US Food and Drug Administration Issues New Rules Likely To Delay COVID-19 Vaccine Approval Until After Presidential Election

07/10/2020 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

Acting on the advice of experts, the United States Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday issued new safety-focused guidelines for approval of new COVID-19 vaccines, that would almost certainly delay their emergency approval until after the November Presidential elections. Just hours after the rules were issued, United States President Donald Trump accused the FDA of […] Continue reading ->

Over 90% Of The World’s Countries Report Disruptions Of Critical Mental Health Services – WHO Survey

05/10/2020 Svĕt Lustig Vijay

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted mental health services in 93% of countries at a time when they are most needed, concludes a new WHO survey, released Monday. The survey is based on data from 130 WHO countries gathered between June and August 2020. Despite rising awareness of the enormous strain that the pandemic has placed […] Continue reading ->

Geneva’s International Chamber Of Commerce Hosts Dialogue Involving Geneva UN Agency and Big Tobacco – For Second Year In A Row

01/10/2020 Svĕt Lustig Vijay & Elaine Ruth Fletcher

For the second year in a row, Geneva’s International Chamber of Commerce has hosted a dialogue bringing local tobacco industry leaders together with a major Geneva-based UN Agency – in this case to discuss the ‘role of multinationals in economic recovery following the coronavirus’. The ICC’s 6th Business Dialogue, involving Teresa Moreira, Head Competition and […] Continue reading ->

Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Unlikely To Be Available To Public Before Spring, 2021; Initial US FDA Authorization Would Be Sought In Late November

01/10/2020 Madeleine Hoecklin

Moderna intends to seek US Food and Drug Administration emergency authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate for frontline medical workers by November 25th at the earliest, and only in late January for use in the general population. That means that the vaccine, if approved on schedule, would only be available for widespread distribution to the […] Continue reading ->

World Bank Unleashes US$12 Billion in “Fast-Track” Finance For COVID-19 Vaccine Purchases By Low- And Middle-Income Countries

30/09/2020 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

The World Bank will make available up to $12 billion in “fast-track financing” that low- and middle-income countries can access to procure vaccines against Covid-19 – as soon as one is approved, said the Bank’s president David Malpass, on Wednesday. The announcement at a United Nations high-level panel on the pandemic that also included commitments […] Continue reading ->

Most Countries Still Have ‘Long Way To Go’ On Tobacco Control In Public Places & Taxation

29/09/2020 Svĕt Lustig Vijay

As fresh data reveals that tobacco products kill over 2 million people a year through coronary heart disease, tobacco control advocates are more determined than ever to protect the world against a product that kills half its users, not only from heart attacks but stroke, lung cancer and other diseases as well. Comprehensive, but simple […] Continue reading ->

WHO, The Pandemic And Europe’s New Global Health Leadership Role

29/09/2020 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

Billions of dollars in vaccine investments are needed to beat back Covid-19. But on the bright side, Europe is playing a more active global health leadership role. Geneva’s ‘dean’ of global health speaks to Geneva Solutions ahead of Wednesday’s opening of the European Health Forum (Gastein), which brings together key policymakers and experts from across […] Continue reading ->

Progress On COVID-19 Technology Pool Inches Along As Sister Initiative To Pool Vaccine Procurement Accelerates

25/09/2020 Grace Ren

While the COVAX Facility, a global initiative to pool procurement of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, has been gaining momentum, another global initiative to pool intellectual property rights for tools to combat the pandemic has been moving at a much slower pace. Only three more countries have signed on to support the COVID-19 Technology […] Continue reading ->

Global Call For Rebuilding Vaccine Networks In Advance Of COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

24/09/2020 Raisa Santos

A lineup of global health leaders called upon high income countries to join the new global COVID-19 pool, saying that worldwide access to a safe and equitable vaccine is essential to beat the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking at the virtual UN General Assembly (UNGA) side event on Wednesday, the leaders also said that maintaining essential vaccine […] Continue reading ->

US FDA Commissioner Promises Not To Bow To Political Pressure On COVID-19 Vaccine Timetable – President Donald Trump Says Any Delay Would Need White House Approval

23/09/2020 Grace Ren & Elaine Ruth Fletcher

United States President Donald Trump told a press conference that any moves by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to delay emergency authorization of any forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine for an additional two months to ensure safety concerns are met, “sounds like a political move more than everything else” and such a delay “has to be […] Continue reading ->