Mou Between Ayushand Itdc

New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday was apprised of the MoUs between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the GARDP Foundation on Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Innovation, and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), both in Switzerland.The MoUs, signed in March and February, respectively, this year, are aimed to strengthen relations within the framework of the international scientific and technological collaboration and to promote cooperation in fields of mutual interest.The ICMR-GARDP collaboration will include establishing a strategy and modalities for financial and in-kind contributions by both parties to ensure the success of the joint objectives. Funding may be provided directly to the other party or to the third parties engaged in projects. All financial and in-kind contributions will be subject to separate legally binding agreements.In the MoU with the FIND, the ICMR is committed to make available funding up to $100,000 while the FIND will make available funds up to $400,000 to local partners and researchers identified through Request for Proposals (RFP).--IANSssb/vd

An MoU was signed between Jamnagar based Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) under the Ministry of Ayush and the Government of Gujarat in the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Nitinbhai Patel and Secretary, Ministry of AyushVaidya Rajesh Kotecha on 15th July 2021. Through this MoU, all the institutions functioning in the Ayurveda campus in Jamnagar have been brought under the umbrella of ITRA, the only institution under the Ministry of Ayush that has been accorded the status of Institute of National Importance (INI). Underlining the importance of the MoU, shriNitinbhai said that this will pave the way of the strengthening of the education system in all branches of Ayurveda. The MoU was exchanged between the Director, ITRA, Prof. Dr. Anup Thakar and Shri H.P. Jhala, I/C Registrar, Gujarat Ayurveda University. “This arrangement will result, in due course, in the opening of new doors in the fields of education, research and medicine,” said the Deputy CM on the occasion of the signing ceremony. It is hoped that in the field of Ayurveda, it will be easier to prepare new teaching, medical and research methods and the study-research process will be intensified, expanding the overall scope of Ayurveda education and research.  Addressing the gathering, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said that in the field of Ayurveda, it will be easier to prepare new teaching, medical and research methods. He said that the study and research process can be made more in-depth and ITRA will be an exemplary institution for Ayurveda education and reshaping research institutes across the country. Read in Hindi► इंस्टीट्यूट ऑफ टीचिंग एंड रिसर्च इन आयुर्वेद (आईटीआरए) और गुजरात सरकार के बीच समझौते पर हस्ताक्षर

Geneva, July 11 (IANS) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has found very rare cases of heart inflammation following vaccination with the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna, but the benefits still outweigh the risks.The cases were mild, and found more often in young men after the second dose, said the global health body.WHO's Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) said that cases of myocarditis and pericarditis had been reported in the US and several other countries. Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle, while pericarditis is an inflammation of the lining that surrounds the heart. "Very rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been observed following vaccination with the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines. These cases occurred more often in younger men and after the second dose of the vaccine, typically within a few days after vaccination. Current evidence suggests a likely causal association between myocarditis and the mRNA vaccines," the WHO said in a statement.The available data also suggest that the immediate cause of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination is generally mild and responds to rest, treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. Nearly 40.6 cases of myocarditis per million second doses among males and 4.2 cases per million among females have been reported as of June 11, 2021 in people aged between 12 and 29 years who received the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, according to the data in the US Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). For persons over 30 years of age, the reporting rates were 2.4 and 1.0 per million second doses, respectively, for males and females.The link was also confirmed by the European Medicines Agency, Europe's drug regulator. EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) confirmed "a plausible causal relationship between myocarditis and the mRNA vaccines" in Europe.Yet, "the benefits of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines continue to outweigh the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis even among young people, the WHO said. Symptoms indicative of myocarditis or pericarditis include new onset and persisting chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations following vaccination. The global health body advised clinicians to be aware of the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis with mRNA vaccines and people most likely to be affected -- adolescent or young males. It also asked vaccinated individuals to seek immediate medical attention if they develop any such conditions.--IANSrvt/dpb

London, July 5 (IANS) The UK government has ruled out plans to decrease the gaps between two doses of Covid-19 vaccinations, even as infections driven by the Delta variant are surging in the country.The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation ruled out the three week gap and recommended "an interval of 8 to 12 weeks between doses of all the available Covid-19 vaccines", dashing hopes that the UK might be able to speed up the vaccination programme by closing the gaps between doses, the Financial Times reported.The advisory body said this gap would "avoid confusion and simplify booking, and will help to ensure a good balance between achieving rapid and long-lasting protection."Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the UK is "very likely" to ease lockdown measures on July 19. It was pushed back by four weeks from June 21 amid concern over the spread of the Delta variant.Easing of lockdown measures could be a cause of concern as the country will not meet its target of ensuring two-thirds of adults with two jabs, FT cited people familiar with the UK vaccination programme.Experts from the National Health Service (NHS) and scientists are concerned as only 63 per cent in the country are fully vaccinated, while more than 85 per cent received only the first dose of a Covid vaccine. At the same time latest data showed Covid-19 infections have jumped by 74 per cent week-on-week."We may have weakened the link between infections, hospitalisations and deaths but this significant increase in infections with the Delta variant raises serious concerns," Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick Medical School, was quoted as saying. "One risk was that, as the virus spread it would continue to generate new variants increasing the risk that one will pop up that is more vaccine resistant," he added.While some suspect that the decision to not reduce the gap between the two jabs is due to difficulty in accessing supplies. However, government insiders have denied supply constraints, the report said.But, Prof Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the JCVI said: "regardless of supply constraints the minimum eight-week gap was preferable as it meant young people, who may not receive boosters in the autumn, had robust and long-lasting protection.--IANSrvt/in