The Covid vaccination programme has begun in the Gaza Strip amid daily power cuts, and supply and capacity problems in the health system. Dr Ayman Rahma is part of the team responsible for the distribution of vaccines. The territory has only received 62,000 doses so far for a population of more than 2 million. With Israel disputing that it bears responsibility for vaccinating Gazans or for letting vaccines enter Gaza, Rahma explains how the political situation is impacting the health sector
Continue reading...Category Archives: Vaccines and immunisation
EU leaders push back against bloc’s plans to halt Covid vaccine export
More sceptical member states hope ‘stick will never be used’ amid concerns over supply chain
EU leaders are likely to shy away from supporting the use of new powers to block Covid vaccine shipments to countries such as the UK with better jab coverage than the bloc, according to a draft statement ahead of a meeting of EU leaders today.
The European commission has increased its scope for blocking vaccine exports but disquiet among capitals is set to be reflected in a muted statement at the end of the virtual summit on Thursday evening.
Continue reading...AstraZeneca plant investigated by Italian police at EU’s request
Investigation is fresh sign of breakdown in relations between Brussels and Anglo-Swedish vaccine supplier
An AstraZeneca plant has come under investigation by the Italian police at the request of Brussels in a sign of the breakdown in relations between the Anglo-Swedish vaccine supplier and the EU.
Officers were sent into the facility in the town Anagni, east of Rome, on Saturday evening after the European commission contacted the Italian government with concerns.
Continue reading...Delhi reportedly halts AstraZeneca Covid vaccine exports as cases soar
Temporary hold put on exports of vaccines by Serum Institute of India to meet demand at home
Delhi has reportedly put a temporary hold on all major exports of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India (SII) to meet demand at home as infections surge.
The move, first reported by Reuters, will affect supplies to the Gavi/WHO-backed Covax vaccine-sharing facility through which more than 180 countries are expected to get doses, one of the sources said.
Continue reading...UK singled out for failing to export Covid vaccines to EU
European commission revising export authorisation mechanism ‘to ensure vaccination of EU’
Britain has been singled out for failing to export Covid vaccines to the EU as Brussels empowered officials to prohibit shipments of doses to countries with a better vaccination coverage than within the bloc.
Valdis Dombrovskis, a European commission vice-president, said the commission was revising its export authorisation mechanism in order to “ensure vaccination of our own population”.
Continue reading...Vladimir Putin receives first dose of Russian-made Covid vaccine in private
Russian president declines to have first dose in public after delaying jab for months
Vladimir Putin has received his first dose of a Russian-made coronavirus vaccine in private, his spokesman has confirmed, in an apparent effort to boost Russia’s fledgling vaccination drive after months of delaying his jab.
The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told news agencies late on Tuesday that the 68-year-old president had been vaccinated but did not specify which one of the three Russian-made vaccines was administered.
Continue reading...EU to widen criteria for possible Covid vaccine export bans
Bloc expected to assess countries’ Covid vaccination coverage and record in facilitating exports to EU
The EU is expected to take into account the level of vaccination coverage in a country and its record in facilitating exports to the bloc when deciding on whether to prohibit individual vaccine shipments to the UK and elsewhere.
The revision of the export authorisation scheme, widening the criteria that will guide Brussels’ decisions on export requests, is due to be announced on Wednesday. EU leaders will then on Thursday discuss going further in controlling vaccine distribution when they meet by videoconference.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live news: doorstep vigils take place across UK; Spain to lift curbs on UK arrivals
‘Beacon of remembrance’ tribute sees public light candles, torches and phones to honour those who have died; Spain to change rules on 30 March after UK vaccination success
- Oslo shelves planned reopening to contain pandemic
- EU to widen criteria for possible Covid vaccine bans
- Greece and Spain to ease restrictions on flights from UK
- US agency questions AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine trial data
- UK and EU may share Netherlands vaccine supplies to ease tensions
- UK Covid updates - live
Spain’s coronavirus infection rate edged up on Tuesday, highlighting concerns that a long decline that last week carried it to its lowest level since August is in danger of reversing.
When the infection rate, which is measured over the preceding 14 days, stopped its decline last week, the health minister Carolina Darias warned that an uptick in cases in some regions, including Madrid and Catalonia, could mean a trend change, calling for maximum caution “to avoid a fourth wave”.
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Covid-19: what happens next? – podcast
On 23 March 2020, the UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, announced the first lockdown in response to the growing number of cases of Covid-19. At the same time, countries around the world began to close their schools, restaurants, and offices and ask citizens to physically distance from one another. In the 12 months since, more than 2 million people have died, viral variants have emerged, and we have developed safe and effective vaccines.
One year into the pandemic, Science Weekly is asking: what happens next? Ian Sample talks to the professors Martin Landray, Mike Tildesley, and Deborah Dunn-Walters about Covid treatments, vaccines and what the next 12 months may hold
Continue reading...Sturgeon welcomes ‘official, definitive, independent’ ruling she did not breach ministerial code – as it happened
This live blog is now closed. For more on this story, you read the news report here
- Full report: Nicola Sturgeon cleared of breaching ministerial code
- Timeline: what we know so far about Sturgeon and the Salmond inquiry
The army’s increased deployability and technological advantage will mean that greater effect can be delivered by fewer people. I’ve therefore taken the decision to reduce the size of the army from today’s current strength of 76,500 trade trained personnel to 72,500 by 2025.
The army has not been at its established strength of 82,000 since the middle of last decade.
Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader, has said that Nicola Sturgeon is not “free and clear”, despite being exonerated by the independent adviser on the ministerial code, because the Scottish parliament’s committee has not yet published its report on her. In a statement he said:
The first minister has been given a pass because it has been judged her ‘failure of recollection’ was ‘not deliberate’.
I respect Mr Hamilton and his judgment but we cannot agree with that assessment. Nicola Sturgeon did not suddenly turn forgetful.
Continue reading...Covid: AstraZeneca vaccine 79% effective with no increased blood clot risk – US trial
Study of over 32,000 people included review of risks of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
The Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca was 79% effective in preventing symptomatic illness in a large trial in the US, Chile and Peru, the company said on Monday, paving the way for it to apply for US approval.
The vaccine was 100% effective against severe or critical disease and hospitalisation and was safe, the drugmaker said on Monday, releasing results of the late-stage human trial study of more than 32,000 volunteers across all age groups.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live news: Germany extends partial lockdown; Irish PM speaks out against vaccine export ban
German leaders extend restrictions until 18 April amid rising infections; Micheál Martin says EU restrictions would be ‘retrograde step’
- Boris Johnson: vaccine cooperation vital to help combat third wave
- AZ vaccine 79% effective with no increased blood clot risk – US trial
- Covid vaccines made by end of 2021 could inoculate 70% of the world
- Vladimir Putin to receive Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday
- UK considers Covid traffic light system for international travel
Nigeria has suspended the airline Emirates from flying into or out of its territory last week after the carrier imposed additional Covid-19 test requirements on passengers from the country.
Reuters reports:
Emirates said last week passenger flights to and from Nigeria had been suspended until further notice in line with government directives, but did not give details.
Continue reading...Allowing summer holidays abroad risks another lockdown, Johnson is warned
Sage experts are worried about overseas breaks leading to rise in vaccine-resistant variants in UK
Lifting the ban on foreign holidays in the coming months could risk another lockdown next winter, Boris Johnson is being warned, amid mounting alarm about a third wave of infections sweeping continental Europe.
Scientific experts and opposition politicians are urging the government to be extremely cautious before loosening travel restrictions, with their concerns about the prevalence of new variants of the virus overseas increasingly shared by Whitehall.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live: England sets daily jabs record; Von der Leyen issues fresh warning to AstraZeneca
Israel approves new coronavirus regulations for cultural and sporting events; cases in India at four-month high
- Protesters opposing Covid regulations clash with police in German city
- Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan tests positive for Covid
- China’s first local Covid case since February had been vaccinated – state media
Next month, Greece will begin distributing free COVID-19 tests that will allow residents to do it themselves and reduce pressure on the healthcare system, which has faced a rise in new positive cases.
The Greek government has announced that people with a social security number will be eligible for four test kits per month, which will be distributed at pharmacies.
It is a new tool in the country’s battle against the pandemic. The tests will allow better epidemiological monitoring, and of course prevention,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement.
The government said the do-it-yourself test kits have an accuracy rate of about 95%-99%. They are easier to do than rapid tests, needing nasal and saliva samples instead of the nasopharyngeal sample used in rapid tests.
Chile has set a new daily record for Covid-19 cases, health officials have reported. While the South American nation continues its vaccination efforts, hospitals are on the verge of collapse.
Reuters reports:
Cases have been ticking up for weeks following the end of the southern hemisphere summer holiday but soared to 7,084, above the previous high of 6,938 last June, the data shows.
The fast-rising caseload has filled critical care wards north to south, leaving Chile with just 198 beds available for new patients. All of the capital Santiago, the economic engine, is in strict lockdown this weekend.
Continue reading...China’s first local Covid case since February had been vaccinated – state media
The hospital worker had received two doses of an unspecified vaccine, report says, as much of France re-enters lockdown
China’s first local coronavirus case since February was a staff worker at a hospital who had received two shots of a vaccine between end-January and early February, state media has reported.
The patient, identified by her surname Liu, had been working in the quarantine area of a hospital in Xian city since 4 March, and was mainly responsible for collecting samples from quarantined people for coronavirus testing, the Health Times reported on Saturday.
Continue reading...Boris Johnson receives Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine
PM has first dose, calling experience ‘very good, very quick’ and urging Britons to get vaccinated
Boris Johnson has received his first dose of a coronavirus vaccine at London’s St Thomas’ hospital, where last year he was treated in intensive care for Covid, and urged others to have the jab.
Related: ‘It's a good day’: enthusiasm in Berlin as AstraZeneca Covid jabs resume
Continue reading...‘It’s a good day’: enthusiasm in Berlin as AstraZeneca Covid jabs resume
Germans pleased at lifting of suspension, as rise in infections threatens to overwhelm hospitals
Susanne Klaehr, a nursery worker in Berlin, arrived more than two hours early to receive an AstraZeneca jab at Tempelhofer Feld, on Friday as she didn’t want to miss her chance. “It’s a good day for me,” the 53-year-old said. “I even played loud music on the way here.”
Germany has resumed using the AstraZeneca vaccine after pausing its deployment along with many European countries on Monday over fears of a possible link to blood clots.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live news: Paris prepares for new lockdown at midnight; German hospitals ‘could be overwhelmed’
French PM announces limited lockdown for Paris and other regions; German health authorities warn of ‘exponential’ rise in cases
- ‘Things are desperate’: Brazil’s intensive care units almost all at capacity
- Doctors suggest Covid-19 could cause diabetes
- EU to send formal letter to AstraZeneca in Covid vaccine dispute
- Oscars 2021 ceremony will be in-person and Zoom-free, producers say
- UK coronavirus updates – live
Vaccinations with the AstraZeneca jab in France can resume with immediate effect, the national authority for health announced on Friday.
However, the agency recommended the jab be only given to people aged 55 and older for the time being.
The new coronavirus variant first discovered in the UK, known to be highly contagious, makes up more than 60% of cases in Poland and will soon reach 80%, a Polish health ministry spokesman said on Friday.
Poland is grappling with the third wave of the pandemic and has seen a sharp recent spike in cases driven by the variant originating in the UK, Reuters reports.
Continue reading...Joe Biden says US will hit 100m vaccines ‘weeks ahead of schedule’ – video
Joe Biden said the US will have successfully administered 100m vaccine doses by 19 March – his 58th day in office. ‘That’s weeks ahead of schedule, and even with the setbacks we faced during the winter storms,’ he said. Upon taking office, Biden set his administration the target of reaching the number in his first 100 days.
Continue reading...Australia news live: federal clinics open vaccine bookings to ease pressure on GPs; ‘dangerous’ rainfall continues along NSW coast
More than 100 federally funded clinics will take bookings for Covid-19 jabs from Friday and will begin administering them from Monday. Follow latest updates
- Australia’s vaccine rollout: who’s next and how to book an appointment
- Covid vaccine side-effects: what are they, who gets them and why?
- Follow our global coronavirus live blog
This is Elias Visontay bringing you this morning’s main stories: some Covid vaccine developments, a growing political feud, and misogyny culture in the spotlight across the globe.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is “safe and effective”, Europe’s medicines regulator has said, but it will continue to study possible links between the shot and a rare blood clotting disorder. Australian doctors have complained about vaccine supply issues but, from Monday, an additional 6.14 million Australians will be eligible to receive the jab – here’s how to to find out if you’re one of them, and how to book. Australia’s economic performance is also under scrutiny, as the worst performer on a list of the world’s 50 largest economies for “green recovery” spending to kickstart economic growth after the pandemic.
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