Targeting UPSC CSE

 Ensures speedy clearance and distribution. Central Board of Indirect Tax and Customs, CBIC amended regulations to facilitate import and export of COVID vaccines through courier where Express Cargo  Clearance System (ECCS) is operational ECCS is an automation programme to carry out clearance process under the Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing ) Regulations, 2010

 The WHO established its emergency use listing ( EUL) process to help poorer countries without their own regulatory resources, quickly approve medicines  of new diseases like Covid19,which otherwise could lead to delays. The UN health agency, with the GAVI Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), are spearheading a global effort called COVAX to secure and distribute vaccines to poorer countries , to ensure shots don't go only to wealthy nations. COVAX alliance has agreements for nearly 2 billion doses, with first deliveries due in early 2021.

 Covid Causing indirectly Brain Damage Recent Study by US National Institute of Health (NIH) on brain of Covid patient shows damages to the tissue of Brain caused by thinning and leaking brain blood vessels , may be caused by body's inflammatory response to virus.  The scans revealed that both olfactory bulbs and brainstems regions had an abundance of bright spots (called hyperintensities) that often indicate inflammation, and dark spots (called hypointensities) that represent bleeding.Found spots that  were surrounded by T cells from the blood and the brain’s own immune cells called microglia . Although Covid-19 is primarily respiratory disease, patient soften experience neurological problems including headaches, delirium, cognitive dysfunction, dizziness, fatigue, and loss of the sense of smell. The disease may also cause patients to suffer strokes. Several studies have shown that the disease can cause inflammation and blood vessel damage. Covid patients may be sus...

 U.K. regulator granted emergency use authorisation of AstraZenca's Vaccine on 30.12.20  It is based on weakened Adenovirus , i.e. a common cold flu virus  which contains genetic material of spike protein . Can be stored and transported at 2°- 8°. less costly then mRNA Vaccines like that of Pfizer and Moderna. Showed 62% efficacy when 2 full strength dose administered 4 weeks apart, as per published report.

 Covishield, vaccine candidate by Pune-based Serum Institute of India, approved by a Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)  It is the variant of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine that is being manufactured under licence in India by SII

 First reported to WHO on December 14. Increased Virulence. India needs mass genomic surveillance for that India has formed a consortium of leading genomics labs to make genome surveillance a routine continuous exercise which can shore up India's defenses against this pandemic and those of future.

 In a study of 120 unique variants reported in literature based on genome sequencing of the SARSCoV2 virus, the team found that 86 were genetic variants associated with immune escapes.  Of the 86 variants, nine had over 1% frequency in the respective countries. Variant N440K : frequency of 2.1% in India, Prevalence in A.P. Identified in UK, Denmark, Australia.an example of Homoplasy. found in healthcare worker, who was reinfected. N501Y : independently emerged in UK, then in South Africa. Made virus more transmissible.

Homoplasy is the ability of a mutation/variant to emerge independently in different genetic linkages. Ex. N440K variant of novel Corona Virus found in India, UK, Denmark, Australia.

Launched, Coordinated by Department of Biotechnology along with MoH&FW , ICMR, CSIR. A im is to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 on a regular basis through a multi-laboratory network. It is c omprising 10 labs namely DBT-NIBMG Kalyani, DBT-ILS Bhubaneswar, ICMR-NIV Pune, DBT-NCCS Pune, CSIR-CCMB Hyderabad, DBT-CDFD Hyderabad, DBT-InSTEM/ NCBS Bengaluru, NIMHANS Bengaluru, CSIR-IGIB Delhi, and NCDC Delhi. the preliminary  study indicates that the variant is unlikely  to cause increased risk of reinfection,  the new variant might not spread wildly here  due to difficulty in finding susceptible persons since 40-50% of urban India particularly in Tier 1 & 2 cities and about 30% people across India would have already been infected. India has so far sequenced around 6300 genomes of this virus in contrast UK has nearly 157000 genome sequenced even when their cases are around quarter of cases in India. It will help in boosting  India's Defe...

 Challenges for containing virus spread Elections Mass Protests scaling up of long distance Travel Infection spreading at workplace and commercial centers careless people infringed other citizens’ right to life by ignoring the use of masks and social distancing, while various protocols had failed to stop the virus spreading “like wildfire" due to lack of implementation Negative Impacts of Covid: On Campus education suspended many senior citizens unable to access periodic health care Economy facing recession and job loss Loss of livelihood and increase in Hunger and Malnutrition Difficulty in institutional Delivery Mortality Increased Health Burden and increased Prejudice Education impacted Increase in Domestic Violence Discrimination against COVID Patient Psychological stress and Increased Depression may Increase in Child marriages  Decline in  demand for both consumption and capital goods Decline in supply of goods and stock pilling of goods in apprehension of a lockdown...