New Delhi: India now has a Covid-19 vaccine to protect animals from coronavirus infection. The vaccine – Anocovax, India’s first COVID-19 vaccine for animals, has been launched in the country by the Agriculture Ministry last week. The vaccine has been developed by the Haryana’s ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines. Here are things you should know about the vaccine:
– The institute says that Anocovax offers protection against both Delta and Omicron variants of the infection
– Explaining about how Anocovax helps protect animals against SARS-CoV-2, the official statement from the institute adds that Ancovax is an inactivated vaccine developed using an infectious part of the Delta variant. In addition, it uses Alhydrogel as an adjuvant to boost the immune response
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– The institute says that the vaccine is safe for the use in dogs, lions, leopards, mice, and rabbits
– Why the need? There have been several reports of COVID-19 infection in animals. Though according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of animals spreading the infection to humans is considered low, but the aim to develop the vaccine is to protect endangered animals such as lions and tigers. Last year, India reported at least nine Covid infections in Asiatic lions in Chennai zoo. A study by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute found at least three natural Covid infections in wild Asiatic lions, and one infection in dead leopard cub.
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NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
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