New Delhi, Nov 22: The government is exploring the modalities of emergency authorisation and usage of anti-coronavirus vaccines pending completion of phase-three clinical trial and regular licensure.

The issue of advance purchase commitment for vaccines, including pricing, was also discussed in a recent meeting attended by NITI Aayog Member (Health) Vinod Paul, Principal Scientific Advisor to the government K VijayRaghavan and Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan.

“It was decided that the PMO-constituted Vaccine Task Force (VTF) will lay down the principles for emergency use authorisation while the National Expert Group On Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) should take the lead in setting the principles for advance market commitment, including vaccine pricing,” a source said.

These developments assume significance against the backdrop of Pfizer seeking emergency use authorisation of its Covid-19 vaccine from the US regulators. Another US-based biotechnology giant, Moderna, said it also intends to apply for an emergency use authorisation (EUA) with the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, five vaccines are under different phases of clinical trials in India. The Serum Institute of India is conducting the phase-three trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, while Bharat Biotech and ICMR has already started the phase-three trail of the indigenously developed Covaxin jab.

An indigenously developed vaccine by Zydus Cadila has completed a phase-two clinical trial in the country. Dr Reddy’s Laboratories will soon start combined phase two and three trials of the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India.

According to the source, an urgent meeting of the vaccine task force (VTF) with experts will be convened to review the scientific status of vaccines globally and whether, if so how and when should the decision on the emergency authorisation of vaccines be taken.

The terms of references for two major bodies dealing with vaccine introduction — the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) and the Central Drug Standards and Control Organisation (CDSCO) — will be set and their roles clearly defined for authorisation and emergency authorisation.

It was also agreed at the meeting that one point of contact will be responsible for examining and responding to authorisations given (or in the pipeline), globally, the source said.

Towards advance market commitment, NEGVAC should lay down principles for procurement and price negotiations. Using these principles, negotiations should be speedily initiated.

It was also decided at the meeting that a NEGVAC group should be proactively reaching out to each company as their results from phase three are announced, a source said.

Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have announced that its vaccine appears 95 per cent effective at preventing mild to severe Covid-19 disease in a large, ongoing study. Moderna has also announced that its Covid-19 vaccine has shown to be 94.5 per cent effective in preventing the deadly disease.

Moscow, Nov 22:  David Nabarro, a special envoy of the World Health Organization (WHO), in an interview with the Swiss Badener Tagblatt newspaper on Sunday warned of the danger of a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Europe in early 2021.

According to the special envoy, European countries failed to prevent a second wave of the pandemic after they managed to take the first one under control.

In particular, they missed the opportunity to develop the necessary infrastructure during the summer months when the epidemiological situation improved. If the governments do not create it now, they will face a third wave in early 2021, Nabarro said.

Many Western European countries are currently seeking to take the virus back under control without resorting to such rough measures as lockdown and a strict isolation regime, for which they have to pay a “high price,” the WHO special envoy added.

Commenting on the epidemiological situation in Eastern Asia, Nabarro said that it was better due to clear communication between the authorities and population. After the countries managed to reduce the number of infections per day, they do not relax coronavirus-related restrictions, which are strictly followed by citizens.

‘DDC polls to ensure stronger democratic system in UT’

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Nov 22: The State Election Commissioner, Jammu and Kashmir, K.K Sharma, Sunday said all advanced arrangements are being put in place to ensure transparent, safe and secure conduct of first time District Development Council elections, ULB and panchayat by elections in the Union Territory.

These remarks were made by State Election Commissioner, while chairing a meeting held to review law and order situation and security arrangements for ensuing polls being held between November- 28 to December-19.

The meeting among others was attended by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole and IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar.

SEC said that all advanced arrangements are being put in place to ensure conduct of transparent polls in free and fair manner across the UT. Moreover, he said that goal of SEC is to ensure safe elections are held in the UT.

He said that adequate security arrangements shall be provided to all participating candidates whether party based or as independent including star campaigners besides all other facilities to ensure them comfortable campaigning in their respective areas.

He said that there has been an enthusiastic atmosphere prevailing in Kashmir as encouraging nominations particularly, youth participants are coming forward to participate in these elections for promotion of democracy.

SEC said the DDC polls which are being held for the first time in the UT are important and shall ensure district level leadership to the people and give a boost to the developmental process in all districts.

Besides discussing law and order and security arrangements, heli services to far flung areas of Kupwara, Bandipora and other districts were also discussed during the meeting.

He said that special arrangements of postal ballots are being made for various categories of people which included senior citizens and COVID- 19 positive to remain in isolation and others to ensure everyone who can’t turn up to the polling booth is given the opportunity to exercise his/ her right to franchise.

SEC said that besides party based candidates, a large number of candidates have filed their nominations as independent candidates.

He said that 165 additional police force companies have been brought from outside J&K to ensure adequate security arrangements are being made for all participating candidates.

Sharma appealed people to follow all Covid related SOPs including use of face mask and hand sanitizers while participating in the election process. He also asked concerned officers and officials to ensure availability of face masks and hand sanitizers at all polling booths during the voting process to ensure containment of the spread of Covid-19.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Nov 22: The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Sunday announced the seat-sharing formula for the fifth phase of the District Development Council (DDC) polls for which the voting will take place on December 10.

The seat-sharing list was released on the alliance’s official Twitter handle.

The list was approved by PAGD president Farooq Abdullah, who is also the chief of the National Conference (NC).

According to the seat-sharing formula, the NC has bagged half of the 16 seats while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will contest on five.

Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference will contest on two seats and Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement will fight on one seat.

The last day for filing the nominations for the fifth phase of the polls is Monday.

Met predicts snowfall, admin issues avalanche warning for higher reaches

Srinagar, Nov 22: Srinagar, recorded the coldest night of the season so far after the mercury dipped and settled at minus 3 degree while world famous ski resort of Gulmarg shivered at minus 7.4 degree.

Meanwhile, a fresh weather warning has been issued for the next four days from Sunday in the valley, where heavy rain, snow and thundershowers would occur at isolated places while light snowfall could occur in scattered to fairly widespread areas till Wednesday.

“Light snowfall is also predicted at isolated places in Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan,” a weather department official added.

He said the weather will start to improve from Thursday onwards.

Srinagar recorded the coldest night of the season so far after the minimum temperature dipped and settled at minus 3 degree, which is about 3 degree below normal. People in the city could be seen using latest gadgets, besides traditional ‘Kangdi’ (firepot) to keep themselves warm.

Early in the morning, drivers and mechanics in the city had burned wood on the roadsides to keep warm. The city has not received snow so far this season as last week snow occurred only in the upper reaches in the valley. The weather remained chilly throughout the day due to cloudy skies, coupled with ice cold winds.

Even though the night temperature at Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, improved marginally from Saturday, it was still the coldest place in the region at minus 7.4 degree. The ski resort, which received fresh snowfall last week, has started to witness increase in the influx of tourists, particularly from other parts of the country. The skies in Gulmarg, which is known for its ski slopes and the quality of snow, were cloudy throughout the day, resulting in dip in the maximum temperature.

The mercury at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, dipped over 2 degree from Saturday and settled at minus 5.6 degree, which is over 3 degree below normal. People in the health resort, which also witnessed the season’s first snowfall last week, woke up to a chilly and cloudy Sunday morning. The damp weather continued throughout the day, resulting in dip in the maximum temperature.

The night temperature at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kokernag dipped and settled at minus 2.6 degree, minus 3.4 degree and minus 1.9 degree respectively.

Meanwhile, following adverse weather forecast in J&K on Monday and Tuesday, authorities on Sunday issued avalanche warning for higher reaches in the Kashmir division.

An official of the Disaster Management Department said medium danger avalanche warning will remain in force during the next few days in Kupwara district while low danger avalanche warning will remain in force in Baramulla, Anantnag, Kulgam, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts.

“People are advised to avoid unnecessary movement outside their homes till the warning remains in force,” the official said.

Avalanches in higher reaches of J&K have become a big threat for people, especially the security forces manning the Line of Control (LoC). (Additional input from Agencies)

Srinagar, Nov 22: The authorities have banned any traffic movement between Gagangeer to Sonamarg on Srinagar-Leh highway during night when the temperature drops to sub zero temperature resulting in slippery road conditions.

Meanwhile, civilian Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) traffic, including those carrying passengers and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) will ply from Srinagar to Jammu.

However, force convoy will ply from Jammu to Srinagar, a traffic police official told UNI on Sunday.

The historic 86-km-long Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, was also through and vehicles will be allowed to ply between 1100 hrs to 1600 hrs, he said.

There is a weather warning for isolated heavy rain, snow and thundershowers in the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from today till November 25 which could affect air and surface traffic.

Spokesman said today traffic was allowed from Kargil to Srinagar on the 270 km highway, the only road connecting Ladakh with Kashmir.

However, he said due to considerable drop in the minimum temperature due to which road becomes slippery, the night travel from 1800 hrs to 0900 hrs next day between Gagangeer to Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Leh highway will remain suspended as a precautionary measure.

He said LMV (passengers) will be allowed from Srinagar to Jammu and vehicles had to cross Zig, Qazigund between 0700 hrs to 1200 hrs. No vehicle will be allowed after the cut off timing, he said.

HMVs will also be allowed to ply from Zig Qazigund towards Jammu, he said.

However, force vehicles are advised to ply from Jammu towards Srinagar, he added.

Abid Bashir

Srinagar, Nov 22: Urging local militants to shun the path of violence and join mainstream, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Sunday said that the youth of J&K, if guided properly, can prove their mettle at national and international levels.

Hussain said that he will raise the issue of restoration of high speed internet in J&K (which remained suspended since August 5, 2019, when the special status of the erstwhile state was abrogated) with the centre.

He said the time of suffering for the people of Jammu and Kashmir has ended. “Now they will enjoy prosperity and happiness. BJP will lay emphasis on education and tourism in all districts of J&K,” Hussain told UNI.

He said the BJP will win the hearts of the people through development, adding ‘if someone misguides the youth of J&K, it is our duty to bring them back to the right path’.

“Whether a militant is killed or a militant kills someone, in both the cases it is the people of Kashmir who are dying. So I appeal to the youth of Kashmir, who have been misguided into militancy, to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream,” he said.

He said the brains of youngsters in J&K is very sharp and if they start studying they can prove their mettle in any examinations, be it IPS or IAS. “…there is no malnutrition among the people of Kashmir…,” he said.

“A Kashmiri boy, who was economically weak and lived in a mud house, cracked the IAS examination recently,” he added.

The senior BJP leader said it is the resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to develop J&K. “It is the resolve of PM Modi to develop tourism in J&K and end militancy. We want to fight the DDC elections on the plank of development,” he said.

He further said the students from J&K will have the best colleges and universities in the UT and won’t have to go to other states for higher education.

Answering a question about restoration of high speed internet in J&K, he said the government will decide on the restoration of 4G internet services. “But the demand which we have received regarding restoration of 4G internet will be forwarded to the center,” he added.

Precious Kashmir News

Jammu, Nov 22: Taking prompt action against those alleged to be responsible for the death of differently abled class 10 student in Srinagar, the government Sunday suspended three members of District Medical Board Srinagar along with Class-IV.

It is alleged that the deceased student died at the door of the board after being denied a scribe by JKBOSE to write for his class 10 exams in view of his inability to write down the paper himself due to his extremely poor health (muscular dystrophy) and disability as well.

“The sister and mother of the deceased person approached the Medical Board on November 17, 2020 and requested that the deceased be examined in the vehicle parked outside the centre due to his severe disability and lack of facilities therein in the Centre. But the deceased was not attended and when he suffered breathlessness the doctors rushed outside to attend the deceased and referred him to hospital wherein he was declared brought dead and no health worker /doctor accompanied them up to hospital,” the recommendation letter for suspension of the Board members stated.

The board members, who have been placed under suspension included Dr Neelofar, Consultant Physician at SDH Ganderbal; Dr Shuja Rashid, Medical Officer Leper Hospital and Dr Farhan Bashir, Ophthalmologist, Government Gousia Hospital Srinagar besides Ghulam Hassan, Nursing Orderly.

In an order issued by DHSK in this regard, the suspension of the board members along with Class-IV has been materialized after receiving recommendations from Additional Commissioner Kashmir.

Pertinently, the suspension order has come after Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan, who is also In-charge of Social Welfare Department, had asked about a factual report from Principal Secretary SWD after a video surfaced on social media in which a girl hailing from Chanapora area of Srinagar alleged that her disabled brother Suhaib died at the door of Well Mission Health Centre Jawahar Nagar Srinagar due to the “negligence and unbecoming behavior of the Medical Board doctors and staff member.”

He had asked the authorities of the Education Department to take strict action against the officers and staff at BOSE who are at the default in the death of the student.

Jammu, Nov 22: Days after four Jaish-e-Mohammad militants were killed in an encounter with forces in Nagrota area of Jammu, a tunnel has been detected along the international border in Samba sector of Jammu region on Sunday.

Official sources here said that a Tunnel was found on the International border (IB) area of District Samba during a search operation in the area.

“After the Nagrota encounter near Ban Toll in which four Pakistani militants were killed and a huge cache of arms and ammunition recovered, questions were raised about the infiltration and how the militants reached the national highway,” Director General of Police Dilbag Singh told reporters at the tunnel site.

He said that after developing intelligence inputs, a search operation was carried out along the border and the tunnel was detected which is just few metres away from the Pakistan.

“The opening of the tunnel is towards the Pakistani side and the militants it seems used this route to infiltrate,” the J&K Police Chief said.

Meanwhile IG BSF Jammu Frontier, N S Jamwal said that the militants made use of technology to carry out their infiltration.

“It seems militants involved in the Nagrotra encounter used this 30-40 metre long tunnel as it appears to be new one,” said the IG adding, “we believe they had a guide who took them till the highway.”

IG Jammu Zone Mukesh Singh was also present at the spot.