China has defended its strict “no-COVID” strategy and called WHO “irresponsible” following critical remarks from the head of the World Health Organization. WHO Secretary-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a media briefing Tuesday that China’s strategy was no longer sustainable in the face of the more infectious but less lethal Omicron. “When we talk about […] Continue reading ->
While the Omicron COVID-19 variant appears to be diminishing, it is possible that there could be a resurgence of the Delta variant in the coming months in some countries, according to a team of researchers from Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev studying the prevalence of SARS-CoV2 virus variants in sewage. The warning comes following […] Continue reading ->
Moderna has filed a brief in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware seeking the dismissal of a patent infringement lawsuit that pertains to the production and sale of its COVID-19 mRNA vaccine Spikevax. The lawsuit against the U.S-based pharmaceutical giant was filed by Arbutus Biopharma Corporation and Genevant Sciences, which had […] Continue reading ->
China’s zero-COVID approach was no longer sustainable in the face of the more infectious but less lethal Omicron, WHO Secretary-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a media briefing on Tuesday. This follows the six-week lockdown of 25 million residents of the Chinese city of Shanghai and restrictions on the movement of people in Beijing, with […] Continue reading ->
By an overwhelming vote of 43 to three with just two abstentions, WHO’s European member states approved a resolution condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. The resolution, approved Tuesday in a special session of the WHO Regional Committee of member states, is a prelude to the tough global debate that can be expected at […] Continue reading ->
Policies initiated to control the COVID-19 pandemic increased the difficulties for people who use drugs when seeking health treatment, leading drug experts to conclude that treatment programmes need to be integrated into community care. Ruth Dreifuss, former President of Switzerland and founding member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, noted that people who use […] Continue reading ->
A third shot of the Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine boosted vaccine effectiveness against infection, which had been diminished five to six months after the second vaccine dose, according to a study of over 12,000 healthcare workers released this week by Nature. The study was conducted in Israel by Sheba Medical Center and involved 12,413 health workers […] Continue reading ->
The global anti-abortion movement will get a boost if the US supreme court dismantles the 1973 landmark court case, Roe v Wade, that legalised abortion – but bans are ineffective in stopping abortions, succeeding only in making them unsafer. “Any regression in protection of the right to abortion would not only stand to damage the […] Continue reading ->
African leaders have applauded the US move to appoint John Nkengasong as head of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Reliefs (PEPFAR) – saying he’ll reinvigorate the programme that has been a flagship for the global battle against the AIDS pandemic for nearly decades. But they also said the loss of Nkgengasong as head […] Continue reading ->
Russia’s war on Ukraine and its impact on healthcare in the region is the focus of a special session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe on Tuesday, as the latest figures show over 200 verified attacks on health facilities. Ukraine, backed by 38 other member countries including Germany and the UK, requested the session […] Continue reading ->