While three independent review panels concur that the response of the World Health Organization (WHO) to COVID-19 was inadequate, member states made slow progress in charting better alternatives at the executive board meeting on Wednesday. WHO members are considering three main proposals to improve the global body’s future pandemic preparedness: Setting up a Standing Committee […] Continue reading ->
Despite earlier disruption from Ethiopia, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus received overwhelming support for his nomination for a second term as World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General from the body’s executive board on Tuesday. As the only nominee, Tedros is guaranteed to be re-elected at the next World Health Assembly in May. All WHO regions expressed their […] Continue reading ->
Ethiopia may try to disrupt Tuesday morning’s closed session of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board meeting where the nomination of the next Director-General will happen via secret ballot. Incumbent Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the only nominee, but Ethiopia – which nominated him four years ago – has taken exception to their former […] Continue reading ->
With the delivery of its one billionth dose last week, COVAX, the WHO co-sponsored vaccine facility, has established itself as the main pillar of vaccine supplies to the world’s 92 poorest economies – providing 82% of the vaccines those nations have received so far. But even as vaccine supplies now ease up, huge disparities persist […] Continue reading ->
IDABAN, Nigeria – The decision of the World Health Organization (WHO) to drop its opposition for COVID-19 vaccination booster shots has raised concerns in Africa about the potential depletion of COVID-19 vaccine doses available to African countries. On Friday, Health Policy Watch reported WHO recommended the wider administration of a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech […] Continue reading ->
In a stark departure from months of booster opposition, WHO on Friday recommended the wider administration of a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine – as well as jabs for children age 5 and older. The recommendation comes after over 120 countries already have booster campaigns in full-swing, some of them beginning as early […] Continue reading ->
Russia’s Sputnik V demonstrated more than two times higher virus neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant in comparison to the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, according to a study of blood samples, released Thursday by the National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani in Italy and Russia’s Gamaleya Center. The research was prepared by a team of […] Continue reading ->
In still evolving data, yet another Israeli study has found that health workers who received a fourth dose of a Pfizer mRNA vaccine were half as likely to contract Omicron seven days after receiving the shot in comparison to people who only got three doses. The study released Thursday came less than one week after […] Continue reading ->
CAPE TOWN – South African-born US biotech billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong launched a vaccine manufacturing plant in the country of his birth on Wednesday, aimed at producing “second generation” vaccines to address COVID-19 and other diseases. Soon-Shiong, who has made his fortune from developing successful cancer treatments, has committed an initial $195 million to NantSA – […] Continue reading ->
UN Secretary General António Guterres Calls for ‘New Global Deal’ on Debt Relief, Climate and Health
International financial institutions need to extend widespread debt relief to developing countries, and private sector companies need to mend “social contracts” with societies, and in order to “beat climate, beat COVID” fight hunger – and global financial instability, said UN Secretary General António Guterres. He was speaking on the opening day of the World Economic […] Continue reading ->