Page 3 - Updated Spectrum-volume-14-issue-4

2021 | Spectrum | Volume 14 Number 4 3
2020 | Spectrum | Volume 14 Number 4 3
Vaccine Inauguration at SIMS!

STAFF REPORTER trust and confidence to motivate people to
get vaccinated for good against COVID
Dr. J. Radhakrishnan, Principal 19 is very important. I personally got the
Secretary, Health & Family Welfare immunization vaccine administered to
Department, Government of Tamil Nadu emphasize the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.
Inaugurates the Covishield Vaccination I am truly elated that the health workers
drive at SIMS Hospital, Vadapalani who have already got vaccinated against
1500 frontline workers were administered COVID 19 are responding well to the
the COVID 19 vaccination free of cost vaccination too. Once the beneficiaries
as part of phase - I of the immunization get their first dose of vaccine, they are
drive still required to maintain all COVID
19 safety measures like wearing mask
SIMS Hospitals (SRM Institutes for and sanitising their hands and diligently
Medical Science), Vadapalani, one of come for their second dose of vaccination
the leading multi specialty hospitals in without missing it”.
Chennai, joins India’s biggest vaccination
drive against COVID 19 with ‘Covishield’ Mr Ravi Pachamuthu, Chairman, SIMS
vaccine. Hospital, Vadapalani said, “It brings me
great pride that SIMS Hospital is part of
Inaugurated by Dr. J. Radhakrishnan, this historic effort and has joined India’s
Principal Secretary, Health & Family biggest immunization drive against COVID
Welfare Department, Government of 19 with ‘Covishield’ Vaccine. I feel
Tamil Nadu, the ‘Covishield’ Vaccine proud to mention that SIMS Hospital has
will be provided free of cost to about treated more than 3500 COVID patients
1500 healthcare workers as well as in the past 10 months. Now, I am happy
frontline workers of SIMS Hospital, in to share that eminent Doctors, Heads
this phase-I of vaccination drive. Using of Departments, including myself were
their Government identity cards, health among the first to take the Covishield
workers can register themselves to avail Vaccine at SIMS. We sincerely thank
the free dose of ‘Covishiled’ vaccine. the Tamil Nadu Government and the
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. J. Central Government for giving us this
Radhakrishnan, Principal Secretary, opportunity to benefit a lot of people to
Health & Family Welfare Department, get back to their normal lives and help
Government of Tamil Nadu said, “Building them regain their livelihood”.

Why does it take so long to A step towards

create a vaccine? the future

AISHIKI HALDER making of chip to wafer including
all the areas of chip design,
LAWRENCE S. Research has always played fabrication, manufacturing,
an important role in the field reliability and testing. It also
Developing a safe and effective of education and sciences laid importance on the various
vaccine has traditionally been a as it enhances the growth of issues that are and might be
long and complex process that knowledge and facilitates the faced while designing chips and
takes decades to accomplish. sharing of discoveries and tools/packages that facilitate the
It takes a very long time for advancements. With this in mind, design and verification.
proper academic research, the department of Electronics The inaugural session was
experimentation, preclinical and Communication Engineering held from 09:30 AM to 10:00
and clinical trials and finally (ECE) of SRM Institute of AM. The chief guests for the
getting government approval. Science and Technology, event were Dr. T. R. Parivendhar,
To make sure that vaccines have Kattankulathur hosted a 6-day, Founder Chancellor, SRMIST,
no harmful side effects, they must Faculty Development Program Mr. Ravi Pachamoothoo, Pro-
(FDP) on Insight of Analog and
go through a rigorous standard of Digital IC Design (IADICD). Chancellor, SRMIST(Admin),
trials and experimentation. First, Vaccines work by triggering a fight or flight response in our body. ECE department which is known Dr. P. Santhyanarayanan, Pro-
they go through the preclinical for its highly impactful journal Chancellor, SRMIST(Academic)
trials where scientists study the through changes as the body’s several changes. Then, the publications and research in and Dr. R. Shivakumar, Pro-
effect of the vaccine on cell immune response towards the vaccine needs to get through multidisciplinary fields currently Chancellor, SRMIST.
cultures and animals such as lab vaccine is studied. If passed, government approval. Some has 50 research scholars under Various industry experts,
rats. If they are able to produce they go through the second governments give emergency it and has awarded 12 patents. eminent academic researchers
a suitable immune response, phase where a much larger use authorization in times of This FDP was organized as a and students both from SRM
they go through a three-phase test group of varying ages and an active pandemic like in the means to nurture an environment and other established institutes
clinical trial where it is tested demographics are given the case of COVID-19. Finally, for the exchange of technical and companies also participated
on human beings. vaccine. In the third phase, the vaccine needs to be mass- details, research-oriented work in the event to share and learn
The first phase of clinical thousands of people are tested. produced and distributed. These and experiences from those about the new techniques,
trials is generally among a Each trial takes a long period factors make vaccine production best in their fields. It aimed at developments and difficulties
small group, typically a dozen of time and with each phase, and its logistics a long and highlighting the technology in the field of Analog Digital
people and the vaccine may go the vaccine may go through delicate process. and processes involved in the IC Design.