Tag: US

US authorizes Moderna as second Covid-19 vaccine

  by Issam AHMED Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Friday authorized Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, paving the way for six million doses of a second vaccine to soon begin shipping across the hardest-hit country in the world. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Stephen Hahn said: “With the availability of two vaccines now for the prevention of Covid-19, the FDA has taken another crucial step in […]

Biden backs son Hunter after US tax probe revealed

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President-elect Joe Biden has expressed full confidence in his son Hunter, a frequent target of Republican attacks, after it was revealed last week that he was under a federal tax investigation. During his unsuccessful re-election campaign, President Donald Trump launched repeated accusations against Hunter and said the Bidens were a “corrupt” family and a “criminal enterprise.” “We have great confidence in our son,” Biden said, sitting next to […]

US Navy to be ‘more assertive’ in countering China in Pacific

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US military warned Thursday its warships would be “more assertive” in responding to violations of international law, citing in particular Beijing, which has expansionist ambitions in the South China Sea. In a document setting objectives for the US Navy, Marines and Coast Guard for the coming years, the Pentagon stressed that several countries, notably Russia and China, “are contesting the balance of power in key regions and seeking to […]

US panel recommends emergency approval of Moderna Covid vaccine

by Issam AHMED WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A US panel of experts on Thursday voted to recommend emergency approval of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine, paving the way for six million doses to start shipping as soon as this weekend. The Food and Drug Administration is now expected to imminently grant an emergency use authorization (EUA), which would make Moderna’s vaccine the second to be approved in a Western country. The panel voted 20 in favor, […]

Biden aide tests positive for coronavirus: transition team

WILMINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming White House senior advisor, congressman Cedric Richmond, has tested positive for Covid-19 after having open-air “interactions” with Biden, the transition team said Thursday. Richmond traveled independently to the state of Georgia to campaign Tuesday with Biden for a pair of Democrats in tight runoff elections against incumbent Republican senators. “Richmond’s interactions with the president-elect happened in open air, were masked and totaled less than 15 […]

US hospital converts nearby parking lot into Covid care facility

RENO, United States (AFP) — To cope with an influx of coronavirus patients, a hospital in Reno in the western US state of Nevada has transformed two floors of a nearby parking garage into a care unit dealing with patients experiencing less severe symptoms. The space gives Renown Health Hospital patients and staff a secure environment that has direct access to key hospital facilities — lab, pharmacy, food services — while freeing up intensive care […]

US Vice President Pence to get Covid vaccine Friday: W.House

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Vice President Mike Pence and his wife will get the Covid-19 vaccine Friday in a public display designed to boost national confidence, the White House announced Wednesday. Pence and his wife Karen Pence “will publicly receive a Covid-19 vaccine to promote the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and build confidence among the American people,” the White House said in a statement. The event, due to be held at […]

Americas report 5 mn Covid cases in a week: PAHO

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Americas reported some five million new Covid-19 infections in a week, mostly in the United States and Canada, the Pan American Health Organization said Wednesday. Since the start of the pandemic the Americas region has recorded some 31 million cases and 787,000 deaths, which is roughly half the known infections and fatalities worldwide. “In the last week alone, there were nearly five million new COVID-19 infections reported – most […]

US health worker has serious allergic reaction to Pfizer vaccine

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A health worker in Alaska suffered a serious allergic reaction after getting Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine and is now hospitalized but stable, a report said Wednesday. The New York Times reported the person received their shot on Tuesday, and Pfizer confirmed it was working with local authorities to investigate the incident. Two health workers in Britain had similar allergic reactions, causing the government there to tell people to avoid getting the […]

US vaccine challenge: convincing skeptical African Americans

by Catherine TRIOMPHE NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The first Americans to receive the coronavirus vaccine, live on television, were Black caregivers, optics that illustrate a daunting challenge facing the nationwide campaign: persuading skeptical African Americans to get inoculated. In the United States, Black people — and Latinos — are almost three times more likely to die from Covid-19 then whites, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention (CDC), due to economic disparities. But […]

Biden says he’ll receive coronavirus vaccination publicly soon

WILMINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President-elect Joe Biden said Tuesday that he will receive a coronavirus vaccination publicly and that top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has recommended it be “sooner than later.” “I want to make sure we do it by the numbers and when I do it, you’ll have notice and we’ll do it publicly,” Biden told reporters before leaving for Georgia to campaign for two Democratic Senate candidates. “Dr. Fauci recommends […]

US releases new data on Moderna vaccine, paving way for approval

  by Issam AHMED Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US regulator on Tuesday released new data confirming Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine was safe and effective, a strong sign that it could receive emergency approval in days and be ready to roll out by next week. The Food and Drug Administration said there were “no specific safety concerns identified that would preclude issuance of an EUA (emergency use authorization)” and confirmed an overall […]