A mix-up with vaccine ingredients at a production site in Baltimore, Maryland, which is manufacturing both the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, has led to the contamination of 15 million J&J doses, which risks delaying national and global deliveries of the recently-approved vaccine. The pharma company, which is producing the world’s first single […] 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 ->
France is going into its third national lockdown since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, after a deadly third wave hit Europe, causing soaring infection and death rates. With an average of more than 37,000 daily new cases over the past week, tougher restrictions have become inevitable. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the new restrictions […] 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 ->
Germany has suspended the use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for people under the age of 60 amidst fresh concerns of unusual blood clot cases among some people receiving the vaccine, particularly women, and leading to the deaths of nine people in all. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Health Minister Jens Spahn made the announcement […] Continue reading ->
The most important takeaway about the just-released WHO report on the origins of the SARS-CoV2 virus that has infected over 100 million people to date may not be its initial findings, which need to be held under the microscope, but the fact that it has been issued at all. Speaking at a press conference on […] 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 ->
European countries are experiencing soaring COVID-19 infection and death rates. With a third wave sweeping across Europe, hospitals are at risk of becoming overwhelmed and governments are facing increasing public opposition to continued lockdowns and social distancing restrictions. The WHO European Region, which includes 53 member states, has recorded an upward trend in cases for […] Continue reading ->
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has officially authorized expanded capacity in three new vaccine manufacturing facilities on the continent producing AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines – a move that the agency says should also help pharma suppliers ramp up their deliveries of now scarce vaccines to European Union bloc countries. At the same time, a […] Continue reading ->