Some of the world’s smallest countries joined the World Health Organization (WHO) to appeal for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines on the eve of World Health Day – as the pipeline of global vaccine supplies to low- and middle-income countries risk drying up for the coming few months. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley told […] Continue reading ->
The debate around technology transfer is proving to be critical in addressing shortages in the production of vaccines. We wanted to know from developing country manufacturers on the challenges they face in making vaccines for COVID-19. Geneva Health Files brings you an interview with Abdul Muktadir, Chairman and Managing Director of the Dhaka-based company Incepta […] Continue reading ->
The World Health Organization (WHO) is hopeful that all healthcare workers can be vaccinated by mid-April, but the clock is ticking away, leaving rich countries only nine days to donate surplus COVID-19 vaccines to the global COVAX facility – which has run out of doses at a crucial time. So far, the WHO has not […] Continue reading ->
Global health experts expressed their frustration with the lack of research and attention towards neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and vulnerable populations, calling for health systems to address NTDs in a more sustainable and holistic way. Speaking at the launch of a new strategic plan for the Geneva-based Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) on Tuesday, […] Continue reading ->
The obesity pandemic is in “the same room” as the COVID pandemic in terms of its threats to health – putting people at greater risk of premature death from multiple causes, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that leads to COVID-19. And ever since stay-at-home measures became routine, people have gained even more weight – up to […] Continue reading ->
After the COVID-19 pandemic exposed fundamental flaws in the global health architecture, a proposal for a new pandemic treaty that could strengthen the world’s capacity to contain the current pandemic and prepare for future ones, is gaining momentum. That was a key message at a World Health Organization (WHO) launch of an open letter by […] Continue reading ->
ISLAMABAD – (EXCLUSIVE) A controversial plan to sell Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to wealthy citizens in Pakistan has been put on hold following a dispute between the government and the private pharmaceutical company involved over the vaccines’ sale price, Health Policy Watch has learned. Meanwhile, Transparency International – Pakistan appealed to Prime Minister Imran […] Continue reading ->
COVAX has run out of COVID-19 vaccines to supply the last 20 countries in the world that have not yet started vaccinations, and it urgently needs a donation of 10 million doses from either manufacturers or countries that have piiled up surplus doses, according to World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. While […] Continue reading ->
In a decisive act of global solidarity, Norway has offered almost a third of its allocation of COVAX vaccines to poorer countries, according to Dag-Inge Ulstein, Norway’s Minister of International Development. Norway has only fully vaccinated about 5% of its population – 260,000 people – and unlike many other European countries, it has not stockpiled […] Continue reading ->
Mayors from three capital cities in the global south have appealed for speedy “technology transfer” to enable them to produce their own COVID-19 vaccines at Friday’s World Health Organization (WHO) bi-weekly COVID-19 media briefing. The mayors’ appeal comes on the eve of a meeting next week between WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and […] Continue reading ->