WHO lays out plan to emerge from emergency phase of pandemic
Reuters The World Health Organization on Wednesday released an updated plan for COVID-19, laying out key strategies that, if implemented in 2022, would allow the world to end the emergency phase of the pandemic. The plan includes three possible scenarios for how the virus might evolve in the coming year. A worker in a protective […]
Australia looks to roll out COVID-19 booster shots soon as curbs ease
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australian officials plan to roll out COVID-19 booster shots soon to prevent a resurgence of cases, as residents in the two largest cities of Sydney and Melbourne begin to enjoy more freedoms after months-long curbs. Australia has ditched its COVID-zero strategy in favour of suppressing the coronavirus, after largely stamping out infections for […]
WHO advises additional COVID shot for immunocompromised people
Geneva, SwitzerlandReuters The World Health Organization on Monday recommended that immunocompromised people be given an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine, due to their higher risk of breakthrough infections after standard immunisation. The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunisation said the additional dose should be offered “as part of an extended primary series since these […]
Amid global vaccine inequality, Vatican weighs ethics of booster shots
Vatican CityRNS While Catholic US President Joe Biden received his third shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, experts at the Vatican on Tuesday considered the ethics of such “booster shot” distribution in wealthy countries when many in other parts of the world have yet to receive the first dose. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, who heads the Pontifical […]
Coronavirus booster shots “not a luxury”, WHO Europe head says
Copenhagen, DenmarkReuters A third-dose booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccination is a way to keep the most vulnerable safe and “not a luxury”, the World Health Organization said on Monday. The WHO said earlier this month data did not indicate a need for booster shots, while topping up already fully vaccinated people would further widen […]
Ignoring WHO call, major nations stick to vaccine booster plans
Paris, France/Berlin, Germany Reuters Germany, France and Israel will go ahead with plans to administer COVID-19 vaccine boosters, disregarding an appeal by the World Health Organisation to hold off until more people are vaccinated around the world. The decision to press ahead with booster shots despite the WHO’s strongest statement yet highlights the huge inequities […]
World to spend $US157 billion on COVID-19 vaccines through 2025: report
Reuters Total global spending on COVID-19 vaccines is projected to reach $US157 billion by 2025, driven by mass vaccination programs underway and “booster shots” expected every two years, according to a report by US health data company IQVIA Holdings Inc released on Thursday. IQVIA, which provides data and analytics for the healthcare industry, said it […]