Link

https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/coronavirus-news-live-updates-covid-19-maharashtra-reports-51880-new-covid19-positive-cases-65934-recoveries-and-891-deaths-6855751.html

Covishield has been developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca in partnership with the Serum institute of Pune, and was approved for use by the Government of India around two months back. Known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or AZD1222, the vaccine produces the best result when administered in two doses a month apart. This vaccine uses the virus’s genetic instruction for building the spike protein as its base and is peculiar in that it stores the instructions in double-stranded DNA.

Development

The gene for the Coronavirus spike protein was added to another virus called Adenovirus, the viruses that typically cause colds or flu-like symptoms. The team used a  modified version of a chimpanzee adenovirus, known as ChAdOx1. AZD1222 is the result of decades of research on adenovirus-based vaccines. This modified form of virus can enter the cell but cannot replicate itself. There are two aspects that make this vaccine more rugged than its competitors and those are adenovirus’s tough protein coat, which helps protect the genetic material inside, and the storage of instructions in double-stranded DNA, which is not as fragile as RNA.

Defence Mechanism

Once the vaccine is delivered, the Adenoviruses bump into cells and get engulfed into a bubble and pulled into the cell where they travel to the nucleus after detaching themselves from the bubble. These Adenoviruses then transfer their DNA to the nucleus of the cell. The gene of the Coronavirus spike protein is then read by the nucleus and gets copied to a molecule called messenger RNA or mRNA. The mRNA  leaves the cell, and the cell starts assembling the spike proteins on its surface.

The immune system can effectively recognize these protruding spikes, and this particular vaccine causes the immune system to react more strongly to the spike proteins. After the cell dies, B cells come into action and bump into the spikes and lock onto them. These B cells are then activated by helper T cells and proliferate and pour put antibodies that target the protein spikes. 

Side Effects

Most common side effects include Pain or tenderness at the injection site, Headache, Tiredness, Muscle or joint aches, Fever, Chills, Nausea.

All in all, this vaccine provides an active defense against the novel Coronavirus with an efficacy of 62-90%, which is quite promising. Health centers across the country are delivering this vaccine to thousands of individuals everyday, and it seems to be working effectively, with minimal side effects, in providing protection against the virus.

Sustainability and the World

The Brundtland Report of 1987, titled \”Our Common Future\” popularized the idea of sustainability. This document was elaborated for the United Nations in order to warn the world about the negative environmental consequences of economic development and globalization, with the aim of offering solutions to the problems. It was in January 2016 , that the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – adopted in September 2015 at UN Summit, officially came into force. It aims at achieving global well being for present and future generations. Despite the fact that worldwide awareness of sustainable development has been growing over the years, actual tangible results still fall short of any of the set goals. Until and unless the 17 SDGs would become an absolute priority for individuals, organizations and governments, it would be difficult to secure the stability of our future.

We need to expand our collective consciousness that depends on the evolution of each and everyone\’s individual consciousness. The evolution of consciousness depends on the evolution of our mind – thinking, intellect and ego. Indeed, our consciousness has far more effect on our environment than we could ever imagine. We need to recreate a world founded upon cooperation rather than competition – a world, so different from today\’s divisive and exploitative culture. A simple shift is required from \”me\” to \”we\”.

Together we can

Oneness is not a philosophical idea but something essential and ordinary. This oneness is the heartbeat of life. Through our awareness, and actions born of this awareness, we can help to reconnect our world and make it beautiful. In the words of Thich Nhat Hanh : \”Real change will only happen when we fall in love with our planet. Only love can show us how to live in harmony with nature and with each other and save us from the devastating effects of environmental destruction and climate change. \” Our planet Earth is waiting and needing our participation, it has been wounded by our greed, exploitation and our forgetfulness of its sacred nature. Let us reconnect to uncover what is real and fall in love with our planet Earth- our only home.  

We want to bring your attention to the issue that has been overlooked since the pandemic began. We have, for a very long time, been fighting with malnutrition which remains the predominant risk factor for child deaths in the country, and the ongoing pandemic has worsened the scenario by increasing food insecurity. According to the recent projections, India could see around additional 60,000 child deaths in the next six months. These numbers are extremely high and can\’t be ignored. Are we headed towards a Silent Pandemic? Listen to the voiceover below to find out.

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