Page 31 - COVID Newsletter 11 June

Mapping of key mutations on the furin-cleaved crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein
Trend of major mutations in the spike protein from (grey surface view) in complex with ACE2 (brown December-2020 to March-2021 solid ribbon), RBD region shown in green
validation against a wider panel of mAbs, sera from vaccines and those that recovered from natural infection needs to be studied. The emergence of such local variants through the accumulation of convergent mutations during the COVID-19 second wave needs to be further investigated for their public health impact in the rest of the country and its possibility of becoming a VOC.
Contact Info: Priya Abraham; priya.abraham@icmr.gov.in
Website Link:
https://www.icmr.gov.in/pdf/covid/papers/B.1.617%20spread%20in%20 Maharashtra%20State.pdf
Prioritizing pregnant women for COVID-19 vaccination
Even though evidence for the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy is emerging, most countries currently do not offer COVID-19 vaccination to pregnant women, while a few leave the decision to the woman. Pregnant women are known to be at high risk of complications from COVID-19.
Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Safdarjung Hospital, and NITI Aayog did a web search on policies for COVID-19 vaccination of pregnant women in two sets of countries – those bearing
a high burden of COVID-19 cases globally and a second set with a high burden of maternal and under-five mortality. Of the top 20 COVID-19-affected countries, six countries allow and two have in place guidelines for preferential vaccination of pregnant women. In contrast, none of the high maternal and under-five mortality burden countries have such preferential vaccination guidelines in place. India and Indonesia with one-fifth of world’s population lie in both the groups, contributing 17% of COVID-19 cases, 11% of COVID-19 deaths, 17% of maternal, and 21% of under-five deaths globally, but do not allow COVID-19 vaccination of pregnant women. For COVID-19 not to further aggravate the already heavy existing burden of maternal and under-five mortality, there is a strong case for inclusion of pregnant women as a high priority group for COVID-19 vaccination. So, they recommend including COVID-19 vaccination in the routine protocol for antenatal care in all countries, particularly India and Indonesia, in view of their dual burden.
Contact Info: ysarwal@gmail.com
Website link:
https://osf.io/5yxh7/
VOL. IV ISSUE 4
VIGYAN PRASAR 27
NATION’S S&T EFFORTS AGAINST COVID-19