WEATHER ALERT
Police arrest 22 in EU raids linked to suspected theft of Italy's pandemic funds worth $650 million
Read full article: Police arrest 22 in EU raids linked to suspected theft of Italy's pandemic funds worth $650 millionPolice in Italy, Austria, Romania and Slovakia have arrested 22 people as part of an investigation into the suspected theft of hundreds millions of euros in post-pandemic relief funds from the European Union.
A new shot for RSV shot for infants is in short supply
Read full article: A new shot for RSV shot for infants is in short supplyA new shot for infants against RSV is in short supply, and U.S. health officials are telling doctors they should prioritize giving the drug to babies at the highest risk of severe disease.
New drug to protect babies and toddlers from RSV gets FDA approval ahead of cold season
Read full article: New drug to protect babies and toddlers from RSV gets FDA approval ahead of cold seasonU.S. officials have approved a new long-acting drug to protect babies and toddlers against a respiratory virus that causes thousands of hospitalizations each year.
WHO: COVID cases, deaths in Africa drop to lowest levels yet
Read full article: WHO: COVID cases, deaths in Africa drop to lowest levels yetThe World Health Organization says the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in Africa have dropped to their lowest levels since the pandemic began, marking the longest decline yet seen in the disease.
Federal funding for COVID-19 tests and treatments for uninsured Americans running out
Read full article: Federal funding for COVID-19 tests and treatments for uninsured Americans running outFederal funding for COVID-19 testing and treatment of uninsured Americans has dried up as of two days ago. Health Services and Resources Administration also announced coverage for COVID-19 vaccines for the uninsured will no longer be available after April 5.
EU regulator advises AstraZeneca's COVID drug be cleared
Read full article: EU regulator advises AstraZeneca's COVID drug be clearedThe European Union's drug regulator says it's recommending that an antibody drug developed by AstraZeneca be authorized to help people avoid getting sick with the coronavirus.
Africa moving toward control of COVID-19 says WHO director
Read full article: Africa moving toward control of COVID-19 says WHO directorThe World Health Organization’s Africa director Matshidiso Moeti says Africa is moving to the “control phase” of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased vaccination rates will be crucial in helping the continent live with the disease.
Vaccines to Africa must have good shelf lives, says expert
Read full article: Vaccines to Africa must have good shelf lives, says expertThe director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that at least 2.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines donated to the continent's countries have expired, citing short shelf lives as the major reason.
Nigeria to reject vaccine donations with short shelf lives
Read full article: Nigeria to reject vaccine donations with short shelf livesAuthorities in Nigeria have announced that the West African country will no longer accept COVID-19 vaccines with short shelf lives after it was unable to use 1 million doses before they expired.
Scientist behind UK vaccine says next pandemic may be worse
Read full article: Scientist behind UK vaccine says next pandemic may be worseOne of the scientists behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is warning that the next pandemic may be more contagious and more lethal unless more money is devoted to research and preparations to fight emerging viral threats.
Omicron brings COVID-19 vaccine inequity 'home to roost'
Read full article: Omicron brings COVID-19 vaccine inequity 'home to roost'The emergence of the new omicron variant and the world’s desperate and likely futile attempts to keep it at bay are reminders of what scientists have warned for months: The coronavirus will thrive as long as vast parts of the world lack vaccines.
India's Serum Institute resumes vaccine exports to COVAX
Read full article: India's Serum Institute resumes vaccine exports to COVAXThe Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker, has resumed exports of coronavirus vaccines to the U.N.-backed COVAX distribution program after halting most overseas sales in March.
AstraZeneca opens research center as UK builds science hub
Read full article: AstraZeneca opens research center as UK builds science hubPrince Charles is praising Cambridge as a center of scientific collaboration as the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca opened a 1 billion-pound ($1.34 billion) research center there on Tuesday.
AstraZeneca to book modest profit from coronavirus vaccine
Read full article: AstraZeneca to book modest profit from coronavirus vaccineBritish-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca says it will start to book a modest profit from its coronavirus vaccine as it moves away from the nonprofit model it's operated during the pandemic.
AstraZeneca pulls request for Swiss approval of COVID shot
Read full article: AstraZeneca pulls request for Swiss approval of COVID shotAstraZeneca says it is withdrawing its application for approval of its COVID-19 vaccine in Switzerland because the country’s medical regulator wanted to restrict its use to people over age 50.
India to resume exports of coronavirus vaccines in October
Read full article: India to resume exports of coronavirus vaccines in OctoberIndia, the world’s largest vaccine producer, will resume exports and donations of surplus coronavirus vaccines in October after halting them during a devastating surge in domestic infections in April.
EU, AstraZeneca reach deal to end vaccine delivery dispute
Read full article: EU, AstraZeneca reach deal to end vaccine delivery disputeThe European Union says it’s reached an agreement with drugmaker AstraZeneca to end their legal battle over the slow delivery of the Anglo-Swedish company’s coronavirus vaccine.
WHO Africa: COVID-19 booster shots make 'mockery' of equity
Read full article: WHO Africa: COVID-19 booster shots make 'mockery' of equityThe Africa director for the World Health Organization says rich countries’ decisions to roll out COVID-19 booster shots while so many people across Africa remain unvaccinated “threaten the promise of a brighter tomorrow" for the continent.
Facebook bans firm behind Pfizer, AstraZeneca smear campaign
Read full article: Facebook bans firm behind Pfizer, AstraZeneca smear campaignFacebook has removed hundreds of accounts linked to a disinformation network operating out of Russia that sought to smear COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
Emergent: FDA letting troubled COVID vaccine factory restart
Read full article: Emergent: FDA letting troubled COVID vaccine factory restartThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing the problem-plagued factory of contract manufacturer Emergent BioSolutions to resume production of COVID-19 vaccine.
AstraZeneca to seek US approval of COVID vaccine in 2nd half of year
Read full article: AstraZeneca to seek US approval of COVID vaccine in 2nd half of yearAstraZeneca said it intends to seek U.S. approval for its COVID-19 vaccine later this year, further delaying the application even as the company announced it had already delivered more than 1 billion doses to other countries.
Russia OKs testing combination of Sputnik, AstraZeneca shots
Read full article: Russia OKs testing combination of Sputnik, AstraZeneca shotsRussia’s health officials have given a go-ahead to testing a combination of the AstraZeneca coronavirus shot and the single-dose version of the domestically developed Sputnik V vaccine.
Thailand's capital tightens restrictions to fight COVID-19
Read full article: Thailand's capital tightens restrictions to fight COVID-19Officials in Thailand have further tightened coronavirus restrictions in response to an alarming rise in cases and deaths that is stressing the country’s health care system.
Thai police use tear gas against anti-government protesters
Read full article: Thai police use tear gas against anti-government protestersThai police have used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse hundreds of anti-government protesters who held a rally in Bangkok despite coronavirus restrictions banning gatherings of more than five people.
Thailand tightens measures as daily cases cross 10,000
Read full article: Thailand tightens measures as daily cases cross 10,000Thailand has tightened coronavirus restrictions and warned of further measures as daily cases surpassed 10,000 and the death toll hit a record 141 despite an overnight curfew in Bangkok and several other provinces.
Thai AstraZeneca vaccine production falls short of target
Read full article: Thai AstraZeneca vaccine production falls short of targetA government official says production of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine at a factory in Thailand has fallen short of its target, likely delaying the country’s plan to acquire a total of 61 million doses until next May.
Vaccine deliveries rising as delta virus variant slams Asia
Read full article: Vaccine deliveries rising as delta virus variant slams AsiaAs many Asian countries battle their worst surge of COVID-19 infections, the slow flow of vaccine doses from around the world is finally picking up speed, giving hope that inoculation rates can increase and help blunt the effect of the rapidly spreading delta variant.
Thailand preparing to limit exports of its COVID-19 vaccine
Read full article: Thailand preparing to limit exports of its COVID-19 vaccineThai health authorities say they plan to limit exports of locally produced AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine because the country doesn’t have enough for its own needs.
The Latest: SKorea sees biggest daily virus jump in 6 months
Read full article: The Latest: SKorea sees biggest daily virus jump in 6 monthsSouth Korea has reported 826 new cases of the coronavirus, its biggest daily jump in about six months, as fears grow about another huge wave of the virus in the greater capital area.
2 Australian states urge against under 40s taking AZ vaccine
Read full article: 2 Australian states urge against under 40s taking AZ vaccineThe Queensland and Western Australia state governments have advised people under age 40 not to take the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine because of the risk of a rare blood clotting disorder, despite the Australian government making those shots available to all adults.
UK urges commitment to vaccinate the world by end of 2022
Read full article: UK urges commitment to vaccinate the world by end of 2022British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will use the Group of Seven wealthy democracies’ summit this week to urge world leaders to commit to vaccinating the global population by the end of 2022.
Morocco moves to vaccinate prison inmates 45 and up
Read full article: Morocco moves to vaccinate prison inmates 45 and upAbout 300 inmates in a prison near the Moroccan capital have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as part of what authorities say is a commitment to protect a population considered especially vulnerable.
EU seeks big penalties in suit over AstraZeneca deliveries
Read full article: EU seeks big penalties in suit over AstraZeneca deliveriesLawyers for the European Union have accused vaccine producer AstraZeneca in a Brussels court of diverting doses to other nations when it had promised them for urgent delivery to the 27 member countries.
US report: Allies of El Salvador's president deemed corrupt
Read full article: US report: Allies of El Salvador's president deemed corruptSalvadoran President Nayib Bukele's Cabinet chief and other allies have been included in a list of senior officials in Central America deemed corrupt by the U.S. State Department.
The Latest: El Salvador to donate vaccine to Honduran towns
Read full article: The Latest: El Salvador to donate vaccine to Honduran townsThe president of El Salvador says he will donate coronavirus vaccines to seven towns in Honduras even though his own country’s vaccination effort is still struggling.
Denmark removes J&J from vaccination program over clot fears
Read full article: Denmark removes J&J from vaccination program over clot fearsDenmark's health authorities say they have removed the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 shot from its vaccination program to investigate reports of rare but potentially dangerous blood clots.
The Latest: Washington state resumes J&J inoculations
Read full article: The Latest: Washington state resumes J&J inoculationsGov. Jay Inslee said Saturday that inoculations with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can begin in Washington state following a review by scientific experts in a western states work group.
EU agency says people should get 2nd dose of AstraZeneca too
Read full article: EU agency says people should get 2nd dose of AstraZeneca tooThe European Medicines Agency says people who have received a first dose of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine should also get the second one despite the rare risk of blood clots that have been linked to the shot.
FDA inspection found problems at factory making J&J vaccine
Read full article: FDA inspection found problems at factory making J&J vaccineU.S. regulators say the Baltimore factory contracted to make Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine was dirty, didn’t follow proper manufacturing procedures and had poorly trained staff.
The Latest: New Mexico preparing for 'vaccine hesitancy'
Read full article: The Latest: New Mexico preparing for 'vaccine hesitancy'New Mexico health officials say they are preparing to respond to pockets of vaccine hesitancy in some communities as overall interest increases in receiving the vaccine for COVID-19.
The Latest: Hawaii eases virus rules for inter-island travel
Read full article: The Latest: Hawaii eases virus rules for inter-island travelHawaii officials are moving forward with a plan to allow people who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus to skip pre-travel testing and quarantine requirements for flights between islands.
EU agency links J&J shot to rare clots, but says benefits outweigh risks
Read full article: EU agency links J&J shot to rare clots, but says benefits outweigh risksThe European Union’s drug regulatory agency says it found a “possible link” between Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine and extremely rare blood clots and that a warning should be added to the label.
Africa CDC urges India to lift COVID vaccine export limits
Read full article: Africa CDC urges India to lift COVID vaccine export limitsThe Africa CDC director says he wants to believe that India will lift export restrictions on COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible, warning that “India is not an island” while some African nations still have seen no shots at all.
Europe scrambles as J&J vaccine delay deals another blow
Read full article: Europe scrambles as J&J vaccine delay deals another blowEuropean countries are diverging on whether to push ahead with giving residents Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine after reports of very rare blood clots in a handful of recipients in the United States.
EU throws weight behind Pfizer-BioNTech and new technology
Read full article: EU throws weight behind Pfizer-BioNTech and new technologyIn a stinging rebuke to pharma giant AstraZeneca, the head of the European Union's executive arm has announced plans for a major contract extension for COVID-19 vaccines with Pfizer stretching to 2023.
The Latest: California governor says all schools must reopen
Read full article: The Latest: California governor says all schools must reopenCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging all schools in the state to reopen, saying there are no health barriers to getting children back into classrooms and ending distance learning.
South Africa halts J&J vaccine jabs; Europe rollout delayed
Read full article: South Africa halts J&J vaccine jabs; Europe rollout delayedSouth Africa has suspended giving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as a “precautionary measure” following the FDA decision in the United States to pause the use of the vaccine while very rare blood clot cases are examined.
US health officials call for ‘pause’ in use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine over clot reports
Read full article: US health officials call for ‘pause’ in use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine over clot reportsThe U.S. recommendation to “pause” use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine set off a chain reaction worldwide and dealt a setback to the global vaccine campaign.
Australia rules out adding J&J vaccine to inoculation plan
Read full article: Australia rules out adding J&J vaccine to inoculation planThe Australian government decided against buying the single-dose Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine and identified a second case of a rare blood clot likely linked to the AstraZeneca shot.
France advises vaccine mixing for some, amid clotting fears
Read full article: France advises vaccine mixing for some, amid clotting fearsFrench health officials say people under 55 who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should get other vaccines for their second shot because of an extremely rare risk of a blood clotting disorder.
Australia to buy extra 20 million doses of Pfizer vaccine
Read full article: Australia to buy extra 20 million doses of Pfizer vaccineAustralia says it has finalized a deal to buy an extra 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine as it rapidly pivots away from its earlier plan to rely mainly on the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Governments give varying advice on AstraZeneca vaccine
Read full article: Governments give varying advice on AstraZeneca vaccineA patchwork of advice is emerging from governments across Europe and farther afield, a day after the European Union’s drug regulator said there was a “possible link” between the AstraZeneca vaccine and a rare clotting disorder.
The Latest: US 7th Fleet: 14,000 personnel fully vaccinated
Read full article: The Latest: US 7th Fleet: 14,000 personnel fully vaccinatedThe U.S. 7th Fleet that operates throughout the Indo-Pacific says more than 14,000 of its service members have received their full doses of the coronavirus vaccine, which it began administering on January 5.
UK advises limiting AstraZeneca in under-30s amid clot worry
Read full article: UK advises limiting AstraZeneca in under-30s amid clot worryBritish authorities have recommended that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine not be given to adults under 30 where possible because of strengthening evidence that the shot may be linked to rare blood clots.