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Bharat Biotech clarifies no calf serum in COVAXIN end product

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Responding to a Right To Information(RTI) reply that has stirred a controversy, the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech on June 16, Wednesday issued a statement saying that the final Covaxin dose administered to people does not have newborn calf serum. The controversy began a day earlier when an RTI filed by a person identified as Vikas Patni revealed that new calf serum has been used in the revival of Vero cells which is used for the production of Covaxin.

In a statement issued on June 16, Wednesday, Bharat Biotech said, “Newborn calf serum is used in the manufacturing of viral vaccines. It is used for the growth of cells, but neither used in the growth of the SARS CoV2 virus nor in the final formulation. Covaxin is highly purified to contain only the inactivated virus components by removing all other impurities.”

The company added that Bovine serum has been widely used in the manufacture of vaccines globally for several decades. “The usage of newborn calf serum was transparently documented in the following publications since the last 9 months,” the company added.

The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday also issued a clarification, stating that while the serum is used only for the manufacturing of vaccines, the final vaccine does not contain newborn calf serum at all. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare added that facts have been “twisted and misrepresented” in social media posts regarding the composition of the vaccine and the suggestion that Covaxin contains newborn calf serum is not correct.

“Newborn Calf Serum is used only for preparation/ growth of Vero cells. Different kinds of bovine and other animal serum are standard enrichment ingredients used globally for Vero cell growth. Vero cells are used to establish cell lives which help in the production of vaccines. This technique has been used for decades in Polio, Rabies, and Influenza vaccines,” the Union government said in a release.

“These Vero cells, after the growth, are washed with water, with chemicals (also technically known as a buffer), many times to make it free from the newborn calf serum. Thereafter, these Vero cells are infected with coronavirus for viral growth,” the government added.

“Hence, the final vaccine (COVAXIN) does not contain newborn calf serum at all and the calf serum is not an ingredient of the final vaccine product,” the Union government said.

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As CIDCO Chairman, Maharashtra Legislator Sanjay Shirsat Takes Control

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On Thursday, September 19, Sanjay Shirsat, the Legislative Assembly (MLA) representative from Aurangabad West, assumed the role of Chairman of the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO). He assumed command of his position in Navi Mumbai’s CIDCO Bhavan.

Present at the event were Chief Vigilance Officer Suresh Mengde, Joint Managing Directors Shantanu Goyal, Ganesh Deshmukh, and Dilip Dhole, as well as Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Vijay Singhal of CIDCO.

Shirsat made the following statement during his speech: “CIDCO has been essential to Maharashtra’s progress to date. My main goal will be to keep CIDCO’s standing as a preeminent authority on urban planning and development while making sure that important projects like the mass housing project, NAINA (Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area) City, and the international airport are completed on schedule. Making judgments that will help the general public and the Navi Mumbai residents impacted by the project will also be my top responsibility. The goal of CIDCO to provide reasonably priced housing to the general public will soon be accomplished.”

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The Swachh Bharat Mission Cleanliness Drive Is Launched By Minister Ravindra Chavan

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PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan launched a cleanliness campaign as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission in Kumbharkhan Pada, Dombivli (W), urging collective efforts to maintain clean surroundings. The campaign, running from September 18 to October 2, 2024, focuses on enhancing municipal area cleanliness.

At the event, Additional Commissioner Harshal Gaikwad, former Municipal Member Vikas Mhatre, Deputy Commissioner Atul Patil, and local citizens, including NSS students, participated. Attendees took a cleanliness oath and enjoyed a street play emphasizing the importance of cleanliness.

Since the launch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Mission in 2014, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation has been actively involved in cleanliness initiatives. After Anant Chaturdashi, they launched a campaign focusing on cleaning Ganesh Ghat and nearby areas. Minister Chavan, alongside Municipal Commissioner Dr Indu Rani Jakhar and Solid Waste Management Department employees, led a cleaning drive at Kumbharkhanpada Ganeshghat. They also planted indigenous trees under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative.

The campaign began at Durgadi Ganesh Ghat, Kalyan (W), where Dr Jakhar administered a cleanliness oath. She urged citizens to participate actively in the fortnight-long campaign, which includes various awareness activities. Deputy Commissioner Atul Patil introduced the program at both locations and brand ambassador Dr Prashant Patil, along with other officials, contributed to the event.

This campaign aims to inspire public engagement in maintaining cleanliness and environmental sustainability.

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Campaign ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ Is Launched In Thane By Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

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Chief Minister Eknath Shinde officially began the Thane Municipal Corporation’s (TMC) Swachhta Hi Seva campaign at Parsik Retibandar Visarjan Ghat on Tuesday, September 17. The Chief Minister encouraged attendees to maintain high standards of cleanliness in their daily lives and stressed the value of cleanliness for health throughout the occasion.

Chief Minister Shinde made a personal commitment to uphold cleanliness during the event, promising not to litter and to make sure others do the same. In addition to promoting the adoption of appropriate trash disposal techniques, he pledged to separate waste into wet and dry categories. He also promised to assist the Swachh Bharat Mission by minimizing the usage of plastic and thermocol, with the goal of making Thane and the country as a whole free of these materials.

Members of Parliament Naresh Mhaske, Saurabh Rao, Additional Commissioners Sandeep Malvi and Prashant Rode, Deputy Commissioner Manish Joshi, Shankar Patole, Health Officer Dr Rani Shinde, and Executive Engineer Sudhir Gaikwad were present at the opening event.

Chief Minister Shinde gave away saplings to residents as part of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign. From September 17 to October 2, the nation will be enthralled with the Swachhta Hi Seva campaign, which will include public awareness campaigns, cleanliness drives, and the installation of selfie stations with themes like Green Thane, Swachhta Karmchari, and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam. The goal of the program is to increase public awareness and participation in cleanliness after October 2.

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