World Health Organization
The crisis in Ukraine is a serious threat to the global economy's post-pandemic recovery, Indonesia's leader on Thursday warned a meeting of finance chiefs from the G20 nations.The Group of 20 – which brings together the world's top economies including the United States (US), China and some European nations – is holding talks in hybrid format in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.Opening the two-day meeting, Indonesian President Joko Widodo warned of the risks to the fragile recove
As the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus continues its frenetic spread around the world, a new subvariant has been detected in dozens of countries.Omicron was first reported by South Africa in November and has since replaced the Delta variant in most countries as the most prevalent strain.
Scientists in South Africa have made a copy of the Moderna COVID vaccine, a move which they say could help boost vaccination rates across Africa.The continent currently has the lowest uptake of COVID shots in the world.The company behind the new vaccine - Afrigen Biologics - says it hopes to start clinical trials in November.Moderna previously said it would not enforce the patents on its vaccine, allowing scientists in Cape Town to make their own version of it.
People are suffering from “pandemic fatigue”. It has been a long two years and most of us have had to endure harsh and often unpredictable restrictions on our daily lives. Millions of people have died, livelihoods have been lost and economies have suffered. So, it is understandable that many would cling to any hope that the COVID-19 pandemic is coming to an end.
Almost two years into the pandemic, some countries have declared their intention to start treating COVID-19 like other endemic diseases, such as seasonal flu.Despite witnessing relatively high infection rates amid the frenetic spread of the Omicron variant, which appears to cause less severe disease but is highly transmissible according to early studies, countries including England and Ireland have drastically loosened restrictions on public life. Denmark has announced plans to lift
COVAX aims to break the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022 by ensuring a steady supply of vaccines at last for the world's poorest countries – and swiftly getting them into arms.The global scheme, aimed at procuring donor-funded jabs for the 91 weakest economies, delivered its one billionth dose last weekend – a major milestone that came far later than anticipated after a year of setbacks.The battle for COVAX in 2021 was getting hold of doses – besides rich countries cornering most of the vaccine
Generic drug manufacturers will make a more affordable version of Merck's anti-COVID pill for 105 of the world's poorer nations, in deals announced Thursday by a United Nations (UN)-backed organisation.The global Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) signed agreements with 27 manufacturers to produce the oral antiviral medicine molnupiravir, for supply in low- and-middle-income countries."This is a critical step toward ensuring global access to an urgently needed COVID-19 treatment and w
The COVAX scheme aimed at equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines hit a "key milestone" Saturday when it delivered its one billionth dose, one of its key backers said.The COVAX facility was set up in 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to ensure that poorer countries can access the vaccines needed to battle the pandemic."COVAX has delivered its first billionth dose of COVID-19
As the pandemic enters its third year, questions about COVID-19’s origins appear increasingly distant. But if we are to forestall another coronavirus pandemic in the 21st century, understanding the causes of the current one is imperative.
Omicron is causing record numbers of cases around the world, and though it causes less severe COVID-19 experts warn this wave still threatens to overwhelm health systems.Nose And Throat, Not LungsSix weeks after it was first sequenced in southern Africa Omicron cases are smashing infection records with average new daily cases at nearly two million this week, according to an AFP tally. At the same time, the illness caused by the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is proving less severe.&
The reaction by governments in the Global North to the discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in South Africa has provided further proof – as if any more were needed – of the deeply inequitable response to the coronavirus pandemic. The backlash against African countries was swift and severe, as if barring travellers from the region could somehow keep the rest of the world safe. It hasn’t, and closing borders won’t work when the next frightening variant emerges.
This month, the world could have been celebrating the waning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, vaccine apartheid and restricted production continue to fuel the spread of the coronavirus. A year has passed since the first COVID-19 vaccines were approved, offering hope that humanity could be liberated from this disease. Scientists did their part by creating safe and effective vaccines with unprecedented speed.
