As daily infections reached a four-month high, the Indian government’s COVID-19 vaccinations touched 2 billion on July 17th. Booster doses are currently being administered to all people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the vaccination milestone and celebrated the world’s largest and longest-running immunisation programme, which began last year.

India makes history once more!!, added PM Modi in a tweet. The opposition has accused the prime minister of mishandling the outbreak, which experts claim killed millions of people. The administration disputes the claims.

According to data from the health ministry, 49 deaths were reported overnight, bringing the COVID death toll to 525,709 in the country. The number of new cases increased by 20,528 during the last 24 hours, i.e. between July 16th and July 17th, reaching its highest level since February 20. The majority of COVID-related restrictions have been repealed in the 1.35 billion-strong nation, and global travel has made a strong comeback.

Covishield, a domestically produced vaccine by AstraZeneca, made up about 80% of the immunizations. Others include the Sputnik V from Russia and the locally made Covaxin and Corbevax.

In order to stop the spread of infections, the central government has stepped up its booster campaign, increasing its efforts in the eastern states of Assam and West Bengal, and Karnataka in the south.

The FDA has given the go-ahead to the Serum Institute of India (SII) to eventually supply a COVID-19 vaccine to the U.S. with Novavax’s Nuvaxovid.

The emergency use authorization granted to Novavax’s recombinant protein-based vaccination on July 13th means SII will be able to distribute the shot, also known as Covovax, to the United States from India.

The adenovirus-vectored vaccination Vaxzevria, manufactured by SII for AstraZeneca, is not offered in the United States. With the approval of Novavax, SII is officially the first Indian pharmaceutical company to create a COVID injectable for the American market.

According to Novavax Chief Medical Officer Filip Dubovsky, SII produces all of the commercially available Novavax shots, including those that are initially used in the United States. 

Following a favourable recommendation from an FDA expert panel, the U.S. government obtained an inaugural 3.2 million doses of the Novavax shot. A leading media daily was previously informed by a Novavax representative that some dosages had already arrived on July 6.

Prior to the 13th July approval, there were rumours that Novavax had trouble meeting production criteria, particularly those pertaining to vaccine purity.

The late debut of Novavax and SII coincides with a decline in the market for COVID vaccinations worldwide. Adar Poonawalla, CEO of SII, reportedly stated that the company has discontinued producing AstraZeneca’s shot after accumulating 200 million doses because it was unable to find any buyers, even for free.

One of the leading newspapers revealed this week, using data from the CDC, that around 90.6 million shots of various COVID vaccination doses have been disposed of in the United States. The Vaccine Alliance and Novavax entered an advance purchase agreement last May to provide up to 350 million shots of Nuvaxovid for mass distribution in low-income nations. These were a part of an arrangement that covered a total of 1.1 billion doses of the shot, with SII taking care of the remaining supply.

As a potential booster, Novavax and SII are developing an improved omicron-targeted injection. In Australia, Novavax began a phase 3 study for the omicron-specific vaccine, coded NVX-CoV2515, in late May. Participants in the experiment had previously received either a core series of an mRNA vaccine or a booster series.

The COVID-19 public health emergency was prolonged by the Biden administration on July 15th for a further three months. The declaration was officially renewed by Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and was extended through October 13, 2022.

The newest extension of the emergency declaration, which has been in effect since January 2020, comes as the Omicron branch BA.5, the most contagious strain to date, is making inroads in the US. The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and fatalities is at its highest level in months, despite the fact that daily case rates are substantially undercounted.

More than half of the population of the US resides in counties with a high COVID-19 Community Level, according to data released this week by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in which the medical system is at risk of becoming overwhelmed and mandatory indoor masking is advised.

A Biden administration source said that the Public Health Emergency proclamation continues to provide them with the resources and powers necessary to respond to the highly communicable COVID-19 subvariants that are now spreading around the country. The PHE gives hospitals crucial flexibility and capacity to better care for patients, especially if they were to witness a dramatic spike in admissions in the coming weeks.

Hospitalizations in the US are expected to increase over the course of the upcoming month, according to ensemble estimates from the CDC that were published this week ending July 16th. For the first time in a few weeks, the forecasts indicated a surge in hospitalizations rather than a continuing constant trend.

The official stated that without the PHE, they would be constrained in their ability to deliver broad and equitable access to life-saving medications through the Test to Treat programme, for example, which depends on flexibility for telemedicine and operations. 

The declaration of a public health emergency entitles many Americans to free COVID-19 testing, medical care, and vaccinations. Depending on whether they have Medicare, Medicaid, or Private insurance after it expires, they may have to pay out-of-pocket expenses. While state Medicaid programmes would decide whether to keep covering vaccinations for their participants, those eligible for Medicaid and private insurance would generally continue to receive free immunizations.

Additionally, Medicare has loosened its telemedicine regulations so that a greater number of enrollees can use these services during the declaration. Enrollees can perform visits at home rather than travel to a medical institution, and they can access a greater range of treatments through telehealth. Telehealth services are no longer only available to those who live in remote areas. After the crisis ends, most recipients’ access to these flexibility options will terminate.

And in exchange for obtaining more generous federal matching money, states are not forcibly removing residents from Medicaid during the declaration. Following the conclusion of the emergency, up to 14 million Americans might lose their Medicaid coverage, according to different forecasts made by Kaiser and the Urban Institute. The proclamation has also resulted in many low-income families obtaining increased food stamp benefits, even though several states have concluded their respective public health emergencies and ceased the increased allotments.

Testing, treatments, and immunizations may be used in an emergency under a separate emergency declaration. The US Department of Health and Human Services secretary will decide when it will cease. HHS will determine when it ends, and the organisation has agreed to give at least 60 days’ notice before any changes.

If there’s microblading for eyebrows, there’s also a similar process that’s done on your scalp and this is called Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP). SMP gives the illusion of a fuller head of hair. This cosmetic treatment is offered in many scalp micropigmentation clinics such as Scalp Evolution. But how is it different from microblading?

Although both microblading and scalp micropigmentation fall under the same category, which is micropigmentation, they are very different when it comes to their methods of implanting pigment.

Microblading is usually done using a manual blade whereas scalp micropigmentation is done using an electronic tattoo device. The reason for this is because the skin on your scalp is thicker so it needs something with more power to penetrate it.

Scalp Micropigmentation: How Does it Work?

Scalp Micropigmentation by Scalp Evolution doesn’t aim to create hair-like lines. Rather, they use tiny, layered dots in varying shades of black to mimic the appearance of shadows on your scalp. This technique is called pointillism, and it makes the micropigmentation look more natural and defined.

Getting scalp micropigmentation service from a skilled practitioner will guarantee natural looking dots that resemble hair follicles. These dots blend in perfectly with your complexion too.

Scalp micropigmentation is great for men and women who experience all types of hair loss. This includes people who have:

• Alopecia
• Thinning hair
• Cancer
• Pattern baldness (both male and female)

Does Scalp Micropigmentation Hurt?

Because the process resembles that of getting a tattoo, it is obviously going to hurt. But how painful it can get depends on one’s pain tolerance and how the SMP is done.

Before the procedure, the SMP specialist will apply a numbing topical agent to your scalp. Although this will numb your senses, you might still experience some discomfort. But the amount of discomfort you’ll feel depends on your tolerance to pain.

What to Expect with Scalp Pigmentation?

After the initial consultation with your Scalp Evolution SMP specialist, you will be briefed on what to expect during the scalp micropigmentation procedure and how you should prepare in advance.

For instance, here are some rules below:

• Take a shower before the treatment. You won’t be allowed to wash or wet your scalp (including sweating) for four days after each treatment.
• Each SMP treatment can take about four to five hours
• The number of treatments you need will depend on how much scalp is getting SMP. Even small areas in your scalp, like the widow’s peak, will require three to four treatments.
• Treatments are usually scheduled a few weeks in between.

You’ll be advised to avoid swimming, using steam or sauna rooms, or taking hot showers in the weeks following your treatments.

It’s also advised that you keep your scalp from being exposed to the sun four days after your first treatment. Five days after the treatment, you can expose the treated skin to the sun for 45 minutes to an hour.

Take note, however, that the less you expose the treated area/s to the sun, the better the retention.

After the final treatment, you’ll be advised to:

• Avoid swimming, going to saunas and steam rooms for 4 weeks after the final treatment
• Avoid getting in the sun 4 weeks after the treatment. Use SPF 30-50 after the 4-week period.
• Avoid doing any heavy exercises five days after your last treatment
• Start moisturizing the treated area regularly four days after your final treatment.

How Much Does SMP Cost and How Long Does It Last?

The cost of getting an SMP treatment varies depending on how much area of your scalp needs to be covered. Typically, a treatment can cost you around $400 to $1000.

Micropigmentation is a semi-permanent treatment, which means that even the effects may last for years (with some lasting up to eight years!), the treated area will slowly fade over time. This is because our skin naturally exfoliates itself.

The color may lighten over time, but there shouldn’t be any change of color. If this happens, then that means the SMP specialist used the wrong pigment.

If you suffer from dry skin, however, the fading will happen faster. This is due to the tendency of the skin to flake with dry skin, unintentionally exfoliating the pigment in the process.

What Are the Risks Involved in SMP?

Just like any medical and cosmetic procedures, there are risks that come with SMP.

Although you really can’t consider micropigmentation a tattoo, permanent makeup services like SMP do come with similar risks as tattoos. These risks include allergic reactions to some components in the pigment as well as infections related to tattoo ink.

The most important thing to understand is that SMP artists or specialists do not need any formal training to perform the procedure on patients. This is why it’s important that you do your research when choosing a good practitioner.

How to Find a Good SMP Center

Before you decide on the clinic you get your SMP treatment done, it’s important that you do your research first. Make sure you check out the office or clinic where the service will be performed.

A good quality SMP treatment center should have the following:

• SMP training certification
• Body art practitioner license
• County health permit
• Bloodborne pathogens certification
• A sink
• A clean and sterile environment
• Barrier protection during treatment
• Packaged needles that are opened only in front of the client

Licensing and regulation for SMP varies by state. In California, for instance, the process for practicing tattooing, body piercing, body branding, or permanent makeup (SMP included), is licensed and regulated the same way. Despite that, licensed tattoo artists can easily shift to SMP even without any training.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also warns consumers against the risks involved with tattoos and permanent makeup. This is especially due to the fact that the FDA has not actually regulated the inks and pigments used in tattoo and permanent makeup.

Experts at Scalp Evolution also warns that SMP results can end up in failure if it is performed by inexperienced practitioners. So, if you have any hesitation toward an SMP practitioner or SMP clinic, it’s best for you to simply cancel the appointment and go to someplace that’s more trusted.