"COVID-19 Lockdown Exit Analysis" 13th Jul 2021
Overnight NewsRoundUp
Israel offers COVID vaccine booster shots to at-risk adults
- Israel is offering a booster shot of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine to adults with weak immune systems, but says it is still weighing up whether they should be given to the general public.
- The rapid spread of the Delta variant has fuelled a rise in the number of new infections from single digits a month ago to around 450 a day, and the country has moved to fast-track its next Pfizer shipment.
- The health minister, Nitzan Horowitz, said on Sunday that adults with impaired immune systems who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine could get an immediate booster shot, with a decision pending on wider distribution.
- Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, the main suppliers in a swift Israeli vaccination rollout that began in December, said on Thursday they will ask US and European regulators within weeks to authorise booster shots.
- The two companies cited an increased risk of infection after six months in seeking permission for a third shot, drawing criticism from some scientists and officials. The companies did not share the data showing that risk, but said it would be soon be made public.
- 'We are examining this issue and we still do not have a final answer,' Horowitz said about a booster for the general population in Israel.
- 'In any case we are administering as of now a third shot to people sufferring from immunodeficiency. These are, for instance, people who have undergone organ transplants or suffer from a medical condition which causes a drop in immunity.'
- About half of the 46 patients currently in a severe condition in Israeli hospitals have been vaccinated, according to health ministry data. Israel's coronavirus pandemic response coordinator, Nachman Ash, said on Wednesday that the overwhelming majority of them were from high-risk groups, over the age 60 and had prior health problems.
- Horowitz also said the health ministry would plug a Pfizer supply gap for ongoing two-dose inoculations of the general adult population by using Moderna vaccines already in stock.
- Israel's prime minister, Naftali Bennett, said in broadcast remarks to his cabinet on Sunday that he had agreed with Pfizer to bring forward the next delivery of doses to 1 August. The shipment had been widely expected to arrive in September.
Trying to vaccinate the young
- Israel hopes earlier deliveries will enable more youngsters to be vaccinated before the start of the school year in September. Under health ministry regulations, Israeli youths can receive Pfizer shots but not yet those produced by Moderna.
- Israel has almost exclusively administered Pfizer shots to around 60% of its 9.3 million population. A batch of 700,000 doses due to expire at the end of July was sent to South Korea, as a recent slowdown in the pace of vaccinations would likely have meant them going to waste.
- Under the deal, Seoul will return the same number of shots, already on order from Pfizer, in September and October.
- 'We have Moderna vaccines and adults who want to vaccinate can do so from this morning, or maybe tomorrow, with the Moderna vaccines,' Horowitz said.
Israel offers Covid vaccine booster shots to at-risk adults
Israel offers Covid vaccine booster shots to at-risk adults
Israel is offering a booster shot of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine to adults with weak immune systems, but says it is still weighing up whether they should be given to the general public. The rapid spread of the Delta variant has fuelled a rise in the number of new infections from single digits a month ago to around 450 a day, and the country has moved to fast-track its next Pfizer shipment. The health minister, Nitzan Horowitz, said on Sunday that adults with impaired immune systems who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine could get an immediate booster shot, with a decision pending on wider distribution.
Dirty air makes COVID worse, beta variant deadlier than original
Dirty air makes COVID worse, beta variant deadlier than original
Air pollution makes severe COVID worse. Dirty air contributes to COVID-19 severity, according to a study from one of America's most polluted cities. Researchers who studied 2,038 adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Detroit area found those who needed intensive care and machines to help them breathe were more likely to live in neighborhoods with higher levels of air pollution and lead paint
WHO says countries should not order COVID-19 boosters while others still need vaccines
WHO says countries should not order COVID-19 boosters while others still need vaccines
Rich countries should not be ordering booster shots for their vaccinated populations while other countries have yet to receive COVID-19 vaccines, the World Health Organization said on Monday. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said deaths were again rising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Delta variant was becoming dominant, and many countries had yet to receive enough vaccine doses to protect their health workers. "The Delta variant is ripping around the world at a scorching pace, driving a new spike in COVID-19 cases and death," Tedros told a briefing, noting that the highly contagious variant, first detected in India, had now been found in more than 104 countries.
Spain's coronavirus infections keep rising, regions impose restrictions
Spain's coronavirus infections keep rising, regions impose restrictions
Spain's two-week COVID-19 contagion rate kept rising on Monday, reaching 368 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, officials said, more than tripling in two weeks as infections have soared especially among young people. Health emergency chief Fernando Simon said the pace of increase had reduced in recent days as officials believe the latest wave is nearing its peak. He praised new restrictions announced in the hard-hit Mediterranean regions of Catalonia and Valencia.
WHO warns against mixing and matching COVID vaccines
WHO warns against mixing and matching COVID vaccines
The World Health Organization's chief scientist on Monday advised against people mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines from different manufacturers, calling it a "dangerous trend" since there was little data available about the health impact. "It's a little bit of a dangerous trend here. We are in a data-free, evidence-free zone as far as mix and match," Soumya Swaminathan told an online briefing. "It will be a chaotic situation in countries if citizens start deciding when and who will be taking a second, a third and a fourth dose."
Macron announces vaccination passes and warns the country's fourth wave has ALREADY begun
Macron announces vaccination passes and warns the country's fourth wave has ALREADY begun
President Macron introduced new coronavirus measures on Monday night. Covid-19 vaccinations will be mandatory for those working with the vulnerable
Care workers have until September 15 to get vaccinated after then 'checks will be made and sanctions applied' Macron said in a televised address on Monday
Vaccine passports will also be required from August 1 for anyone wanting to go out to eat or drink at a bar, café or restaurant, or travel on planes. Passengers on long-distance bus or train rides will also require a pass. Just three days ago, France reopened its nightclubs as restrictions began to ease. It comes as the delta variant has started driving infection rates up across Europe. Macron is set to announce a new law requiring health workers to get vaccinated
World hunger, malnutrition soared last year mostly due to COVID-19 - U.N. agencies
World hunger, malnutrition soared last year mostly due to COVID-19 - U.N. agencies
World hunger and malnutrition levels worsened dramatically last year, with most of the increase likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a multi-agency United Nations (U.N.) report published on Monday. After remaining virtually unchanged for five years, the number of undernourished people rose to around 768 million last year - equivalent to 10% of the world's population and an increase of around 118 million versus 2019, the report said.
Spain's coronavirus infections keep rising, regions impose restrictions
Spain's coronavirus infections keep rising, regions impose restrictions
Spain's two-week COVID-19 contagion rate kept rising on Monday, reaching 368 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, officials said, more than tripling in two weeks as infections have soared especially among young people. Health emergency chief Fernando Simon said the pace of increase had reduced in recent days as officials believe the latest wave is nearing its peak. He praised new restrictions announced in the hard-hit Mediterranean regions of Catalonia and Valencia.
Taiwan finally getting BioNTech COVID vaccines in $350 mln deal
Taiwan finally getting BioNTech COVID vaccines in $350 mln deal
Taiwan's Foxconn and TSMC said on Monday they had reached deals to buy 10 million doses of Germany's BioNTech SE's COVID-19 vaccine, putting the total cost of the highly politicised deal at around $350 million.
Canada to reach 55M vaccine doses by week's end, catching up to U.S. on second doses
Canada to reach 55M vaccine doses by week's end, catching up to U.S. on second doses
Canada is expecting vaccine shipments to keep rolling in this week as the country inches closer to matching the percentage of people in the United States fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The federal government expects another 1.4 million doses of the shot from Pfizer-BioNTech to arrive in the next seven days. It also plans to distribute the 1.5 million doses from Moderna that came in last Friday.
Europe is racing to vaccinate residents. But in some countries, undocumented immigrants have been left out.
Europe is racing to vaccinate residents. But in some countries, undocumented immigrants have been left out.
As Europe races to vaccinate its residents against covid-19 and outpace the highly infectious delta variant, efforts to inoculate the continent face a major gap: undocumented immigrants. An estimated 4.8 million unauthorized immigrants lived in 32 European countries as of 2017, according to the Pew Research Center. Studies show they are more vulnerable to the coronavirus than European populations at large. But many countries have excluded them from vaccination drives in policy or in practice — and deep distrust among some immigrant populations toward authorities has caused complications for more inclusive campaigns.
Ugandan minister blames west for Covid vaccine shortage
Ugandan minister blames west for Covid vaccine shortage
A Ugandan government minister has blamed the west for his country’s inability to secure more Covid-19 vaccines, as the WHO warned Africa urgently needed hundreds millions more jabs to fend off a surging third wave of infections. Chris Baryomunsi said Uganda had been able to vaccinate more than a million people but was unable to obtain further shots. “The problem has been the supply side,” said Baryomunsi, who is also an epidemiologist. “We have the money but we simply can’t get the vaccine. This is a challenge of access and equity. We have to rely on the western world and the western world has focused on its population. The impression is that people there don’t care about Africans.”
Greek PM Makes Vaccine Mandatory for Healthcare Workers
Greek PM Makes Vaccine Mandatory for Healthcare Workers
The coronavirus vaccine will now be mandatory for all Greek healthcare workers, according to an announcement on Monday by Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The statement was part of a series of new measures regarding Covid-19 and the country’s continuing plan for vaccinations on Monday. Although he admitted that Greece would likely be hit hard by the fast-spreading Delta variant, Mitsotakis affirmed that he would not place the country under strict lockdown measures again.
Latin America urgently needs vaccines from west, top official warns
Latin America urgently needs vaccines from west, top official warns
Wealthy nations have three times the coronavirus vaccine stocks they need for their own populations and should donate the surplus now to Latin America, the region worst hit by the pandemic and where the death toll is “catastrophic”, a top official has said. In an interview with the Financial Times, Rebeca Grynspan, who heads the Ibero-American General Secretariat that groups Spain, Portugal and Latin America, said other countries should follow the example of Spain. The country’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez has pledged to donate surplus vaccines to Latin America via the WHO-led Covax facility once half of the Spanish population has been vaccinated. As of July 8, some 57.5 per cent had received a first dose, according to Madrid. “It’s very important to follow the Spanish example because that would start to give us the vaccines from the second half of this year,” Grynspan said. If Spain’s example was not followed, “the suffering will be prolonged and it will keep costing many lives”.
Coronavirus in Australia: AstraZeneca vaccine offered to over-40s in New South Wales
Coronavirus in Australia: AstraZeneca vaccine offered to over-40s in New South Wales
Sydney contradicted previous official health advice today by saying they would offer the AstraZeneca vaccine to younger people as new daily cases of the highly infectious Delta variant soared to more than 100. While the national government continues to recommend that the locally-produced AstraZeneca vaccine be restricted to people aged over 60 because of blood clotting fears, health chiefs in New South Wales said its mass vaccination centres would offer it to anybody over 40. It is a departure from national health guidelines which have recommended heavy restrictions on the use of AstraZeneca, despite severe shortages of alternative vaccines such as Pfizer.
Cuban Protests Demand Freedom, Food, Covid-19 Vaccines
Cuban Protests Demand Freedom, Food, Covid-19 Vaccines
Thousands of Cubans took to the streets in a wave of demonstrations in Havana and at least 14 other cities throughout the Communist island, demanding an end to the 62-year dictatorship and protesting the lack of food and Covid-19 vaccines. “We are not afraid! We are not afraid!” people shouted as they marched through the streets on Sunday, videos posted on social media showed. “Freedom! Freedom!” The protests are unprecedented in a country with tight police control and surveillance on dissidents, analysts say. In a televised address on Sunday, President Miguel Díaz-Canel blamed the protests on the U.S., which he said seeks to economically strangle Cuba and bring about a social explosion
Rudd says letter to Pfizer not part of 'botched' vaccine program
Rudd says letter to Pfizer not part of 'botched' vaccine program
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said he would never associate himself with the government's "comprehensively botched" COVID-19 vaccine program. His latest statement comes after reports he intervened to speed the delivery of Pfizer vaccines to Australia were denied by the Federal Government. Health Minister Greg Hunt earlier rubbished suggestions an intervention from former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had any impact on the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturer Pfizer. Pfizer has also denied any "third party" had been involved in their negotiations with the Federal Government.
Brazil's federal police open probe into Bolsonaro over vaccine deal - source
Brazil's federal police open probe into Bolsonaro over vaccine deal - source
At the request of the Supreme Court, Brazil's federal police has formally opened a probe into President Jair Bolsonaro related to alleged irregularities in the purchase of an Indian vaccine and could now question him, a source with knowledge of the matter said on Monday. The president has been caught up in allegations of irregularities surrounding the 1.6 billion reais ($316 million) contract signed in February for 20 million doses with a Brazilian intermediary for the vaccine’s maker, Bharat Biotech.
Sydney braces for extended lockdown amid COVID-19 outbreak
Sydney braces for extended lockdown amid COVID-19 outbreak
The prospect of an extended lockdown in Sydney loomed on Monday as Australian health officials reported yet another record daily rise in COVID-19 cases for the year, fuelled by the highly infectious Delta variant. New South Wales state reported 112 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, almost all in Sydney, despite the country’s biggest city entering its third week of lockdown. Case numbers have been at record levels for at least three days. There was, however, a glimmer of light as the number of newly-infected people who were out in the community while infectious dropped to 34 from 45 on Sunday.
Flu jab may reduce severe effects of Covid, suggests study
Flu jab may reduce severe effects of Covid, suggests study
People who are vaccinated against influenza may be partly protected against some of the severe effects of coronavirus, and be less likely to need emergency care, according to a major study. The analysis of nearly 75,000 Covid patients found significant reductions in stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and sepsis, and fewer admissions to emergency departments and intensive care units, among those who had been given the flu jab.
Covid-19 at the Euros: WHO official says lack of restrictions at Wembley for Euro 2020 final ‘devastating’
Covid-19 at the Euros: WHO official says lack of restrictions at Wembley for Euro 2020 final ‘devastating’
A leading World Health Organisation (WHO) epidemiologist has said it was “devastating” to see unmasked crowds crammed together at the Euro 2020 final.
Maria Van Kerkhove expressed concerns during Sunday night’s match between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium that it would spur transmission of Covid-19.
“Am I supposed to be enjoying watching transmission happening in front of my eyes?” tweeted the WHO’s Covid-19 technical lead, as more than 60,000 fans packed the stadium.
WHO director-general slams notion of Covid-19 vaccine booster doses…
WHO director-general slams notion of Covid-19 vaccine booster doses…
The director-general of the World Health Organization on Monday issued a stinging rebuke to Pfizer and other vaccine manufacturers focused on developing — and selling — Covid-19 vaccine booster shots to high-income countries, saying they should focus instead on providing vaccine to nations that have had little access to first doses. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ statement came four days after Pfizer said it has data to support its repeated claim that a third dose of its vaccine will be needed to keep protection levels high. He also singled out Moderna, which, like Pfizer, is developing updated vaccines targeted at variants.
Hospital admissions will soar if we rush to lift Covid-19 restrictions, say scientists
Hospital admissions will soar if we rush to lift Covid-19 restrictions, say scientists
Covid-related hospital admissions could surpass those seen last winter if Britain rushes back to normality, government scientists warned today as Boris Johnson approved lifting the last remaining
China's Sinovac, Sinopharm ink COVAX supply deal for up to 550M coronavirus vaccine doses
China's Sinovac, Sinopharm ink COVAX supply deal for up to 550M coronavirus vaccine doses
COVAX, the global COVID-19 vaccine sharing program, has fallen behind in its pursuit to provide poorer nations with billions of doses by year’s end. But now, the program is getting a much-needed boost from Chinese vaccine developers Sinovac and Sinopharm. In a boon to poorer countries with lagging vaccine rollouts, Gavi, the vaccine alliance, inked supply agreements with the two drugmakers worth up to 550 million doses. Since the shots have already scored the WHO’s emergency use backing, they’ll be able to ship out immediately, Gavi said.
FDA To Warn About Post-COVID Vax Guillain-Barré Syndrome
FDA To Warn About Post-COVID Vax Guillain-Barré Syndrome
The FDA will issue a warning that Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine may trigger Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in a small number of people, an agency spokesperson told MedPage Today on Monday. Of the 12.5 million Americans who received this vaccine, about 100 people reported having GBS in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Of these reports, 95 of them were serious and required hospitalization, and there was one reported death, an FDA official said.
Moderna to supply 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Argentina
Moderna to supply 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Argentina
Moderna Inc said on Monday it had signed a supply agreement with the government of Argentina for 20 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine or its updated variant booster vaccine candidate. The company said delivery was expected to begin in the first quarter of 2022. Last week, the Latin American country said it was looking to sign a supply deal with the U.S. vaccine maker, in an attempt to speed up the inoculation of its population and sidestep a possible third wave of the coronavirus.
Thailand is considering Western booster shots after 600 healthcare workers given Chinese vaccines caught COVID-19
Thailand is considering Western booster shots after 600 healthcare workers given Chinese vaccines caught COVID-19
Thailand is considering switching from a Chinese to Western vaccine to protect healthcare staff. The country is considering giving AstraZeneca doses to those already vaccinated with Sinovac. It came after 600 vaccinated staff caught COVID-19, adding to questions surrounding Chinese jabs.
In first, Thailand to mix Sinovac, AstraZeneca vaccine doses
In first, Thailand to mix Sinovac, AstraZeneca vaccine doses
Thailand used Sinovac vaccine for frontliners. AstraZeneca vaccine available since June. Delta variant on increase in Thailand. New curbs imposed around capital.
COVID-19: Hospital admissions could peak at 1,000 to 2,000 a day in England during third wave, scientists believe
COVID-19: Hospital admissions could peak at 1,000 to 2,000 a day in England during third wave, scientists believe
Between 1,000 and 2,000 COVID-19 patients a day could be admitted to hospital in England at the peak of the third wave and there may be 100 to 200 daily deaths, government scientists believe. The number of daily infections in this latest wave is not expected to peak before mid-August, according to papers newly released by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Experts are urging the public to "go slow" once most restrictions lift on 19 July, in order to curb infections and cut the number of people who will die from COVID-19.
Desperate Myanmar residents queue for oxygen as COVID-19 cases surge
Desperate Myanmar residents queue for oxygen as COVID-19 cases surge
There is enough oxygen - army chief. Myanmar sees record deaths, cases
Suu Kyi worried about outbreak. Myanmar's military authorities pledged on Monday to ramp up oxygen supplies to help treat COVID-19 patients, as residents described their struggle to secure supplies to save loved-ones from a record-setting wave of infections.
'Surprising amount of death' will soon occur in these US regions from increased Covid-19 cases, expert says
'Surprising amount of death' will soon occur in these US regions from increased Covid-19 cases, expert says
As the Delta variant rapidly spreads, US hot spots have seen climbing case numbers -- and an expert warns a "surprising amount of death" from Covid-19 could soon follow. The United States is averaging about 19,455 new cases over the past seven days, a 47% increase from the week prior, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. And a third of those, CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner said, come from five hot spots: Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and Nevada
Germany seeks to know more than just COVID-19 case numbers
Germany seeks to know more than just COVID-19 case numbers
With coronavirus cases edging up again, German officials said Monday that a broader focus is needed to fully understand the impact the pandemic is having on the country's health care system. For much of the past year the incidence rate — how many COVID-19 cases are confirmed per 100,000 people each week — has been key to the government's decisions over what restrictive measures to impose.
Macron’s plan to beat back vaccine hesitancy
Macron’s plan to beat back vaccine hesitancy
The French government is doubling down on efforts to boost COVID-19 vaccinations as a fourth wave of infections threatens to hit earlier than expected.
Emmanuel Macron is expected to agree Monday to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for health and care home workers. He could go further and impose the use of the so-called COVID-19 green pass more widely, bring in travel restrictions or charge for COVID-19 tests linked to leisure purposes. The moves come as authorities stare down the barrel of another deadly outbreak of infections just as the rate of people getting a first jab has reached a new low. From a peak of over 400,000 per day at the end of May, it's dropped to 200,000 per day, according to health ministry figures.
Desperate Myanmar residents queue for oxygen as COVID-19 cases surge
Desperate Myanmar residents queue for oxygen as COVID-19 cases surge
There is enough oxygen - army chief. Myanmar sees record deaths, cases
Suu Kyi worried about outbreak. Myanmar's military authorities pledged on Monday to ramp up oxygen supplies to help treat COVID-19 patients, as residents described their struggle to secure supplies to save loved-ones from a record-setting wave of infections.
In first, Thailand to mix Sinovac, AstraZeneca vaccine doses
In first, Thailand to mix Sinovac, AstraZeneca vaccine doses
Thailand used Sinovac vaccine for frontliners. AstraZeneca vaccine available since June. Delta variant on increase in Thailand. New curbs imposed around capital.
Saudi Arabia to send one million doses of vaccine to Tunisia
Saudi Arabia to send one million doses of vaccine to Tunisia
Saudi Arabia will send a medical aid package to Tunisia that includes one million doses of vaccine to help the North Africa country control the rapid spread of the COVID pandemic. Saudi Arabia joins other Arab countries in helping Tunisia, which is facing the collapse of its health care system, including Egypt, Algeria, UAE, Kuwait, Turkey and Qatar. The Saudi Press Agency said on Monday the aid also includes 190 respirators and other equipment.