Over 30 per cent Covaxin takers suffered from health issues after one year, claims BHU study

Over 30 per cent Covaxin takers suffered from health issues after one year, claims BHU study

Nearly 50 per cent of 926 study participants in the study complained of infections during the follow-up period, predominated by viral upper respiratory tract infection

Nearly one-third of the individuals who received Bharat Biotech's anti-Covid vaccine Covaxin reported 'adverse events of special interest,' or AESI, according to a one-year follow up study conducted by a team of researchers at BHU.

Nearly 50 per cent of 926 study participants in the study complained of infections during the follow-up period, predominated by viral upper respiratory tract infections.

Serious AESI, which included stroke and Guillain-Barre syndrome, were reported in one per cent of individuals, the study, which looked at long-term safety of the BBV152 vaccine in adolescents and adults, claimed.

Published in the journal Springer Nature, the study comes in the wake of UK pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca admitting its Covid vaccine can cause rare side-effects of blood clotting and lowering of platelet count in UK court.

"Close to one third of the individuals developed AESIs. New-onset skin and subcutaneous disorders, general disorders, and nervous system disorders were the three most common disorders observed in adolescents after receiving the vaccine," the study, conducted from January 2022 to August 2023, said.

The study involved 635 adolescents and 291 adults, who received the BBV152 vaccine. The participants were interviewed telephonically about long-term adverse events of special interest after 1 year of vaccination.

New-onset skin and subcutaneous disorders (10.5 per cent), general disorders (10.2 per cent), and nervous system disorders (4.7 per cent) were the common AESIs in adolescents.

General disorders (8.9), musculoskeletal disorders (5.8 per cent), and nervous system disorders (5.5 per cent) were the common AESIs in adults.

Menstrual abnormalities were noticed in 4.6 per cent of female participants. Ocular abnormalities and hypothyroidism were observed in 2.7 per cent and 0.6 per cent of participants Four deaths (three female individuals, one male individual) were reported in adults, the study added.

All four had diabetes, while hypertension in three, and a history of pre-vaccination COVID-19 was present in two of them.

Stroke was the main contributor in two deaths and one fatality was due to post-COVID-19 rhinocerebral mucormycosis, which supposedly disseminated after vaccination as reported by the caregivers.

The fourth death happened in a woman with multiple episodes of unconsciousness post-vaccination, the etiology of which remained unidentified till death. In the absence of a definite causality association, no conclusions can be drawn from these events.

With the majority of AESIs persisting for a significant period, extended surveillance of COVID-19-vaccinated individuals is warranted to understand the course and outcomes of late-onset AESIs, the study underlined.

Serious AESIs might not be uncommon and necessitate enhanced awareness and larger studies to understand the incidence of immunemediated phenomena post-COVID-19 vaccination .

Female individuals, adolescents with pre-vaccination COVID-19, those with co-morbidities, and those with post-vaccination typhoid had respectively 1.6, 2, 2.7, and 3.2 times higher odds of persistent AESIs.

Adults with co-morbidities had more than two times higher odds of AESIs and persistent AESIs, the study stated.

Adults receiving three doses and those receiving one dose of BBV152 were respectively at four and two times higher risk of AESIs compared with adults receiving two doses of the Covaxin, the study said.

Media must not misreport the study on population by PM-EAC: Population Foundation of India

Media must not misreport the study on population by PM-EAC: Population Foundation of India

By Population Foundation of India

Population Foundation of India is deeply concerned about the recent media reports that are misreporting the findings from the study by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister “Share of Religious Minorities: A Cross-Country Analysis (1950-2015)” to spread alarm regarding the growth of the Muslim population. Such interpretations are not only inaccurate but also misleading and baseless.

The study’s focus on changes in the share of majority and minority religious groups globally over a 65-year period should not be used to incite fear or discrimination against any community. “The media’s selective portrayal of data to highlight the increase in the Muslim population is an example of misrepresentation that ignores broader demographic trends,” said Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India.

According to the Census of India, the decadal growth rate for Muslims has been declining over the past three decades. Specifically, the decadal growth rate for Muslims decreased from 32.9% in 1981-1991 to 24.6% in 2001-2011. This decline is more pronounced than that of Hindus, whose growth rate fell from 22.7% to 16.8% over the same period​​.  The census data is available from 1951 to 2011 and is quite similar to the data in this study, indicating that these numbers are not new.

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) among all religious groups is declining. The highest decrease in TFR from 2005-06 to 2019-21 was observed among Muslims, which dropped by 1 percentage point, followed by Hindus at 0.7 percentage points. This trend underscores that the fertility rates are converging across different religious communities​​.

Fertility rates are closely linked to education and income levels, not religion. States with better access to education, healthcare, and socioeconomic development, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, exhibit lower TFRs across all religious groups. For example, the TFR among Muslim women in Kerala (2.25) is lower than the TFR among Hindu women in Bihar (2.88)​​.

Successful family planning programs in Muslim-majority countries like Bangladesh and Indonesia have resulted in lower birth rates compared to India. These countries have achieved this through higher levels of female education, greater employment opportunities, and better access to contraceptive choices. This clearly shows that fertility decline is influenced by development factors rather than religious affiliation​​.

“The most effective way to manage population growth is through investment in education, economic development, and gender equity,” said Poonam Muttreja. “Our analysis indicates that women’s education is the most critical factor in reducing fertility rates. Therefore, interventions should focus on providing education and family planning services irrespective of religion​​.”

There are several population issues the world is grappling with. The world is currently witnessing two distinct population trajectories: in developed countries, populations are aging and declining, presenting complex challenges for social and economic sustainability, while certain regions in the developing world are experiencing population growth, characterized by a large young population with enormous potential. This stark contrast in demographic trends underscores the multifaceted nature of global population dynamics, necessitating nuanced policy approaches to address the diverse needs and dynamics of populations across different regions. India needs to invest in women and young people to reap demographic and gender dividends. Additionally, it will need to prepare for an aging population in the future, which could yield a silver dividend.

 

Population Foundation of India urges the media to refrain from using demographic studies to create fear and division. It is essential to present data accurately and contextually, highlighting the role of education, income, and socioeconomic development in shaping demographic trends. We advocate for policies that promote inclusive development and gender equity to ensure a balanced and harmonious society.

 

For more information or queries, please contact arya.vatsa@populationfoundation.in

Population Foundation of India
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Over 400 Indian Food Products Contaminated With Cadmium, Pesticides, And Fungus

Over 400 Indian Food Products Contaminated With Cadmium, Pesticides, And Fungus: Report

We are what we eat. These words of wisdom are often the guiding force for us to eat well and lead a healthy lifestyle. But, the recent news update on adulteration of foods and spices with cancer-causing agents have surely raised eyebrows and concerns over what is safe to eat?

The report published with a PDF list of 400 Indian food products by Deccan Herald states that 14 of the products are known to damage various organs and use dangerous elements like mercury and cadmium in fish among other products.

It says that as many as 21 products including octopus and squid had cadmium, which increases risk of chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease.

The report also states that at least 59 products contain pesticides that are deemed carcinogenic. Among chemicals found in rice, herbs and spices are tricyclazole, a fungicide banned in the EU for its carcinogenic and genotoxic properties. Apart from this, over 52 products contain more than one pesticide or fungicide, some with as many as five in them.

The PDF report shared by Deccan Herald report also states that around 20 products had 2-chloroethanol, a toxic byproduct of ethylene oxide. “Ochratoxin A, a banned mycotoxin, was found in 10 products, including chillies, coffee and rice,” it said.

The report also states that salmonella was found in organic shatavari, ashwagandha and sesame seeds among 100 other products.

It is also mentioned in the report, that groundnut kernels and nut crackers contain aflatoxins, a poisonous carcinogen and mutagen that can cause liver damage and cancer.

The report also states that rice flour contains Chlorpyrifos.

Coriander seeds powder is found to have Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide, acaricide and miticide used primarily to control foliage and soil-borne insect pests.

What do you think of this report and the findings? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/over-400-indian-food-products-contaminated-with-cadmium-pesticides-and-fungus-report/articleshow/109952868.cms

Amid simmering Christian-Muslim rivalry, BJP tries to get a toehold in Kerala

Pathanamthitta BJP candidate Anil K. Antony at the Believers Eastern Church in Thiruvalla.FILE PHOTO

VARGHESE K. GEORGE

 

PATHANAMTHITTA

NEWS ANALYSIS

Public broadcaster Doordarshan telecast The Kerala Story, a film that seeks to tarnish the State and particularly its Muslims, in the midst of the election campaign. The telecast of the controversial film was questioned by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), but some Christian groups organised their own screenings of the movie. This was not the first sign of a dissonance between the Christian and Muslim communities of the State.

Pathanamthitta is a hotspot of these tensions. The BJP fielded Anil K. Antony, the son of Congress leader A.K. Antony, as its candidate from the constituency. The district has the lowest total fertility rate (TFR) of 1.3, the highest literacy rate (96.9%) and proportion of elderly population (18%) for the entire country. It records a large outflow of its own young population and a constant inflow of people. Between 2001 and 2011, its population fell from 12.34 lakh to 11.95 lakh.

Demographic trends

Population growth is declining for all communities across the country and in Kerala, but this decline is uneven across regions and communities. Kerala as a whole has TFR well below the national average but varies across communities. Social indices and income levels, not religion, are the key determinants of demographic trends for India as a whole. The total TFR of Kerala is 1.79; for Christians, it is 1.77; for Hindus, 1.53; and for Muslims, it is 2.25.

Uneven demographic trends across regions and communities are going to be a challenge for Indian federalism going forward, but Pathanamthitta is instructive. The 2008 delimitation reduced the district’s representation in the Kerala Assembly from seven to five seats. The district’s religious composition is 56.93% Hindus, 38.12% Christians, and 4.60% Muslims. Kozhikode (56.2% Hindus, 39.24% Muslims, 4.26% Christians) gained an additional seat (now 13) and Malappuram (27.6% Hindus, 70.24% Muslims, 1.98% Christians) gained four seats to reach 16. These demographic shifts form the backdrop of the call of church leaders for Christians to have more children, and charges of ‘love jihad’, in response to inter-religious marriages.

Alongside outmigration, Pathanamthitta also receives in-migrants, 1.6 lakh of them, according to a 2021 estimate. This will gradually change the population mix of the district but at the moment, it is a triangular balancing of interests and prejudices of the three communities, and the dynamics of sects and castes within each of them.

A large segment of Kerala population is keenly engaged with global conflicts, which is partly the social remittance from diaspora populations in West Asia and the West. Christians are increasingly moving for permanent settlement in the West, but the Muslims mostly return from West Asia to Kerala, creating an economic dimension also to the demographic shifts. The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque by Turkiye in 2020, and the ongoing Gaza crisis appear to have widened the gap between the communities. The LDF, UDF, and the BJP are jostling for advantage in this social quicksand.

The shift of Pathanamthitta district from the UDF to the LDF — which won all five Assembly seats in 2021 — can be partly explained by the latter’s new inroads among the Christian and Muslim communities. Christians who see the UDF as being dominated by the Indian Union Muslim League find the CPI(M) attractive; and so do segments of the Muslims and Christians that find the UDF inadequate in its response to the BJP. The unusual second term won by the LDF in 2021 was built on this new social coalition.

The BJP is trying to test its endurance. “The trust of the Christian community in us has grown stronger and we will continue to do everything possible for their welfare,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during the campaign. The BJP hopes to build a coalition of Christians and Hindus, premised on their shared insecurities with regard to Muslims. The response is uneven.

The Believers Eastern Church declared its support for Mr. Anil Antony, in a first for a church, but Theodosius Mar Thoma XXII Metropolitan, the head of the Mar Thoma Church, called for voting to uphold India’s pluralism and secularism. At the annual convention of the revivalist Indian Pentecostal Church last year, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress leader V.D. Satheesan and Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai were speakers, each making their political pitch.

Mr. Pillai, a BJP veteran, explained the ethnic roots of the violence in Manipur, which is seen as anti-Christian by the community. Among other factors that continue to make the community suspicious of the BJP is the regulation of foreign contributions that restricts churches from receiving funds even from members abroad. Moreover, the three communities live extremely interconnected lives in Kerala. Two recent reports alone are instructive. In Malappuram, the 400-year-old Muthuvallur Sree Durga Bhagavathy Temple is being renovated with the support of Muslims. The Nicholas Memorial CSI Church in Manjeri in Malappuram opened its premises for Id prayers this year after a ground that Muslims generally used was not available.

The LDF projects itself as the most authentic anti-BJP front for the Muslims and an escape platform for Christians unhappy with the Congress and unsure of the BJP.

The BJP’s calculations are based on suggesting a shared demographic threat perception among the Hindus and Christians. As for the Congress, a return to power in Kerala will depend largely on its ability to bring back the Christians and Muslims together under its umbrella.