The World Health Organization’s (WHO) COVID-19 vaccine access platform, COVAX, is geared up to deliver vaccines to “far more” than 20% of member states’ populations beyond 2021, Dr Kate O’Brien, the body’s director of vaccines, told its Executive Board meeting on Tuesday. She was responding to concerns and criticisms expressed by member states at the […] Continue reading ->
Many areas of Brazil, particularly Manaus, are experiencing worsening COVID-19 outbreaks and extremely high levels of infections, amidst news of a new variant that is spreading in the country. Brazil joins countries around the world – including those in Europe, the Americas, and some parts of Africa – that are seeing spikes in cases and […] Continue reading ->
IBADAN, NIGERIA – So far the continent has been obliged to look on as developed countries vaccinate millions of their citizens against SARS-CoV-2, but now African countries may also soon gain access to COVID-19 vaccines. In a striking show of political unity, the African Union (AU) has secured provisional commitments to procure some 270 million […] 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 ->
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine was set to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following a near-unanimous endorsement by an expert panel that reviewed its clinical trial results. Meanwhile, at US$ 18 per dose, the Moderna vaccine will also be the most expensive vaccine to go on the market soon, according to a […] Continue reading ->
United States Food and Drug Agency Commissioner Stephen Hahn Friday said that the agency will “rapidly work toward the finalization and issuance of an emergency use authorization” for the cutting edge Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine – following a vote by an independent FDA expert panel on Thursday recommending that the vaccine be approved. FDA Commissioner @SteveFDA […] Continue reading ->
The World Health Assembly on Tuesday approved a resolution calling to strengthen WHO and global preparedness for health emergencies – with few new teeth but lots of symbolism attached. The resolution makes a sweeping, but still largely ceremonial, call to countries and the WHO to reinvigorate systems of emergency preparedness, vulnerability assessment,  alert, response, compliance […] Continue reading ->
New COVID-19 cases reached record worldwide peaks in the United States over the weekend,  hitting 98,583 new cases on Friday – as debates over management of the pandemic also fueled intense political duels in the last, heated days of campaigning between US President Donald Trump and his Democratic Party contender, Joseph Biden.  Hospitalizations were also […] Continue reading ->
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals suspended enrollment of critically ill and hospitalized patients in its COVID-19 antibody cocktail treatment clinical trial on Friday, due to what it said was a safety concern.  The pharma company’s independent data monitoring committee (IDMC) recommended this pause “based on a potential safety signal and an unfavorable risk/benefit profile,” advising on the collection […] Continue reading ->