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MONTREAL, Canada (AFP) — Canadian health authorities announced Saturday they were pushing back the expiration date on nearly 50,000 doses of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine by one month. Health Canada said in a statement its approval to extend the shelf life of two lots of vaccine from May 31 to July 1 was supported by “scientific evidence.” “This change will ensure that provinces and territories are able to use up their existing inventory and provide […]
by Jennifer Gonzalez Covarrubias MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — A steady decline in coronavirus cases and rising levels of immunity from vaccination or infection suggest that the worst of the pandemic may be over for hard-hit Mexico, experts say. The improvement has led to a gradual loosening of lockdown measures, paving the way for children to go back to classrooms and spectators to return to sports stadiums and wrestling tournaments. The outlook “is hopeful,” said […]
BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (AFP) — Africa needs at least 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine within six weeks if those who have had their first shot are to get the second in time, the WHO said Thursday. “Africa needs vaccines now,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa. “Any pause in our vaccination campaigns will lead to lost lives and lost hope.” The WHO statement underlined the importance of respecting […]
HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Vietnam began vaccinating hundreds of thousands of factory workers in its industrialized north on Thursday to combat its largest Covid-19 outbreak so far, days after the country reported a daily record in new cases. The communist country has been widely applauded for its aggressive pandemic response — with mass quarantines and strict contact tracing helping keep infection rates low — but clusters have now been reported in around half of its […]
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The Covax global vaccine-sharing program said Thursday it needs $2.0 billion in additional funding by the beginning of June in order to boost coronavirus inoculation programs in lower-income countries. “We need an additional $2 billion to lift coverage… up to nearly 30 percent, and we need it by June 2 to lock in supplies now so that doses can be delivered through 2021, and into early 2022,” the mechanism’s organizers — […]
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — Johnson & Johnson’s single-jab vaccine against Covid-19 will be limited in Belgium to people aged 41 and over, authorities said on Wednesday following the death of a woman who received the jab. The country’s inter-ministerial health body focused on the pandemic said that restriction will be “provisionally” applied pending further guidance from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. The move underlined the level of caution EU […]
SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — People in Chile who have been vaccinated and are fully immunized against the coronavirus could from Wednesday obtain a pass to move about more freely, a move criticized by health professionals. The pass, which can be downloaded on a person’s mobile phone two weeks after receiving their second shot, gives the bearer permission to move about freely in cities under lockdown to go to the supermarket, pharmacy, or for open air […]
by Matthieu DEMEESTERE BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — The European Union on Wednesday asked a Belgian court to impose penalties running to millions of euros per day on AstraZeneca for Covid-19 vaccine doses it has failed to deliver to the bloc. The request came as EU countries and their executive, the European Commission, began legal action against the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company for “flagrant violation” of its contract with Brussels. AstraZeneca’s lawyer Hakim Boularbah rejected the EU […]
(Eagle News) — The Philippine National Police has subpoenaed the person behind the viral messages guaranteeing vaccine slots for a fee. In a statement, the PNP said PNP Chief General Guillermo Eleazar exercised his power under Republic Act No. 10973. Under the law, apart from the PNP chief, the PNP deputy director for administration and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief can issue subpoenas in relation to a police probe that is high-profile in […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Half of all US adults have now received full Covid-19 vaccines, the White House said Tuesday, marking another huge milestone in the fight against the pandemic. “Now 50% of all American adults are fully vaccinated,” tweeted Cyrus Shahpar, Covid-19 data director for the White House. That means half the adult population has received either two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, or one of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson. […]
by Marc BURLEIGH BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — EU leaders on Tuesday welcomed the introduction of a bloc-wide Covid-19 pass that they hope will unlock a tourist surge this summer. The 27 member states want the EU Digital Covid Certificate, to be launched July 1, to turn the page on coronavirus restrictions that have crimped Europeans’ cherished freedom of movement. Coupled with a separate plan to let in fully vaccinated travelers from countries outside the EU, […]
MEDAN, Indonesia (AFP) — Four people have been arrested in Indonesia for allegedly stealing Covid-19 vaccines marked for prisoners and selling them to the public, authorities said Tuesday. The suspects took more than 1,000 doses made by China’s Sinovac from the prisoners’ quota, offering them to buyers in the capital Jakarta and in North Sumatra’s Medan city for around 250,000 rupiah ($17) each. The four arrested included a doctor at a prison in Medan and […]
