NEW YORK/ GENEVA. The World Health Organization, UNICEF and two leading international health and humanitarian civil society organizations announced on Tuesday the establishment of a global Ebola vaccine stockpile to ensure rapid response to future outbreaks. Establishment of the stockpile was led by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision, which also includes the […] Continue reading ->
A US$40 million research consortium has been created to repurpose existing medicines for hepatitis, tuberculosis and malaria into long-acting treatments that can benefit low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where people often have trouble accessing medicine over and over again, Unitaid experts told Health Policy Watch. The consortium on Tuesday launched the new Centre of Excellence […] Continue reading ->
Switzerland’s drug regulatory agency, Swissmedic, has authorized Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for use – in a move that should helop accelerate its rollout of vaccines against the pandemic, The Swiss Federal Government has secured 7.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine, with deliveries expected to begin next week from the Visp-based plant where most of […] Continue reading ->
Governments have spent at least €93 billion on COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics globally since the beginning of the pandemic, a new study has found. Research published on Monday by the kENUP Foundation, a European non-profit supporting research-based innovation in health industries, found that in 11 months, the public sector invested heavily in the development of […] Continue reading ->
Two new studies published this week highlight the challenges to health policy posed by COVID-19 – with seriously ill COVID-19 patients continuing to suffer with “Long COVID”  months after being released from the hospital – while completely asymptomatic cases drive more than half of overall disease transmission.   More than three quarters of patients diagnosed with […] Continue reading ->
The United Kingdom has approved the mRNA vaccine developed by Moderna, securing an additional 10 million doses to its initial 7 million: but supplies aren’t expected until spring. Despite procuring 17 million doses of the vaccine, a rollout isn’t anticipated for some time, with Moderna vaguely stating that “deliveries of the COVID-19 Vaccine … from […] Continue reading ->
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), the EU drug regulator, recommended issuing a conditional marketing authorization for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, which follows the authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in late December.  “This vaccine provides us with another tool to overcome the current emergency,” Emer Cooke, Executive Director of EMA, said in the press release. “It is […] Continue reading ->
Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine appears to be able to reduce infection and therefore transmission of the virus, a Harvard expert has told Health Policy Watch, albeit despite the currently limited data sets. Although both vaccines appear to have incredibly high efficacy (94.1% for Moderna and 95% for Pfizer) in terms of preventing those vaccinated from […] Continue reading ->

Warning: Attempt to read property "post_title" on null in /home/clients/58f2a29976672af522a8f4d82ffa28b6/web/wp-content/plugins/better-image-credits/better-image-credits.php on line 227
People who have recently had a confirmed COVID-19 infection can choose to delay vaccination, so as to allow others who are not immune take advantage of initial procurements, WHO has recommended. Following WHO’s approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine last week, its strategic advisory group of experts (SAGE) said that if a person has had a […] Continue reading ->