Only 27 per cent of the population has taken booster doses. We are pushing the government to bring the booster doses back so that more should take them for their safety: Dr Priya Abraham.

Hyderabad: Dr KV Rao Scientific Society’s (KVRSS) 24th Annual Science Awards Function was held recently at BM Birla Science Centre, in city. KVRSS has been involved in promoting science by spotting and recognising talent at the school and university levels for the past 24 years.

Prof. (Dr) Priya Abraham, Senior Professor, CMC, Vellore and Former Director, National Institute of Virology, Pune, was part of the ICMR team that developed the Covaxin vaccine delivering the KV Rao Memorial Oration “The Making of an Indigenous Covid Vaccine and More,” dwelled on the arduous task of developing the first Indigenous antibody detection assay (Kavach Elisa) which was used in the four national serosurveys for Covid-19 and the collaboration with industry in making a candidate vaccine.

She said a vaccine takes 10 long years to be developed, but during a crisis like a pandemic, it was developed in just ten and half months. Scientists are not the soldiers at the borders like our fauji but they are civilian fauji, she said. She said only 27 per cent of the population has taken a booster dose which is not good. Everyone must take the booster dose. I am in my capacity pushing to the government to bring the vaccines back into the market and encourage more to take booster doses, she said.

Partho Pratim Kar, Joint Managing Director, Jaykay Enterprises Limited, New Delhi was the Chief Guest. We need to focus on how to develop good teachers. Teaching has to be by choice and not by default, he said. Both the guests gave away the awards.

As KVRSS enters its 25th year, ambitious plans are underway to develop a state-of-the-art science centre complex. This innovative facility will be designed to provide a vibrant space for learning, exploration, and enjoyment of science for all. 19th School Talent Awards have been instituted in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Science & Technology (APCOST). These awards acknowledge exemplary science projects presented by students from various districts.