WHO urges to halt booster shots for rest of the year
3 years, 4 months ago

WHO urges to halt booster shots for rest of the year

India TV News  

Rich countries with large supplies of coronavirus vaccines should refrain from offering booster shots through the end of the year and make the doses available for poorer countries, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday, doubling down on an earlier appeal for a “moratorium" on boosters that has largely been ignored. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also said he was “appalled” after hearing comments Tuesday from a top association of pharmaceutical manufacturers that vaccine supplies are high enough to allow for both booster shots for people in well-supplied countries and first jabs in poorer countries that face shortages. Rich countries have also offered to donate 1 billion doses to other countries, but fewer than 15 per cent of those doses have “materialized," Tedros said. Dr.Bruce Aylward, a top adviser to Tedros, acknowledged that “some countries may be going ahead with decisions" to widely administer boosters, but that the WHO call for a moratorium “makes a real difference.” He said some countries — which he did not identify — have approached the WHO about whether booster policies could be delayed.

Vaccines Countries Billion Vaccine Moratorium Doses Rich Countries Tedros Boosters Poorer Countries Booster Shots  available  rest  halt  urges  doses  vaccine  moratorium  billion  countries  booster  shots  vaccines  tedros  boosters

History of this topic

Why Americans are opting out of getting a COVID booster shot
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Why Americans are opting out of getting a COVID booster shot

Daily Mail  

A recent survey reveals that a significant number of Americans are unlikely to get a COVID-19 booster vaccine this season. Conducted by the Pew Research Center between October 21 and 27, the survey of 9,593 U.S. adults found that 60% of respondents said they would 'probably not' get an updated vaccine. A full 81% of Republicans said they probably wouldn't …

Global childhood vax coverage stalled in 2023, 2.7 million kids unprotected, says UN
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Global childhood vax coverage stalled in 2023, 2.7 million kids unprotected, says UN

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: Global childhood vaccination coverage stalled in 2023, leaving an estimated 2.7 million children more un- and under-vaccinated compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, according to the UN on Monday. Warning of an alarming coverage gap that has led to an outbreak of diseases like malaria, the latest World Health Organisation and UNICEF estimates of national immunisation coverage said …

As COVID-19 spikes in California, booster shots could make all the difference
2 years, 1 month ago

As COVID-19 spikes in California, booster shots could make all the difference

LA Times  

With coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rising in Los Angeles County, officials are voicing new confidence in the effectiveness of the updated COVID-19 booster shot. New data has found that the updated COVID-19 vaccines offer “significant additional protection” against symptomatic infection in people who were previously vaccinated or boosted with the older formula. “We have seen very low uptake of the …

Explained | Can vaccine distribution be made fairer?
2 years, 1 month ago

Explained | Can vaccine distribution be made fairer?

The Hindu  

The story so far: The Global Dashboard for Vaccine Equity, a joint effort by the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization and the University of Oxford with cooperation across the UN system, has put out recent data that justifies the vexatious core of the vaccine distribution programme: Only one in four people has been vaccinated with at least …

New vaccines approved, booster campaign to start in September
2 years, 4 months ago

New vaccines approved, booster campaign to start in September

Dutch News  

The new Pfizer and Moderna booster vaccines have been given approval by the European Medicines Agency for over-12s, and another booster campaign is planned for the second half of September. Although the current vaccines protect against serious sickness, they have become less good at protecting against a coronavirus infection due to mutations in the virus, reports NOS. The EMA expects …

New vaccines approved, booster campaign to start in September
2 years, 4 months ago

New vaccines approved, booster campaign to start in September

Dutch News  

The new Pfizer and Moderna booster vaccines have been given approval by the European Medicines Agency for over-12s, and another booster campaign is planned for the second half of September. Although the current vaccines protect against serious sickness, they have become less good at protecting against a coronavirus infection due to mutations in the virus, reports NOS. The EMA expects …

Free booster shots for adults at government hospitals from Friday
2 years, 5 months ago

Free booster shots for adults at government hospitals from Friday

Deccan Chronicle  

NEW DELHI: In a major move to expand the coverage of booster dose for Covid-19, the Central government on Wednesday announced that precautionary jab will now be made available free of cost for all individuals above 18 years of age at all government vaccination centres. The minister said that free booster dose drive is being held for the next 75 …

25 million children missed out on lifesaving vaccines in 2021, WHO and UNICEF data shows
2 years, 5 months ago

25 million children missed out on lifesaving vaccines in 2021, WHO and UNICEF data shows

CNN  

CNN — Vaccine coverage continued to decline worldwide in 2021, with 25 million children missing out on lifesaving vaccines, according to data published Thursday by the World Health Organization and UNICEF. “As a result, 25 million children missed out on one or more doses of DTP through routine immunization services in 2021 alone. Other decreases were seen in HPV, with …

US health officials urge booster shots as COVID variants spread
2 years, 5 months ago

US health officials urge booster shots as COVID variants spread

Al Jazeera  

The administration of US President Joe Biden pushes vaccines as the best way to avoid potential disruptions from new BA.4 and BA.5 variants. “Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines provides the best protection against severe outcomes.” Walensky said the US has seen a doubling in the number of hospitalisations due to COVID-19 since April, reflecting the spread of …

WHO to share vaccines to stop monkeypox amid inequity fears
2 years, 6 months ago

WHO to share vaccines to stop monkeypox amid inequity fears

Associated Press  

LONDON — The World Health Organization said it’s creating a new vaccine-sharing mechanism to stop the outbreak of monkeypox in more than 30 countries beyond Africa. WHO’s Europe director, Dr. Hans Kluge, said Wednesday he was concerned by the scramble by some rich countries to buy more vaccines without talk of buying supplies for Africa. Kluge urged governments “to approach …

WHO to share vaccines to stop monkeypox amid inequity fears
2 years, 6 months ago

WHO to share vaccines to stop monkeypox amid inequity fears

The Hindu  

The World Health Organisation said it's creating a new vaccine-sharing mechanism to stop the outbreak of monkeypox in more than 30 countries beyond Africa. WHO's Europe director, Hans Kluge, said on June 15 he was concerned by the scramble by some rich countries to buy more vaccines without talk of buying supplies for Africa. Mr. Kluge urged governments "to approach …

WHO to share vaccines to stop monkeypox amid inequity fears
2 years, 6 months ago

WHO to share vaccines to stop monkeypox amid inequity fears

LA Times  

These mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and immature, spherical virions, right, were obtained from a person infected during a 2003 outbreak. The World Health Organization said it’s creating a new vaccine-sharing mechanism to stop the outbreak of monkeypox in more than 30 countries beyond Africa. The WHO has described the outbreak as “unusual” and said the virus’ continuing spread was …

WHO Says Second Booster Jab Beneficial For Vulnerable Population
2 years, 7 months ago

WHO Says Second Booster Jab Beneficial For Vulnerable Population

News 18  

An expert group convened by the World Health Organization says there may be some benefit in giving a second booster dose of coronavirus vaccine to the most vulnerable people amid the continuing global spread of omicron and its subvariants. The WHO said its expert group had assessed the limited data from seven studies for second booster doses of messenger RNA …

Biden marks COVID ‘tragic milestone’ in US at global summit
2 years, 7 months ago

Biden marks COVID ‘tragic milestone’ in US at global summit

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden appealed to world leaders at a COVID-19 summit Thursday to reenergize a lagging international commitment to attacking the virus as he led the U.S. in marking the “tragic milestone” of 1 million deaths in America. He spoke solemnly of the once-unthinkable U.S. toll: “1 million empty chairs around the family dinner table.” The coronavirus has …

Adar Poonawalla warns against return to business-as-usual approach
2 years, 8 months ago

Adar Poonawalla warns against return to business-as-usual approach

Firstpost  

He pointed out that there is rising vaccine fatigue among the public as the main reason for the low off-take of the vaccines even after the firm has massively slashed the price from Rs 600 to Rs 225 a dose Mumbai: Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla on Friday warned against the return to the business-as-usual approach, saying we …

UN official urges acceleration in coronavirus vaccinations
2 years, 8 months ago

UN official urges acceleration in coronavirus vaccinations

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. official spearheading global vaccination efforts against the coronavirus said Monday the number of countries where 10% or less of the population has been vaccinated dropped from 34 to 18 since January and called for accelerated progress to end the pandemic. Assistant Secretary-General Ted Chaiban told the U.N. Security Council that with over 6 million lives …

Experts say U.S. suspension of COVID aid will prolong pandemic
2 years, 9 months ago

Experts say U.S. suspension of COVID aid will prolong pandemic

LA Times  

In the latest Senate package targeted at stopping the coronavirus, U.S. lawmakers dropped nearly all funding for curbing the virus beyond American borders — a move many health experts slammed as dangerously short-sighted. He said Uganda has leaned heavily on donor help — it received more than 11 million vaccines from the U.S. — and that any cuts “would make …

Column: While we line up for a fourth shot, the world’s poor haven’t gotten their first
2 years, 9 months ago

Column: While we line up for a fourth shot, the world’s poor haven’t gotten their first

LA Times  

Go ahead — line up for your second booster shot, Americans. The outrageous truth is that two years into the pandemic that has killed 6 million people worldwide, 65% of Americans have received two vaccine shots and are considered “fully vaccinated.” But only 14.5% of people in low-income countries have received even a single dose, according to data compiled by …

Eighth of people who got their booster don't want further Covid-19 shots
2 years, 10 months ago

Eighth of people who got their booster don't want further Covid-19 shots

NL Times  

One in eight Netherlands residents who got a booster shot does not intend to get another booster against the coronavirus if it is offered. About 70 percent of this group already got their first booster shot, and 10 percent plan to do so. Of the people who go their booster or plan to, half said they would "certainly" get the …

Govt Slashing Covid Vax Budget Could Mean People Buying Booster Dose on Their Own, Say Experts
2 years, 11 months ago

Govt Slashing Covid Vax Budget Could Mean People Buying Booster Dose on Their Own, Say Experts

News 18  

The proposal of Rs 5,000 crore Covid-19 vaccination Budget for this year hints that the Centre has done its job of providing free vaccines across the country and people may have to shell out for booster shots, according to experts. Rs 5,000 crore Enough for Jabbing Remaining Population According to health and public policy experts, the budget of Rs 5,000 …

'Will Not Follow World Blindly': India May Not Expand Precautionary Covid Vaccine Doses for All Ages
2 years, 11 months ago

'Will Not Follow World Blindly': India May Not Expand Precautionary Covid Vaccine Doses for All Ages

News 18  

After a high-level meeting with the WHO on the issue of boosters, the Centre has decided to reconsider its policy regarding giving a nod to precautionary doses of Covid vaccine for all age groups. The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation for Covid-19 met WHO officials and said that India “will not blindly follow others” on its booster dose policy. …

This is how the COVID-19 health emergency could be over this year, WHO says
2 years, 11 months ago

This is how the COVID-19 health emergency could be over this year, WHO says

LA Times  

John Nkengasong, left, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and moderator Julia Chatterley during a remote panel on vaccine equity at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday. Dr. Michael Ryan, speaking during a panel discussion on vaccine inequity hosted by the World Economic Forum, said “we may never end the virus” because such pandemic viruses “end …

Poorer nations reject over 100 million Covid shots as many close to expiry
2 years, 11 months ago

Poorer nations reject over 100 million Covid shots as many close to expiry

India Today  

Poorer nations last month rejected more than 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines distributed by the global programme COVAX, mainly due to their rapid expiry date, a UNICEF official said on Thursday. UNICEF's data on supplies and use of delivered vaccines show that 681 million shipped doses are currently stored in about 90 poorer nations, according to CARE, a charity, …

Indonesia to kick off booster campaign, but most will have to pay
2 years, 11 months ago

Indonesia to kick off booster campaign, but most will have to pay

Al Jazeera  

Experts worry about the effect on the broader vaccination programme, with many people outside key centres still not fully covered. “But if it is related to the pandemic, then the vaccines should be free.” The government has yet to confirm how much the vaccine booster shots will cost, although estimates have circulated online using data from the UNICEF Vaccine Market …

Booster programme 'up to speed' but not everyone will have one
3 years ago

Booster programme 'up to speed' but not everyone will have one

Dutch News  

All adults in the Netherlands can now make an appointment for a booster vaccine and more than four million people have already received their third jab, according to government figures. Outgoing health minister Hugo de Jonge had promised that everyone over the age of 18 in the country would be able to make an appointment for their booster vaccine by …

Booster programme 'up to speed' but not everyone will have one
3 years ago

Booster programme 'up to speed' but not everyone will have one

Dutch News  

All adults in the Netherlands can now make an appointment for a booster vaccine and more than four million people have already received their third jab, according to government figures. Outgoing health minister Hugo de Jonge had promised that everyone over the age of 18 in the country would be able to make an appointment for their booster vaccine by …

Covid pandemic will end if countries achieve this target, says WHO chief
3 years ago

Covid pandemic will end if countries achieve this target, says WHO chief

Live Mint  

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus on Tuesday reiterated that only vaccine equity can end the current pandemic and that all the countries need to come together to vaccinate 70% of people in every country by July 2022. The WHO chief has been urging the world leaders to come together to end vaccine equity as many countries are yet to …

2022 The Year Ahead: Endgame, Or Endemic? Whatever The New Year Brings, It Calls For A Shot
3 years ago

2022 The Year Ahead: Endgame, Or Endemic? Whatever The New Year Brings, It Calls For A Shot

News 18  

Wildfire may be an apt metaphor for this pandemic, in how Covid-19 has flared, and continues to flare, through countries. “With no vaccine to protect against influenza infection and no antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections that can be associated with influenza infections, control efforts worldwide were limited to non-pharmaceutical interventions such as isolation, quarantine, good personal hygiene, use of …

Too many COVID-19 vaccine doses are being wasted
3 years ago

Too many COVID-19 vaccine doses are being wasted

Al Jazeera  

Since the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was detected, the stark global inequities that have characterised this pandemic have once again come to the forefront. Almost one year after vaccine rollout began, donations of COVID-19 vaccine doses by wealthy countries that no longer need them are getting ramped up. Malawi and South Sudan have also had to destroy expired COVID-19 vaccine …

Blanket booster dose plans won’t end Covid: WHO
3 years ago

Blanket booster dose plans won’t end Covid: WHO

Live Mint  

Omicron threat: Blanket Covid booster dose programmes are likely to prolong the pandemic, rather than ending it, the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday. "Blanket booster programmes are likely to prolong the pandemic, rather than ending it, by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage, giving the virus more opportunity to spread and mutate," WHO …

The world has failed at vaccine equity. Will 2022 be different?
3 years ago

The world has failed at vaccine equity. Will 2022 be different?

Al Jazeera  

On December 4, 2020, a 90-year-old grandmother in the United Kingdom became the first person in the world to receive a vaccine proven to be highly effective against COVID-19, kicking off a rollout of inoculants developed with unprecedented speed under dire circumstances in high-income countries across the globe. “I think that’s unquestionable.” The COVAX scheme initially aimed to achieve a …

Blanket COVID boosters risk prolonging pandemic, WHO chief warns
3 years ago

Blanket COVID boosters risk prolonging pandemic, WHO chief warns

Al Jazeera  

WHO chief Tedros insists priority remains getting vaccines to unvaccinated and vulnerable people everywhere. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus insisted on Wednesday that the priority must remain to get vaccines to vulnerable people everywhere rather than giving additional doses to the already vaccinated. And he noted that “the vast majority of hospitalisations and deaths are in unvaccinated people, not un-boosted …

US pledges $580m to international COVID fight amid Omicron spread
3 years ago

US pledges $580m to international COVID fight amid Omicron spread

Al Jazeera  

The announcement comes as the Biden administration released a raft of measures aimed at ramping up domestic response. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the announcement on Tuesday, shortly before he said he is set to meet his counterparts from other countries to discuss global cooperation in responding to Omicron, which officials say has already become the dominant strain …

WHO: Africa might miss 70% vaccination goal until late 2024
3 years ago

WHO: Africa might miss 70% vaccination goal until late 2024

Associated Press  

NAIROBI, Kenya — The African continent might not reach the target of vaccinating 70% of its 1.3 billion population against COVID-19 until the second half of 2024, a target many of the world’s richer countries have already met, the World Health Organization said Tuesday. Health officials in South Africa, which first announced the variant, say early data indicate it causes …

WHO warns fears of Omicron could spark new vaccine hoarding
3 years, 1 month ago

WHO warns fears of Omicron could spark new vaccine hoarding

India Today  

The World Health Organisation expressed concerns on Thursday that rich countries spooked by the emergence of the Omicron variant could step up the hoarding of Covid-19 vaccines and strain global supplies again, complicating efforts to stamp out the pandemic. “What is going to shut down disease is for everybody who is especially at risk of disease to become vaccinated,” said …

WHO warns fears of omicron could spark new vaccine hoarding
3 years, 1 month ago

WHO warns fears of omicron could spark new vaccine hoarding

The Hindu  

The World Health Organization expressed concerns Thursday that rich countries spooked by the emergence of the omicron variant could step up the hoarding of COVID-19 vaccines and strain global supplies again, complicating efforts to stamp out the pandemic. “What is going to shut down disease is for everybody who is especially at risk of disease to become vaccinated,” said Dr. …

WHO warns against rich nations hoarding jabs to fight Omicron
3 years, 1 month ago

WHO warns against rich nations hoarding jabs to fight Omicron

Al Jazeera  

Key problem for international dose-sharing programme is wealthy countries donating COVID-19 vaccines with short shelf life, WHO says. The World Health Organization official has warned that wealthy countries may start hoarding COVID-19 vaccines again, threatening global supplies as they seek to shore up stocks to fight the new Omicron variant of coronavirus. The comments on Thursday by the agency’s vaccine …

'All over-60s should have booster vaccines as soon as possible'
3 years, 1 month ago

'All over-60s should have booster vaccines as soon as possible'

Dutch News  

The head of the Dutch acute care association, Ernst Kuipers, has urged the government to speed up the vaccine booster campaign to reduce the impact of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. ‘I think it would be sensible to speed up the booster campaign,’ Kuipers told radio show Sven op 1. ‘That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do the others afterwards, but …

State Must Not Drag Its Feet and Make Covid Vaccination Mandatory for All Adults
3 years, 1 month ago

State Must Not Drag Its Feet and Make Covid Vaccination Mandatory for All Adults

News 18  

We live in times when the state is expected to be decisive, unyielding and uncompromising in national interest. Take for instance, the curious service charge price cap of Rs 150 for the private sector, taking away any incentive the market may have to join the vaccination drive. There is no reason people will pay for vaccines in private sector hospitals …

Boosters short: The Hindu Editorial on third COVID-19 vaccination dose
3 years, 1 month ago

Boosters short: The Hindu Editorial on third COVID-19 vaccination dose

The Hindu  

On November 22, the Director-General, ICMR, said that there was no scientific evidence thus far to administer a booster vaccine dose to fully vaccinated people. The Health Minister too said the priority was on fully vaccinating all adults than on booster shot immunisation though adequate vaccines were available. Despite these uncertainties, it might still be prudent to approve booster doses …

Variants, boosters turn rich-poor vaccine gap into chasm
3 years, 1 month ago

Variants, boosters turn rich-poor vaccine gap into chasm

Associated Press  

PARIS — The global initiative to share coronavirus vaccines fairly already scaled back its pledge to the world’s poor once. Now, to meet even that limited promise, COVAX would have to deliver more than a million doses every hour until the end of the year in some of the world’s most challenging places. COVAX’s new promise is for 1.4 billion …

European states expand boosters, tighten curbs amid COVID surge
3 years, 1 month ago

European states expand boosters, tighten curbs amid COVID surge

Al Jazeera  

European countries have expanded COVID-19 booster vaccinations, launched plans to get shots to young children and tightened some curbs as the continent battled a surge in coronavirus cases and concerns about its economic fallout grew. Many countries are rolling out or increasing the use of booster shots, although the World Health Organization wants the most vulnerable people worldwide to be …

Pvt. hospitals push for booster dose
3 years, 1 month ago

Pvt. hospitals push for booster dose

The Hindu  

Despite the the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation extending the shelf life of Covaxin up to 12 months, private hospitals continue to be worried about the effective utilisation of vaccine stock lying with them. In a letter to Union Health Minister Mansukh L. Mandaviya on November 12, AHPI said the government should consider allowing booster dose on a voluntary basis. …

No scientific evidence to support need for booster vaccine dose against COVID-19, says ICMR chief
3 years, 1 month ago

No scientific evidence to support need for booster vaccine dose against COVID-19, says ICMR chief

Firstpost  

According to sources, the booster dose issue is likely to be discussed in the next meeting of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India New Delhi: There is no scientific evidence so far to support the need for a booster vaccine dose against COVID-19, ICMR director general Dr Balram Bhargava said on Monday underlining the completion of second …

Biden administration pushes booster shots as second pandemic winter approaches
3 years, 1 month ago

Biden administration pushes booster shots as second pandemic winter approaches

LA Times  

President Biden walks off Marine One at the White House on Friday. The expanded availability of booster shots could bolster President Biden’s efforts to limit the pandemic’s devastation, which has evaded his attempts to bring it to an end and bogged down his administration’s agenda. “We are tired and exhausted by the pandemic as well,” White House Press Secretary Jen …

Despite 100-crore Feat, India Maintains a Stoic 'No' on Covid Booster Shots: The Science & Strategy
3 years, 2 months ago

Despite 100-crore Feat, India Maintains a Stoic 'No' on Covid Booster Shots: The Science & Strategy

News 18  

With the noise around booster shots against Covid-19 and their need growing worldwide and many countries, including the US and UK, beginning administering the ‘extra’ doses, India has maintained a stoic ‘no’ on the issue. Mix and match The US Food and Drug Administration is reportedly preparing to allow “mix and match” coronavirus vaccine boosting, in which people get a …

US marks 200M COVID-19 shots shared with world
3 years, 2 months ago

US marks 200M COVID-19 shots shared with world

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The U.S. on Thursday donated its 200 millionth COVID-19 shot to help vaccinate the rest of the world, the White House announced. The Biden administration aims to lead a global vaccination campaign even as it rolls out boosters for domestic use, which critics say diverts doses from those who are in greater need around the world. “These 200 …

CDC supports expansion of COVID-19 booster rollout and mixing shots
3 years, 2 months ago

CDC supports expansion of COVID-19 booster rollout and mixing shots

LA Times  

Millions more Americans can get a COVID-19 booster and may choose a different company’s vaccine for that next shot, federal health officials said Thursday. Certain people who received Pfizer vaccinations months ago already are eligible for a booster, and now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says specific Moderna and Johnson & Johnson recipients qualify, too. Starting six months …

Booster vaccines rollout ‘too slow’
3 years, 2 months ago

Booster vaccines rollout ‘too slow’

The Telegraph  

The Government's booster vaccines programme is moving too slowly to protect the most vulnerable, experts warned as figures show that fewer than half of those eligible have received the jab. On Monday, Downing Street promised to "step up communications" as it emerged that only 3.7 million of the 8.5 million at-risk people who had a second jab at least six …

More Covid-19 boosters are on the horizon. But not everyone will need one, experts say
3 years, 2 months ago

More Covid-19 boosters are on the horizon. But not everyone will need one, experts say

CNN  

CNN — Advisers from the US Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously to recommend emergency authorization of a booster dose of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine, and a day later did so again for a booster of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine. Anyone who got the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine “can benefit from a second dose” of it,” Dr. Paul Offit, a …

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