Tag: WHO

Indian Covid-19 variant found in at least 53 territories: WHO

by Robin MILLARD GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The coronavirus variant first detected in India has now been officially recorded in 53 territories, a World Health Organization report showed Wednesday. Additionally, the WHO has received information from unofficial sources that the B.1.617 variant has been found in seven other territories, figures in the UN health agency’s weekly epidemiological update showed, taking the total to 60. The report said B.1.617 had shown increased transmissibility, while disease severity […]

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Vaccines effective against variants but overseas travel still not safe: WHO

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AFP) — Progress against the coronavirus pandemic remains “fragile” and international travel should be avoided, the World Health Organization’s Europe director warned on Thursday but stressed that authorized vaccines do work against variants of concern. “Right now, in the face of a continued threat and new uncertainty, we need to continue to exercise caution, and rethink or avoid international travel,” Hans Kluge said, adding that “pockets of increasing transmission” on the continent could […]

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Don’t vaccinate kids, but give doses to Covax: WHO chief

  GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The WHO urged wealthy countries Friday to stop vaccinating children against Covid-19 and instead donate doses to poorer nations, while warning that the pandemic’s second year looked set to be more deadly. World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus voiced outrage that a number of rich countries were now vaccinating children and teenagers, while poorer states had barely begun vaccinating health workers and the most vulnerable groups. Instead of offering […]

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WHO chief slams ‘vaccine diplomacy’ in Covid fight

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The WHO chief took on so-called “vaccine diplomacy” on Monday, slamming countries for using Covid-19 jabs to gain competitive advantage rather than engaging in true cooperation to end the pandemic. “Vaccine diplomacy is not cooperation,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters from the World Health Organization’s headquarters in Geneva. The UN health agency chief’s was responding to a question about allegations that countries such as Russia and China, which have donated large […]

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WHO tells G7 vaccine inequity ‘unacceptable’

  by Robin MILLARD Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The WHO chief on Friday implored the G7 to prioritise equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines around the globe, branding the current imbalance morally inadmissible. World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the uneven distribution of vaccines among rich and poor nations would not help to end the coronavirus pandemic. “For the G7 now, the most important and the immediate support we need is […]

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WHO approves China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine

by Robin MILLARD GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization on Friday approved the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use — the first Chinese jab to receive the WHO’s green light. The UN health agency signed off on the two-dose vaccine, which is already being deployed in dozens of countries around the world. The WHO has already given emergency use listing to the vaccines being made by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, and the […]

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WHO warns of new Covid wave in Africa

BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (AFP) — The World Health Organization on Thursday warned of a new wave of Covid-19 infections in Africa due to delayed vaccine supplies, a slow rollout and new variants. The African bureau of the UN agency said the continent had to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of vaccine rollouts. “The delay in the delivery of vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India earmarked for Africa, the delay […]

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Moderna vaccine gets WHO approval for emergency use listing (EUL)

  (Eagle News) – The Moderna vaccine against COVID-19 has been listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO). In a statement dated April 30, WHO said that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA 1273) has been approved for listing “for emergency use, making it the fifth vaccine to receive emergency validation from WHO.” With this WHO approval for Emergency Use Listing (EUL), it would allow other countries to “expedite their own regulatory approval […]

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Foreign aid arrives in Covid-stricken India

  NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — The first emergency medical supplies trickled into Covid-stricken India on Tuesday as part of a global campaign to staunch a catastrophic wave in the latest pandemic hotspot, with the United States also pledging to export millions of AstraZeneca vaccines. India’s infection and death rates are growing exponentially, overwhelming hospitals, in contrast to some wealthier Western nations that are starting to ease restrictions. The virus has now killed over 3.1 […]

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Covid-19 situation in India ‘beyond heartbreaking’: WHO chief

  by Nina LARSON Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization chief voiced alarm Monday at India’s record-breaking wave of Covid-19 cases and deaths, saying the organisation was rushing to help address the crisis. “The situation in India is beyond heartbreaking,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters. He spoke as India battles a catastrophic coronavirus wave that has overwhelmed hospitals, with crematoriums working at full capacity. A surge in recent days has […]

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WHO seeks next steps in Covid origins probe

by Nina LARSON GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — After an international mission to China turned up more questions than answers about the pandemic origins, the WHO is evaluating how to move forward through a diplomatic quagmire to solve the mystery. Determining how the virus that causes Covid-19 first began spreading among humans is seen as vital to preventing future outbreaks. But a long-delayed report, drafted by the team of international experts sent to Wuhan at the […]

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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 […]

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