COVID-19 vaccines for 15-18 year olds; boosters for healthcare, frontline workers, senior citizens with comorbidities

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces next step of vaccination even as entire adult population is yet to be fully vaccinated

COVID-19: First few peer reviewed studies suggest vaccine induced antibodies fail to protect from Omicron

The studies, published in Nature, covered Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, but not India’s indigenous Covaxin

The missing piece in Omicron’s family tree: Where did the variant originate?

There are currently 3 thoeries being considereed by the medical fraternity

Global COVID-19 cases set to triple with over 3 billion omicron infections in coming 2-3 months: IHME

Australia and New Zealand may experience their worst outbreaks of this pandemic

Cold waves claimed 76 times as many lives in India as heat waves in 2020

There has been a nearly 2.7 times increase in the number of cold wave days from 2017-2020

WHO calls for moratorium on booster till 2021-end, ‘additional’ dose for high risk population

Currently, 20 per cent of the available vaccines are being used as boosters

‘Far from over’: Such a long journey for long COVID haulers

DTE reached out to the long-haulers it had contacted during the first COVID-19 wave: They are still as baffled and distraught with their declining health as they were before 

Ozone-destroying greenhouse gas emissions from China increased significantly: Study

After 2012, emissions of dichloromethane from China accounted for 50–60 per cent of the global total

COVID-19: India’s case fatality ratio up marginally in last 5 weeks

India’s CFR has remained steady at 1.34% since July 20, 2021; It increased to 1.38% as of December 

Life expectancy reduced in 2020 after steady increase for 15 years: Study

Russia recorded the largest drop in life expectancy

As told to Parliament (December 22, 2021): Over 150 million households have jobs cards under MGNREGA

All that was discussed in the House through the day  

COVID-19: India to miss TB case notification target for 2021

India contributed the biggest drop in global case notifications last year

Climate crisis has cost India 5 million hectares of crop in 2021

Around 36 mha agricultural area was affected due to hydro-meteorological calamities since 2016

Omicron: India will not get African Cheetahs this year

The team of experts delegated to carry out the project was about to leave for Namibia in November, but had to return from the airport as travel restrictions kicked in the same day

Protection against COVID-19 infection, severe disease falls quickly after AstraZeneca 2nd dose: Lancet

Begins to wane after 18-19 weeks; study stresses on need for booster dose 

As told to Parliament (December 21, 2021): Drought, salt-stress tolerant rice varieties to be introduced soon

All that was discussed in the House through the day

Environment ministry finalises coal thermal power plant categories: What does it say about emission norms compliance

The Union ministry releases list of coal thermal power plants and their categorisation in line with its April 2021 notification

Record demand for coal power in 2021, way off Net Zero: IEA

Carbon emissions from coal will be 3 gigatonnes higher in 2024 than required to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050

Sighting of desert cat termed ‘rare’ by MP is not rare after all, say independent wildlife experts

Sighting of the cat in jungles in not unusual, claim experts with ‘photographic evidence‘ captured as recently as 2018

Labour losses due to rising heat: India among the most affected, finds study

Economic losses associated with lost productivity can reach up to $1.6 trillion annually if warming exceeds an additional 2°C relative to the present

Union agriculture ministry prohibits use of TB antibiotics on crops

The draft order prohibits import, manufacture or formulation of Streptomycin and Tetracycline for use in agriculture from February 1, 2022; enforces complete ban from Jan 1, 2024