The World Health Organization’s (WHO) response to COVID-19 was too slow, hampered by an antiquated pandemic alert system, lack of resources and a lack of authority with member states, according to an interim report by the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness and Response, presented to the WHO’s Executive Board meeting on Tuesday. It took the […] Continue reading ->
The Indian government began the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination program this weekend aiming to vaccinate more than 300 million people, beginning with 10 million health workers, but in the three days since, it appears there has been low uptake among that key demographic. Based on Health Policy Watch’s estimate, only slightly more than half of […] 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 ->
The Philippines is expecting to receive its first batch of China’s Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccine next month — but one leading Filipino senator is questioning the government’s preference for the candidate as new data indicates a lower efficacy rate than western competitors. Earlier this week, developer Sinovac Biotech reported an efficacy rate of only 50.38% […] Continue reading ->
Past COVID-19 infection may provide immunity for several months, but still leaves risk of transmission to others, a Public Health England (PHE) study has found. “This means even if you believe you already had the disease and are protected, you can be reassured it is highly unlikely you will develop severe infections but there is […] 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 ->
Johnson & Johnson is set to release its Phase 3 COVID-19 clinical trial results in two weeks and immediately file for emergency authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – an announcement that is likely a harbinger of positive results. This news on the development of the first one-shot COVID-19 vaccine, accompanied by […] Continue reading ->
JERUSALEM – Racing ahead in a relentless vaccine campaign that has made it a global leader, Israel has now administered an initial COVID-19 jab to nearly 2 million people – about 20% of its population, including 70% of people over the age of 60. And it is set to have some 5.2 million people completely […] Continue reading ->
The “almost vertical” spike in SARS-CoV-2 infections seen in many countries over the last few weeks is largely due to increased social contact and not virus mutations, WHO has said. Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s COVID-19 Technical Lead, stated that sharp increases in transmission had occurred in a […] Continue reading ->
Switzerland’s drug regulatory agency, Swissmedic, has authorized Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for use – in a move that should helop accelerate its rollout of vaccines against the pandemic, The Swiss Federal Government has secured 7.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine, with deliveries expected to begin next week from the Visp-based plant where most of […] Continue reading ->