WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Food and Drug Administration requested that production of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine be halted at a factory that previously reportedly ruined about 15 million doses of the shot. The pharmaceutical giant told AFP at the end of March it had identified a batch of doses at a plant in Baltimore run by Emergent BioSolutions “that did not meet quality standards,” but did not confirm the specific […]
Tag: vaccine
Fast-jabbing Israel buys millions more Pfizer Covid shots
JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — Israel signed Monday an agreement with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer enabling the Jewish state to obtain millions more doses of vaccines, a government statement said. Nearly five million Israelis, or over half the population, has received two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, according to statistics published by Israel’s health ministry. “We have signed an agreement with Pfizer to acquire millions (more) doses of the vaccine which will allow us to continue our […]
WHO against proof of vaccination for travel
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization’s emergency committee said Monday it was against international travellers being required to have proof of vaccination, partly on grounds such a measure would deepen inequities. “Do not require proof of vaccination as a condition of entry, given the limited (although growing) evidence about the performance of vaccines in reducing transmission and the persistent inequity in the global vaccine distribution,” the committee said in a statement summarising its […]
All adult Indians to be eligible for virus vaccine from May
NEW DELHI, India (AFP) –India said Monday it will open its Covid-19 vaccination drive to all adults from May 1, as the vast nation battles a massive spike in infections that has overwhelmed its healthcare system. “In a meeting chaired by (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi, an important decision of allowing vaccination to everyone above the age of 18 from 1st May has been taken,” the health ministry said in a statement. © Agence France-Presse
Masks come off as Israel vaunts virus victory
by Guillaume LAVALLÉE and Michael BLUM Agence France Presse JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israelis stepped into the streets without masks on Sunday for the first time in a year, a key milestone as the country vaccinates its way out of a coronavirus nightmare. “It’s very strange but it’s very nice,” said Eliana Gamulka, 26, after getting off a bus near the busy Jerusalem shopping boulevard of Jaffa Street and removing her face covering. “You can’t […]
Pres. Duterte tells public about COVID-19 realities as he presses for local vaccine manufacture
Duterte: “We’ll have to go through the worst of times” (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte warned the public that things could get worse before it gets better, saying there would be more COVID-19 deaths as vaccine supplies are not enough and the COVID-19 variants that have mutated still continue to infect thousands. “Sabihin ko sa iyo marami pang mamamatay dito. Hindi ko lang maturo kung sino,” President Duterte said in his Talk To […]
Sao Paulo reopens businesses as Brazil battles pandemic
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — Sao Paulo will allow businesses and places of worship to reopen from Sunday, the government of Brazil’s most populous state announced, even as the coronavirus infection rate remains high. The state of 46 million people will enter a “transition phase” that will next see restaurants, beauty salons, cinemas and theaters reopen from April 24, it said on Friday. From Sunday, shops can open from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm, […]
China’s Coronavac 80% effective at preventing Covid deaths: Chile results
SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — China’s Coronavac vaccine was 67 percent effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 and 80 percent at preventing death, according to real-life results unveiled Friday from Chile’s inoculation campaign. “These figures should convey peace of mind to the country,” Health Minister Enrique Paris told journalists as he announced the outcome of two months’ of vaccination in Chile, in February and March. The results were obtained from a comparison between vaccinated and non-vaccinated people […]
Merkel receives AstraZeneca jab: spokesman
BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday received her first dose of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, more than two weeks after German authorities recommended use of the jab only for people aged 60 and over. “I am delighted to have received my first vaccination with AstraZeneca today. I thank everyone involved in the vaccination campaign and everyone who gets vaccinated. Vaccination is the key to getting out of the pandemic,” the 66-year-old said in […]
Pfizer CEO: Vaccine third dose ‘likely’ needed within 12 months
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The head of Pfizer said in an interview aired Thursday that people will “likely” need a third dose of his company’s Covid-19 shot within six to 12 months of vaccination, while elsewhere defending the relatively higher cost of the jab. CEO Albert Bourla also said annual vaccinations against the coronavirus may well be required. “We need to see what would be the sequence, and for how often we need […]
Pfizer defends high cost of Covid vaccine
The head of Pfizer said Thursday the company’s Covid vaccine, among the priciest on the market, is no more expensive than the cost of a meal and will not be sold to poor countries for a profit. The head of the US-based company defended the cost of the jabs, which he said are saving lives and can help countries emerge from the pandemic. “Vaccines are very expensive,” Albert Bourla said in an interview […]
Russia says Sputnik V vaccine does not cause blood clots
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — The developer of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine said Wednesday its jab did not cause blood clots, a potential side effect that has disrupted rollouts in several Western countries. The United States has recommended pausing its rollout of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after one person out of nearly seven million Americans died from a rare type of clot in the brain following inoculation . Denmark on Wednesday became the […]





