10th May 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=312 lockdown_exit

It's too soon to declare vaccine victory — four strategies for continued progress

The Hill Innovation. Vaccines should be delivered along with other health and social services that address the negative economic impacts that have left millions unemployed and unable to afford housing food and other necessities. Enlisting trusted community leaders will be essential in advancing such efforts. Collaboration between mainstream and digital media platforms and the medical and scientific communities can interrupt the spread of misinformation and increase the availability of accurate and engaging content. Engagement with key social and economic sectors beyond health. More conversations are needed across educational institutions businesses healthcare providers the agricultural sector and the security law enforcement and military communities to engage their respective communities in dialogue about vaccines in the context of postpandemic recovery. A top line priority needs to be creating hyperlocal strategies to win over skeptical Republicans and evangelicals while continuing fruitful engagement with Black Latinx and Native American populations. Vaccines could go the way of masks in America and become highly politicized if proactive listening and engagement with these groups does not occur. Fortunately Republican elected leaders and opinion makers are increasingly stepping forward publicly and privately in defense of vaccines. Those initiatives will be bolstered significantly if other trusted local messengers the family doctor or nurse community faith leaders and family members join in also. https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/552219-its-too-soon-to-declare-covid-vaccine-victory-four-strategies-for 6th May 2021

Stopping Drug Patents Has Stopped Pandemics Before

Foreign Policy Consider what happened in the years after 1996 when a consortium of pharmaceutical companies took the unprecedented step of sharing their HIVAIDS treatment data and manufacturing resulting in a collaboration that was the turning point for what had been a catastrophically grim pandemic. By working together the companies demonstrated that any one antiHIVAIDS drug taken as monotherapy would fail possibly even hasten the pace of the disease process. But when taken in combinations of three or four drugs made by usually rival companies the antiviral assault was so powerful that people bounced back from the edge of death like the Biblical Lazarus who was resurrected by Jesus. https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/07/stopping-drug-patents-pandemics-coronavirus-hiv-aids/ 10th May 2021

As the Covid-19 crisis ebbs in the U.S., experts brace for some to experience psychological fallout

STAT News The end of the emergency phase of the pandemic is in sight in the United States at least for now. But as the weight of the crisis is lifted experts are also anticipating a longterm impact on peoples mental health. For some people the feelings of anxiety and depression that emerged during the pandemic will resolve as routines resume people go back to the office social connections are reformed the seeming danger of activities dissipates. But others will face new or worse mental health issues that persist or even appear down the road a number that could be quite large given the magnitude of despair and disruption. That burden however big stands to put an even greater strain on an already stretched mental health system. https://www.statnews.com/2021/05/07/as-the-covid-19-crisis-ebbs-in-the-u-s-experts-brace-for-a-long-term-impact-on-mental-health/ 7th May 2021

Covid-19: Africa scrambles to increase genomic testing capacity as variants spread

The BMJ African countries are struggling to bolster genomic sequencing as SARSCoV2 variants spread on the continent reports Abdullahi Tsanni As the world entered 2021 the covid19 pandemic began a new phase one dominated by worries over emerging variants. But the way of detecting these threats has not been standardisedeven in the UK where genomic sequencing is relatively frequent only 510 of covid19 positive cases were being sequenced at the start of the year. The spotlight on sequencing has highlighted inequalities in global capacity. Many countries in Africa do not perform sequencing themselves and those that do only do so on a small scale. Genomic sequencing requires expertise machinery software reagents and funding. Over the past year as African countries grappled with scaling up basic testing capacity for covid19 it hasnt been a high priority. But as variants such as B.1.351first identified in South Africa and which now accounts for some 90 of the countrys covid19 casesled to growing concern there are worries that the lack of sequencing capacity will leave the continent unable to spot and stop variant outbreaks before they fuel a new wave of infections. https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1122 8th May 2021

To Mask Up or Not To Mask Up - That is the question

The Washington Post When David Daz went for a recent fivemile run in Iowa City he took along a partner he has depended on for more than a year his face mask. Daz 29 knew he did not have to. Hes fully vaccinated and recent federal guidance says unmasked outdoor exercise is safe. At first he wore the mask around his neck. But after passing people one block later he pulled it up and then began wondering why. Was he posturing Was he showing concern for others Was he worried passersby would view him as an antimasker Was he actually being antiscience At what point are you doing more harm than good and letting fear or something rule your life Daz a data analytics consultant said days later. Its still a thing Im trying to work through. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/05/08/confusion-changing-mask-guidelines/ 10th May 2021

To Mask Up or Not To Mask Up - That is the question

CNBC White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday that people may wear masks during certain seasons when respiratory illnesses are more prevalent. Weve had practically a nonexistent flu season this year ...Fauci said. His comments come less than a month after the Biden administration announced a relaxation of federal guidance on wearing masks outdoors. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/09/fauci-says-face-masks-could-become-seasonal-after-covid-pandemic.html 10th May 2021

To Mask Up or Not To Mask Up - That is the question

The Irish Times Families have been advised to maintain social distancing and to wear masks when meeting after Covid19 restrictions are eased next week. The socalled vaccine bonus will see fully vaccinated people from up to three households permitted to mix indoors from Monday. The same will also apply to those who received a first AstraZeneca shot more than four weeks ago and to people who have had a PCR test confirmed infection in the past six months. These groups can also meet indoors with unvaccinated people from another household provided they are not at risk of severe illness. The measures aim to benefit older people and those with health conditions who have had to spend lengthy periods cocooning since the pandemic began. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/covid-19-hse-advises-people-to-wear-face-masks-as-restrictions-ease-1.4558651 8th May 2021

UK government ‘failed to consider gender’ in its response to Covid pandemic

The Guardian The government has consistently failed to consider gender in its response to Covid19 despite men and women being affected in distinct ways by the pandemic claim researchers from the London School of Economics. While more men have died from the virus women have suffered more due to the impact of policies introduced to prevent disease transmission. Yet the subject of gender was largely absent from crucial meetings that informed the governments response to the crisis say academics who analysed the minutes from 73 meetings held in 2020 by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies Sage. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/08/uk-government-failed-to-consider-gender-in-its-response-to-covid-pandemic 8th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

CBS58.com As experts grow concerned about a possible Covid19 surge in the winter the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged its still possible seasonal vaccine boosters will be necessary. We want to hope for the best and prepare for the worst CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told actress Jennifer Garner in an interview streamed on Instagram. More than a third of the US is fully vaccinated against coronavirus but its still short of the benchmark of 70 to 85 of the total population that needs to be immune through vaccination or previous infection to control its spread. And many yet to receive the vaccine are those who have not decided whether they want it or have decided against it. https://www.cbs58.com/news/preparations-are-underway-for-potential-covid-19-vaccine-boosters-cdc-director-says 9th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

The New York Times The World Health Organization on Friday approved Chinas Sinopharms Covid19 vaccine for emergency use easing the way for poorer nations to get access to another muchneeded shot to help end the pandemic. The approval allows the Sinopharm vaccine to be included in Covax the World Health Organizations global initiative that is designed to promote equitable vaccine distribution around the world. The need is dire https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/world/who-covid-sinopharm-vaccine.html 8th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

Reuters To fight the pandemic at home the United States gave its own vaccine manufacturers priority access to Americanmade materials needed to make the shots. As a result the U.S. government laid claim not only to vast quantities of finished COVID19 vaccines but also to vaccine components and equipment all along the supply chain according to a Reuters review of more than a dozen contracts involving some major suppliers. That has left some countries desperately in need of those supplies to scramble for substitutes exacerbating international disparities in vaccine access according to interviews with suppliers foreign manufacturers and vaccine market experts. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/how-us-locked-up-vaccine-materials-other-nations-urgently-need-2021-05-07/?utm_medium=Social&amputm_source=twitter 7th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

BBC News Malawi has been left with 16400 doses of the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine while South Sudan has 59000 all now past their expiry date 13 April. Both countries say they have decided to destroy these consignments donated via the African Union despite the World Health Organization WHO asking for them to be kept while it investigates whether the expiry date can be safely extended. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/56940657 8th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

The Times The vaccination programme in the United Arab Emirates has failed to quash its coronavirus outbreak raising fears about the efficacy of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine it is mostly using. The UAE has vied with Israel for having the highest proportion of the population vaccinated. More than half of all adults have had two jabs. However cases remain higher than they were last year. While Dubai has come under fire for its rapid reopening few restrictions remain other than venue capacity limits and mandatory masks experts believe the UAEs widespread use of the Sinopharm vaccine could also be to blame. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/confidence-in-chinese-coronavirus-vaccine-falls-as-uae-covid-cases-remain-high-tj9fwz60z 8th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

CIDRAP The World Health Organization WHO approved emergency listing for Chinas Sinopharm vaccine a step that clears the way for a sixth vaccine to be added to the COVAX program. Todays announcement caps the review of Sinopharms inactivated vero cell virus vaccine by two WHO vaccine advisory groups. The WHOs technical advisory group TAG approved the vaccine for emergency listing. Meanwhile the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization SAGE recommended the vaccine for people 18 years of age and older on a twodose schedule given 3 to 4 weeks apart. WHO advisors are also reviewing a second vaccine from China one made by Sinovac. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/05/who-lists-sinopharm-covid-19-vaccine-emergency-use 7th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

The Conversation A COVID19 vaccine from French company Valneva has yet to complete clinical trials. But it has caught the eye of governments in the UK Europe and Australia. One of the vaccines main selling points is its apparent ability to mount a more general immune response against SARSCoV2 the virus that causes COVID19 rather than rely on the spike protein to do this. https://theconversation.com/whats-the-valneva-covid-19-vaccine-the-french-shot-thats-supposed-to-be-variant-proof-160345 8th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

Reuters Sri Lanka on Saturday approved Pfizers COVID19 vaccine for emergency use in Sri Lanka as the island nation battles a third wave of the virus while suffering a restricted supply of vaccines from neighboring India. Dr. Sudharshani Fernandopulle the minister overseeing the fight against the epidemic said in a statement the government would order 5 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/sri-lanka-approves-pfizer-covid-vaccine-emergency-use-2021-05-08/ 8th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

MIT Technology Review A handful of trials are now under way to test the power of vaccine combinations with the first results due in later this month. If these mixed regimens prove safe and effective countries will be able to keep the vaccine rollout moving even if supplies of one vaccine dwindle because of manufacturing delays unforeseen shortages or safety concerns. But theres another more exciting prospect that could be a vital part of our strategy in the future mixing vaccines might lead to broader immunity and hamper the viruss attempts to evade our immune systems. https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/05/06/1024640/why-mixing-vaccines-could-help-boost-immunity/ 10th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

The BMJ The efficacy of different covid19 vaccines against variants of concern including those first identified in the UK and South Africa will be assessed by Public Health England after a funding boost from the government. The UK governments Vaccine Taskforce has announced 29.3m 34m 40.8m in extra funding for new facilities at Porton Down in Wiltshire which will increase the sites capacity for testing variant samples from 1500 to 3000 a week. This is on top of a 19.7m investment approved last September to increase capacity for clinical testing of vaccines. The government has said that the Porton Down facilities will also be used for work to update existing vaccines to specifically target variants. Data are currently limited on the efficacy of vaccines against SARSCoV2 variants as many of the earlier vaccine trials were carried out before these variants emerged. https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1163 8th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

CIDRAP Two doses of the PfizerBioNTech mRNA COVID19 vaccine were highly effective in preventing coronavirusrelated infections and severe outcomes according to two new studies from Israel and one from the United States. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/05/real-world-studies-detail-high-pfizer-covid-vaccine-protection 7th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

BBC News A trial to test the efficacy of a new Covid19 vaccine is taking place in York. It is the first time the city has participated in vaccine testing and will involve 150 people. The plantderived vaccine has been developed by Medicago and GlaxoSmithKline. The trial is being delivered by the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of York. Globally 30000 volunteers are being recruited for the phase three trial including 1500 across the UK. The trial is the sixth one in the UK to be supported by the National Institute for Health Excellence. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-57010324 8th May 2021

Vaccines and Variants

Reuters Europes medicines regulator said on Friday it has begun a realtime review of the COVID19 antibody treatment developed by GSK GSK.L and Vir Biotechnology VIR.O formally kicking off the process for a potential European Union EU approval. The socalled rolling review comes after the European Medicines Agency EMA last month began another review of early data to provide recommendations for national authorities in the trading bloc who may decide on early use of the medicine. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/eu-regulator-begins-real-time-review-gsk-virs-covid-19-antibody-drug-2021-05-07/ 8th May 2021

Ramping up Testing

Reuters Egypt will require all visitors arriving from countries where variants of the virus have appeared to take a rapid COVID19 test upon arrival its health ministry said in a statement on Saturday. The statement did not specify the countries from which passengers would take the 15minute DNA test called ID NOW. Egypts new coronavirus cases have been steadily rising in recent weeks. On Saturday it reported 1125 new cases and 65 deaths although experts say that reflects only a fraction of total cases. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/egypt-test-visitors-countries-with-covid-19-variants-arrival-2021-05-08/ 8th May 2021

Patent Waivers

POLITICO.eu EU leaders have a question for the President of the United States about waiving vaccine patents So how exactly is this going to go Joe Joe Biden may have initially set Europe on its heels with his surprise proposal to suspend intellectual property rights but at a European Council summit in Porto Portugal top EU officials pushed back hard saying Washington has not put forward a specific plan and that in the near term waiving patents would not help with the immediate urgent need to increase production in poorer countries. On the intellectual property we dont think in the short term that its the magic bullet but we are ready to engage on this topic as soon as a concrete proposal will be put on the table European Council President Charles Michel said Saturday morning summarizing a roughly threehour dinner discussion among leaders on Friday night about the pandemic. https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-pushes-back-on-biden-plan-to-waive-patents-as-contest-escalates-in-global-vaccine-diplomacy/ 8th May 2021

Patent Waivers

POLITICO Europe Pope Francis on Saturday threw his support behind calls to waive intellectual property rights on coronavirus vaccines. In a prerecorded video message at Vax Live a fundraising concert the pope described closed nationalism preventing an internationalism of vaccines as a variant of the virus. Another variant is when we put the laws of the market ... or intellectual property over the laws of love and the health of humanity he added according to a Reuters report. https://www.politico.eu/article/pope-francis-backs-coronavirus-vaccine-patent-waivers/ 8th May 2021

Patent Waivers

Financial Times EU leaders have confronted the Biden administration over its calls for Covid19 vaccine patent waivers and urged the US to export jabs directly if it wants to help poor countries in need. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after a twoday EU leaders summit in Porto Portugal that suspending intellectual property rights was no solution to supply shortages and called for a focus on ramping up production instead. Frances President Emmanuel Macron and top EU officials echoed the German premiers rhetoric as the union scrambled to respond to this weeks surprise US move. Both powers are attempting to fend off accusations they are hoarding vaccines as much of the world sees few or no shipments. https://www.ft.com/content/92510f77-07ae-4082-8930-c8e9fb58bd1e 8th May 2021

Patent Waivers

Reuters The European Union on Thursday backed a U.S. proposal to discuss waiving patent protections for COVID19 vaccines but drugmakers and some other governments opposed the idea saying it would not solve global inoculation shortages. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed willingness to explore a waiver after President Joe Biden on Wednesday promoted the plan reversing the U.S. position https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-willing-discuss-covid-19-vaccine-patent-waiver-eus-von-der-leyen-2021-05-06/ 8th May 2021

Tourism, Opening After Lockdowns

South China Morning Post At least a dozen tour companies are offering local outings this weekend a better showing than last week when most were unprepared to relaunch under the new scheme. The resumption of business prompted equal measures of joy and wariness for one cashstarved operator who voiced concerns about a potential spike in Covid19 cases after the discovery of mutant strains in the city https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3132763/hong-kong-coronavirus-local-tours-finally-resume 8th May 2021

Tourism, Opening After Lockdowns

Reuters With widely spaced sun loungers and regular disinfections Greece reopened its organised beaches on Saturday as the popular Mediterranean holiday destination eases COVID19 curbs in preparation for the return of foreign visitors next week. Tourism accounts for about a fifth of Greeces economy and jobs and after the worst year on record for the industry last year the country can ill afford another lost summer. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hoping-lure-back-tourists-greece-reopens-beaches-after-lockdown-2021-05-08/ 8th May 2021

Tourism, Opening After Lockdowns

Reuters Britain will allow international travel to resume from May 17 but is limiting the number of destinations open for quarantinefree holidays to just 12 countries as it cautiously emerges from lockdown restrictions. Countries including Portugal and Israel made a green list of countries for low risk travel for people from England transport minister Grant Shapps said on Friday. The most popular destinations such as France Spain and Greece did not make the list. https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/britain-reopens-travel-may-17-just-12-destinations-2021-05-07/ 8th May 2021

The Indian Variant

The Guardian A coronavirus variant first detected in India has been designated a variant of concern by Englands public health body as consternation about its spread within communities grows. The variant called B.1.617.2 is one of three closely related variants that were first detected in India and have since been found in the UK with the others known as B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.3. These variants have worried scientists as they have mutations in their spike protein that it is thought may help the virus to evade the bodys immune responses and be more transmissible. The variant B.1.617.2 also known as VOC21APR02 has caused particular consternation as its numbers have risen rapidly in the UK. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/07/indian-covid-variant-is-variant-of-concern-says-public-health-england 9th May 2021

The Indian Variant

Reuters UK British health officials on Friday labelled a coronavirus variant first found in India a variant of concern due to evidence it spreads more easily with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying the situation needed careful handling. Public Health England designated variant B.1.617.2 one of three variants identified in India that has spread to Britain a variant of concern. Surge testing was being carried out in areas where evidence indicates community spread. Cases of the B.1.617.2 variant increased to 520 from 202 over the last week PHE said mainly in London and the northwest town of Bolton with almost half the cases related to contact with a traveller. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/british-officials-warn-over-indian-coronavirus-variant-reports-2021-05-07/ 8th May 2021

The Indian Variant

The BMJ The horrendous second wave of covid19 in India home to nearly a fifth of the worlds population has engulfed the vast nation in death despair and despondency. The graphic scenes of suffering people dying for lack of oxygen and medical care amid a shortage of medications and basic amenities coupled with mass cremations and burials grieving families overstretched healthcare workers and sheer human helplessness is hard to watch. India is already recording nearly 400000 reported cases per day the actual number may be eight to tenfold higher and some models project the numbers may rise to 800000 or even a million cases per day and 510000 deaths per day by mid or lateMay. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/05/08/indias-covid-19-catastrophe-is-a-failure-of-national-and-global-public-health-and-policy-response-to-the-pandemic/ 9th May 2021

The Indian Variant

BBC News Britain will allow international travel to resume from May 17 but is limiting the number of destinations open for quarantinefree holidays to just 12 countries as it cautiously emerges from lockdown restrictions. Countries including Portugal and Israel made a green list of countries for low risk travel for people from England transport minister Grant Shapps said on Friday. The most popular destinations such as France Spain and Greece did not make the list. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57019631 8th May 2021

The Indian Variant

BBC News On Saturday morning Dr Akshay Nair a Mumbaibased eye surgeon was waiting to operate on a 25yearold woman who had recovered from a bout of Covid19 three weeks ago. Inside the surgery an ear nose and throat specialist was already at work on the patient a diabetic. He had inserted a tube in her nose and was removing tissues infected with mucormycosis a rare but dangerous fungal infection. This aggressive infection affects the nose eye and sometimes the brain. After his colleague finished Dr Nair would carry out a three hour procedure to remove the patients eye. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57027829 10th May 2021

The Indian Variant

The Independent A hospital in Delhi the epicentre of coronavirus in India has reported the resurgence of deadly Covidinduced black fungal infections in patients. These types of infections can cause loss of sight and can lead to corrective measures such as the amputation of the affected area. According to Delhi doctors patients who contract black fungus only have a 50 percent survival rate. https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/delhi-covid-mucormycosis-black-fugus-b1843649.html 7th May 2021

The Indian Variant

Reuters South Africas health ministry said on Saturday it had detected the first four cases of a new coronavirus variant that emerged in India and was responsible for a surge of infections and deaths in the Asian country. Testing had also picked up 11 cases of the variant B.1.1.7 first detected in the UK the health ministry said in a statement. The Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa confirmed today that two variants of concern other than the B.1.351 already dominating in South Africa have been detected Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safrica-picks-up-first-cases-coronavirus-variant-india-2021-05-08/ 8th May 2021

The Indian Variant

Reuters Bangladesh has detected its first case of a highly infectious coronavirus variant first identified in India the countrys health directorate said on Saturday prompting the government to keep its border sealed for another two weeks. Six cases of the Indian variant had been detected in Bangladesh Nasima Sultana additional director general of the health directorate told reporters. Two cases are confirmed to be of the Indian variant and the others are quite close to it Sultana said adding that they all recently returned from neighbouring India and were in isolation. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladesh-detects-first-cases-indian-coronavirus-variant-2021-05-08/ 9th May 2021

The Indian Variant

Reuters India India on Saturday reported its highest ever singleday COVID19 death toll as cases continued to rise and states imposed stricter lockdowns. Indias health ministry reported 4187 fatalities over the past 24 hours taking the overall death toll close to 240000. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates that India will see 1 million COVID deaths by August. Cases rose by 401078 on Saturday bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 21.9 million. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-posts-record-daily-rise-covid-19-deaths-case-numbers-surge-2021-05-08/ 8th May 2021

New Lockdowns

Daily Mail on MSN.com India is currently being devastated by a deadly second wave of Covid. You can support Oxfams Covid relief efforts in India including reaching out to the most affected and vulnerable communities distributing and installing medical equipment and accessories and supporting the most marginalised households. You can donate here. For the first time India has recorded more than 4000 Covid19 related deaths as cases continue to surge across the country and two more states go into lockdown. Saturdays record of 4187 deaths takes the countrys official death toll from the virus to nearly 240000 although the true figure is believed to be much higher. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/indias-daily-covid-death-toll-tops-more-than-4000-for-first-time/ar-BB1gv56O 8th May 2021

New Lockdowns

Reuters Tunisia will impose a full lockdown against COVID19 for one week from Sunday Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi said on Friday. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-tunisia-idUSL8N2MU2V6 8th May 2021

New Lockdowns

Al Jazeera English Pakistan on Saturday began a nineday shutdown affecting travel and tourist hotspots in a bid to prevent a surge in COVID19 cases during the Muslim holiday of Eid alFitr. Already battling a third wave of infections and increasingly nervous about the crisis across the border in India the government has imposed the most severe restrictions since a onemonth lockdown in April last year. From today all businesses across the country will be closed. People will not be allowed to go into the markets to do their shopping for Eid Al Jazeeras Kamal Hyder reported from the capital Islamabad. Hyder said the Pakistani government feared that it will not be able to cope due to a possible lack of ventilators and oxygen if the situation sees the likes of which India is confronting. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/8/pakistan-imposes-eid-lockdown-as-covid-cases-soar 8th May 2021

New Lockdowns

Reuters Australias most populous state recorded no new COVID19 infections for a third straight day on Sunday but extended raised social distancing and maskwearing rules by a week as the authorities hunted for the source of a small outbreak. After a Sydney couple tested positive to the coronavirus last week ending a long run without community transmission the authorities reinstated some social distancing measures until May 10 and a campaign to get more people tested as they scrambled to determine the source of infection. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-most-populous-state-extends-covid-restrictions-hunt-outbreak-source-2021-05-09/ 9th May 2021

'Approved' or 'authorized'? When it comes to COVID-19 vaccines, words matter

ABC.Net.au Pfizer and partner BioNTech have asked the Food and Drug Administration for full approval for their COVID19 vaccine a regulatory benchmark beyond the current emergency use authorization granted during the pandemic. Moderna and Johnson Johnson are expected to submit similar requests before too long. Many are eager for COVID19 vaccines to advance to fullapproval status as they believe this will reassure those who are vaccine hesitant while also helping employers and universities to enforce vaccine mandates. It also would ensure that COVID19 vaccines still could still be administered after the pandemic ends and the declaration of emergency is over. If the FDA provides full approval for these vaccines we hope it will provide more confidence and ease the concerns of those who have not yet received the vaccine said Dr. Michelle Medina associate chief of clinical operations for Cleveland Clinic Community Health. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/approved-authorized-covid-19-vaccines-words-matter/story?id=77554910 9th May 2021

What’s the Valneva COVID-19 vaccine, the French shot that’s supposed to be ‘variant proof’?

The Conversation A COVID19 vaccine from French company Valneva has yet to complete clinical trials. But it has caught the eye of governments in the UK Europe and Australia. One of the vaccines main selling points is its apparent ability to mount a more general immune response against SARSCoV2 the virus that causes COVID19 rather than rely on the spike protein to do this. https://theconversation.com/whats-the-valneva-covid-19-vaccine-the-french-shot-thats-supposed-to-be-variant-proof-160345 8th May 2021

Real-world studies detail high Pfizer COVID vaccine protection

CIDRAP Two doses of the PfizerBioNTech mRNA COVID19 vaccine were highly effective in preventing coronavirusrelated infections and severe outcomes according to two new studies from Israel and one from the United States. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/05/real-world-studies-detail-high-pfizer-covid-vaccine-protection 7th May 2021

New Covid-19 vaccine trial launched in York

BBC News A trial to test the efficacy of a new Covid19 vaccine is taking place in York. It is the first time the city has participated in vaccine testing and will involve 150 people. The plantderived vaccine has been developed by Medicago and GlaxoSmithKline. The trial is being delivered by the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of York. Globally 30000 volunteers are being recruited for the phase three trial including 1500 across the UK. The trial is the sixth one in the UK to be supported by the National Institute for Health Excellence. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-57010324 8th May 2021

Pfizer, AstraZeneca COVID vaccines probed in Europe after reports of heart inflammation, rare nerve disorder

Fierce Pharma Europes drug regulator says its evaluating an assortment of potential side effects following inoculation with leading COVID19 vaccines including heart inflammation facial swelling and a rare nervedegenerating disorder. Yet in most circumstances its not clear whether the vaccines are to blame. In AstraZenecas case the European Medicines Agencys safety committee known as PRAC for short said its examining reports of GuillainBarre syndrome GBS among people who received the drugmakers COVID19 vaccine according to a report released on Friday. The agency is tracking the data for all coronavirus shots as part of its routine safety procedures. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/europe-s-drug-regulator-evaluates-reports-heart-inflammation-rare-nerve-disorder-covid-19 7th May 2021

Vietnam reports first death in patient who received AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

Reuters Vietnams health ministry on Friday reported its first death in a patient who received AstraZenecas AZN.L COVID19 vaccine shot as the country is battling a new outbreak. A 35yearold female health worker in the southern province of An Giang died on Friday one day after she received her first coronavirus vaccine shot the Ministry of Health said in a statement adding that she died from allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. This is a very rare case in the vaccination against COVID19 the ministry said in the statement. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnam-reports-first-death-patient-who-received-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-2021-05-07/ 8th May 2021

Thailand set to boost COVID-19 vaccinations, expects to approve Moderna shots

Reuters Thailand expects to offer the Moderna MRNA.O vaccine to most of its population soon as it steps up the rollout of its COVID19 vaccination campaign a health official said on Saturday. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-reports-2419-new-coronavirus-cases-19-new-deaths-2021-05-08/ 8th May 2021

COVID-19: Safety fears and potential side effects putting people off vaccine, official figures show

Sky News Safety fears are the most common reason for people not getting a coronavirus vaccine official figures have shown. The speed at which the jab has been developed and potential longterm side effects were also among concerns according to data from the Office for National Statistics ONS. Another major reason is many think catching COVID19 does not pose a significant risk to their health particularly young people and those who believe their immune systems are strong enough to fight the virus without the jab. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-safety-fears-and-potential-side-effects-putting-people-off-vaccine-official-figures-show-12299316 8th May 2021

The misinformation bubble threatening Brazil's indigenous people

BBC News False information from the mouths of politicians and preachers is reaching remote villages in the Amazon via WhatsApp reports BBC News Brasils Juliana Gragnani. A helicopter loaded with health workers and coronavirus vaccine doses took off from Labrea in the southern part of the Amazon heading to a village some 50km away. But the villagers part of the indigenous Jamamadi group greeted the chopper armed with bows and arrows and demanded that it leave. Theyd been hearing false rumours about vaccines and wanted reassurances from a religious missionary not doctors before getting jabbed. The helicopter left without administering any of the doses. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-56919424 8th May 2021