The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to make its engagement with non-state actors (non-state actors) more meaningful and efficient with a new proposal to establish a number of NSA fora that would allow exchange with WHO and member state representatives outside of official meetings. The new proposal — which will be tested during the 74th […] Continue reading ->
While global attention has fixated on the coronavirus, the forty-year long fight against HIV, which has claimed 33 million lives, is seeing new breakthroughs in preventive tools. New discoveries of “broadly neutralizing antibodies” as well as novel regimens of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), could strengthen the world’s toolbox to prevent the disease, announced the International AIDS […] Continue reading ->
In the midst of the spread of new SARS-CoV2 virus variants, several European countries have updated their guidance and regulations on masks, to recommend the use of high-filtration medical-grade masks over fabric ones in confined settings.  France’s health advisory council (Haute Conseil de la Santé Publique) issued new recommendations last week, warning against the wearing […] Continue reading ->
While very low-income countries have experienced relatively low mortality rates from COVID-19, they can expect higher mortality caused by the knock-on effects of the pandemic on their fragile health systems, according to the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Since the pandemic first overwhelmed health systems in early 2020, […] Continue reading ->
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is safe for most people including those with a wide range of underlying medical conditions, according to the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunizations. However, the vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women or children as it has not been tested on these groups, according to […] Continue reading ->
COVID-19 has led to the suspension of polio campaigns in more than 30 countries, and has underscored the importance of the mission to eradicate it, tackle antimicrobial resistance, and ensure the timely sharing of pathogens, said WHO member states at Monday’s Executive Board session.  Throughout the morning and afternoon sessions, member states reviewed and discussed […] Continue reading ->
Discussions on WHO’s state of financing were addressed by member states during the on-going Executive Board meeting. As we reported last week, WHO is keen on defining independence and sustainability of its financing to be better prepared to address emergencies in the future. We spoke to Björn Kümmel, Deputy Head of Unit, Global Health, German Federal Ministry […] Continue reading ->
Michael Osterholm – a leading member of the United States President’s coronavirus transition team – has said he is “convinced” by data indicating the UK COVID-19 variant is more deadly, even as United Kingdom officials downplay the limited and “uncertain” evidence. Meanwhile, Moderna announced today that it will “test an additional booster dose of its […] Continue reading ->
Wealthy countries that pursue ‘vaccine nationalism’ when their trading partners don’t have access to the COVID-19 vaccine will pay a far higher economic price than if they invest in ensuring all countries have access to vaccines, according to a comprehensive economic modelling study released today by the World Health Organization (WHO). The study, commissioned by […] Continue reading ->