants had any adverse events following the administration of Corbevax booster dose.

“We knew from our previous studies that mixed vaccines produce better immune response; therefore, when the government approved Corbevax to be given as a heterologous booster to individuals already vaccinated with Covishield, our aim was to determine how a different vaccine platform (protein-based) will impact the immune response especially in context of the Omicron variant,” he said.

Corbevax is an indigenously developed peptide-based vaccine which is different from the viral vector (Covishield) or the inactivated vaccine (Covaxin). The key difference is that Corbevax uses only a protein subunit of the virus replicated inside a yeast cell while the others are whole virus vaccines. The advantage of peptide-based vaccine is that it considerably reduces the risks of allergic and autoimmune responses making them safe for widespread usage.

Dr Reddy said the results further cemented their belief that mixed vaccines are absolutely safe. “The second aspect of the study was to measure the antibody response as well as the T-cell (memory cell) response at 30 days and then at 90 days to correctly estimate the overall protection against the circulating Omicron variant.

When estimating the effectiveness of a vaccine, both the antibody response and T-cell (Memory cell) response are essential.

“In our study, we compared the immune responses among those individuals who were given the same vaccine, i.e., Covishield (homologous group) as a booster and those who were given Corbevax as a booster (heterologous group). The S1/S2-spike protein IgG antibody levels and T/B Cell response of these groups were compared at 30 days and at 90 days. While the homologous and heterologous groups showed increased S1/S2-spike protein IgG antibody level at 30 days, the heterologous group (Corbevax as a booster) showed higher levels of antibodies at both 30 days and 90 days,” Dr Reddy said.

The study was undertaken when Omicron variants are circulating in India; therefore, it would be appropriate to say that heterologous booster (Corbevax) would be effective in combating any wave that is fueled by sub-variants of the Omicron.

High-risk group people should consider taking the booster dose and continue to take Covid appropriate precautions all the time especially when in public spaces.

Replying to queries, Dr Reddy said if a person has taken Covaxin double dose, he should also take Corbevax as the booster dose. “The booster dose should be from the other company as this gives more protection,” he said.

He noted that only 28 per cent of people in the country have taken booster dose. Corbevax is manufactured by Hyderabad-based Biological E.

Dr Reddy said that the vaccine is easy to manufacture and it is already available in the market at a price of Rs 250.

He suggested that China should also import Corbevax to save lives.

Dr Reddy also made it clear that there is no need for panic as the both the central and state governments are taking necessary measures and adequate stocks of vaccines and Remdesivir are available.

He believes that the number of Covid cases may increase over the next two months but from March next year, the situation will be normal.

He said people should wear masks while going in crowded places. He believes that the impact of the new variant of Omicron will not be severe.

Maharashtra

Indo-Pak tension: Mumbai Dadar Chowpatty not closed

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Mumbai: Mumbai Due to the war-like situation and tension between Pakistan and India, the market of rumors is hot on social media. Mumbai Police has denied the rumor of Mumbai’s Dadar Chowpatty being closed and has said that Dadar Chowpatty has not been closed. The message of Dadar Chowpatty being closed in the context of war was shared on social media, after which the police have denied it on their X and social media accounts and have said that Dadar Chowpatty is open to the general public as usual. It has not been closed. The public does not need to panic or pay attention to the rumor. Similarly, there was news of a drone being seen in Mumbai’s Sakinaka last night, which was confirmed by the police, which has also denied it. No drone has been found in Sakinaka either. This is also just a rumor, so the police have appealed to the citizens not to pay attention to the rumors and not to take any kind of action. Avoid sharing and making rumors viral.

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Maharashtra

Indian soldier Murali martyred in Pakistani firing in Mumbai

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Mumbai: After the terrorist attack in Kashmir Pahalgam, the Indian Army retaliated and launched a massive attack on Pakistan under “Operation Sindoor”. While the enemy was defeated in this operation, 27-year-old Murali Naik, a resident of Kamaraj Nagar, Mumbai, was martyred in firing on the border.

As soon as the news of the martyrdom of Martyr Murali Naik reached the area, a wave of mourning spread throughout Kamaraj Nagar. Every eye was moist and every heart was filled with pride. Former corporator of the area, Parmeshwar Kadam, said that Murali was honest and sociable since childhood and was also a capable soldier. He dreamed of serving the country at a young age. Even after facing setbacks, Murali joined the army. Some relatives even forbade him from joining the army, but Murali’s passion was unwavering. With hard work and dedication, he fulfilled his dream by joining the army.

Murali Naik joined the Indian Army in 2022. After training in Nashik, he was posted in Assam, then Punjab. Just a month ago, he was sent to the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, where he was martyred in firing by Pakistan on Friday morning. The mortal remains of martyr Murli Naik will be taken to his native village in Andhra Pradesh tomorrow, where his last rites will be performed with full state honours. Murali, who belongs to the Dhangar community, was sociable and lively since childhood. Today, not only Mumbai but the entire country is proud of Murali Naik. He made his great sacrifice while protecting Mother India.

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Maharashtra

Removing the Pakistani flag at Vile Parle station was costly, a case was registered against five people including a woman, police took action after the video went viral on social media

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Mumbai: The Juhu police has registered an FIR against six unidentified individuals, including a burqa-clad woman, for allegedly gathering unlawfully, verbally abusing, and physically assaulting people who opposed the removal of Pakistani flags near the west side of Vile Parle railway station.

According to the FIR, the incident took place on May 4, when the accused were seen removing Pakistani flags that had been pasted on the stair steps of the Vile Parle railway station as part of a protest against the April 22 massacre of Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

The police have registered the case under Sections 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 190 (every member of an unlawful assembly guilty of an offence committed in pursuit of a common object), and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The complainant, Santosh Salukhe, 49, a policeman, stated that he saw a video on Facebook, showing a veiled woman and four to five unidentified youths removing the Pakistani flags from the stair steps at Vile Parle railway station (West).

Salukhe immediately rushed to the location and learned that around 4 p.m. the same day, some unidentified individuals had pasted the Pakistani flags in front of the ticket counter at the station and on the steps as a symbolic protest against the recent terrorist attacks on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The flags carried the message “Step on it.” Those who pasted the flags left soon after.

Later, the veiled woman and her group arrived at the Vile Parle railway station and began removing the flags, which created a disturbance for commuters. When some people tried to stop them, the woman and her associates allegedly physically assaulted and verbally abused them, resulting in a brief period of tension at the station. Gurpreet Anand of Ankush Foundation had distributed free stickers of the Pakistani flag with the message “Step on it” printed at the bottom.

On Wednesday, he went to Juhu police station along with Parag Alavani MLA and others with a view to register an FIR. “However, the police did not register our FIR,” he told Media. But on Friday, a constable filed an FIR. Subsequently, the police registered a case. Juhu police officials said no arrests have been made yet, and no notices have been issued as they are in the process of identifying the accused.

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