• India’s first project where a qualified doctor attends to the patient in an ambulance
• Overall since the beginning of Operations in 2014 BVG MEMS has served over 67.70 Lakhs patients till Dec-21.
• BVG MEMS has served over 5.90 lakh COVID-19  patients since the beginning of the pandemic
• More than 37,600 successful deliveries have been assisted by doctors of BVG MEMS in ambulances.
• BVG MEMS has a fleet of over 937 ambulances and 30 Bike First response vehicles

Maharashtra, Pune, 10 January 2022: BVG India Ltd. a key player that manages Maharashtra’s Emergency Medical Services (MEMS), has announced that it is fully geared up for the pandemic and spike in COVID-cases by offering world-class emergency response services and MEMS 108 Toll-Free ambulance services. Throughout the pandemic, BVG’s MEMS and 108 Toll-Free ambulance services have benefited lakhs of people in Maharashtra and have served over 67.70 lakh patients (as of December 2021) since the beginning of operations in 2014.

BVG ambulance service in association with the Maharashtra Government is India’s first project where a qualified doctor attends to the patient in an ambulance, as compared to just a paramedic in non-BVG ambulances across India. The importance of qualified trained doctors taking care of patients in ambulances can be gauged by the fact that BVG MEMS has served over 5.90 lakh Covid-19 patients since the beginning of the pandemic and more than 37,600 successful deliveries have been assisted by doctors of BVG MEMS in ambulances.

Mr. Rajesh Tope, Hon. Cabinet Health Minister, Maharashtra, acknowledged the BVG MEMS team for successfully serving emergency patients’ health system preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when most people were scared and confined to homes, 108 ambulances were continuously running on the roads to serve patients in need, he said in a letter.

“It was commendable to note that even though over 310 emergency professionals including doctors and pilots were working on the ambulances were affected by COVID-19, post-recovery, this team joined the system back to serve patients. Looking at the spirit of this team, depicts the sign of utmost humanity that cares for the community,” said Mr. Tope, adding that the response from BVG MEMS team was praiseworthy and prompt.

BVG India has undertaken an ambitious state-of-the-art world-class MEMS initiative of Maharashtra operated 24/7 from Aundh Chest Hospital in Pune. Toll-free 108 is accessible from all mobiles and landline numbers across the State. Over 4,200 EMS professionals have been employed in this MEMS Service system and have received a great opportunity to serve people on grounds of humanity. With MEMS, there is a tremendous rise in providing healthcare facilities in rural, hilly, and tribal areas of Maharashtra.

Mr. Hanmantrao Ramdas Gaikwad, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), BVG India Ltd., said, “BVG India strategy of ensuring trained doctors in an ambulance for the first time in India assisted us in serving patients better and in creating new excellence benchmarks in terms of Training & Knowledge Management. Along with saving valuable lives, we assisted Maharashtra to get the distinction of being the first state in India to have EMS treatment protocol for emergency care; and creating the Manual of Maharashtra EMS.”

After establishing a unitary National Health Mission (NHM) the market for emergency services has grown at a CAGR of 25.8% between Fiscal 2013-21; catapulting the market size to Rs. 32.8 billion in Fiscal 2021.

BVG has built a highly successful and unique operating model for Maharashtra EMS. World-Class Equipment (Defibrillator & transport ventilator – Germany, medical-grade oxygen delivery system-Spain); the first ambulance in the country to have medical-grade oxygen delivery system; and Homologated ambulance certified by ARAI.

In terms of ERC, BVG MEMS has a state-of-the-art control room; seamless integration with other departments; backup of 5 ambulances for each ambulance; dynamic display on the map for incident location identification; and MEMS dashboard – real-time data access to government officers.

BVG India is one of the largest integrated facilities management services players in India with over 54,000 employees (as of June 2021) having served 582 clients across 35+ sectors in 130+ cities in FY21. BVG offers services to a diverse base of clients operating across sectors including the industrial and consumer sector, transport and transit infrastructure sector, hospitals and healthcare sector, and government establishments. BVG is among the few companies to also service religious institutions in India (Source: F&S Report). As part of its integrated services business, BVG provided railway station management services in 2019. In addition to integrated services and facility management services, BVG provides emergency response services for medical emergencies and police emergencies, and waste management services. BVG is the first company in India to be awarded contracts for providing emergency police response services (Source: F&S Report). In addition to these services, BVG executes facility management projects, mainly comprising gardening and landscaping services. Under its integrated services business, BVG serviced key clients in the industrial and consumer sector. In the transport and transit infrastructure sector, BVG’s clients include  Metro Rail Limited, highway and transport authorities and have serviced 16 different airports in different metro cities while in the hospitals and healthcare sector its clients include government hospitals across various cities.

BVG is the first company in India to be awarded the contract for providing emergency police response services, which is a unique project in the country. BVG is a key player offering services in the emergency response service market. The company operates in Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir with a fleet of over 1,400 ambulances and 30 bike ambulances as of June 30, 2021. BVG introduced the first ambulance equipped with defibrillators, blood pressure monitoring equipment, pulse oximetry, and medical-grade oxygen delivery systems and also was the first in India to provide doctors with ambulances. The company has handled more than 33.15 million (3.32 crore) calls and served nearly 7.56 million (75.6 lakh)[AK1]  patient emergencies till 30th June 2021. BVG has helped in over 37,000 childbirths in ambulances between February 2014 and June 2021. BVG’s homologated ambulances are certified by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). In Maharashtra, BVG provides ambulances with world-class equipment and it is the only state in the country that has dedicated doctors for each ambulance. The company offers command center services through its in-house IT infrastructure. BVG is also the only company in India to offer value-added services as part of their emergency medical response services, which include staffing medical professionals in their ambulances and providing basic periodic health screening facilities to the tribal communities in Maharashtra.

In Maharashtra, areas covered by BVG MEMS includes Ahmednagar, Akola, Amravati, Aurangabad, Beed, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Dhule, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Hingoli, Jalgaon, Jalna, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nandurbar, Nashik, Osmanabad, Palghar, Parbhani, Pune, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Satara, Sindhudurg, Solapur, Thane, Wardha, Washim and Yavatmal among others.

30 Bike Emergency Medical First Response vehicles with well-trained EMS personnel are deployed in areas of Mumbai, and the rural part of Palghar, Gadchiroli, Amravati, and Solapur. After receiving a call at the 108 control room, the nearest appropriate Bike Emergency Medical First Responder & ambulance is dispatched. Bike Emergency Medical First Responder has four kits -Trauma kit, Medical kit & Airway management kit, and Delivery kit. Medical kit contains all emergency medicines like Adrenaline, atropine, frusemide, Inhalers, etc., to take care of all medical emergencies like stroke, heart attack, asthma, etc. Trauma Kit contains all necessary equipment like air splints to stabilize fractures, different bandages, anti-septic and analgesic sprays, etc. Airway Kit contains AMBU Bags to give artificial ventilation to adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients, Oxygen Cylinder, Airways, Suction machine that takes care of Respiratory emergencies and Unconscious patients. Delivery Kit contains all equipment like Gloves, Gowns, umbilical cord cutting scissors, cord clamps, etc., with which emergency delivery can be conducted at home.

For more information: Adfactors PR – Unnikrishnan Nair 9850811273 E-mail: unnikrishnan.nair@adfactorspr.com

Disclaimer

BVG India Limited is proposing, subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, receipt of requisite approvals, market conditions, and other considerations, to make an initial public offering of its Equity Shares and has filed the DRHP with SEBI on September 30, 2021. The DRHP shall be available on the website of SEBI at www.sebi.gov.in, websites of the Stock Exchanges i.e. BSE and NSE at www.bseindia.com and www.nseindia.com, respectively, and is available on the websites of the BRLMs i.e. ICICI Securities Limited, JM Financial Limited and HSBC Securities and Capital Markets (India) Private Limited at www.icicisecurities.com, www.jmfl.com, and www.hsbc.com respectively.  Investors should note that investment in equity shares involves a high degree of risk and for details relating to such risk, please see the section entitled “Risk Factors” to be included in the Red Herring Prospectus. Potential investors should not rely on the DRHP filed with SEBI for making any investment decision.

The Equity Shares offered in the Offer have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or any other applicable law of the United States and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold within the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the Equity Shares are only being offered and sold (i) within the United States only to persons reasonably believed to be “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, “Rule 144A”) in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, registration requirements of the Securities Act, and (ii) outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act and pursuant to the applicable laws of the jurisdictions where those offers and sales are made. There will be no public offering of the Equity Shares in the United States.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) illness can affect children of all ages. However, most infected children do not get as sick as adults, and some might even display no symptoms at all. Children are likely to be innocent carriers of the virus, and could potentially spread it to other children who are at a higher risk of suffering severe symptoms from Covid. In some rare and severe cases, children can even develop MIS-C, a condition where there is inflammation throughout the body, which can potentially be dangerous and fatal for the child. Parents and guardians have an important role to play in educating their children about the coronavirus in a palatable manner and inculcating a sense of responsibility in them. The following is a brief guide for parents:

Is it possible for children to get COVID-19? 

Yes, of course. Parents and families should be informed that not only can SARS-CoV-2 infect children and cause COVID-19, they can also be carriers of the virus and transfer it to other children and adults. COVID-19 can cause serious illness in children, especially in children with co-morbidities, and in rare cases, fatalities have occurred. As a result, it is important to take preventive measures to avoid infection in both children and adults.

Is it possible for newborns to get COVID-19?

In exceedingly rare cases, it is believed that it is possible for women who are exposed to the virus to pass on the infection to their kids. Infants can get infected as soon as they are born. Although severe incidents have occurred, most newborns that test positive for the coronavirus have little or no symptoms and they recover.

Symptoms of coronavirus in newborns and children

Children can present in varying degrees of severity. They could be asymptomatic or incidentally tested positive, mild, moderate, and severe/critical illness. Some of the symptoms that children may experience usually:

• Fever

• Cough, cold and sore throat

• Shortness of Breath

• Headaches and Muscle Soreness

• Digestive Symptoms – vomiting, loose stools, and abdominal pain

• Fits

COVID-19 difficulties are more common in children with underlying health concerns or co-morbidities, such as obesity, lung disease, heart disease, renal disease, blood disorders, or a compromised immune system.

When Should You See a Doctor?

The majority of children have no symptoms or have mild-to-moderate symptoms. These kids don’t need to see a doctor or go to the hospital. Parents and guardians should contact a physician if their kid exhibits any COVID-19 symptoms. The doctor can advise you on the symptoms to be on the lookout for as well as treatment options at home. A kid may also require a referral for COVID-19 testing in some locations.

See a doctor at once if the child is experiencing any of the following symptoms-

• The child seems to be extremely sick

• They develop a rash.

• Their symptoms improve and then deteriorate.

• Recovered from COVID-19 but started developing inflammatory symptoms such as rash, fever, or bloodshot eyes.

Preventive Measures

Keeping children away from people who are (or could be) infected with COVID-19, including family members, is the greatest method to prevent them from contracting the virus. Here are three of the most effective methods for keeping your children healthy.

• Social distancing: The more individuals your children come into touch with, and the longer that contact lasts, the more likely they are to become infected with the coronavirus.

• Wearing a mask: Adults and children should wear a mask that covers both their nose and mouth when out in public, especially in circumstances when physical distance is not practical.

• Washing hands: Washing hands is really important. After using the restroom, sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose, before eating (even snacks), and shortly after coming indoors from the outside, children should wash their hands.

Parents should educate their children to routinely wash their hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. These actions can be taken by parents, caregivers, and other adults to stop the virus from spreading and lowering the chance of a kid contracting it.

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Covid manifests uniquely in each individual. And for those with comorbid conditions, the effect of the infection mostly turns severe. Especially people suffering from diabetes when contracted by Covid 19 infection, witness adverse symptoms. While in the first wave the elderly with conditions like diabetes, cardiac problems were mostly affected by the pandemic, in the second wave even younger generations with lifestyle disorders are hit badly by the infection. Uncontrolled diabetes not only increases the severity of Covid when contracted, but it can also make people susceptible to other bacterial and fungal infections as well.

Uncontrolled diabetes and Covid:

Diabetes lowers the immune response thus making it harder for the body to fight the virus. Therefore, Covid 19 infection combined with diabetes can affect the overall wellbeing of the body causing severe health issues thereby prolonging the recovery time. Also, diabetes can increase blood sugar levels and studies have proven that virus-like Covid can thrive in a high blood sugar environment.
Uncontrolled diabetes can hamper the blood flow making it difficult for the body to harness nutrients which is the natural defense system. Therefore, diabetic patients take time to recover from the infection. Also, diabetes keeps the body in a state of low-level inflammation which usually delays healing.

Increase in blood sugar level with Covid:

The increase in Covid cases and the subsequent lockdown have forced people to stay at home. This has drastically reduced physical activities. Closure to gyms and parks has also added to the woes making people less active. This has had a drastic impact on health as well as the blood sugar level.
When the body encounters any kind of infection, it increases the blood sugar level. An unhealthy diet, high fever during Covid times can increase the sugar level in an individual. The intake of steroids which is unavoidable in few patients as a part of the medication can add to it. Therefore, it is mandatory to get the blood sugar level tested on a regular basis and take precautions to control high blood sugar levels. If the patient is diabetic and has tested positive for Covid, it is important to monitor his sugar levels and if required needs to be treated with insulin.

Diabetes during Covid can cause complications

• Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Uncontrolled diabetes combined with Covid 19 can put a person at risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis. This occurs when high levels of acids called ketones build up in your blood. This condition can lead to a medical emergency.
• Mucormycosis: Uncontrolled diabetes coupled with Covid 19 may lead to mucormycosis in few patients. High sugar levels, steroid usage along with Covid infection can further add to the risk.
• Pneumonia: People with diabetes who develop COVID-19 have a higher risk of developing a more severe form of COVID-19 like pneumonia.

People with diabetes can protect themselves from contracting the virus by taking precautions like:

• Following hand hygiene
• Avoiding touching surfaces when you are outdoors
• Disinfect surfaces that are more prone to contamination like tabletops and door handles
• Do not touch eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Practice physical distancing
• Avoid all contact with people who are unwell, especially if they are suffering from fever, cough, etc
• Strengthen your immune system by following a regular sleep routine, reduced stress, and adequate amount of exercise
• Maintain adequate intake of food and fluids
• Try to keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range
• Monitor blood sugar levels regularly
• Take medications for diabetes
  In the time of the pandemic, it is crucial to take measures to avoid any unforeseen complications.

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Mumbai, 11th June 2021:  Coinciding with Global Wellness Day (celebrated on the second Saturday of  June every year), the Heartfulness group of organizations has launched the “Healthcare by Heartfulness” Covid Care app to provide covid consultation and telemedicine support along with its helpline, “Voice that Cares”, to offer medical consultation services to those who need it during these stressful times. The free-of-charge service is managed by 1500+ Heartfulness certified trainers and medical professionals from the Heartfulness Institute. Healthcare by Heartfulness was launched by Mrs. Suchitra Ella, Joint Managing Director Bharat Biotech International, and Heartfulness Guide, Kamlesh Patel (Daaji).

During these trying circumstances, telemedicine support will provide timely assistance, the right clinical consultation, and alleviate the challenges faced by the individuals seeking help. Easy access to a virtual doctor’s appointment will also reduce the burden on the existing healthcare systems.

The Healthcare by Heartfulness app provides free covid patient consultation anywhere, 24×7, 365 days a year.  Once a patient makes a request on the app for a doctor consultation, the patient can track their waiting time for services through real-time alerts. The patient receives a call-back from the healthcare staff when it is their turn and can take consultation remotely. The Healthcare by Heartfulness app also allows patients to request assistance in their preferred language when they are not comfortable with English. Through the app’s messaging system, the patient can message the healthcare staff and also view the details of their prescription. During its first phase, the app provides consultations with a panel of 1000+ experts of international repute.

Launching the app, Mrs. Suchitra Ella, Joint Managing Director Bharat Biotech International, said, “I am honored and humbled to be a part of this initiative. I commend the Heartfulness Institute and the volunteers who have made this initiative possible. I wish the app is successful in decoding the right medical information for people, which is extremely important in today’s times. This initiative will go a long way in helping and supporting every family that uses the app.”

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Kamlesh D Patel also known as Daaji, Global Guide of Heartfulness, said, “At Heartfulness we always strive to strengthen the community. Today, humanity needs our support in terms of resources and medical assistance. I am grateful to all Heartfulness volunteers and medical professionals that are making this initiative successful. Together, we hope to make a positive impact during these difficult times.”

The app will soon allow patients to opt for notifications via Telegram to save costs, make consultation requests for multiple specialties, request for beds, and oxygen supply. Time slots and availability of specialist doctors will be published on the app for patients to book appointments. The app will also include covid resources such as testing locations, covid screening tools, Govt. updates, and news related to covid-19.

Launched last year, “Voice that Cares” is a toll-free helpline that assists people and provides a listening space to help people in times of emotional turmoil and stress. Along with the app launch, the helpline has also been extended to provide covid-consultation and telemedicine support.  Currently, the helpline anticipates approximately 12,000-15,000 calls a month. Doctors, coordinators, and volunteers worldwide will join the program and offer their services through an email at Healthcare@heartfulness.org. 

The voice that Cares launched last year continues to assist people in multiple cities with the service being available in respective regional languages, including English, Hindi, Telugu, Bengali, and Marathi. Apart from the app citizens can also call 1800-121-3492 to seek covid consultation or any other medical advice

Last year, the Heartfulness Institute and Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM), launched the ‘Breathe Safe’ initiative- one of India’s largest N-95 mask donation campaigns. They donated over 7 lakh N-95 masks and more than 2500 PPE kits to healthcare workers across 38 locations in 14 states. The initiative also supplied more than 1.5 lakh meal packs and food supplies to migrant workers. So far, Heartfulness Institute and ROCF have donated more than 10,00,000+ meal packs across India.

Heartfulness Institute has also conducted community sensitization programs since the beginning of the pandemic. The organization through the Heartfulness wellness portal has conducted online workshops webinars for various institutions, hospitals, colleges, NGOs, corporate organizations, and senior living facilities. These workshops addressed the psycho-emotional challenges of the pandemic like stress, uncertainty, anxiety while building resilience through relaxation and heart-based meditation techniques. The initiative positively impacted over 9000 beneficiaries, including youth. The Heartfulness Institute continues to engage in humanitarian and Covid-relief initiatives such as meditation practice, wellness webinars, and online stress management workshops. Heartfulness Institute is also collecting donations for ongoing relief work.

About Heartfulness:

  Heartfulness offers a simple set of meditative practices and lifestyle changes, first developed at the turn of the twentieth century and formalized into teaching through the Shri Ram Chandra Mission in 1945 in India with a goal to bring peace, happiness, and wisdom to one heart at a time. These practices are a modern form of Yoga designed to support contentment, inner calm, and stillness, compassion, courage, and clarity of thought, as the first step towards a purposeful life. They are simple and easily adopted and are appropriate for people from all walks of life, cultures, religious beliefs, and economic situations, who are over the age of fifteen. Ongoing training in Heartfulness practices is going on at thousands of schools and colleges, and over 100,000 professionals are meditating in corporations, non-governmental, and government bodies worldwide. More than 5,000 Heartfulness Centres are supported by many thousands of certified volunteer trainers and millions of practitioners in 160 countries.

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It has been one and a half years since the world has been in pandemic mode. Initially, the virus caught us off-guard when it started to spread to different parts of the world. As the virus was unknown and our healthcare infrastructure needed time to prepare to handle the magnitude of havoc the virus was about to wreck, the nation went into lockdown. There was no known method of treatment or medicine that would effectively counter this virus when the pandemic started. But thanks to the quick turnaround time of our healthcare professionals and researchers, we now have more knowledge about the virus. Today we have hands-on experience in treating Covid patients and more than that we have a vaccination to fight this infection.

Let us go back to a time when several infectious diseases had gripped the world. Chickenpox, measles, mumps, polio, and other common diseases were brought under control through vaccines. When the majority of the population is vaccinated, the minor population with the disease cannot spread it. Thus, the spread of the disease is curbed. Now, we need that large-scale vaccination to happen to bring the raging coronavirus under control.

What about Herd immunity?

As of May first week, the Covid R rate (reproductive rate) stands at 1.44 percent of the population. What does this figure mean? It indicates that a covid infected individual is spreading it to one and a half people. So are we heading towards herd immunity? For the people who do not know, herd immunity is when the majority of the population has been naturally infected with a disease and has developed antibodies against it or has been vaccinated. If that happens the infected person can spread it to only people who aren’t immune thus applying brakes on the spread.

For a country like India which has the second-largest population in the world, letting people get infected until most of them are immune and halt the spread will lead to the death of millions of people. It should be noted that children will be born without immunity and gradually there will be more people susceptible to the infection. That’s why herd immunity is temporary and cannot be implemented in the case of coronavirus. A large part of the population is still vulnerable to Covid-19 infection and this indicates that we are nowhere near herd immunity.

Third-wave is inevitable

India is in the second wave of COVID-19. Other countries have witnessed the third wave and are gearing up for the fourth wave. Experts have predicted that a third wave is inevitable and we should be prepared for new waves. New variants of the virus are being found in India and all over the world which is capable of increasing transmission. Even immune evasive variants will emerge in the future and we need to be prepared for all these.

Vaccination is the best weapon

The best way to fight the virus is through inoculation. Getting the jab and protecting ourselves has to be the priority.  Over 2.5 crore people in India have already received both doses of the vaccines. However, what is hindering the progress in the inoculation drive is the unavailability of vaccines. Though the central government has given a go-ahead to inoculate people above the age group of 18 starting from May 1st, the process has been either delayed or stalled by the state governments due to reduced production or unavailability of both vaccines Covishied and Covaxin.  Now the first priority is given to people who are yet to receive their second dose of vaccine.

Inoculating children is gaining prominence as now it is evident that kids are also susceptible to this virus with the increasing number of cases. Vaccine manufacturing companies have already received approval and have started their trials in order to get the vaccine for the kids which has brought hope among parents. Soon after the trial, people from all age groups are going to get vaccinated which will help in eradicating this virus.

It is important for everyone to understand the significance of vaccines and take the jab as soon as they are made available. Along with the vaccine, follow COVID-19 appropriate behavior, stay away from the crowd, and keep your spirits high and we all shall be able to tide over this.

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May 28, 2021 – The manufacturing, testing, release, and distribution of vaccines is a complex and multifactorial process with hundreds of steps, requiring a diverse pool of human resources. For vaccines to result in actual vaccination of people, highly coordinated efforts are required from the international supply chain, manufacturers, regulators, and State and Central government agencies.

Production scale-up of vaccines is a step-by-step process, involving several regulatory SOPs of GMP (Standard Operating Procedures of Good Manufacturing Practices). There is a four-month lag time for COVAXIN® to translate into actual vaccination.

The timeline for manufacturing, testing, and release for a batch of COVAXIN® is approximately 120 days, depending on the technology framework and regulatory guidelines to be met. Thus, production batches of COVAXIN® that were initiated during March this year will be ready for supply only during the month of June.

Based on Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO) guidelines, all vaccines supplied in India are mandated by law to be submitted for testing and release to the Central Drugs Laboratory, Government of India. All batches of vaccines supplied to State and Central Governments are based on the allocation framework received from the Government of India.

The timeline for vaccine supplies to reach the depots of the State and Central Governments from Bharat Biotech’s facilities is around two days. The vaccines received at these depots have to be further distributed by the State Governments to various districts within their respective states. This requires an additional number of days. Pandemic vaccines are distributed by respective governments equitably across all sections of the population. Vaccines once available at the vaccination centers are then administered to recipients over a period of time, based on demand.

About Bharat Biotech

Bharat Biotech has established an excellent track record of innovation with more than 145 global patents, a wide product portfolio of more than 16 vaccines, 4 bio-therapeutics, registrations in more than 123 countries, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Pre-qualifications. Located in Genome Valley in Hyderabad, India, a hub for the global biotech industry, Bharat Biotech has built a world-class vaccine & bio-therapeutics, research & product development, Bio-Safety Level 3 manufacturing, and vaccine supply and distribution.

Having delivered close to 5 billion doses of vaccines worldwide, Bharat Biotech continues to lead innovation and has developed vaccines for influenza H1N1, Rotavirus, Japanese Encephalitis (JENVAC®), Rabies, Chikungunya, Zika, Cholera, and the world’s first tetanus-toxoid conjugated vaccine for Typhoid. Bharat’s commitment to global social innovation programs and public-private partnerships resulted in introducing path-breaking WHO pre-qualified vaccines BIOPOLIO®, ROTAVAC®, and Typbar TCV® combatting polio, rotavirus, typhoid infections, respectively. The acquisition of Chiron Behring Vaccines has positioned Bharat Biotech as the world’s largest rabies vaccine manufacturer with Chirorab® and Indirab®.

To learn more about Bharat Biotech, visit www.bharatbiotech.com.

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1. Can cancer patients take covid-19 vaccines?    

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, continues to have a serious impact on many people, including cancer patients, their families, and caregivers. Due to frequent hospital visits and increased exposure, vaccination for cancer patients has become imperative now. Individuals with cancer sadly have a higher risk of severe Covid infection because of their age, the disease, cancer treatment, and medical comorbidities.

Currently, vaccination for cancer patients has been recommended for all people with cancer and blood malignancies. These vaccines can be taken as long as the components of the vaccine suit the patient even while their immunity is down. However, the following points to be noted –

• These vaccines should not be taken if they do not suit one’s body (e.g., known allergic reaction, which is a contraindication)
• There could be an unknown safety situation which can rarely cause a problem
• Effectiveness may not be as much as in the general population due to a less immune reaction. Here the vaccine is given to give whatever benefit possible and with the intent to reduce the severity of covid-19 infection if it happens.

2. When to start and which are the most preferred vaccines for cancer patients? Can the vaccination lead to a change of plans in the cancer treatment of the patients?  

While starting your program of vaccination,  It is important to discuss with your oncologists and plan strategies for taking vaccines between the cycles of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. It is recommended to take any of the available vaccines as long as the blood counts are acceptable.

Cancer patients who are undergoing major surgery should ideally wait for a few days before going for vaccination. The best time for such patients to get vaccinated is before treatment, optimally 2 weeks before the start of chemotherapy. Furthermore, patients who have opted for radiotherapy can start their vaccination program anytime. Patients undergoing immunotherapy should opt. for vaccination at the earliest as toxicities and reactions can be severe if the covid infection happens along with chemotherapy/immunotherapy.

Other than the appropriateness and timing of the vaccination, there are no changes that the vaccination causes in the plan for cancer therapy. Vaccination can be recommended one week from the start of the chemotherapy cycle.

3. How long does immunity last?

 The expected immunity usually develops in 2-3 weeks after the second dose of vaccine and is effective beyond six months. As the vaccines and vaccination programs are relatively new. We are still awaiting further data on whether or not the immunity lasts beyond six months. However, considering the current scenario, where comorbid patients are at an increased risk of contracting the covid virus, vaccination is strongly recommended for all such patients. Cancer patients who have also recovered from covid-19 can also undergo vaccination without the fear of any complications.

4. What are the concerns of vaccination with regards to cancer patients?

A major concern is an uncertainty in the level of effectiveness of vaccination when immunity comes down during treatment. However, any level of effectiveness is better than status without covid-19 vaccination. Lymphoma patients can have lower vaccine responses as we do not know precisely the efficacy of the COVID vaccine for lymphoma when on active treatment. For cancer patients, despite the vaccination, it is ESSENTIAL to continue the practice of wearing a mask, social distancing, and maintaining hand hygiene as they are already immune-compromised and chances of re-infection are also high among them.

5. Is the Covid-19 vaccine safe in Bone Marrow Transplants?

Covid-19 vaccination is recommended at least two to four weeks before the planned transplant. We recommend most transplant patients delay all vaccines for at least three months following a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.

6. What are the vaccine’s side effects?

Currently, serious side effects are rare and compared to the benefit of protection, it would be negligible.    However, common side effects of vaccines are pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, and fever. Chills, joint pain, nausea, injection site redness and swelling, swollen lymph nodes. 

7. Can one get ill with Covid-19 after vaccination?

It is possible that one can get sick post receiving a vaccine, but the good news is that it is likely to be less severe and people may not require hospitalization in such cases.

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New Delhi, 26th May 2021: Aviva Life Insurance, India’s most trusted private insurance company owing to its value of Care More, Kill Complexity, Never Rest and Create Legacy, has taken initiatives to support and protect its employees during these tough times. The company has introduced multiple employees- well-being programs to support its workforce. Aviva has created Aviva War Room- a group of 50 volunteers who track leads for medical supplies in real-time, verify them, answer distress calls and provide 24X7 real-time assistance to the ones in need. With this initiative, Aviva empowers a workforce of 1500+ employees in India & their dependents across locations in 60 cities. Additionally, the company is aiming to introduce a “Happiness Campaign” to support employees’ well-being- physical and mental. The program will help employees overcome anxiety, stress, anger, depression, and cultivate happiness using simple techniques, micro-steps, videos, articles, etc.

Aviva has added collaborated with Practo to offer complimentary online consultation to all employees, and their family members, with some of the best doctors across India. Employees can book online appointments, get digital prescriptions, book checkups, order medicines, etc. through the app. Practo will also provide complimentary psychological counseling sessions to cope with emotional turbulence in these challenging times. Additionally, the company has tied up with Dr. Lal Path Labs & Apollo Pharmacy for home collection/delivery with discounts.

The People Function wing is driving the initiative of People Connect which supports in getting the pulse of the entire organization. Through this initiative, the company is taking Weekly Health Report of employees about them and their families health and well-being. Aviva has expanded their communication channels to other platforms and not restricted to emails, while also advising Flexi work schedules so that the employees can give enough time to their families.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Ashish Mittal, Head of People Operations, Aviva India said, “Our major focus is on our people’s safety – Physical & Psychological, and our aim is to build an emotionally and physically secure Workforce. In these testing times, where many are struggling hard to manage work, personal lives, physical & emotional wellbeing, Aviva India is helping its people to stay strong with resilience and emotional support. With the strong belief in our values, we are leaving no stone unturned to help our people. We have instituted various measures for physical safety as well as emotional and mental wellbeing  and we are extending all the support & help by answering distress calls via War Room initiative, a group that operates 24×7 and accepts employee requests pan India.”

He further added, “Last year, during lockdown 1.0, our WFH (Work Feeling Happy) campaign was very effective towards helping our people combat stress, anxiety and keeping their morale high by engaging with them regularly. This year, we intend to take this even further with our new ‘Happiness Campaign’ that engages and motivates our employees via activities, micro-steps, videos, stories, etc. The Happiness campaign will be an in-house curated campaign, run via functional Whatsapp groups that will focus on the themes such as: Living happier, Tackling Stress & Beating Anxiety, Sleeping better, Managing Anger & PERK – Purpose, Engagement, Resilience & Kindness. This will be later supported by a third-party app that will run employee-specific journeys in the above-mentioned wellbeing areas. Our focus with this campaign is to ensure that our people do not feel depressed, lonely, anxious in these stressful times.”

About Aviva Life Insurance:

Aviva Life Insurance Company India Limited is a joint venture between Dabur Invest Corp and Aviva International Holdings Limited, a UK-based insurance group, whose association with India goes back to 1834. By choosing Aviva Life Insurance, you benefit from the management experience of one of the world’s oldest insurance groups, with a history dating back to 1696. Today, Aviva Group has 33 million customers in 16 countries (as of 1st January 2019)

Website:www.avivaindia.com

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The various manifestation of Covid 19 virus has further raised concerns among the public. Sometimes, this virus can affect an individual without showing symptoms, and in few cases, people may face severe health complications like high fever, breathing problems, drop-in oxygen saturation, and even pneumonia. Mucormycosis or commonly called black fungus is one such condition due to Covid 19 which is rising alarmingly among patients who have tested positive for the virus and recovered from it.
There has been a steady increase in the number of black fungus cases in the last few days. If this condition is not detected and treated at an early stage, it can rapidly spread to the other parts of the body like the eyes and brain and cause loss of vision and at times even fatal. Moreover, the reduced availability of antifungal medicines like Amphotericin –B has further complicated the situation. Reason for the spike in numbers People suffering from Covid 19 tend to the immune system that is compromised. Covid positive patients who are critically ill or have severe symptoms are given steroids which is the lifesaving treatment for them. Steroids reduce inflammation in the lungs for Covid-19 patients and appear to help stop some of the damage the infection can create to the body. Covid 19 patients who are taking steroids as part of their treatment are particularly at risk of developing black fungus because steroids further suppress the immune system. A combination of Covid 19, uncontrolled diabetes or other comorbid conditions, and steroids adds fuel to the fire and increases the chances for black fungus. Therefore, it is important to avoid taking any over-the-counter medications without a prescription and steroids need to be used judiciously.
Mucormycosis – the black fungus
Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection that affects the sinuses, the brain, and lungs. A group of molds called micromycetes which are naturally present in the environment cause this. These fungi are present in the soil, decaying leaves, compost piles, and animal dung. Though one can contract this by breathing the mold spores in the air, the risk increases with a weakened immunity system.
Mucormycosis can cause severe complications in people who have uncontrolled diabetes or individuals who are severely immunocompromised like cancer patients or people with reduced immunity. Mucormycosis is a rare and non-contagious infection. However, it can be debilitating or fatal if it is not diagnosed and treated in time.
Warning signs and symptoms to watch out for:

• One-side facial pain or numbness
• Blackish discoloration over the bridge of the nose or palate
• Toothache
• Blurred or double vision with pain
• Skin lesion
• Thrombosis
• Chest pain
• Worsening respiratory symptoms
• Altered mental status

Who has to be more cautious?

Mucormycosis mainly affects individuals who have low immunity, especially patients who have had a prolonged admission to the ICU. Recently, this infection is mostly seen in people who have tested positive for Covid 19 and on steroids coupled with other comorbidities like uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, kidney failure, heart failure, etc? Age and high ferritin levels in the blood can also add to the complication. Black fungus generally does not pose threat to individuals who have a functional immune system.

How does it spread?

Though black fungus is not transmissible, it can pose danger to the affected person as it spreads rapidly throughout the body. If left untreated, it can spread to the brain and lungs causing complications like brain infection, paralysis, seizure, pneumonia, and in severe cases can be fatal.

As the black fungus is a rare condition, the first wave of Covid 19 brought focus on this and emphasized the immediate treatment to curb the spread of the fungus to other parts of the body. However, in the second wave, there is a sudden spike in cases and many states now have been reporting mucormycosis cases. Is mucormycosis treatable? Mucormycosis can be treated with surgical intervention and using antifungal medications. Along with this, managing diabetes, discontinuing the immunomodulating drugs, and reducing the intake of steroids also helps. Prevention of mucormycosis In general self-care measures are the best way to avoid this infection. Especially people with weakened immune systems need to be careful of their condition and the medicine intake. Safeguarding themselves from the Covid infection is more important. Below are a few tips to prevent mucormycosis:

Follow Covid 19 protocols of wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining social
distancing

• Keep diabetes under control
•  Monitor blood glucose level post-Covid-19 discharge
• Use steroid judiciously – correct timing, correct dose, and duration
•  Use clean, sterile water for humidifiers during oxygen therapy
• Use antibiotics/antifungals medicines judiciously
•  Do not miss warning signs and symptoms particularly in the context of immunosuppression and/or Covid-19 patients on immunomodulators Taking precautions is the best way to keep away from infections.

However, even if an individual contract the infection, identifying the symptoms and taking immediate medical help always aids in treating it effectively.

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Bangalore, May 13, 2021:  Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, Bengaluru, in association with Greenwood High International School, Bengaluru has come up with a life-saving initiative offering critical support to patients by launching five sophisticated buses which will provide free oxygen to people direly waiting to get a bed outside city hospitals.  Each bus has been redesigned to accommodate 12 patients at any given time.

With this tie-up with Maharaja Agrasen Hospital in Padmanabhanagar, Greenwood High Int’l School has ensured that these patients can have some respite in this time of emergencies. Each patient will have to provide his or her doctor’s prescription or RTPCR report and a copy of his or her Aadhar card, to avail of the free oxygen facility.

“We plan to see how this initiative goes for the next ten days and then we will scale up to 10 buses thereafter,” says Dr. Satish Kumar Jain of Maharaja Agrasen Hospital. Each patient will be able to use the oxygen for 2 hours and will also be given a free nasal cannula for the oxygen flow to be connected to the flow meter and regulator.

On this initiative, Mr. Bijay Agarwal, Chairman of Greenwood High Int’l School said – “When Dr. Satish Jain approached me with this idea, I was immediately keen to be a part of this very noble initiative. The first bus will hit the road today. This initiative was inaugurated by Mr. R Ashoka, Hon’ble Minister for Revenue, Government of Karnataka, who has supported this cause wholeheartedly, in his constituency, and readily agreed to be a part of this timely initiative. “We thank him for taking time out and standing in solidarity with us,” said Mr. Bijay Agarwal and Mrs. Niru Agarwal, Managing Trustees of the school. 

Citizens who wish to avail of this facility can call the Hospital’s Admin at 09620304864.

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