The World Health Organization (WHO) and member states have an obligation to listen to stakeholders in a “sympathetic and respectful manner” as non-state actors (NSAs) play critical roles in supporting global health work generally – and more immediately addressing COVID-19 and its impacts on communities. That call was made by Mara Burr, director of multilateral […] Continue reading ->
DELHI – In a twin bid to get ahead of a surging COVID-19 epidemic, the Indian government said that it will make “advance payments” totally some US$ 550 million to domestic COVID-19 vaccine makers – as well as opening up the market to private sector import and sales of other approved COVID-19 vaccines. Under the […] Continue reading ->
The European Union (EU) today pledged €100 million towards a humanitarian fund that will assist with COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in Africa. The initiative was announced today at a press briefing addressed by Dr John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa CDC and Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management. According to the EU, the new fund […] Continue reading ->
After months of stalemate, WHO looks set to update its guidance on managing COVID-19 infections in the context of international travel – but proof of vaccination should not be required as a condition of entry to any country, emphasized WHO’s International Health Emergency Committee. This was among the wide-ranging recommendations issued on Monday by the […] Continue reading ->
New COVID-19 cases climbed again globally last week for the eighth week in a row – while only 1% of the 100 million vaccine doses administered last week were in low- and middle-income countries – said senior WHO officials on Monday, citing two key barometers of pandemic policies. Meanwhile, speaking at a WHO press conference […] Continue reading ->
Six weeks after receiving 1.7 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from COVAX, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) finally started to vaccinate people on Monday. The delay followed concerns about the safety of the vaccine amid reports about possible links between the vaccine and blood clotting. In a bid to build public confidence, […] Continue reading ->
A real-time COVID-19 data dashboard, celebrities and athletes sharing information about COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy, rapid response task teams and public communications campaigns have formed part of response strategies to help two major cities fight the pandemic. The Partnership for Healthy Cities – supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Health Organization and Vital Strategies— on […] Continue reading ->
Global funding to develop new drugs for some of the world’s leading infectious disease killers, such as HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria, was US $3.876 billion, with the drop of US $185 million from 2018 reflecting COVID-related difficulties in data collection, according to the G-Finder Report, which tracks annual global investments. However, once participation is accounted […] Continue reading ->
As the world quickly approaches the highest weekly rate of infection recorded since the start of the pandemic over a year ago, several countries that have largely held COVID-19 at bay so far are seeing surges in infections. Papua New Guinea (PNG), a small Pacific island state that successfully shielded itself from the SARS-CoV2 virus […] Continue reading ->
In a vital step forward that will help accelerate global access to COVID-19 vaccines, Gavi, the vaccine alliance raised some $400 million in donations at a high-level event on Thursday, just a week after the global COVAX facility reached 100 countries with almost 40 million vaccine doses. The event was hosted by US Secretary of […] Continue reading ->