BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — German health authorities on Wednesday advised against the use of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine for people under 30 due to evidence of a small risk of cardiac inflammation. The Stiko vaccine commission cited studies showing that mRNA jabs led in rare cases to the conditions myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart) in younger patients, with slightly higher prevalence in those who received […]
Tag: Virus
Lions at Singapore wildlife park infected with coronavirus
SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — Four lions at a Singapore wildlife park have tested positive for the coronavirus after coming into contact with infected zookeepers, and have symptoms including coughing and sneezing, officials said Wednesday. The endangered Asiatic lions started displaying signs of illness at the weekend, prompting officials to order coronavirus tests. The infected big cats along with five others at the Night Safari park have been placed in isolation in their den, the government’s […]
France’s over-65s will need booster for Covid pass: Macron
by Stuart WILLIAMS PARIS, France (AFP) — People over 65 in France will need to show proof of a Covid-19 booster jab to be able to visit restaurants, attend cultural events and take intercity trains, President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday. The pass has become a routine part of life for many people in France since August, with a complete course of vaccinations generating a QR code that is shown on entry to gain access to […]
New Zealand’s APEC host Ardern calls for ‘bold’ climate action
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Pacific Rim trade and foreign ministers agreed to push for a freeze on fossil fuel subsidies at a virtual summit Wednesday but host Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand said more “bold” action on climate change was needed. Ministers from the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group met online to discuss their Covid-19 response ahead of a meeting of national leaders on Saturday including US President Joe Biden and […]
England to require vaccination for all health service workers
by James PHEBY LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — All frontline workers in the National Health Service (NHS) in England will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 from April 1 or lose their jobs, Health Minister Sajid Javid said on Tuesday. “Having considered the… advice of my officials and NHS leaders including the chief executive of the NHS, I have concluded that all those working in the NHS and social care will have to be […]
WHO looking forward to oral, nasal Covid vaccines
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization’s chief scientist said Tuesday she was looking forward to the “second generation” of Covid-19 vaccines, which could include nasal sprays and oral versions. Soumya Swaminathan said such vaccines could have advantages over the current crop as they would be easier to deliver than injections and could even be self-administered. Swaminathan said there were 129 different candidate vaccines that have got as far as clinical trials — being […]
Moderna seeks EU approval of Covid vaccine for kids aged 6-11
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Moderna has applied to the European Union’s medicine regulator for approval of its Covid-19 vaccine for children aged six to 11, the US biotechnology company announced Tuesday. The dosage for the two injections administered four weeks apart has been adjusted to 50 micrograms, compared with the 100 micrograms for shot recipients in older age groups. “We are pleased to announce the submission of this variation to the EMA,” the European […]
Thousands protest Covid restrictions in New Zealand
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Thousands of demonstrators marched on the New Zealand parliament to protest against Covid-19 restrictions Tuesday, prompting a major police deployment at the Wellington building known as the Beehive. About 3,000 people, most not wearing masks, made their way through the capital’s city centre, including dozens of motorcyclists in biker gang regalia performing burnouts. Some attendees carried “Trump 2020” flags, while others bore signs carrying messages from Maori groups, those impacted […]
Chinese city offers cash for clues in Covid ‘people’s war’
BEIJING, China (AFP) — A Covid-hit Chinese city is offering thousands of dollars for anyone giving clues in tracing the source of its latest outbreak, as part of a “people’s war” to stamp out one of the country’s largest resurgences in months. China reported 43 local cases on Tuesday in a Delta-driven surge that has fanned out to 20 provinces and regions, keeping new case numbers in the double-digits over the past three weeks. As […]
Global Covid infections pass 250 million: AFP tally
PARIS, France (AFP) — More than 250 million Covid-19 infections have been recorded worldwide since the start of the pandemic, according to an AFP count compiled from official reports at 2100 GMT on Monday. Globally, more than five million deaths from Covid-19 have been recorded so far, but the vast majority of those infected have recovered. Some, however, have continued to experience symptoms weeks or even months later. The figures are based on daily […]
Embiid to miss ‘several games’ after Covid positive
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has tested positive for Covid-19 and is expected to miss several games, US media reports said Monday. ESPN and The Athletic website said the Cameroon international returned a positive Covid-19 test early Monday and had entered the league’s health and safety protocols. The 27-year-old power forward was already due to be rested for Monday’s game between the Sixers and the New York Knicks, which […]
US First Lady pushes vaccine for young kids in school visit
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US First Lady Jill Biden on Monday visited a school in Virginia to promote vaccinations for five- to 11-year-olds, the latest effort in the White House’s push to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. The president’s wife, a university professor, was the first senior personality sent out to advocate for the vaccine since it was approved for younger children in the United States on November 2. Visiting Franklin Sherman Elementary School in […]





