Covaxin - the big scam

Today (18 Dec 2021) I went to take a shot of Covaxin at Rainbow Hospital in Kondapur, Hyderabad. The vaccine had an expiry date of October 2021 but it was still being administered as its shelf life was officially extended to April 2022.

Is this a joke?

With Covid vaccine skepticism around the world, what impact would this act have on people's trust in Covid vaccines? In the beginning, its expiration date was 6 months from manufacture. Later it became 9 months. Even later, it became 12 months.

How is this even allowed?

And why is it even happening? Why is Covaxin stock not finishing on time? The Indian government (BJP's Modi government) is hesitant to allow booster doses since not even half of the Indian population is fully vaccinated yet. So there is more demand than supply. If so, is it because people are generally afraid of taking Covaxin that it remains unsold?

In his remark that Covaxin is just water and not a real vaccine, did Adar Poonawalla have a point?

Why was Covaxin not approved by WHO for so long? Was it just a coincidence that the Indian Prime Minister met the WHO chief and the very next day WHO approved it?

Even Brazil has a scam related to Covaxin.

Bolsonero, a close friend of Modi, agreed to a deal in which Brazil would buy Covaxin at an exorbitant price. That deal was scrapped as corruption allegations surfaced.

All in all, Covaxin has tarnished the image of Indian science rather than promoting it.

Bharat Biotech's chief Krishna Ella chose to defend his vaccine on Republic TV, the mouthpiece of Modi's BJP, adding credence to the claim that BJP decided to promote Covaxin in exchange for campaign donations from Bharat Biotech.

Indian science be damned!

Child birth (baby delivery) experience in London,UK - moving from India

[Guest Post]

[Before admission to hospital]
I arrived in London when I was in the sixth month of pregnancy, so quite late actually. I had to quickly register with a GP and get my Flu shot apart from Tetanus + Whooping cough shot. I was referred to a maternity hospital. But you don't have to wait for your GP to refer you, you can self refer yourself.

For registering with a GP find a GP near you and contact them by phone/mail. When in hurry, better to speak on phone even though you will have to wait a lot. You will have to provide an address proof - I gave the temporary accommodation letter given by my company. That's the only document they require. Once the GP registers you, after some time you will get your NHS numbers via post or you can ask your GP. But you don't have to wait for your NHS number to receive any treatment or service - registering with a GP is enough.

I had to soon shift the house and register with a new GP and new maternity hospital. But the process was same.

Now, I had to repeat some tests at my new hospital since the hospitals in London don't accept tests at other hospitals. Some hospitals(like UCLH) have apps/websites for you to track your appointments whereas others(like Northwick Park) simply rely on paper mail.

I was put in high risk category as I was a late booker(arrived late in my pregnancy to UK) and diagnosed with Gestational diabetes. By the time I reached here I was past the date when they do the last ultrasound scan. I had to do multiple requests to get the scan which was finally allowed. In this scan I came to know the gender of my child (in India it isn't allowed).

I was given a machine to measure my blood sugar everyday. I could ask for more test strips once they got over.


[Admission to Hospital]

I had delivery by C-section as the cervix didn't dilate enough even though significant contractions occurred for a significant duration. My earlier delivery was also C-section so that was another risk factor. At around 37 weeks of pregnancy I started feeling reduced fetal movements and I was also diagnosed with Gestational diabetes during my routine visits. On every visit my urine sample was checked for sugar and other tests.

So first they induced me and waited for the water to break for quite some time. That didn't happen so the midwife broke the water herself and then the contractions started. I even took Epidural for relieving the pain.

After the baby was delivered, I was told that my womb was quite thin and it might have ruptured if we had waited too long for natural birth.

After the baby was cleaned and dressed(you have to pack the clothes for the baby) we were moved to post surgery care room where she was placed on me for skin to skin contact and latching on to my breast for Colostrum. She did try to suck well but to be safe the nurse did take the Colostrum from my breast in a small syringe and fed her. My baby was also checked for sugar markers as I had Gestational diabetes. My husband was asked to leave at this point while I rested and my baby was being taken care by the nursing staff.

From here I was moved to general ward which housed 6 new mothers with their babies. Here my husband was allowed to visit in the visiting hours(3 or 4 hours duration). Here the care wasn't as good as what I encountered so far. But not bad. Here the mothers were being encouraged to walk and bath and pick their babies and leave a bit early from the hospital :-). 


My husband was allowed to stay with me as soon as the labor pain started before that no one was allowed to accompany me but I was in great hands there. The midwives were very good.

[After the child birth]

Maternity pads - After the childbirth one will likely have a lot of bleeding and in the hospital I was given pads but they were a bit smaller/thinner and I had to use two at a time. It's better to buy maternity pads in advance and pack in your maternity bag.

Anticoagulant(blood thinner) injection - After the delivery happened I was discharged and given certain medicines. One of them was Anticoagulant(blood thinner) injection which was a pre filled syringe which I had to administer myself at home for 7 days. It wasn't explained very well to me but I found this video which explained it very well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ1bR2N6pCk

Note that it's Subcutaneous and not Intra muscular - meaning that you have to inject yourself in the skin and not the muscle. If you administer in the muscle you might hit and hurt a nerve. So watch the above video and other similar videos to get a better idea. Better to be injected via a nurse in the hospital first.

Baby stuff -

Bath tub - After 4-5 days I started giving my baby regular baths and this bathtub came in very handy. My baby is around 4 months old now and it's still very useful. I expect it to be useful for one year at least. I use this product for hair and body wash.

Baby Massage oil - I used coconut oil.

Nursing pillow - I bought this nursing pillow which is quite good in initial days but after about 1 or 2 months it won't be useful as the baby won't fit properly.

Baby clothes - I found the right size to be Size 0 from Asda. Also, hats, jumpsuits, baby tights.

Vitamin D drops - If your baby is not on formula, you should be giving Vitamin D drops as prescribed.

Multivitamins for mother - I am using these.

Nursing - pads and bras.

Bed protectors - Washable and disposable.

Pram/Car Seat/Baby cot etc. - You can always check GumTree.com for used stuff. A lot of people advise against buying second hand stuff for your baby due to hygiene/safety issues - so take an informed call.  Argos has reasonably priced baby stuff as well. You need a car seat to get the baby discharged from hospital. You can borrow from a friend if you are not sure about buying initially.

I brought this pram from India. It's good and lightweight but once in London you will walk a lot. It doesn't seem suitable for heavy use and feels quite shaky. In India we don't use prams heavily so it's ok there. Even in London, if you don't use prams very often you can use this.

I brought this cradle also from India. Very useful and not able to find it in London.

Some of the used stuff I bought in London - Silver cross Linear Freeway travel system, Babybay convertible baby cot, Joie car seat.

Applying for Indian passport in UK(London) for a newborn

[Guest Post]

[My experience of applying for Indian passport for my 3 month old daughter who was born in UK.]

Useful locations on Google Maps:

BRP appointment location
Brent Council office for local birth registration
High commission of India for Birth Registration
VFS Goswell road Passport application center

1. Both me and my wife are Indian citizens. 

2. Here is the link to submit and download your application: https://www.vfsglobal.com/india/uk/NEW_Indian_Passport.html

You can make the online application without any documents but before you visit the appointment center you should have procured these 3 documents:

A. Birth certificate from the local council
B. Birth registration certificate from High Commission of India(you need A. before this)
C. Valid VISA/BRP(you need A. before this)

A. First of all, get the birth certificate from the council in which your baby was born. The council in which you live doesn't matter. For me it was Brent council. I called them to book the appointment. On the website they mentioned that I had to bring parents' passports. But the lady didn't ask for anything. As an Indian, I am used to take 10 extra documents than the ones which were asked for though. For this appointment you can go there alone - no need to take your child or spouse. You will get the certificate on the spot.

B.C. Armed with this birth certificate you can apply for both the BRP and Birth Registration at High Commission of India in parallel. Both these require the birth certificate from council. For getting appointment at HCI, the online system wasn't working due to Covid. I mailed them multiple times at cons2.london@mea.gov.in and info.london@mea.gov.in to get the appointment. But before doing that, fill the form on their website and take its printout. They mention that you have to bring the photographs for your baby but at the center nobody asked for the photos since it was already there in the application form which I had printed. You don't have to print it in color, print the form in black and white only. You don't have to pay the fees online while taking the appointment. They asked for cash payment of 19 pounds at the center.

For the birth registration at HCI, you can go alone - no need to take your baby or spouse. You will get the certificate right there.

For BRP you need to take your baby since they would take a picture on the spot. You can take your spouse for help but it's optional.

3. After filling the form you have to get an appointment at one of the centers. Sometimes you may have to wait and keep checking the site for available slots.

4. When you download the application form, make sure that all the details are visible. There is a bug in the VFS site due to which the form downloads as empty if done in a certain way. When I did it the details were missing so I found some other way to download it. At the application center they will simply turn you away if your form is empty. I saw it happening to one person.

5. You should have an address proof for the address you mention in the application. That address won't be used for police verification so you don't have to worry whether someone in India is present at that address. I gave the address of my in-laws but then at the application center I was asked to produce an address proof for that address which I didn't have. But luckily they accepted the electricity bill in the name of my mother-in-law because her name was mentioned in my wife's passport. It's better to give the address for which you can easily show an address proof. The best choice is to simply mention the address which is there in one of the parents' passports(i.e. you and your spouse). 

If you want to make a change in the application form, they won't accept your request. You will have to redo the entire application. I saw the VFS staff asking people to redo the entire application and come back within 30 minutes or else take a fresh appointment. If you don't have a certain document, even then you will be given 30 minutes to come back or take a fresh appointment online which can be very difficult.

Also the printer at VFS Goswell road wasn't working when I went there. So if you need a printout or xerox, you would have to go out and find a shop. You can start walking towards Barbican underground station and you will see some shops on the way.

That 30 minute limit which they give you is negotiable. I argued and raised my voice and they made it 2 hours 30 minutes. Many others simply left in despair.

6. The original documents which they asked for at the center were - Both the parents' passports and BRP cards, my newborn's BRP card, parents' marriage certificate.

7. I still don't know whether I was required to take my 3 month old daughter to that crowded center in these Covid times. Nobody checked for her presence. We could have put a doll in the pram and nobody would have noticed. In fact, nobody asked for my wife as well. I could have gone there alone and got it all done since they don't even click photographs. But to be safe you should take your baby and your wife(husband/partner). Anything related to VFS and India is bound to be complicated and it's better to take all the documents you have in the house and all the distant relatives to their center. Better safe than sorry.

8. Regarding photographs, we had to submit 4 copies of my baby's photographs - 2 inch by 2 inch. And 1 copy for me and my wife's photograph. Better to take everyone's photographs 2 inch by 2 inch and 4 copies for each photo. I got the photos from Colorama in South Harrow. The person there is very experienced with these kind of photographs and will help you with the editing(background etc.) to get the right photo. Since it was Covid, I couldn't take my baby to photo shops and clicked multiple photos on my mobile and sent it to Colorama. He fixed the background etc.

9. The passport arrived 13 days after the appointment. No police verification was done in India or London.

10. I had to fill some forms for 2 contacts in India and police station details etc. I don't know whether they would do the police verification for 3 month old babies. When I had applied for passport for my minor son in India - there wasn't any police verification.

11. I paid the fees for the passport at the center. I didn't have to pay it online while taking the appointment. It was 62 pounds and I paid with card. But as a backup you should be ready with cash. 

Obtaining driving license in UK - coming from India

Steps:

1. Get a probationary(learners') license - you will have to apply online. You will get the application form at your address. You have to fill it and send your BRP card with the application. In few days, you will get your BRP card and learning license back separately.

2.  Give the theory test. Buy the official DVLA Theory Test app on Android and practice all the questions.

3. Once you clear theory test, you have to give the practical test. And that's it.

Moving from India to London - buying/driving a car

London has excellent public transport so don't buy a car unless you really have to. Many houses/flats don't have a dedicated parking slot. Car insurance is very costly. Often, you may spend a lot of time finding a parking slot at your destination. I have gone to parks in my car only to come back home as I couldn't find a parking slot.
------------------------
But if you want to buy a car it's better to buy a used car as soon as you move to London from India since your Indian license is valid for 1 year and then you have to get a UK license. But getting a UK license is not easy, you have to practice and study a lot. So it's better to buy a car quickly, get few driving lessons, watch some YouTube videos(especially about Roundabouts) and get practice in your car. You will be able to clear your driving test easily. Also start studying for the theory test which will make you aware of all the rules quickly.

To buy a used car you can try 2 of the most popular websites: AutoTrader and CarGiant. CarGiant is a company which purchases cars and sells them back. On AutoTrader, individuals and car dealers list their cars. CarGiant is a bit expensive compared to AutoTrader.

After buying a used car, here are your regular expenses(apart from maintenance and fuel):

1. Annual Insurance(Car has to be insured for everyone who will drive it)
2. Road Tax(You can set up Direct Debit - monthly or annually). It depends on how much emission is emitted by your car.
3. Annual MOT test which checks whether your car is in good condition.

Things to watch out for while buying a car:
1. Don't buy Diesel - it will attract more penalties. London has many areas which comer under LEZ and ULEZ and those areas are constantly expanding. A Diesel car will attract more fines in those areas. While searching for cars you can search for cars which are compliant with LEZ/ULEZ.

2. Always take a test drive. Check the car from inside, check the boot space, open the bonnet and have a look. Reverse the car. Very few cars in UK have Air Conditioner by default, but it's useful in Summers sometimes. Check lights/wipers/tyres. Search online, some companies do car inspections if you pay them.

3. Don't buy Cat S/C/D/N cars. They have had quite a lot of damage in the past.

Applying for Visitor VISA for parents and in-laws for UK from India

[Guest post]
I am working as a Software Engineer in London, UK and applied for visitor VISA for my parents and in-laws successfully. Here is what I did:

1. I am on on General Tier 2 Visa and my wife on PBS dependent.

2. Fill the VISA application forms and make the payment.
3. On the VFS website, upload the following documents:

A. Sponsorship Documents:(same for my parents and in-laws)
A1: Invitation letter:

[My address in London with postcode]
 

25th Jan 2020
To,
The Visa Officer
Dear Sir / Madam,

Subject: Application for Family Visitor visa
Inviting my father Mr. XYX(Indian passport number: 123), my mother, Mrs. XYX (Indian Passport Number : 123& Expiry Date : 01/01/2001), my mother-in-law Mrs. XYX (Indian Passport Number : 123 & Expiry Date : 1/1/2001) and my father-in-law Mr. XYX (Indian Passport Number : 123 & Expiry Date : 1/1/2001) to the UK for 30 days on a standard visitor visa.
 
Their trip is planned in the last fortnight of Mar’20. During this period, they would like to stay with us on the above-mentioned address. We will be responsible for their accommodation, food, travel and any medical cost. They will also be securing health & travel insurance which will cover them for their entire UK stay.

I work as a Software Engineer at MNS since December 2019, and I have been living in the UK since then on a Tier2 General Visa.


Name

Email

Phone

A2: My last 3 payslips
A3: My last 3 months' UK bank statement
A4: My employment verification letter from my company
A5: My London address proof(Driving License and/or Energy Bill and/or water bill etc.)
A6: My passport and BRP

B: My parents' documents:
B1: Bank passbook with past 6 months' entries with average balance around 1.5 to 2 lacs
B2: Aadhar, Passport
B3,B4. Their Electricity Bill in their name and a simple declaration letter that they own the house with the address given in the electricity bill:

To whomsoever it may concern

Property Declaration Form

I, XYX, owner of <same_address_as_in_the_electricity_bill> declare that I own the house at above mentioned address and as its proof I have attached the electricity bill in my name.

C: Proof of relationship with my parents:
My passport which has their names.

D: My in-law's documents
Same as my parents' documents.

E: Proof of relationship with my in-laws:

My wife's passport and BRP.
My Marriage certificate.

Notes:
1. Flight tickets not required.
2. Upload Covid vaccine certificate for your parents if you have(I did).

Bajwa and Kashmir

1. Trump netted Abraham Accords.

2. Biden wants a bigger catch.

3. Bajwa's call for peaceful Kashmir resolution has to be seen in that context. He got the memo from the new WH admin.