The World Health Organization’s (WHO) response to COVID-19 was too slow, hampered by an antiquated pandemic alert system, lack of resources and a lack of authority with member states, according to an interim report by the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness and Response, presented to the WHO’s Executive Board meeting on Tuesday. It took the […] Continue reading ->
WHO called on European countries to step up their game to curb the highly contagious COVID-19 variants that are overtaking the region, already straining overstretched health systems. Meanwhile some researchers were warning that the new virus variants could spell double trouble if the mutation first identified in South Africa, in particular, makes new vaccines just […] Continue reading ->
CAPE TOWN – As South Africa reported its highest COVID-19 cases ever this week – over 20,000 in one day – Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced that the country had procured 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine and would start vaccinating health workers by the end of this month. The South African government […] Continue reading ->
As European COVID-19 vaccine campaigns got underway with celebratory first jabs into the arms of citizens in half a dozen countries, some seasoned observers were still wondering if the pace of vaccine roll-outs will move fast enough to outpace the continuing high levels of infection and fatality – now being fuelled by a new mutant […] Continue reading ->
Jerusalem – The huge neon sign over the city’s football stadium flashed over the highway and into the night. “Jerusalem is vaccinating” – it proclaimed. Across from the stadium, in a giant Arena that in normal times hosts conferences and trade shows, a steady stream of older people – some in wheelchairs, moving with walkers […] Continue reading ->
Despite the “enormous” contributions that migrants have made to society, they still face discrimination, social exclusion, and struggle to access health services even years after migrating, especially during the current pandemic, the first survey ever of migrant health during COVID-19 has found. The report, which was led by Ghent University and the University of Copenhagen […] Continue reading ->
The WHO-led COVAX Facility announced Friday that it has now secured some 2 billion vaccine doses and distribution of vaccines will begin in the first quarter of 2021 – ensuring that at least some vaccines will begin to reach the 92 low-income countries that are largely dependent on global philanthropy to access sufficient vaccine supplies. […] Continue reading ->
Indian lockdowns, telehealth in California, a “sin tax” on alcohol and cigarettes in the Philippines – three public health advocates reflect on how these and other events have shaped the narrative around non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The three included Apoorva Gomber, a medical doctor; Gina Agiostratidou, a philanthropic donor; and civil society leader Katie Dain, found […] Continue reading ->
Striking through the politicised warnings and potentially hollow gestures, a new study has found that COVID-19 vaccines could remain out of reach until at least 2022 for nearly one- fifth of the global population – despite months of pleas and appeals to ensure their widespread global distribution. The study, published in The BMJ, is the […] Continue reading ->
As the dust began to settle in June 2009 in the aftermath of the global recession, 81 million young people found themselves out of work, as the youth unemployment rate rose to 13%. But unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic – with 1 in 6 young people worldwide having already lost their job […] Continue reading ->