Tag: Virus

Russia says Sputnik V virus vaccine 92% effective

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine is 92 percent effective according to initial test results, its developers said on Wednesday, as Moscow races against its competitors in the West. The calculations were based on results from 16,000 individuals who received both doses of the vaccine, Russia’s health ministry, the state-run Gamaleya research centre and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said in a statement. “The Sputnik V vaccine had an efficacy rate […]

Spain Covid-19 death toll passes 40,000

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain’s coronavirus death toll surged to over 40,000 on Wednesday with infections passing the 1.4 million mark, while the rate of new cases continued to grow, health ministry data showed. With 349 people dying in the past 24 hours, the death toll now stands at 40,105 in Spain, which has the fourth-highest death rate within the European Union after the United Kingdom, France and Italy. Spain passed the grim landmark a […]

PHL had talks for acquisition of COVID vaccines from Pfizer at lower prices – Amb. Romualdez

Says vaccines from other US pharma might also be available by early next year to PHL https://youtu.be/UmP4v5Lo2uU (Eagle News) — The Philippines has already coordinated with the United States government for the acquisition of the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNTech which has recently shown promise in preventing COVID-19 infections. And Pfizer is even willing to sell the vaccines to the Philippine government at a much lower price — at around $5 per […]

Pacific’s Vanuatu records first Covid-19 case

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Vanuatu has recorded its first Covid-19 case, health officials announced Wednesday, ending the Pacific island nation’s status as one of the few countries in the world to remain virus-free. The health department said a 23-year-old man who had recently returned from the United States was confirmed to have the virus on Tuesday after being tested while in quarantine. “A case detected in quarantine is considered a border case and not […]

Italy increases virus restrictions in five regions

ROME, Italy (AFP) — The Italian government imposed tighter restrictions on another five regions on Tuesday as it tries to stem escalating new cases of coronavirus, while still resisting a nationwide lockdown. A total of seven out of Italy’s 20 regions are now so-called “orange” zones, signifying medium-high risk, after a new decree signed by Health Minister Roberto Speranza overnight. Abruzzo, Basilicata, Liguria, Tuscany and Umbria join Sicily and Puglia in closing bars and restaurants, […]

Sinovac says it is ‘confident’ of vaccine safety after Brazil trial halted

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biotech on Tuesday stood by the safety of its Covid-19 vaccine after Brazilian regulators halted trials in the South American country citing an “adverse incident” involving a volunteer recipient. “We are confident in the safety of the vaccine,” Sinovac said in a statement, adding that the adverse incident was “unrelated to the vaccine”. © Agence France-Presse

US grants emergency approval to Lilly Covid-19 antibodies

  WASHINGTON, United (AFP) — The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted emergency approval to a synthetic antibody treatment against Covid-19 developed by Eli Lilly, after the drug was shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and emergency room visits. Bamlanivimab at a dose of 700 milligrams was authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in adults and children aged 12 years and older who are at high risk for progressing to the […]

Brazil halts trials of Chinese Covid-19 vaccine

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil’s health regulator said Monday it had suspended clinical trials of a Chinese-developed Covid-19 vaccine after an “adverse incident” involving a volunteer recipient, a blow for one of the most advanced vaccine candidates. The regulator, Anvisa, said in a statement it had “ruled to interrupt the clinical trial of the CoronaVac vaccine after a serious adverse incident” on October 29. It said it could not give details on what […]

World may be tired, but virus ‘not tired of us’: WHO chief

by Agnès PEDRERO GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization’s chief called Monday on everyone to keep fighting Covid-19, warning that while we may be sick of battling the pandemic, the virus is “not tired of us”. Speaking to WHO’s main annual assembly, which resumed Monday after being cut short in May, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also hailed the election of Joe Biden as the next US president, voicing hope it could signal tighter global […]

Two new cases of Covid-19 in the White House: reports

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Two more people close to US President Donald Trump tested positive for the coronavirus, media reports said Monday. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson. 69, has contracted the virus, his deputy chief of staff Coalter Baker told NPR. “He is in good spirits and feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery,” Baker said in a statement. According to ABC television, Carson […]

Scientist behind mRNA vaccine innovation hails Pfizer breakthrough

by Issam AHMED WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A scientist who invented a technique that paved the way for Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine hailed the interim results announced by the companies Monday as “fantastic” and said the pioneering approach had a bright future. Drew Weissman, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania, told AFP: “I can’t remember the last respiratory virus vaccine that has over 90 percent efficacy,” referring to the rate at which […]

Taiwan says it was not invited to WHO meeting after Chinese ‘obstruction’

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan on Monday said Chinese “obstruction” had prevented it from attending a key World Health Organization meeting focused on the coronavirus, accusing the global body of prioritizing politics over health. The self-ruled island of 23 million has seen remarkable success in combatting the pandemic — with only seven deaths and fewer than 600 confirmed cases — as many parts of the world report surging numbers of infections and deaths. But it […]