Despite the “enormous” contributions that migrants have made to society, they still face discrimination, social exclusion, and struggle to access health services even years after migrating, especially during the current pandemic, the first survey ever of migrant health during COVID-19 has found. The report, which was led by Ghent University and the University of Copenhagen […] 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 ->
Following months of delay, and delicate backdoor negotiations, WHO now says that it “hopes” an international team has been mandated by the World Health Assembly to investigate the sources of the SARS-CoV2 virus can travel to China in January to begin their fieldwork. “The International team is currently working on logistical arrangements to travel to […] Continue reading ->
Striking through the politicised warnings and potentially hollow gestures, a new study has found that COVID-19 vaccines could remain out of reach until at least 2022 for nearly one- fifth of the global population – despite months of pleas and appeals to ensure their widespread global distribution. The study, published in The BMJ, is the […] Continue reading ->
Ibadan, Nigeria. Ambrose Dlamini, eSwatini’s Prime Minister, has become the first world leader to die after testing positive for COVID-19. His death sends a clear and chilling message across Africa: the worst days of the pandemic are not behind us. Dlamini passed away on Sunday 13 December in South Africa, where he was receiving treatment […] Continue reading ->
The World Health Organization’s suppression of an independent report that critically examined both the strengths and weaknesses of Italy’s COVID-19 pandemic response – sets a dangerous precedent that compromises the international organization’s credibility at a time when WHO’s independence has been questioned – and the Italian national pandemic response is under intense scrutiny as well, […] Continue reading ->
Sixty different local authorities in England have reported around 1,000 infections caused by a new COVID-19 variant. The variant is not thought to have an impact on disease severity or mortality, or on the efficacy of a vaccine. It has been reported to WHO. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in Parliament today: “We have identified […] Continue reading ->
One out of every four health facilities worldwide lacks even the most basic access to water supplies. And in the world’s 47 least developed countries, one in every two facilities lacks such access, according to a new WHO report, co-authored with UNICEF, on access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in health care facilities. The […] 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 ->