27th Apr 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=297 lockdown_exit

Real-world studies find COVID vaccines cut infection, hospitalization

CIDRAP Three new realworld UK studies highlight the effectiveness of one or two doses of the PfizerBioNTech or AstraZenecaOxford COVID19 vaccines in preventing both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections and related hospitalizations with one study showing an effectiveness above 90 for only one dose of the Pfizer vaccine. In the first study an interim analysis of the ongoing SARSCoV2 Immunity and Reinfection Evaluation SIREN study was published late last week in The Lancet. Public Health England Colindale researchers in London enrolled 23234 adult healthcare workers from 104 public hospitals in England starting Dec 7 2020 the day before the UK vaccine rollout began. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/04/real-world-studies-find-covid-vaccines-cut-infection-hospitalization 26th Apr 2021

COVID treatment has improved, but many wish for an easy pill

The Associated Press If Priscila Medina had gotten COVID19 a year ago she would have had no treatments proven safe and effective to try. But when the 30yearold nurse arrived at a Long Island hospital last month so short of breath she could barely talk doctors knew just what to do. They quickly arranged for her to get a novel drug that supplies virusblocking antibodies and by the next day I was able to get up and move around she said. After two days I really started turning the corner. I was showering eating playing with my son. Treatments like these can help newly diagnosed patients avoid hospitalization but they are grossly underused because they require an IV. Other medicines for sicker patients can speed recovery but only a few improve survival. While vaccines are helping to curb the pandemic easier and better treatments are needed especially as virus variants spread. https://apnews.com/article/health-science-coronavirus-80c3e03423c017876edf558c64d08769 26th Apr 2021

Is a Cheap 'Universal' Coronavirus Vaccine on the Way?

HealthDay News An experimental COVID19 vaccine could potentially provide universal protection against future COVID variants as well as other coronaviruses maybe even the ones responsible for the common cold. And its dirt cheap less than 1 a dose researchers say. The vaccine targets a part of the COVID virus spike protein that appears to be highly resistant to mutation and is common across nearly all coronaviruses said senior researcher Dr. Steven Zeichner. He is a professor of pediatric infectious disease with the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. In animal studies the COVID vaccine protected pigs against two separate diseases caused by two types of coronavirus COVID19 and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus PEDV according to results published online recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://consumer.healthday.com/4-23-could-a-cheap-universal-coronavirus-vaccine-be-on-the-way-2652633793.html 26th Apr 2021

Column: Vaccine the key to getting 135,000 into Indy 500

Associated Press Its pretty spacious inside Indianapolis Motor Speedway a sprawling national landmark of 300 acres that can fit Vatican City Yankee Stadium the White House Liberty Island the Taj Majal the Roman Colosseum Churchill Downs and the Rose Bowl inside. All at the same time. The plan calls to put 135000 fans in there next month for the Indianapolis 500. During a pandemic. A number that screams too many Too reckless But the speedway is not your average place. Shes a behemoth along Georgetown Road and 16th Street the largest sporting venue in the world. On a typical race day there can be 400000 people on the grounds for The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Roger Penske will have to settle for 135000 this May 30 the 105th running of the race and thats still a whole lot better than last year when he held the first ever Indy 500 without any spectators. State and local health officials said 40 attendance and Penske and the folks at IMS smiled and said thank you. https://apnews.com/article/indianapolis-health-roger-penske-coronavirus-pandemic-indianapolis-500-69d73b9ef004c342646274b138f69c42 26th Apr 2021

Here are 9 ways we can make it easier for Australians to get the COVID-19 vaccine

The Conversation Between vaccine supply issues confusion about the role of GPs and changed advice for AstraZeneca the Australian COVID19 vaccine rollout is well behind schedule. How can we make it easier for the majority of Australians who want to be vaccinated Especially given all Australians over 50 years of age are eligible to be vaccinated from May 3 next week. There are tangible things we can do now to help people understand the benefits and possible risks of COVID19 vaccination and get the vaccine quickly as soon as theyre eligible. https://theconversation.com/here-are-9-ways-we-can-make-it-easier-for-australians-to-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-159219 26th Apr 2021

Malaysia to roll out AstraZeneca COVID jab for over-60s

AlJazeera Malaysian health authorities say the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca is safe for use three days after the Southeast Asian nation received its first batch of shots from the COVAX facility led by the World Health Organization. Health minister Adham Baba confirmed the decision in a televised news conference on Monday and said the jab would be administered to those over 60. Malaysia which has a population of more than 30 million people received its first shipment of nearly 270000 doses of AstraZenecas vaccine on Friday. Ministry officials said the vaccine was found to be suitable for use for those aged 60 and older and they were assessing available data before approving it for use for younger people. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/26/malaysia-to-roll-out-astrazeneca-covid-19-jab-for-over-60s 26th Apr 2021

India COVID Crisis

Al Jazeera English India has set a new global record for a rise in daily coronavirus cases for a fifth straight day while deaths from COVID19 also jumped by an alltime high over the last 24 hours on Monday. Several nations including the United States the United Kingdom and Germany have offered support as Indias underfunded healthcare system struggles to cope with the increasing demand for medical oxygen and hospital beds. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/26/world-reacts-to-indias-catastrophic-covid-surge 26th Apr 2021

India COVID Crisis

CNN There has been a major coronavirus outbreak among US diplomatic staff in India with two locally employed staff dying and more than 100 people testing positive in recent weeks as the country struggles to cope with a dramatic surge of the deadly disease two sources familiar with the situation told CNN. Reported Covid19 case rates in India have hit global highs for the past five consecutive days hospitals have run out of beds medicine ventilators and oxygen and thousands have died amid a devastating second wave which began last month. The sources did not provide details where in the country the staff died and tested positive but the US operates five consulates in different cities and an embassy in the capital of New Delhi. US personnel family members and locally employed staff in India only began receiving their Covid vaccines within the past two weeks one of the sources said. Within the past six weeks even as Indias case rates were ticking up and staff had not yet been vaccinated there were two highlevel trips by Biden administration officials to the country. https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/26/politics/us-diplomatic-staff-coronavirus-india/index.html 26th Apr 2021

India COVID Crisis

Reuters India Delhis Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday the city state would continue to be under a lockdown till May 3 as coronavirus cases rise steeply. Indias number of cases surged by 349691 in the past 24 hours the fourth straight day of record peaks and hospitals in Delhi and across the country are turning away patients after running out of medical oxygen and beds https://www.reuters.com/world/india/delhi-chief-minister-kejriwal-extends-lockdown-by-week-2021-04-25/ 26th Apr 2021

India COVID Crisis

Reuters India India ordered its armed forces on Monday to help tackle surging new coronavirus infections as nations including Britain Germany and the United States pledged urgent medical aid to try to contain an emergency overwhelming the countrys hospitals. The situation in the worlds second most populous country is beyond heartbreaking World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said adding that WHO is sending extra staff and supplies including oxygen concentrator devices. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-reports-record-352991-new-covid-19-cases-2021-04-26/ 26th Apr 2021

India COVID Crisis

BBC News As hospitals in Delhi and many other cities run out of beds people have been forced to find ways to get treatment for sick patients at home. Many have turned to the black market where prices of essential medicines oxygen cylinders and concentrators have skyrocketed and questionable drugs are now proliferating. On Monday India recorded a new global high for daily coronavirus cases for a fifth straight day at 352 991. Anshu Priya could not get a hospital bed in Delhi or its suburb of Noida for her fatherinlaw and as his condition continued to deteriorate. She spent most of Sunday looking for an oxygen cylinder but her search was futile. So she finally turned to the black market. She paid a hefty amount 50000 rupees 670 480 to procure a cylinder that normally costs 6000 rupees. With her motherinlaw also struggling to breathe Anshu knew she may not be able to find or afford another cylinder on the black market. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-56882167 26th Apr 2021

India COVID Crisis

Sky Some Indian states are imposing new restrictions as coronavirus infections spiral out of control and vaccine demand grows. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-one-in-five-testing-positive-in-indian-state-as-court-says-officials-should-face-murder-charges-12287530 26th Apr 2021

India COVID Crisis

The Associated Press Dr. Gautam Singh dreads the daily advent of the ventilator beeps signaling that oxygen levels are critically low and hearing his desperately ill patients start gasping for air in the New Delhi emergency ward where he works. Like other doctors across India which on Monday set another record for new coronavirus infections for a fifth day in a row at more than 350000 the cardiologist has taken to begging and borrowing cylinders of oxygen just to keep patients alive for one more day. On Sunday evening when the oxygen supplies of other nearby hospitals were also near empty the desperate 43yearold took to social media posting an impassioned video plea on Twitter. Please send oxygen to us he said in a choked voice. My patients are dying. India was initially seen as a success story in weathering the pandemic but the virus is now racing through its population of nearly 1.4 billion and systems are beginning to collapse. https://apnews.com/article/health-india-coronavirus-1bda2318594d65be400074da41fa13c6 26th Apr 2021

India COVID Crisis

CIDRAP Several countries over the weekend resoundingly answered Indias pleas for help with its massive COVID19 surgethe worst of the pandemicincluding the United States which announced it will supply a raw material India urgently needs to make its Covishield vaccine. In a related development with Indias production of the AstraZenecaOxford vaccine for the COVAX program sidelined to allow the country to take care of its own needs the United States today announced that it will donate 60 million doses to the global vaccination effort. India today reported a world record for daily cases for the fifth day in a row with 352991 new illnesses reported along with 2812 deaths according to CNN. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/04/indias-covid-19-crisis-prompts-global-response 26th Apr 2021

US Covid-19 vaccination efforts may start to slow, official says. Here's why

CNN Covid19 vaccination efforts may begin to slow down as more Americans get vaccinated an official told CNN. More than 42 of the US population has gotten at least one Covid19 vaccine dose according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Roughly 28.5 of the population is fully vaccinated. Were going continue to make progress it might not be as fast as the first 50 of the population vaccinated I think that its going to be slower. But I think were going to continue to get there Andy Slavitt White House senior adviser for Covid19 response said Sunday. Experts say the US is facing some major challenges when it comes to getting more shots into arms including vaccine hesitancy. https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/26/health/us-coronavirus-monday/index.html 26th Apr 2021

EC launches legal action against AstraZeneca over vaccine contract

Belfast Telegraph The European Unions executive branch has launched legal action against coronavirus vaccinemaker AstraZeneca for failing to respect the terms of its contract with the 27nation bloc. The AstraZeneca vaccine has been central to Europes immunisation campaign and a key part of the global strategy to get vaccines to poorer countries but the slow pace of deliveries has frustrated the Europeans and they have held the company responsible for partly delaying their vaccine rollout. European Commission spokesman Stefan De Keersmaecker said Brussels launched the legal action last Friday on the basis of breaches of the advance purchase agreement. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/ec-launches-legal-action-against-astrazeneca-over-vaccine-contract-40356423.html 26th Apr 2021

EC launches legal action against AstraZeneca over vaccine contract

BBC News The European Commission the EUs executive branch said it was suing the company for not respecting its vaccine supply contract and for not having a reliable plan to ensure timely deliveries. AstraZeneca said the move was without merit. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56891326 26th Apr 2021

EC launches legal action against AstraZeneca over vaccine contract

AlJazeera The European Union has launched legal action against AstraZeneca over the pharmaceutical giants alleged failure to respect its contract for the supply of COVID19 vaccines to the bloc. The BritishSwedish companys vaccine was envisaged as a central part of Europes mass immunisation campaign and a linchpin in the global strategy to get coronavirus vaccines to poorer countries because it is cheaper and easier to use than shots produced by PfizerBioNTech and Moderna. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/26/eu-sues-astrazeneca-over-alleged-covid-19-vaccine-supply-failures 26th Apr 2021

EC launches legal action against AstraZeneca over vaccine contract

Fierce Pharma When word broke last week that the European Commission was weighing legal action against AstraZeneca over its COVID19 vaccine delivery delays it was unclear whether all member nations were on board. Now the bloc is moving forward with approval from all its members. The commission confirmed Monday that it had launched legal action against AstraZeneca late last week for failing to deliver its promised supply of COVID19 vaccines and for not having a reliable plan to ensure timely deliveries a spokesperson told Reuters. The EU said the decision was unanimous among the 27member bloc. AstraZeneca originally committed to sending Europe 90 million doses of its vaccine in the first three months of the year. But after struggling to get its supply chain up to speed the company knocked that projection down to 30 million. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/eu-moves-forward-legal-action-against-astrazeneca-for-covid-19-vaccine-shortcomings-report 26th Apr 2021

Canada sending military, Red Cross to help COVID-hit Ontario

AlJazeera Canadas federal government has said it will send military and Red Cross medical teams to the province of Ontario which earlier on Monday asked for help to respond to a surge in coronavirus hospitalisations. Canadian Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair said on Twitter that Ottawa had approved Ontarios request and the military would be providing medical civilian human health resources within medical care facilities in the province as well as logistical and administrative support. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/26/ontario-requests-help-from-canadian-military-amid-covid-crisis 26th Apr 2021

Brazil once vaccinated 10 million people for polio in a day. What went wrong with COVID-19?

National Geographic UK Praised worldwide for its National Immunisation Program Brazil was expected to have an edge in protecting its population against the coronavirus. Previous vaccination campaigns in the countrysome vaccinating millions in just one dayhave gone off without a hitch and serve as prime examples of tight immunisation logistics. But erratic planning a virusdenying president and a vocal antivaccine movement have set the country up for failure as it faces wave after wave of coronavirus infections. Brazils death toll is now second only to the United States. According to Our World in Data its ranked first in the Americas with 1756 deaths per million. On its worst day since the start of the outbreak April 6 Brazil registered more than 4000 deaths. Then it happened again two days later. https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/science-and-technology/2021/04/brazil-once-vaccinated-10-million-people-for-polio-in-a-day-what-went-wrong-with-covid-19 26th Apr 2021

Virus surge in crowded Gaza threatens to overwhelm hospitals

The Associated Press More than a year into the coronavirus pandemic some of the worst fears are coming true in the crowded Gaza Strip A sudden surge in infections and deaths is threatening to overwhelm hospitals weakened by years of conflict and border closures. Gazas main treatment center for COVID19 patients warns that oxygen supplies are dwindling fast. In another hospital coronavirus patients are packed three to a room. For months Gazas Hamas rulers seemed to have a handle on containing the pandemic. But their decision to lift most movement restrictions in February coupled with the spread of a more aggressive virus variant and lack of vaccines has led to a fierce second surge. At the same time many of Gazas more than 2 million people ignore safety precautions especially during the current fasting month of Ramadan. In the daytime markets teem with shoppers buying goods for iftar the meal breaking the fast after sundown. Few wear masks properly if at all. Corona is not a game said Yasmin Ali 32 whose 64yearold mother died of the virus last week. It will take the lives of many people if they dont protect themselves in the first place. https://apnews.com/article/health-gaza-strip-pandemics-ramadan-lifestyle-079024b5121bf4f46e64345311ac8895 26th Apr 2021

Nepal COVID infections surge, fuelled by India’s mutant strains

AlJazeera Authorities in Nepal are grappling to contain the rapid rise of COVID19 cases with experts fearing that thousands of people in the Himalayan state have caught the more infectious mutant strains emerging out of India. Nepal which shares a long porous border with India reported 3032 new infections on Sunday the highest daily number recorded this year. It took the total caseload since the pandemic first struck Nepal to 300119 with 3164 deaths so far according to government data. We have detected the UK variant and the double mutant variant detected in India Krishna Prasad Paudel the director of Nepals Epidemiology and Disease Control Department Paudel told Reuters news agency adding that experts were checking for other variants too. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/26/nepal-covid-infections-surge-fuelled-by-indias-mutant-strains 26th Apr 2021

Michigan became hotspot as variants rose and vigilance fell

The Associated Press Eric Gala passed up an opportunity to get a coronavirus vaccine when shots became available in Michigan and he admits not taking the virus seriously enough. Then he got sick with what he thought was the flu. He thought he would sweat it out and then feel back to normal. Before long the 63yearold Detroitarea retiree was in a hospital hooked up to a machine to help him breathe. He had COVID19. I was having more trouble breathing and they turned the oxygen up higher thats when I got scared and thought I wasnt going to make it a visibly weary Gala told The Associated Press on Wednesday from his hospital bed at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak north of Detroit. I had so many people tell me this was a fake disease. Galas situation illustrates how Michigan has become the current national hotspot for COVID19 infections and hospitalizations at a time when more than half the U.S. adult population has been vaccinated and other states have seen the virus diminish substantially. https://apnews.com/article/health-michigan-coronavirus-a9cdf0590d94786b198c22b7b4e4b9d7 26th Apr 2021

Italy Cautiously Reopens

The Associated Press Lunchtime diners filled tables on Milans landmark Piazza Duomo even on a cloudy windswept Monday proof of the pentup demand for eating out as Italy begins its second and many hope last reopening of the COVID19 pandemic. After six months of rotating onagain offagain closures restaurants bars museums and cinemas opened to the public in most of the country under a gradual reopening plan that is seen as too cautious for some too hasty for others. The nations weary virologists and health care workers fear that even the tentative reopening laid out by Premier Mario Draghis government will invite a freeorall signs of which were seen over the weekend with parks and squares filling up in cities from Rome to Turin Milan to Naples. It is illusory to think that you give a sign of opening and you dont see people around. Perfection doesnt exist Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said Monday. You also have to be a little tolerant and also a little careful. https://apnews.com/article/world-news-health-science-italy-lifestyle-ee0b8e67df7a8e84d4bbf570058625c7 26th Apr 2021

Italy Cautiously Reopens

The Associated Press Lunchtime diners filled tables on Milans landmark Piazza Duomo even on a cloudy windswept Monday proof of the pentup demand for eating out as Italy begins its second and many hope last reopening of the COVID19 pandemic. After six months of rotating onagain offagain closures restaurants bars museums and cinemas opened to the public in most of the country under a gradual reopening plan that is seen as too cautious for some too hasty for others. The nations weary virologists and health care workers fear that even the tentative reopening laid out by Premier Mario Draghis government will invite a freeorall signs of which were seen over the weekend with parks and squares filling up in cities from Rome to Turin Milan to Naples. https://apnews.com/article/world-news-health-science-italy-lifestyle-ee0b8e67df7a8e84d4bbf570058625c7 26th Apr 2021

Lockdown Continues Across the World

Al Jazeera English Turks will be required to stay mostly at home under a nationwide full lockdown starting on Thursday and lasting until May 17 to curb a surge in coronavirus infections and deaths President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced. Turkey logged 37312 new COVID19 infections and 353 deaths in the previous 24 hours on Monday health ministry data showed sharply down from midApril but still the worlds fourth highest number of cases. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/26/turkey-announces-full-lockdown-in-bid-to-halt-covid-surge 26th Apr 2021

Lockdown Continues Across the World

Reuters India The city of Bengaluru home to the technology operations of hundreds of global companies is to enter a twoweek lockdown as India battles a sharp surge in COVID19 infections officials said on Monday. Karnataka state of which Bengaluru is capital will also lock down from Tuesday evening for 14 days the state chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa told reporters after a cabinet meeting. Groceries and other essential services will operate for four hours in the mornings he said. The region is the latest to impose restrictions after similar lockdowns or curfews in many parts of India which is in the middleof a massive second wave of infections that has swamped its health system https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indian-tech-hub-bengaluru-enter-lockdown-infections-surge-2021-04-26/ 26th Apr 2021

Lockdown Continues Across the World

Reuters Thailands government slapped restrictions on travel from India on Monday over concerns of imported coronavirus cases and closed more venues in Bangkok even as it came under fire for not doing enough to contain a spike in infections. The government has ordered parks gyms cinemas and daycare centres in its capital the epicentre of the latest wave of infections to shut from April 26 until May 9. It has also introduced a fine of up to 20000 baht 635 for not wearing masks in public with even the prime minister falling foul of maskwearing rules https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-suspends-travel-india-it-steps-up-coronavirus-measures-home-2021-04-26/ 26th Apr 2021

France Treads Carefully

Reuters French restaurants will reopen in a staggered fashion and on a regional basis depending on the extent to which the COVID19 epidemic is brought under control President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/french-restaurants-reopen-staggered-manner-macron-2021-04-26/ 26th Apr 2021

France Treads Carefully

Reuters France sent primary and nursery pupils back to school on Monday the first phase of reopening after a threeweek COVID19 lockdown even as daily new infections remained stubbornly high. President Emmanuel Macron said a return to school would help fight social inequality allowing parents who struggle to pay for childcare to get back to work but trade unions warned that new infections would lead to a torrent of classroom closures. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/french-primary-pupils-return-school-despite-high-covid-numbers-2021-04-26/ 26th Apr 2021

Sanofi to aid Moderna on final steps in manufacturing coronavirus vaccine

BioPharma Dive French drugmaker Sanofi will help Moderna fill and finish vials of its coronavirus vaccine announcing Monday an agreement with the Massachusetts biotech to manufacture up to 200 million doses of the shot at a plant in New Jersey. Fill and finish describes the final steps of the production process in which the vaccine product is siphoned into individual vials capped and labeled for distribution. The deal with Sanofi should help Moderna expand capacity through the later stages of manufacturing but the larger drugmaker wont help with earlier steps of making raw materials or vaccine product. Moderna has contracted with the U.S. government to supply 300 million doses by the end of July 117 million of which had been delivered through April 12. The company operates a separate supply chain for manufacturing abroad and expects to make between 700 million and 1 billion doses globally this year. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/sanofi-deal-moderna-manufacture-coronavirus-vaccine/599022/ 26th Apr 2021

Brazil health regulator Anvisa's technical staff recommend against importing Russia's Sputnik vaccine

Reuters The Brazilian health regulators technical staff on Monday recommended against approving imports of the Russianmade Sputnik V COVID19 vaccine requested by governors battling against a deadly second wave of the virus. The recommendations by Anvisas technical staff will be taken into account by the regulators board which will announce its decision later on Monday. Anvisa had previously said there were critical issues surrounding the vaccines effectiveness and safety that needed clarifying. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-health-regulator-anvisas-technical-staff-recommend-against-importing-2021-04-26/ 26th Apr 2021