Vladimir Putin has been vaccinated against COVID-19, partly to encourage other Russians who remain deeply reluctant to get the jab.Although he has previously been filmed on horseback, ice skating and flying with Siberian cranes, he chose to be vaccinated behind closed doors.
European Union (EU) and Singapore senior officials met on 25 February for the 8th Senior Officials’ Meeting to discuss how to build on the current relationship, increase cooperation and address new challenges. The EU delegation was chaired by Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific in the European External Action Service, while Singapore’s side was led by Ng Teck Hean, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The coronavirus pandemic, which has affected
More than 400 million doses of vaccines have been given around the world as of Thursday, according to a media tally.Despite the suspension of the AstraZeneca shot in more than a dozen countries, vaccination campaigns against COVID-19 continue to pick up speed, the count based on official sources found.In a sign of how the pace is picking up, the last 100 million people vaccinated got their jabs in 11 days - six times faster than it took to give the first 100 million.By Thursday at 1630 GMT, a
Thailand's prime minister on Tuesday received the AstraZeneca vaccine as the Southeast Asian nation began the drug's rollout, lifting a suspension that was triggered by European nations raising safety concerns.The country became the first outside of Europe to temporarily delay the COVID-19 vaccine after several EU nations - including Ireland, the Netherlands and Denmark - moved to delay it due to reports that some recipients had suffered blood clots.Thailand is already administering
Beijing has reopened its borders to certain travellers from the Philippines who have been inoculated with a Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine, its embassy in Manila said Monday.China has been shut off to most foreigners since last March after the coronavirus exploded beyond its borders, triggering lockdowns and bringing international travel to a grinding halt.The decision to relax restrictions for travellers in the Philippines seeking visas for business or family reasons comes after a similar ann
The European Union (EU) is facing further shortfalls in its coronavirus inoculation programme after pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said production problems and export restrictions would reduce planned deliveries of its vaccine.The Anglo/Swedish firm's image has already taken a hit with several countries suspending the rollout of its vaccine over blood clot fears, even as the World Health Organization (WHO) said there was no reason to stop using it.It is just the latest blow for the Ast
Shirley Shi has received three offers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 - through her hometown, her Beijing residential area and her office area - but the human resources manager is in no rush."I'd like to keep an eye out for any adverse effects first," said Shi, who like many Chinese seems happy to take a wait-and-see approach.Through aggressive lockdowns and mass testing of millions, China has had success controlling the virus that first surfaced on its soil in late 2019.But
The AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine appears to be more than 80 percent effective at preventing severe illness among elderly, at-risk individuals after a single dose, according to preliminary research published Wednesday.The results, which have yet to be peer-reviewed, added to the growing body of evidence that the vaccine - which several countries have advised against giving to over-65s - is both safe and effective in older people.Researchers at the University of Bristol analysed patients
Pakistan, Nigeria, and Indonesia will be among the biggest recipients of free COVID-19 vaccines before June - more than 10 million doses each - the COVAX scheme announced Tuesday.Some 238.2 million doses will be distributed around the world by the end of May through the programme aimed at boosting access to coronavirus jabs in poorer nations.Though vaccination campaigns have gathered pace globally, the majority of injections have been administered in wealthier countries while many nations hav
It is unrealistic to think the world will be done with the COVID-19 pandemic by the end of the year, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Monday.WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said it might however be possible to take the tragedy out of the coronavirus crisis by reducing hospitalisations and deaths.But the virus remains in control, he added, especially given that global new case numbers increased last week after six consecutive weeks of decline."It will be very premature, an
The COVAX programme to ensure equitable worldwide access to COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday published its first distribution list, with enough doses for countries to immunise more than three percent of their populations by mid-2021.The distribution plan comes with lower-income countries falling behind in the vaccination race - a problem COVAX was set up to address.It broke down how the programme's initial 337.2 million doses will be distributed, with first deliveries exp
More than 100 million COVID-19 vaccines have been given around the world, an AFP tally from official sources found Tuesday.But none of the world's 29 poorest countries has formally started mass vaccination drives, while the richest nations have given more than two-thirds of jabs administered.Israel leads the race by far, with 37 percent of its population having received at least one dose, while more than a fifth have already got their second.Yet more than a third of humanity (35 percent)
