Most medical experts agree that vaccines are not silver bullets and the events in recent days further corroborate this theory.

In Israel, more than 12,000 people tested positive despite receiving the shot.&nbsp;

As many as 69 people had taken the second dose as well.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-says-pfizers-vaccine-safe-to-use-as-concerns-rise-post-norway-deaths-358575">WHO says Pfizer's vaccine safe to use as concerns rise post Norway deaths</a>

In Norway, 23 people died after getting vaccinated.&nbsp;

In both cases, the jab in question was Pfizer-BioNTech.&nbsp;

And now in addition to all these questions about efficacy, the company is facing a new challenge: shortages.

Pfizer is not being able to deliver the bulk orders placed by various governments across the world.

This delay could have a major impact on the global vaccination drive and this report will attempt to decode this.&nbsp;

The global vaccination campaign has hit a predictable snag with shipments arriving late and order volumes declining by half.

Pfizer's vaccine delivery has fallen 15 per cent this week and is expected to drop by 30 per cent in February.

The European Union bet big on Pfizer, ordering nearly 300 million doses and the shortage threatens to derail their immunisation drive.

This is prompting some member states like Hungary using fast-tracking alternatives, including vaccines by Russia's Sputnik V and AstraZeneca-Oxford.&nbsp;

While Romania and Poland are only getting half the doses they ordered, Italy has been told to expect a 20 per cent cut in the supply.&nbsp;

Europe's vaccination drive which was off to a rapid start has now slowed to a crawl.

<h2>What's stalling the production chain?</h2>

Pfizer claims the stall is a part of a new plan to increase output.

It is renovating a factory in Brussels to produce more doses.

Meanwhile, output was expected to fall, but the disruption is lasting longer than expected.

<h2>No time to wait</h2>

Countries simply can't afford to wait especially with the emergence of potent virus mutations.&nbsp;

Also, Pfizer's vaccine is delivered in two doses and the second one is key to developing complete immunity.

The delay means there is a risk of people not getting their second dose on time.

Elsewhere, Canada will not get even a single dose of Pfizer's vaccine from next week.

It's another blow to the country's already dismal roll-out.

However, Pfizer estimates that the deficit will be covered by next week.

The pace of the vaccination drive is crucial to taming the pandemic and momentum is key in the race to develop herd immunity.

Delays, even temporary ones, can set the vaccination programme back by weeks. 
&nbsp;

Most medical experts agree that vaccines are not silver bullets and the events in recent days further corroborate this theory. In Israel, more than 12,000 people tested positive despite receiving the shot.

Most medical experts agree that vaccines are not silver bullets and the events in recent days further corroborate this theory. In Israel, more than 12,000 people tested positive despite receiving the shot. As many as 69 people had taken the second dose as well. Also read | WHO says Pfizer's vaccine safe to use as concerns rise post Norway deaths In Norway, 23 people died after getting vaccinated. In both cases, the jab in question was Pfizer-BioNTech. And now in addition to all these questions about efficacy, the company is facing a new challenge: shortages. Pfizer is not being able to deliver the bulk orders placed by various governments across the world. This delay could have a major impact on the global vaccination drive and this report will attempt to decode this. The global vaccination campaign has hit a predictable snag with shipments arriving late and order volumes declining by half. Pfizer's vaccine delivery has fallen 15 per cent this week and is expected to drop by 30 per cent in February. The European Union bet big on Pfizer, ordering nearly 300 million doses and the shortage threatens to derail their immunisation drive. This is prompting some member states like Hungary using fast-tracking alternatives, including vaccines by Russia's Sputnik V and AstraZeneca-Oxford. While Romania and Poland are only getting half the doses they ordered, Italy has been told to expect a 20 per cent cut in the supply. Europe's vaccination drive which was off to a rapid start has now slowed to a crawl. What's stalling the production chain? Pfizer claims the stall is a part of a new plan to increase output. It is renovating a factory in Brussels to produce more doses. Meanwhile, output was expected to fall, but the disruption is lasting longer than expected. No time to wait Countries simply can't afford to wait especially with the emergence of potent virus mutations. Also, Pfizer's vaccine is delivered in two doses and the second one is key to developing complete immunity. The delay means there is a risk of people not getting their second dose on time. Elsewhere, Canada will not get even a single dose of Pfizer's vaccine from next week. It's another blow to the country's already dismal roll-out. However, Pfizer estimates that the deficit will be covered by next week. The pace of the vaccination drive is crucial to taming the pandemic and momentum is key in the race to develop herd immunity. Delays, even temporary ones, can set the vaccination programme back by weeks.

Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine raised hopes, but supply, efficacy concerns are hurting

In a first, the Russian President&nbsp;Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel got on a phone call on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of jointly producing coronavirus vaccines.

"Issues of cooperation in combating the coronavirus pandemic were discussed with an emphasis on the possible prospects for joint production of vaccines," the Kremlin's statement read.

Also read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/schools-salons-shut-down-in-germany-as-merkel-announces-another-covid-19-lockdown-349511">&nbsp;Schools, salons shut down in Germany as Merkel announces another COVID-19 lockdown</a>

The phone call came a few days after both the countries started mass&nbsp;vaccination drives, with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine and German's pharmaceutical company BioNTech's vaccine in partnership with Pfizer.

Russia's local vaccine, Sputnik V —&nbsp;named after the Soviet-era satellite — was hailed as the first vaccine as it was registered in August. The vaccine was registered far before the trials were started, which raised concerns about its efficacy at the time. Since then, however, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have taken a lead and have been approved by several countries.

The Putin-led country&nbsp;started a mass vaccination drive in early December, making the jab first available to high-risk groups including medics, teachers and the elderly. The local vaccine was also sent to&nbsp;Belarus, Serbia and Argentina, and also announced to send nearly 2.6 million doses to Bolivia if the production rate is satisfied.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-moscow-hires-first-women-train-drivers-after-decades-long-ban-354555">WATCH|</a>

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While the information about an ongoing phone call was reported, the outcome of the same has not been revealed. The Kremlin only claimed that an agreement was reached to "continue contacts on the issue" between the health experts and concerned government officials of the two countries.

The heads of the two countries also discussed the settlement between&nbsp;Kiev and pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. The topic was discussed in length as it has been on a standstill since signing of peace accords in 2015.

In a first, the Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel got on a phone call on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of jointly producing coronavirus vaccines.

In a first, the Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel got on a phone call on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of jointly producing coronavirus vaccines. "Issues of cooperation in combating the coronavirus pandemic were discussed with an emphasis on the possible prospects for joint production of vaccines," the Kremlin's statement read. Also read| Schools, salons shut down in Germany as Merkel announces another COVID-19 lockdown The phone call came a few days after both the countries started mass vaccination drives, with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine and German's pharmaceutical company BioNTech's vaccine in partnership with Pfizer. Russia's local vaccine, Sputnik V — named after the Soviet-era satellite — was hailed as the first vaccine as it was registered in August. The vaccine was registered far before the trials were started, which raised concerns about its efficacy at the time. Since then, however, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have taken a lead and have been approved by several countries. The Putin-led country started a mass vaccination drive in early December, making the jab first available to high-risk groups including medics, teachers and the elderly. The local vaccine was also sent to Belarus, Serbia and Argentina, and also announced to send nearly 2.6 million doses to Bolivia if the production rate is satisfied. WATCH| × While the information about an ongoing phone call was reported, the outcome of the same has not been revealed. The Kremlin only claimed that an agreement was reached to "continue contacts on the issue" between the health experts and concerned government officials of the two countries. The heads of the two countries also discussed the settlement between Kiev and pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. The topic was discussed in length as it has been on a standstill since signing of peace accords in 2015.

Russia's Putin and Germany's Merkel discuss possible joint vaccine production

A few weeks after the European Union approved the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine for emergency use in the union, the German pharmaceutical company&nbsp;BioNtech has lashed out at the EU for not approving enough doses.

The EU is now fearing a 'gap' in the vaccination drive, which BioNtech says has been caused as the EU did not approve and order enough doses. The vaccine was approved by the EU after the UK, Canada and the US started their vaccination drive from the same company. The German company claims other countries have been able to manage the mass vaccine drive in a better way than the EU.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/does-new-covid-19-strain-affect-young-people-more-353928" hreflang="en">Does new Covid-19 strain affect young people more?</a>

Uğur Şahin, Founder and the head of the German biotech firm, claims the vaccination programme in the EU "certainly did not go as fast and smooth as it did with other countries".&nbsp;

He also explained that the gap has been caused as the EU wrongfully assumed that several Other vaccines would be ready for approval by this time. "The assumption was that many other companies would come up with their vaccines," he said. "It would seem that the impression was: ‘We’ll get enough, it won’t be so bad, and we have this under control.’ It surprised me."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-massive-rave-party-with-little-social-distancing-causes-concern-353915" hreflang="en">rance: Massive rave party with little social distancing causes concern</a>

His wife and company's Chief Medical Officer said while she understands the logic behind EU's initial assumption, the union should have realised with time that the other companies will be unable to deliver in the set timeframe. "Such an approach makes sense. But then at some point it became clear that many would be unable to deliver so quickly," she said. "By that time it was too late to make up for under-ordering."

The company is now racing with its partner firm, Pfizer, to increase the production and deliver vaccine doses to the Eu to avoid the impending gap. However, the company has also added that they cannot produce flat-out to meet the widening gap. Hopefully, they will be able to set up a new manufacturing plant in Germany by the end of February. "By the end of January we should have clarity on how much more we can produce,"&nbsp;Şahin said.

Explaining the gap, the company reported that while the US ordered 600 million doses of the vaccine in July, the Eu waited until November to order half as many as the US, leading to a situation of chaos, especially with the identification of the new variants of the novel coronavirus.

A few weeks after the European Union approved the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine for emergency use in the union, the German pharmaceutical company BioNtech has lashed out at the EU for not approving enough doses.

A few weeks after the European Union approved the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine for emergency use in the union, the German pharmaceutical company BioNtech has lashed out at the EU for not approving enough doses. The EU is now fearing a 'gap' in the vaccination drive, which BioNtech says has been caused as the EU did not approve and order enough doses. The vaccine was approved by the EU after the UK, Canada and the US started their vaccination drive from the same company. The German company claims other countries have been able to manage the mass vaccine drive in a better way than the EU. Also read| Does new Covid-19 strain affect young people more? Uğur Şahin, Founder and the head of the German biotech firm, claims the vaccination programme in the EU "certainly did not go as fast and smooth as it did with other countries". He also explained that the gap has been caused as the EU wrongfully assumed that several Other vaccines would be ready for approval by this time. "The assumption was that many other companies would come up with their vaccines," he said. "It would seem that the impression was: ‘We’ll get enough, it won’t be so bad, and we have this under control.’ It surprised me." Also read| rance: Massive rave party with little social distancing causes concern His wife and company's Chief Medical Officer said while she understands the logic behind EU's initial assumption, the union should have realised with time that the other companies will be unable to deliver in the set timeframe. "Such an approach makes sense. But then at some point it became clear that many would be unable to deliver so quickly," she said. "By that time it was too late to make up for under-ordering." The company is now racing with its partner firm, Pfizer, to increase the production and deliver vaccine doses to the Eu to avoid the impending gap. However, the company has also added that they cannot produce flat-out to meet the widening gap. Hopefully, they will be able to set up a new manufacturing plant in Germany by the end of February. "By the end of January we should have clarity on how much more we can produce," Şahin said. Explaining the gap, the company reported that while the US ordered 600 million doses of the vaccine in July, the Eu waited until November to order half as many as the US, leading to a situation of chaos, especially with the identification of the new variants of the novel coronavirus.

BioNTech lashes out at EU for not ordering enough COVID-19 vaccine

The European Union set to buy an extra 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. In total, EU has fetched 300 million doses of the vaccine from the duo so far, as stated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday.

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"We decided to take an additional 100 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, which is already being used to vaccinate people across the EU," she announced on Twitter. 
 
"We will therefore have 300 million doses of this vaccine, which was assessed as safe and effective," the EC president added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/8-people-aged-between-38-and-54-overdosed-on-pfizer-vaccine-in-germany-show-flu-symptoms-353011" hreflang="en">8 people aged between 38 and 54 overdosed on Pfizer vaccine in Germany, show flu symptoms</a> 
 
Many of the vaccine candidates for which the EU had secured orders have run into delays owing to clinical trials, prompting the bloc to rely on shots from fewer manufactures.

The jab made by Pfizer and BioNTech is the first vaccine to be approved by regulators in the West, and is being rolled out in many countries including Britain and the United States.

Pfizer and BioNTech had agreed to quickly deliver 200 million doses of the vaccine for $18.8 per piece, EU officials had told Reuters in November.

The extra doses will be provided at the same rate, but the timetable may be negotiated, as stated by EU officials. Pfizer and BioNTech in a statement said that all 300 doses are expected to be delivered in 2020 and 2021.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/over-600000-people-in-britain-get-first-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-jab-352187" hreflang="en">Over 600,000 people in Britain get first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine jab</a>

"The additional 100 million doses will be delivered in 2021, supporting the vaccination campaigns, which started two days ago in all 27 member states," BioNTech Chief Executive Officer Ugur Sahin stated. 
 
The EU has a population of 450 million people, and is relying on Pfizer’s 200 million shots to vaccinate its people.

The EU is also set to approve the shot developed by Moderna in January 2021. Initially, an order for 80 million doses has been placed, with 80 million more doses to be fetched later on.

Both vaccines - Pfizer and Moderna require two doses per person. In total, the EU has booked 1.3 billion doses of vaccines as part of deals with Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca-Oxford, Johnson &amp; Johnson, Sanofi-GSK, CureVac among many. In addition, the bloc could procure 660 million more doses.

The European Union set to buy an extra 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. In total, EU has fetched 300 million doses of the vaccine from the duo so far, as stated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday.

The European Union set to buy an extra 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. In total, EU has fetched 300 million doses of the vaccine from the duo so far, as stated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday. "We decided to take an additional 100 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, which is already being used to vaccinate people across the EU," she announced on Twitter. "We will therefore have 300 million doses of this vaccine, which was assessed as safe and effective," the EC president added. Also read: 8 people aged between 38 and 54 overdosed on Pfizer vaccine in Germany, show flu symptoms Many of the vaccine candidates for which the EU had secured orders have run into delays owing to clinical trials, prompting the bloc to rely on shots from fewer manufactures. The jab made by Pfizer and BioNTech is the first vaccine to be approved by regulators in the West, and is being rolled out in many countries including Britain and the United States. Pfizer and BioNTech had agreed to quickly deliver 200 million doses of the vaccine for $18.8 per piece, EU officials had told Reuters in November. The extra doses will be provided at the same rate, but the timetable may be negotiated, as stated by EU officials. Pfizer and BioNTech in a statement said that all 300 doses are expected to be delivered in 2020 and 2021. Also read: Over 600,000 people in Britain get first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine jab "The additional 100 million doses will be delivered in 2021, supporting the vaccination campaigns, which started two days ago in all 27 member states," BioNTech Chief Executive Officer Ugur Sahin stated. The EU has a population of 450 million people, and is relying on Pfizer’s 200 million shots to vaccinate its people. The EU is also set to approve the shot developed by Moderna in January 2021. Initially, an order for 80 million doses has been placed, with 80 million more doses to be fetched later on. Both vaccines - Pfizer and Moderna require two doses per person. In total, the EU has booked 1.3 billion doses of vaccines as part of deals with Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca-Oxford, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi-GSK, CureVac among many. In addition, the bloc could procure 660 million more doses.

EU to buy 100 million more doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, taking the total to 300 million

Scientifically, it is highly likely that the immune response by this vaccine also can deal with the new virus variant.

Can new vaccines take on Covid mutation?

Despite being at much greater risk of the disease people from minority ethnic backgrounds or with lower incomes are significantly less likely to take the coronavirus vaccine, research suggests.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-trial-volunteers-who-got-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-developed-bells-palsy-348547">Also read: Four trial volunteers who got Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine developed Bell's palsy</a>

A study commissioned by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) found that three in four (76 per cent) of the British public would take a COVID-19 vaccine if advised to do so by their doctor, with just 8 per cent stating they would be very unlikely to do so. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/next-four-to-six-months-could-be-worst-of-coronavirus-pandemic-bill-gates-349593">Also read | Next four to six months could be worst of coronavirus pandemic: Bill Gates</a> 
 
The UK has covered nearly 138,000 people in the first week of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine rollout across the country.

However, it found that only 57 per cent of respondents from BAME backgrounds (199 respondents) were likely to accept the vaccine, compared to 79 per cent of white respondents.

Confidence in vaccines was found to be lowest among respondents of Asian ethnicity, of whom only 55 per cent were likely to say yes, the study says.

"We have known for years that different communities have different levels of satisfaction in the NHS (National Health Service) and more recently we have seen anti-vaccination messages have been specifically targeted at different groups, including different ethnic or religious communities," said Christina Marriott, Chief Executive of RSPH.

"But these are exactly the groups which have suffered most through COVID. They continue to be most at risk of getting ill and most at risk of dying. So, the government, the NHS and local public health must rapidly and proactively work with these communities. And their most effective ways of working will be with the local community groups," she said.

Earlier studies have shown that COVID-19 has a more adverse impact on minority ethnic groups in the UK, with working and living conditions largely believed to be behind the disparity of higher death rates among BAME groups.

Comorbidities such as blood pressure, obesity and diabetes are also believed to play a part in making those of South Asian ethnicity more susceptible to serious illness from the deadly virus.

These findings are not surprising in light of past experience of the reach of vaccines to BAME communities, but they appear to be particularly worrying as it suggests the COVID vaccine may not reach communities that have been disproportionately impacted," Jabeer Butt, Chief Executive of the UK's Race Equality Foundation, said in reference to the latest survey.

"It is imperative that the NHS uses trusted channels like BAME-led voluntary organisations to reach and address concerns of BAME communities and ensure that the disproportionate impact of COVID is not exacerbated," he said.

The RSPH report highlighted the encouraging finding that BAME respondents who were not willing to be vaccinated were receptive to offers of further health information from their general practitioner (GP).

Over one third (35 per cent) said they would likely change their minds and get the jab if given more information by their GP about how effective it is, almost twice as many as the 18 per cent of White people who were initially unwilling.

The RSPH said the latest findings build on a study earlier this year which found that parents in minority ethnic groups were almost three times more likely to reject a COVID-19 vaccine for themselves and their children than White parents.

The polling also revealed significantly more hesitancy among lower-income groups, with just 70 per cent of lowest earners likely to say yes to the jab compared to 84 per cent of the highest earners.

Last week, the UK began administering the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in a phased manner, starting with the elderly and frontline workers as categories at the highest risk of death from coronavirus.

With a number of other vaccines, including the Oxford University vaccine being produced by AstraZeneca, in the pipeline, the government is keen to get the message out for widespread uptake of the jabs as a means to emerge out of the current cycle of lockdowns to control the spread of infections.

The UK's regulatory body, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has repeatedly stressed that any vaccines will be cleared for mass rollout only after "rigorous" safety tests despite the process being speeded up due to the urgency of finding an effective vaccine against the pandemic which has wreaked havoc around the world.

(With inputs from agencies)

Despite being at much greater risk of the disease people from minority ethnic backgrounds or with lower incomes are significantly less likely to take the coronavirus vaccine, research suggests.

Despite being at much greater risk of the disease people from minority ethnic backgrounds or with lower incomes are significantly less likely to take the coronavirus vaccine, research suggests. Also read: Four trial volunteers who got Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine developed Bell's palsy A study commissioned by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) found that three in four (76 per cent) of the British public would take a COVID-19 vaccine if advised to do so by their doctor, with just 8 per cent stating they would be very unlikely to do so. Also read | Next four to six months could be worst of coronavirus pandemic: Bill Gates The UK has covered nearly 138,000 people in the first week of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine rollout across the country. However, it found that only 57 per cent of respondents from BAME backgrounds (199 respondents) were likely to accept the vaccine, compared to 79 per cent of white respondents. Confidence in vaccines was found to be lowest among respondents of Asian ethnicity, of whom only 55 per cent were likely to say yes, the study says. "We have known for years that different communities have different levels of satisfaction in the NHS (National Health Service) and more recently we have seen anti-vaccination messages have been specifically targeted at different groups, including different ethnic or religious communities," said Christina Marriott, Chief Executive of RSPH. "But these are exactly the groups which have suffered most through COVID. They continue to be most at risk of getting ill and most at risk of dying. So, the government, the NHS and local public health must rapidly and proactively work with these communities. And their most effective ways of working will be with the local community groups," she said. Earlier studies have shown that COVID-19 has a more adverse impact on minority ethnic groups in the UK, with working and living conditions largely believed to be behind the disparity of higher death rates among BAME groups. Comorbidities such as blood pressure, obesity and diabetes are also believed to play a part in making those of South Asian ethnicity more susceptible to serious illness from the deadly virus. These findings are not surprising in light of past experience of the reach of vaccines to BAME communities, but they appear to be particularly worrying as it suggests the COVID vaccine may not reach communities that have been disproportionately impacted," Jabeer Butt, Chief Executive of the UK's Race Equality Foundation, said in reference to the latest survey. "It is imperative that the NHS uses trusted channels like BAME-led voluntary organisations to reach and address concerns of BAME communities and ensure that the disproportionate impact of COVID is not exacerbated," he said. The RSPH report highlighted the encouraging finding that BAME respondents who were not willing to be vaccinated were receptive to offers of further health information from their general practitioner (GP). Over one third (35 per cent) said they would likely change their minds and get the jab if given more information by their GP about how effective it is, almost twice as many as the 18 per cent of White people who were initially unwilling. The RSPH said the latest findings build on a study earlier this year which found that parents in minority ethnic groups were almost three times more likely to reject a COVID-19 vaccine for themselves and their children than White parents. The polling also revealed significantly more hesitancy among lower-income groups, with just 70 per cent of lowest earners likely to say yes to the jab compared to 84 per cent of the highest earners. Last week, the UK began administering the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in a phased manner, starting with the elderly and frontline workers as categories at the highest risk of death from coronavirus. With a number of other vaccines, including the Oxford University vaccine being produced by AstraZeneca, in the pipeline, the government is keen to get the message out for widespread uptake of the jabs as a means to emerge out of the current cycle of lockdowns to control the spread of infections. The UK's regulatory body, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has repeatedly stressed that any vaccines will be cleared for mass rollout only after "rigorous" safety tests despite the process being speeded up due to the urgency of finding an effective vaccine against the pandemic which has wreaked havoc around the world. (With inputs from agencies)

Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups reluctant to take Covid-19 vaccine jab: UK study

A group of US states is planning to take aim at Google with an antitrust lawsuit, saying the internet giant abused its power when ranking its own offerings in search results.

Politico reported Tuesday that a complaint led by attorneys general from Colorado and Nebraska could be filed as early as Thursday.

Amazon, TripAdvisor, Yelp and other internet firms that involve recommending products or services have complained that Google favours its own offerings in general search results.

The suit being prepared by states will argue that Google's search engine disadvantages rivals by design.

Google called the US lawsuit "deeply flawed."

Google's long-running business model based on free services and advertising is already being put to the test in a landmark antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Justice Department.

The US government filed a blockbuster lawsuit in October accusing Google of maintaining an "illegal monopoly" in online search and advertising. The country's biggest antitrust case in decades, it opens the door to a potential breakup of the Silicon Valley titan.

The politically charged case, which could take years to play out, draws new battle lines between the US government and Big Tech, with potentially major implications for the sector.

But the government is likely to face challenges proving monopoly allegations against the tech firm, which grew into one of the world's most successful companies by leveraging its powerful search engine for a network of services such as maps, email, shopping and travel that feed its data-driven digital advertising.

Legal experts point to the fact that it may be difficult to show Google's conduct was illegal under the longstanding "consumer welfare" standard in monopoly cases because its services are largely free.

The case -- joined by 11 states, all of which have Republican attorneys general -- comes against a backdrop of fierce political backlash against Big Tech giants that have extended their dominance in recent years.

The Justice Department argues that Google has cemented its monopoly position using deals with device makers to ensure its apps and services are prominently displayed, and sometimes can't be deleted.

(with inputs from agencies)

A group of US states is planning to take aim at Google with an antitrust lawsuit, saying the internet giant abused its power when ranking its own offerings in search results.

A group of US states is planning to take aim at Google with an antitrust lawsuit, saying the internet giant abused its power when ranking its own offerings in search results. Politico reported Tuesday that a complaint led by attorneys general from Colorado and Nebraska could be filed as early as Thursday. Amazon, TripAdvisor, Yelp and other internet firms that involve recommending products or services have complained that Google favours its own offerings in general search results. The suit being prepared by states will argue that Google's search engine disadvantages rivals by design. Google called the US lawsuit "deeply flawed." Google's long-running business model based on free services and advertising is already being put to the test in a landmark antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Justice Department. The US government filed a blockbuster lawsuit in October accusing Google of maintaining an "illegal monopoly" in online search and advertising. The country's biggest antitrust case in decades, it opens the door to a potential breakup of the Silicon Valley titan. The politically charged case, which could take years to play out, draws new battle lines between the US government and Big Tech, with potentially major implications for the sector. But the government is likely to face challenges proving monopoly allegations against the tech firm, which grew into one of the world's most successful companies by leveraging its powerful search engine for a network of services such as maps, email, shopping and travel that feed its data-driven digital advertising. Legal experts point to the fact that it may be difficult to show Google's conduct was illegal under the longstanding "consumer welfare" standard in monopoly cases because its services are largely free. The case -- joined by 11 states, all of which have Republican attorneys general -- comes against a backdrop of fierce political backlash against Big Tech giants that have extended their dominance in recent years. The Justice Department argues that Google has cemented its monopoly position using deals with device makers to ensure its apps and services are prominently displayed, and sometimes can't be deleted. (with inputs from agencies)

US expands Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine rollout; reassure its safety

Canada became the third country in the world to begin the inoculation of its citizens with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

On Monday, Canada began injecting its frontline workers and the elderly in nursing homes.

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The first person to receive the vaccine was Anita Quidangen - whose inoculation was broadcast on live TV. Quidangen works at the Rekai Centre, a non-profit nursing home for the elderly in Canada’s largest city - Toronto, and claimed that she was “excited” to be the first person to get the vaccine in the country.

Soon after she was injected, healthcare workers donning masks and white coats applauded her.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke about it and called it a “great relief”. 
 
"It's a great relief. Clearly, it may only be the beginning of the end but we sense nevertheless that there will be an end to this pandemic," said Justin Trudeau.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/how-canada-switzerland-stuck-a-secret-deal-with-china-348918" hreflang="en">How Canada, Switzerland stuck a secret deal with China</a> 
 
He also added that he was in no hurry to get vaccinated himself, saying priority must be given to the most vulnerable people. 
 
"We obviously have to give priority to the most vulnerable but the second I have a chance - like all healthy adults - I will do so very visibly and with enthusiasm," he said in conversation with French-language broadcaster Radio-Canada. 
 
Currently, Canada is witnessing a second wave of COVID-19, whereby businesses are forced to shut again, and social gatherings extremely limited.

So far, the country has reported 460,743 cases of COVID-19. Most cases come from Quebec, the country’s most populous province.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/how-the-vaccine-rollout-will-compare-in-britain-canada-and-the-us-349368" hreflang="en">How the vaccine rollout will compare in Britain, Canada and the US</a> 
 
"It's really good news for Canada. It's really good news for Quebec," country’s Health Minister Patty Hajdu said from the Maimonides Geriatric Center in Montreal, where inoculation also began on Monday.

According to Quebec’s Health Minister Christian Dube, 50,000 people will be vaccinated in the province by January 4. 
 
13,431 people have lost their lives to the virus in Canada, 60 per cent of which have taken place in care homes for the elderly. But it’s an improvement from the grim 80 per cent during the first wave.

On Monday, the US also began vaccinating its citizens. Last week, the UK kicked off its national programme to inoculate against COVID-19. 
&nbsp;

Canada became the third country in the world to begin the inoculation of its citizens with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. On Monday, Canada began injecting its frontline workers and the elderly in nursing homes.

Canada became the third country in the world to begin the inoculation of its citizens with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. On Monday, Canada began injecting its frontline workers and the elderly in nursing homes. The first person to receive the vaccine was Anita Quidangen - whose inoculation was broadcast on live TV. Quidangen works at the Rekai Centre, a non-profit nursing home for the elderly in Canada’s largest city - Toronto, and claimed that she was “excited” to be the first person to get the vaccine in the country. Soon after she was injected, healthcare workers donning masks and white coats applauded her. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke about it and called it a “great relief”. "It's a great relief. Clearly, it may only be the beginning of the end but we sense nevertheless that there will be an end to this pandemic," said Justin Trudeau. Also read: How Canada, Switzerland stuck a secret deal with China He also added that he was in no hurry to get vaccinated himself, saying priority must be given to the most vulnerable people. "We obviously have to give priority to the most vulnerable but the second I have a chance - like all healthy adults - I will do so very visibly and with enthusiasm," he said in conversation with French-language broadcaster Radio-Canada. Currently, Canada is witnessing a second wave of COVID-19, whereby businesses are forced to shut again, and social gatherings extremely limited. So far, the country has reported 460,743 cases of COVID-19. Most cases come from Quebec, the country’s most populous province. Also read: How the vaccine rollout will compare in Britain, Canada and the US "It's really good news for Canada. It's really good news for Quebec," country’s Health Minister Patty Hajdu said from the Maimonides Geriatric Center in Montreal, where inoculation also began on Monday. According to Quebec’s Health Minister Christian Dube, 50,000 people will be vaccinated in the province by January 4. 13,431 people have lost their lives to the virus in Canada, 60 per cent of which have taken place in care homes for the elderly. But it’s an improvement from the grim 80 per cent during the first wave. On Monday, the US also began vaccinating its citizens. Last week, the UK kicked off its national programme to inoculate against COVID-19.

Canada joins US, UK to inoculate people with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

Vaccines may not put an end to the pandemic. As for the virus- it may be here to stay. Past pandemics, present numbers, and experts- all corroborate this. Listen in to WION's Palki Sharma.

Gravitas Plus: Will the entry of vaccines spell the exit of the pandemic?

Britain becomes the first Western country in the world to start mass vaccination programme against the COVID-19. UK is rolling out the vaccine manufactured by US pharma Pfizer & its German partner BioNTech.

UK becomes the first Western country to begin mass vaccination against COVID-19

Queen Elizabeth II will receive the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine </a>within weeks after the United Kingdom granted emergency approval to Pfizer-BioNTech for its drug, reports suggest.&nbsp;

The British Queen and her 99-year-old husband Prince Philip are in line to get the vaccine early due to their age, the Mail on Sunday claimed.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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The report also said that the British royals would get vaccinated "to encourage more people to take up the vital jab" amid fears peddled by anti-vaxxers.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anthony-fauci-backtracks-on-uk-vaccine-comments-apologises-for-misunderstanding-347555">Anthony Fauci backtracks on UK vaccine comments; apologises for 'misunderstanding'</a>

The Daily Mirror also reported a number of high-profile personalities in Britain who had committed to publicly get inoculated.&nbsp;

Buckingham Palace has so far not commented on the development.&nbsp;

Britain on Wednesday granted emergency approval to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and now people most at risk and elderly are set to be the first set of individuals who will get the drug.

Elderly care home residents and their carers will get the jab first, followed by those aged 80 and more and frontline health and care professionals.&nbsp;

Rest of the elderly people and clinically extremely vulnerable will then get inoculated.

The remaining population will then get vaccinated according to their age.&nbsp;

The UK has pre-ordered 40 million doses of the vaccine and will be receiving an initial batch of 800,000 doses to start next week's rollout.

 
&nbsp;

Queen Elizabeth II will receive the coronavirus vaccine within weeks after the United Kingdom granted emergency approval to Pfizer-BioNTech for its drug, reports suggest.

Queen Elizabeth II will receive the coronavirus vaccine within weeks after the United Kingdom granted emergency approval to Pfizer-BioNTech for its drug, reports suggest. The British Queen and her 99-year-old husband Prince Philip are in line to get the vaccine early due to their age, the Mail on Sunday claimed. Watch | The report also said that the British royals would get vaccinated "to encourage more people to take up the vital jab" amid fears peddled by anti-vaxxers. Also read | Anthony Fauci backtracks on UK vaccine comments; apologises for 'misunderstanding' The Daily Mirror also reported a number of high-profile personalities in Britain who had committed to publicly get inoculated. Buckingham Palace has so far not commented on the development. Britain on Wednesday granted emergency approval to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and now people most at risk and elderly are set to be the first set of individuals who will get the drug. Elderly care home residents and their carers will get the jab first, followed by those aged 80 and more and frontline health and care professionals. Rest of the elderly people and clinically extremely vulnerable will then get inoculated. The remaining population will then get vaccinated according to their age. The UK has pre-ordered 40 million doses of the vaccine and will be receiving an initial batch of 800,000 doses to start next week's rollout.

Queen Elizabeth II to receive coronavirus vaccine within weeks: Reports

The highest number of any individual government apart from India which has already made agreements for 1.6 billion doses while the EU has secured a further 1.585 billion. Of the U.S. total, Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna both account for 100 million doses.

How many Covid-19 vaccine doses has the nations secured?

The U.K. has become the first country to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. 800,000 shots are on its way to the U.K - and the country wants to start the vaccinating people next week. Who will get the shots first? Molly Gambhir has the answer.

Gravitas: U.K. approves Pfizer vaccine

The medical regulator of United Kingdom has officially approved the rollout of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Britain has became the first country in the world to approve the vaccine for widespread use.

WION Fineprint: UK becomes first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine

Britain has became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use and said that it will be made available for rollout across the UK from early next week.

BioNTech news conference on COVID-19 vaccine that got approval by UK

Watch: UK vaccine regulator briefs on rollout after Pfizer vaccine gets approval

UK approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use, first in the world

United Kingdom has became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use and said that it will be made available across the Britain from early next week.

Breaking News: UK approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for mass rollout

After 11 months of suffering and more than a million deaths, It could be the beginning of the end to the pandemic.&nbsp;

November has been a good month for vaccine makers and scientists. Pfizer and Biontech reported their results first. They had earlier claimed their vaccine is more than 90 per cent effective&nbsp; 
and after completing the final analysis the company says the vaccine is 95 per cent effective.

Meanwhile, US pharma giant Pfizer has moved US regulators to seek approvals for emergency use for its vaccines. Good news came from Russia too as makers of Sputnik V claimed their vaccine is 92 per cent effective.

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The next results came from Moderna, it said the vaccine is 94.5 per cent effective. The markets have welcomed these developments with open arms. The vaccine makers have injected trillions of dollars into the stock markets this month.

The total value of equity markets around the world touched an all-time high with 95 trillion dollars pumped in. The vaccine news added more than one trillion dollars to the S&amp;P 500 which is the American stock market index that measures the performance of 500 large companies in the US.

The Indian markets have registered significant gains in this period too. There was a sharp fall on Thursday but the larger sentiment remains positive. Stocks of vaccine makers are selling like hot cakes. The stock of bio-tech company Moderna has risen by 376 per cent. Pfizer's partner Biontech stocks rose 157 per cent.

It has been a dream run for Novavax which is another vaccine maker. In October, Novavax stock had jumped by a whopping 2,840 per cent with one share of Novavax valued at four dollars at the beginning of 2020, by October it was priced at 117 dollars and as of today it is dealing at around 86 dollars.

The stocks of Pfizer soared too with Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla cashing out 60 per cent of his own Pfizer stock netting him $5.6 million. It was however pre-arranged since Bourla had earlier expressed his intentions to sell his stock months in advance when the price hit a certain mark while this practice is considered controversial in America, it is legal to arrange such a trade in advance, it is not insider trading.

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A vaccine is perhaps the only sure shot exit strategy for this pandemic without it the worldwide economic impact of the Wuhan virus could be $3.4 trillion a year which is why the success in vaccine development is being welcomed across all quarters.

It could be the beginning of the end but, there are still significant hurdles to cross. The data and claims of these companies need to be vetted and drug regulators will have to clear the vaccines first.&nbsp;

There will be a limited roll out early on, it could take several months for the common man to get a vaccine but with each passing day we are getting one step closer to the shots.

After 11 months of suffering and more than a million deaths, It could be the beginning of the end to the pandemic. November has been a good month for vaccine makers and scientists.

After 11 months of suffering and more than a million deaths, It could be the beginning of the end to the pandemic. November has been a good month for vaccine makers and scientists. Pfizer and Biontech reported their results first. They had earlier claimed their vaccine is more than 90 per cent effective and after completing the final analysis the company says the vaccine is 95 per cent effective. Meanwhile, US pharma giant Pfizer has moved US regulators to seek approvals for emergency use for its vaccines. Good news came from Russia too as makers of Sputnik V claimed their vaccine is 92 per cent effective. × The next results came from Moderna, it said the vaccine is 94.5 per cent effective. The markets have welcomed these developments with open arms. The vaccine makers have injected trillions of dollars into the stock markets this month. The total value of equity markets around the world touched an all-time high with 95 trillion dollars pumped in. The vaccine news added more than one trillion dollars to the S&P 500 which is the American stock market index that measures the performance of 500 large companies in the US. The Indian markets have registered significant gains in this period too. There was a sharp fall on Thursday but the larger sentiment remains positive. Stocks of vaccine makers are selling like hot cakes. The stock of bio-tech company Moderna has risen by 376 per cent. Pfizer's partner Biontech stocks rose 157 per cent. It has been a dream run for Novavax which is another vaccine maker. In October, Novavax stock had jumped by a whopping 2,840 per cent with one share of Novavax valued at four dollars at the beginning of 2020, by October it was priced at 117 dollars and as of today it is dealing at around 86 dollars. The stocks of Pfizer soared too with Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla cashing out 60 per cent of his own Pfizer stock netting him $5.6 million. It was however pre-arranged since Bourla had earlier expressed his intentions to sell his stock months in advance when the price hit a certain mark while this practice is considered controversial in America, it is legal to arrange such a trade in advance, it is not insider trading. × A vaccine is perhaps the only sure shot exit strategy for this pandemic without it the worldwide economic impact of the Wuhan virus could be $3.4 trillion a year which is why the success in vaccine development is being welcomed across all quarters. It could be the beginning of the end but, there are still significant hurdles to cross. The data and claims of these companies need to be vetted and drug regulators will have to clear the vaccines first. There will be a limited roll out early on, it could take several months for the common man to get a vaccine but with each passing day we are getting one step closer to the shots.

Coronavirus vaccine news injects trillions in stock markets worldwide

The United States top infectious disease official, Anthony Fauci, has vowed for the data of the two coronavirus vaccines being tested by&nbsp;Pfizer and Moderna.

Fauci spoke at a briefing from White House virus task force to talk about the rising concerns about the credibility of the two vaccines, given their speed of testing.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/confident-that-covid-19-vaccine-will-be-ready-in-3-4-months-indias-health-minister-344051">Confident that Covid-19 vaccine will be ready in 3-4 months: India's health minister</a>

Acknowledging the speed at which the two companies finished their successful trials, Fauci highlighted the advancement of the technology and quit wit of the scientists behind this success. "The process of the speed did not compromise at all safety nor did it compromise scientific integrity. It was a reflection of the extraordinary scientific advances in these types of vaccines which allowed us to do things in months that actually took years before," he said.

People all around the world are waiting for the production and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to start as soon as possible, as the deadly virus has already tens of millions of people across the globe.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oxford-astrazeneca-vaccine-safe-for-older-adults-results-show-344093">Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine safe for older adults, results show</a>

While people want to safeguard their lives and families' health through this, the vaccine has also become a political agenda in several countries — a quick way to gain voters' trust — such as the US and India.

Many are concerned these two vaccines have been rushed to meet political agendas of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US elections</a>, in which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has defeated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>. Fauci utilised this briefing to assure no such hindrance and manipulation has taken place in the whole process.

"It was actually an independent body of people who have no allegiance to anyone -- not to the administration, not to me, not to the companies -- that looked at the data and deemed it to be sound," he said. "So we need to put to rest any concept that this was rushed in an inappropriate way. This is really solid."

The United States top infectious disease official, Anthony Fauci, has vowed for the data of the two coronavirus vaccines being tested by Pfizer and Moderna. Fauci spoke at a briefing from White House virus task force to talk about the rising concerns about the credibility of the two vaccines, given their speed of testing.

The United States top infectious disease official, Anthony Fauci, has vowed for the data of the two coronavirus vaccines being tested by Pfizer and Moderna. Fauci spoke at a briefing from White House virus task force to talk about the rising concerns about the credibility of the two vaccines, given their speed of testing. Also read| Confident that Covid-19 vaccine will be ready in 3-4 months: India's health minister Acknowledging the speed at which the two companies finished their successful trials, Fauci highlighted the advancement of the technology and quit wit of the scientists behind this success. "The process of the speed did not compromise at all safety nor did it compromise scientific integrity. It was a reflection of the extraordinary scientific advances in these types of vaccines which allowed us to do things in months that actually took years before," he said. People all around the world are waiting for the production and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to start as soon as possible, as the deadly virus has already tens of millions of people across the globe. Also read| Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine safe for older adults, results show While people want to safeguard their lives and families' health through this, the vaccine has also become a political agenda in several countries — a quick way to gain voters' trust — such as the US and India. Many are concerned these two vaccines have been rushed to meet political agendas of the US elections, in which Joe Biden has defeated Donald Trump. Fauci utilised this briefing to assure no such hindrance and manipulation has taken place in the whole process. "It was actually an independent body of people who have no allegiance to anyone -- not to the administration, not to me, not to the companies -- that looked at the data and deemed it to be sound," he said. "So we need to put to rest any concept that this was rushed in an inappropriate way. This is really solid."

Fauci guarantees accuracy in Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccine data

BioNTech announced on Wednesday that its potential coronavirus vaccine can come before Christmas if it secures emergency US and European authorisation.&nbsp;

The final trial results of the vaccine co-developed by Pfizer and BioNTech have shown that it has a success rate of 95 per cent with no serious side effects and is effective for people belonging to all age groups.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/final-results-show-coronavirus-vaccine-95-effective-says-pfizer-343912">Final results show coronavirus vaccine 95% effective, says Pfizer</a>

The US Food and Drug Administration could allow emergency-use by the middle of December, said BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahin to news agency Reuters.

"If all goes well I could imagine that we gain approval in the second half of December and start deliveries before Christmas, but really only if all goes positively," Sahin said.

The success rate of the drug was far more than what regulators had regarded acceptable, that prompted experts to call it a significant achievement to end the pandemic.

Of the 170 participants who were infected with Covid-19 in Pfizer's trial of over 43,000 people, 162 had received a placebo and not the vaccine, implying the vaccine was 95 per cent effective.&nbsp;

Sahin said the drugmakers would apply for the emergency use of the vaccine on Friday.

An FDA advisory committee tentatively aims to meet on December 8-10 to discuss the drug, a source told Reuters, adding that dates could be changed.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

BioNTech announced on Wednesday that its potential coronavirus vaccine can come before Christmas if it secures emergency US and European authorisation. The final trial results of the vaccine co-developed by Pfizer and BioNTech have shown that it has a success rate of 95 per cent with no serious side effects and is effective for people belonging to all age groups.

BioNTech announced on Wednesday that its potential coronavirus vaccine can come before Christmas if it secures emergency US and European authorisation. The final trial results of the vaccine co-developed by Pfizer and BioNTech have shown that it has a success rate of 95 per cent with no serious side effects and is effective for people belonging to all age groups. Also read | Final results show coronavirus vaccine 95% effective, says Pfizer The US Food and Drug Administration could allow emergency-use by the middle of December, said BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahin to news agency Reuters. "If all goes well I could imagine that we gain approval in the second half of December and start deliveries before Christmas, but really only if all goes positively," Sahin said. The success rate of the drug was far more than what regulators had regarded acceptable, that prompted experts to call it a significant achievement to end the pandemic. Of the 170 participants who were infected with Covid-19 in Pfizer's trial of over 43,000 people, 162 had received a placebo and not the vaccine, implying the vaccine was 95 per cent effective. Sahin said the drugmakers would apply for the emergency use of the vaccine on Friday. An FDA advisory committee tentatively aims to meet on December 8-10 to discuss the drug, a source told Reuters, adding that dates could be changed.

Pfizer vaccine deliveries could begin before Christmas, if 'all goes well'

Co-founder of BIONTECH Prof.Ugur Sahin tells that everything will get normal by winter 2021, the professor said that the vaccine will show results in summer 2021 and normalcy could return in winter 2021

Co-founder of BIONTECH  tells about another ray of hope in fight against COVID-19

The new COVID vaccine being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech would begin to be delivered at the "end of this year, beginning of next year" if everything continued to go well, one of its creators said on Sunday.

Ray of hope in COVID-19 wrecked world; Biontech co-founder shows hope of normalcy

Positive data on BioNTech and US partner Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine came as a happy surprise for not only the world, but also the married couple behind the German biotech firm. Physicians Ugur Sahin and Oezlem Tuereci, who bonded over their love of medical research, are the people behind the Covid-19 vaccine that could change the world.

Who is the couple behind Pfizer's COVID vaccine that could change the world?

The US and Europe are in line to get the first doses of an experimental coronavirus vaccine after a partnership between Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE delivered dazzling preliminary results in a large patient trial.

Countries queue for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine

U.S. infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said on Thursday vaccine developers should push to make billions of their COVID-19 vaccines to ensure access to all parts of the world, instead of focusing on the rich countries.

Fauci hopeful about the prospects for a successful COVID-19 vaccine

Pfizer Inc said on Monday its experimental COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective, a major victory in the fight against a pandemic that has killed more than a million people, battered the world's economy and upended daily life.

Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE are the first drugmakers to release successful data from a large-scale clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine. The companies said they have so far found no serious safety concerns and expect to seek US&nbsp;authorization this month for emergency use of the vaccine.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/study-finds-europe-responsible-for-spreading-coronavirus-as-cases-cross-12-million-341355" hreflang="en">Study finds Europe responsible for spreading coronavirus as cases cross 12 million</a>

If authorized, the number of doses will initially be limited and many questions remain, including how long the vaccine will provide protection. However, the news provides hope that other COVID-19 vaccines in development may also prove effective.

"Today is a great day for science and humanity," Albert Bourla, Pfizer's chairman and chief executive, said.

"We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen."

Pfizer expects to seek broad U.S. authorization for emergency use of the vaccine for people aged 16 to 85. To do so, it will need two months of safety data from about half the study's 44,000 participants, which his expected late this month.

The MSCI index of world stock markets hit a record high following the announcement. Pfizer shares were indicated 6% higher in New York, while BioNTech's U.S. stock leapt 18%.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/unga-to-hold-special-session-on-coronavirus-pandemic-in-december-341050" hreflang="en">UNGA to hold special session on coronavirus pandemic in December</a>

Shares of other COVID-19 vaccine developers that are in the final stage of testing also reacted with AstraZeneca rising 0.5% in London while Johnson &amp; Johnson gained 2.6% in pre-market trading and Moderna down 1.8% ahead of the U.S. bell.

"I'm near ecstatic," Bill Gruber, one of Pfizer's top vaccine scientists, said in an interview. "This is a great day for public health and for the potential to get us all out of the circumstances we're now in."

1.3 BILLION DOSES

Pfizer and BioNTech have a $1.95 billion contract with the U.S. government to deliver 100 million vaccine doses beginning this year. They have also reached supply agreements with the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan.

To save time, the companies began manufacturing the vaccine before they knew whether it would be effective. They now expect to produce up to 50 million doses, or enough to protect 25 million people this year.

Pfizer said it expects to produce up to 1.3 billion doses of the vaccine in 2021.

The U.S. pharmaceutical giant said the interim analysis was conducted after 94 participants in the trial developed COVID-19, examining how many of them had received the vaccine versus a placebo.

The company did not break down exactly how many of those who fell ill received the vaccine. Still, over 90% effectiveness implies that no more than 8 of the 94 people who caught COVID-19 had been given the vaccine, which was administered in two shots about three weeks apart.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/new-study-explains-long-covid-or-persistence-of-coronavirus-symptoms-340789" hreflang="en">New study explains 'long COVID', or persistence of coronavirus symptoms</a>

The efficacy rate is well above the 50% effectiveness required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a coronavirus vaccine.

To confirm the efficacy rate, Pfizer said it would continue the trial until there are 164 COVID-19 cases among participants. Given the recent spike in U.S. infection rates, that number could be reached by early December, Gruber said.

The data have yet to be peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal. Pfizer said it would do so once it has results from the entire trial.

GLOBAL RACE

The global race for a vaccine has seen wealthier countries forge multibillion-dollar supply deals with drugmakers like Pfizer, AstraZeneca Plc and Johnson &amp; Johnson, raising questions over when middle income and poorer nations will get access to inoculations.

The U.S. quest for a vaccine has been the Trump administration's central response to the pandemic. The United States has the world's highest known number of COVID-19 cases and deaths with more than 10 million infections and over 237,000 fatalities.

President Donald Trump repeatedly assured the public that his administration would likely identify a successful vaccine in time for the presidential election, held last Tuesday. On Saturday, Democratic rival Joe Biden was declared the winner.

Vaccines are seen as essential tools to help end the health crisis that has shuttered businesses and left millions out of work. Millions of children whose schools were closed in March remain in remote learning programs.

Dozens of drugmakers and research groups around the globe have been racing to develop vaccines against COVID-19, which on Sunday exceeded 50 million infections since the new coronavirus first emerged late last year in China.

The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, which relies on synthetic genes that can be generated and manufactured in weeks, and produced at scale more rapidly than conventional vaccines.

Moderna Inc, whose vaccine candidate employs similar technology, is expected to report results from its large-scale trial later this month.

The mRNA technology is designed to trigger an immune response without using pathogens, such as actual virus particles.

Pfizer alone will not have the capacity to immediately provide enough vaccines for the United States. The Trump administration has said it will have enough supply for all of the 330 million U.S. residents who wish to be vaccinated by the middle of 2021.

The U.S. government has said the vaccines will be provided free to Americans, including the insured, uninsured and those in government health programs such as Medicare.

Pfizer Inc said on Monday its experimental COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective, a major victory in the fight against a pandemic that has killed more than a million people, battered the world's economy and upended daily life.

Pfizer Inc said on Monday its experimental COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective, a major victory in the fight against a pandemic that has killed more than a million people, battered the world's economy and upended daily life. Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE are the first drugmakers to release successful data from a large-scale clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine. The companies said they have so far found no serious safety concerns and expect to seek US authorization this month for emergency use of the vaccine. Also read: Study finds Europe responsible for spreading coronavirus as cases cross 12 million If authorized, the number of doses will initially be limited and many questions remain, including how long the vaccine will provide protection. However, the news provides hope that other COVID-19 vaccines in development may also prove effective. "Today is a great day for science and humanity," Albert Bourla, Pfizer's chairman and chief executive, said. "We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen." Pfizer expects to seek broad U.S. authorization for emergency use of the vaccine for people aged 16 to 85. To do so, it will need two months of safety data from about half the study's 44,000 participants, which his expected late this month. The MSCI index of world stock markets hit a record high following the announcement. Pfizer shares were indicated 6% higher in New York, while BioNTech's U.S. stock leapt 18%. Also read: UNGA to hold special session on coronavirus pandemic in December Shares of other COVID-19 vaccine developers that are in the final stage of testing also reacted with AstraZeneca rising 0.5% in London while Johnson & Johnson gained 2.6% in pre-market trading and Moderna down 1.8% ahead of the U.S. bell. "I'm near ecstatic," Bill Gruber, one of Pfizer's top vaccine scientists, said in an interview. "This is a great day for public health and for the potential to get us all out of the circumstances we're now in." 1.3 BILLION DOSES Pfizer and BioNTech have a $1.95 billion contract with the U.S. government to deliver 100 million vaccine doses beginning this year. They have also reached supply agreements with the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan. To save time, the companies began manufacturing the vaccine before they knew whether it would be effective. They now expect to produce up to 50 million doses, or enough to protect 25 million people this year. Pfizer said it expects to produce up to 1.3 billion doses of the vaccine in 2021. The U.S. pharmaceutical giant said the interim analysis was conducted after 94 participants in the trial developed COVID-19, examining how many of them had received the vaccine versus a placebo. The company did not break down exactly how many of those who fell ill received the vaccine. Still, over 90% effectiveness implies that no more than 8 of the 94 people who caught COVID-19 had been given the vaccine, which was administered in two shots about three weeks apart. Also read: New study explains 'long COVID', or persistence of coronavirus symptoms The efficacy rate is well above the 50% effectiveness required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a coronavirus vaccine. To confirm the efficacy rate, Pfizer said it would continue the trial until there are 164 COVID-19 cases among participants. Given the recent spike in U.S. infection rates, that number could be reached by early December, Gruber said. The data have yet to be peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal. Pfizer said it would do so once it has results from the entire trial. GLOBAL RACE The global race for a vaccine has seen wealthier countries forge multibillion-dollar supply deals with drugmakers like Pfizer, AstraZeneca Plc and Johnson & Johnson, raising questions over when middle income and poorer nations will get access to inoculations. The U.S. quest for a vaccine has been the Trump administration's central response to the pandemic. The United States has the world's highest known number of COVID-19 cases and deaths with more than 10 million infections and over 237,000 fatalities. President Donald Trump repeatedly assured the public that his administration would likely identify a successful vaccine in time for the presidential election, held last Tuesday. On Saturday, Democratic rival Joe Biden was declared the winner. Vaccines are seen as essential tools to help end the health crisis that has shuttered businesses and left millions out of work. Millions of children whose schools were closed in March remain in remote learning programs. Dozens of drugmakers and research groups around the globe have been racing to develop vaccines against COVID-19, which on Sunday exceeded 50 million infections since the new coronavirus first emerged late last year in China. The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, which relies on synthetic genes that can be generated and manufactured in weeks, and produced at scale more rapidly than conventional vaccines. Moderna Inc, whose vaccine candidate employs similar technology, is expected to report results from its large-scale trial later this month. The mRNA technology is designed to trigger an immune response without using pathogens, such as actual virus particles. Pfizer alone will not have the capacity to immediately provide enough vaccines for the United States. The Trump administration has said it will have enough supply for all of the 330 million U.S. residents who wish to be vaccinated by the middle of 2021. The U.S. government has said the vaccines will be provided free to Americans, including the insured, uninsured and those in government health programs such as Medicare.

Pfizer, BioNTech claim their coronavirus vaccine is 90% effective

German biotech firm BioNTech has secured $325 million in a private financing round to boost its cancer immunotherapies pipeline, the company said on Tuesday.

Two-thirds of the money raised came from new investors, BioNTech said in a statement, adding that it would use the funds for research and development as well as its manufacturing infrastructure.

Earlier this year, people close to the matter told Reuters the company had hired banks to prepare an initial public offering which could value it at $4 billion.

Asked about the impact of the fresh funds on its plans to potentially float the company, a company official said BioNTech was still examining various financing options, reiterating earlier statements by the company.

In a first financing round in January 2018, the company secured $270 million.

BioNTech specialises in so-called messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules that instruct human cells to produce therapeutic proteins that trigger an immune response against cancer or infectious diseases. It also works on gene therapies and nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy.

The company said the Struengmann family, which sold its generic drugs business Hexal to Novartis in 2005 and is already invested in BioNTech, was also among the donors in the second round of financing. It added that the family remained the main shareholder.

German biotech firm BioNTech has secured $325 million in a private financing round to boost its cancer immunotherapies pipeline, the company said on Tuesday. Two-thirds of the money raised came from new investors, BioNTech said in a statement, adding that it would use the funds for research and development as well as its manufacturing infrastructure.

German biotech firm BioNTech has secured $325 million in a private financing round to boost its cancer immunotherapies pipeline, the company said on Tuesday. Two-thirds of the money raised came from new investors, BioNTech said in a statement, adding that it would use the funds for research and development as well as its manufacturing infrastructure. Earlier this year, people close to the matter told Reuters the company had hired banks to prepare an initial public offering which could value it at $4 billion. Asked about the impact of the fresh funds on its plans to potentially float the company, a company official said BioNTech was still examining various financing options, reiterating earlier statements by the company. In a first financing round in January 2018, the company secured $270 million. BioNTech specialises in so-called messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules that instruct human cells to produce therapeutic proteins that trigger an immune response against cancer or infectious diseases. It also works on gene therapies and nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy. The company said the Struengmann family, which sold its generic drugs business Hexal to Novartis in 2005 and is already invested in BioNTech, was also among the donors in the second round of financing. It added that the family remained the main shareholder.

Potential IPO candidate BioNTech secures $325 million in financing round

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