Tag: Virus

Pfizer jab 97% effective against symptomatic Covid: study

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Pfizer/BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine offers more protection than earlier thought with effectiveness in preventing symptomatic disease reaching 97 percent, according to real-world evidence published Thursday by the pharmaceutical companies. Using data from January 17 to March 6 from Israel’s national vaccination campaign, Pfizer/BioNTech found that prevention against asymptomatic disease also reached 94 percent. An earlier real-world study using data from between December 20, 2020 and February 1, 2021 had showed effectiveness at […]

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Italy bans batch of AstraZeneca jab but plays down risks

ROME, Italy (AFP) — Italy’s medicines regulator on Thursday banned the use of a batch of AstraZeneca/Oxford coronavirus vaccine as a precaution, triggering a similar decision from fellow EU member Romania. The Italian regulator made the decision despite saying there was no established link between the vaccine and reports of some people suffering blood clots days after receiving the shot. “Following the reporting of some serious adverse events… AIFA has decided, as a precaution, to […]

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30-M doses of Novavax vaccines negotiated by PHL in India, says ambassador

Novavax vaccines said to be effective vs UK, South African variants to arrive by late 2nd quarter or early 3rd quarter of 2021   (Eagle News) – Some 30 million doses of the Novavax vaccines manufactured in India are currently being negotiated by Philippine officials who are now concluding and finalizing the supply contract. “Thirty million is currently the negotiated amount for the government purchase of Novavax alone,” said Indian Ambassador to the Philippines, Hon. […]

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No Brazilian variant detected in PHL yet, says DOH, but only a sample of “Brazilian lineage”

  (Eagle News) – The Department of Health said that there is no Brazilian variant of the COVID-19 virus that has been detected in the country. The clarification came after Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte announced on Wednesday the presence of the alleged variant in one case in the city. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that this is not the case, and corrected Belmonte. “We would like to clarify that we have not detected […]

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Two new Covid-positive players as NBA All-Star break ends

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The NBA had two players test positive for Covid-19 from 465 players tested since March 3, the league said Wednesday as its mid-season All-Star Game break concluded. Anyone returning a positive test or identified as being in close contact to an infected person must quarantine until they are cleared under NBA health and safety protocols. The contract tracing issue was what kept Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid of Cameroon […]

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Brazil Covid deaths top 2,000 in 24 hours

BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil registered a record 2,286 deaths from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said Wednesday, as a worrying surge pushed the figure past 2,000 for the first time. The South American country of 212 million people, which has the world’s second-highest death toll in the pandemic, is struggling to deal with a crush of cases that have pushed many hospitals close to the breaking point. The new daily […]

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Texas reopens ‘100%’ as US vaccination drive gains pace

by Francois Picard with Issam Ahmed in Washington HOUSTON, United States (AFP) — Texas lifted its mask mandate and capacity restrictions on restaurants and other businesses Wednesday, despite experts warning the “100 percent” relaxation of coronavirus curbs will exacerbate the spread of worrying variants. The Lone Star State became the fifth to rescind its face covering order in a sign of increasing optimism about the pandemic in the world’s hardest hit country, where the infection […]

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3,000 nurses dead, Covid exodus looming: global federation

by Robin MILLARD GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — At least 3,000 nurses have been killed by Covid-19, the global nurses’ federation said Thursday as it warned of a looming exodus of health workers traumatized by the pandemic. Exactly one year on since the World Health Organization (WHO) first described Covid-19 as a pandemic, the International Council of Nurses said burn-out and stress had led millions of nurses to consider quitting the profession. And once the pandemic […]

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117,000 doses from Pfizer vaccines from COVAX facility to arrive this April, says Dizon

https://youtu.be/oviE-dpbn40   (Eagle News) — Testing czar Secretary Vince Dizon said that the 117,000 Pfizer vaccine doses from the COVAX Facility of the World Health Organization (WHO) are expected to arrive this April. In a Laging Handa press briefing on Wednesday, March 10, Dizon said that WHO had already committed to deliver the vaccines next month. Those prioritized to be vaccinated with the Pfizer doses coming from WHO will be the country’s health care workers. […]

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Pres. Duterte saddened with news of acquaintances passing away due to COVID-19

“Be careful because we might not be able to make it,” Duterte tells fellow seniors President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on March 8, 2021. RICHARD MADELO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO  (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to all Filipinos to strictly follow minimum health protocols as […]

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Brazil notches new daily Covid death record

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil broke its record for new daily Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday with nearly 2,000 fatalities, as the pandemic overwhelms hospitals and vaccinations progress slowly. The Health Ministry reported a daily total of 1,972 new deaths in the country, which has the world’s second-highest overall toll, exceeded only by the United States. It also reported 70,764 new cases of Covid-19, meaning 11.1 million people have now caught the virus in the […]

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Spain extends ban on UK, Brazil, S.Africa arrivals

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain on Tuesday extended its ban on arrivals from Britain, Brazil and South Africa until the end of March to avoid the spread of new coronavirus strains. Only legal residents or nationals of Spain and the neighboring micro-state of Andorra are currently allowed in on flights from these countries. The restriction on arrivals from Britain was imposed at the end of December to halt the spread of the highly contagious Covid-19 […]

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