Health authorities in Israel have claimed that the Pfizer vaccines are reportedly less effective in checking the spread of Coronavirus in the country. However, they say that inoculation is still highly effective in keeping serious illness at bay.

Israel sees decline in Pfizer's efficacy rate amid spread of Delta variant

Bharat Biotech said that it has concluded the final analysis for its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin as part of phase-3 clinical trials. The Hyderabad-based pharma company claimed that its indigenous jab demonstrates an overall efficacy of 77.8% against symptomatic infection.

Bharat Biotech announces Covaxin's efficacy rate after final stage trials

European Union has excluded COVID-19 vaccine Covishield from its 'Green Pass' list. India has formally raised the issue with the EU. Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute, said he has taken this up at the “highest levels”.

India's Covishield vaccine excluded from European Union's 'green pass'

India's home-made shot Covaxin is at the centre of a storm in Brazil. Federal prosecutors in Brazil suspect corruption in the way Bharat Biotech's representative reached an agreement with the government. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Covaxin at the centre of a storm in Brazil

German chancellor Angela Merkel has received Moderna shot as her second dose of Coronavirus vaccine. Merkel was administered with AstraZeneca jab for her first dose. The 66-year-old took her first dose in April, more than two weeks after German authorities recommended the use of AstraZeneca jab only for people aged 60 and above.

Angela Merkel administered with Moderna jab during second dose after having AstraZeneca as first

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to jail people who refuse to be vaccinated against the coronavirus as the country battles one of Asia's worst outbreaks, with over 1.3 million cases and more than 23,000 deaths.

Philippines president threatens to jail those who refuse COVID-19 vaccine

US President Joe Biden's administration has announced its plan to send 55 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to countries in need. The donation will complete Washington's initial pledge of 80 million doses from its own vaccine supply.

Biden administration announces allocation plan for 55 mn COVID-19 vaccine doses

Despite the G7's historic commitment, several South Asian nations continue to scramble for COVID-19 vaccines. There is no clarity over the timeline of one billion vaccines to be donated by the G7 nations.

Despite G7 pledge, South Asian nations struggles for COVID-19 vaccines

The Indian government clarified that the indigenously developed Covaxin does not contain newborn calf serum. The clarification came in response to some social media posts where it has been suggested that the Covaxin vaccine contains the newborn calf serum.

Covaxin vaccine does not contain newborn calf serum: Indian govt busts myths

US-based biotechnology company Novavax has tied up with the Serum Institute of India to manufacture its COVID-19 vaccine called Covavax. According to the company, the vaccine is 90% effective and safe.

Novavax ties up with Serum Institute to manufacture Covavax vaccine for India

Britain said on Thursday that G7 leaders will pledge to expand the global vaccination drive by providing at least one billion doses to the world through sharing and financing schemes.

G7 leaders to donate 1 billion vaccine doses worldwide

The result of two vaccine safety monitoring system suggests that the number of heart inflammation cases have been much higher than expected after the second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19: CDC warns over heart inflammation cases linked to mRNA vaccines

Saudi Arabia has approved the Covishield vaccine. The country has recognised the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine as an equivalent of the AstraZeneca shot.

Indian COVID-19 vaccine Covishield gets nod from Saudi Arabia for travelers

China has authorised the emergency use of CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Chinese firm Sinovac, for children aged between 3 and 17 years.

China authorises CoronaVac vaccine for children above 3 years

In order to boost its vaccination program, Pakistan on Tuesday launched its locally made CanSino COVID-19 vaccine with the help of China called 'PakVac'. The vaccine has been prepared and packed at the state-run National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad under the supervision of Chinese experts.

Pakistan launches locally produced COVID-19 vaccine 'PakVac'

India’s apex drug regulator has announced that foreign vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna will no longer have to clear India-specific trials. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has done away with such requirements in order to speed up vaccine imports.

DCGI relaxes norms for clearing foreign vaccines, no local trials for Pfizer and Moderna

US drugmaker Pfizer on Monday formally authorized the use of its COVID-19 vaccine for around 4 million children age 12 to 15 in Japan, following similar moves overseas to allow adolescents to be vaccinated.

Japan green lights Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for 12 to 15-year-olds

Supreme Court of India has said that since the Centre has made CoWIN registration mandatory for vaccination, how is it going to address the issue of the digital divide facing the country. Supreme Court also added that policymakers must have an ear to the ground.

Supreme Court slams Indian govt over COVID-19 vaccination policy

India may soon begin testing the feasibility of a regimen that mixes two different COVID-19 vaccines to see if it helps boost the immune response to the virus. The testing may be carried out both using vaccines that are currently available in the country, and those that are in the pipeline.

India may start tests on mixed vaccines in a few weeks

The European Union has dragged AstraZeneca to court. The charges include delay in vaccine delivery & prioritizing the UK over the rest. This legal battle was months in the making. Palki Sharma tells you how.

Gravitas: EU takes AstraZeneca to court

Pfizer is ready to send 50 million doses to India by July this year. But, it wants significant regulatory relaxations from India. What are Pfizer's demands? Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: What Pfizer wants from India

German researchers on Wednesday said that based on laboratory research they have found the cause of rare but serious blood clotting events among some people who have received COVID-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

German researchers claimed to have found cause of blood clotting events

Moderna is in talks with Cipla and other Indian pharma firms to launch its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India by the year 2022. Meanwhile, Pfizer has reportedly indicated that it can provide 5 crore doses of its vaccine this year.

Report: India may get single-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine by 2022

Why can't India get vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna? Big Pharma firms say they want to negotiate directly with the Central government and set the terms. Some demands go beyond money. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Why can't India get COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna?

Indian government and Pfizer are at loggerheads over a demand by the US drug maker for legal protection from any claims linked to the use of its COVID-19 vaccine in one of the world's biggest markets.

Indian Govt & Pfizer at loggerheads over COVID-19 vaccine indemnity demand

A new British study has found that Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is more effective if the second dose is delayed to 12-weeks after the first. The study, which has not yet been peer reviewed—found that delaying the second dose to 12 weeks led to an antibody response that was three-and-half times larger than when vaccine doses were kept to the standard recommendation of three weeks apart

Study: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses more effective with a 12-week gap

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday that New Yorkers will receive free train rides in subway stations if they get vaccinated against COVID-19, as part of a move to speed up immunizations.

New York City offers free subway rides in exchange for COVID-19 vaccination

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for the need to double the capacity of COVID-19 vaccine production and for fairer redistribution of the shots in the developing world, which faces new waves of the coronavirus.

UN Chief calls for doubling COVID-19 vaccine production

Several Brazilian states have suspended the use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women after an expectant mother in Rio de Janeiro died from a stroke possibly related to the inoculation.

Brazil suspends use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women

It has been seen so far that to defeat <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">novel coronavirus</a>, vaccinating people promptly is the solution. But the case of Seychelles has raised concerns.&nbsp;

Seychelles has inoculated more of its population as compared to any other country but its active cases doubled in the week ending on May 7.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-the-who-feeding-vaccine-hesitancy-384187/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that a detailed study is being conducted to understand the situation of the Seychelles. &nbsp;

Seychelles's Health Ministry on Monday said that the number of active coronavirus cases doubled since last week to 2,486 people.

It added that the number of active cases includes 37 per cent of people who have received two doses of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">Covid vaccine</a>.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-approves-pfizer-biontechs-covid-vaccine-for-children-aged-12-15-384195">US approves Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid vaccine for children aged 12-15</a>

In Seychelles, 57 per cent of people who have been fully inoculated are given China's Sinopharm shots with the remaining people being administered by Covishield, the coronavirus vaccine manufactured in India under the license from AstraZeneca, reports Bloomberg.

However, Seychelles News Agency reported, citing the minister for foreign affairs and tourism that no one who had infected with Covid post-vaccination has died as of May 8.&nbsp;

The country, which has a population of just under 100,000, vaccinated its population first with Sinopharm and then with Covishield.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

It has been seen so far that to defeat novel coronavirus, vaccinating people promptly is the solution. But the case of Seychelles has raised concerns. Seychelles has inoculated more of its population as compared to any other country but its active cases doubled in the week ending on May 7.

It has been seen so far that to defeat novel coronavirus, vaccinating people promptly is the solution. But the case of Seychelles has raised concerns. Seychelles has inoculated more of its population as compared to any other country but its active cases doubled in the week ending on May 7. Watch | The World Health Organization (WHO) said that a detailed study is being conducted to understand the situation of the Seychelles. Seychelles's Health Ministry on Monday said that the number of active coronavirus cases doubled since last week to 2,486 people. It added that the number of active cases includes 37 per cent of people who have received two doses of the Covid vaccine. Also read | US approves Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid vaccine for children aged 12-15 In Seychelles, 57 per cent of people who have been fully inoculated are given China's Sinopharm shots with the remaining people being administered by Covishield, the coronavirus vaccine manufactured in India under the license from AstraZeneca, reports Bloomberg. However, Seychelles News Agency reported, citing the minister for foreign affairs and tourism that no one who had infected with Covid post-vaccination has died as of May 8. The country, which has a population of just under 100,000, vaccinated its population first with Sinopharm and then with Covishield.

Do Covid vaccines work? World's most-vaccinated nation Seychelles raises concerns

The European Union is ditching the AstraZeneca vaccine for the Pfizer shot. The bloc hasn't placed new orders for the Oxford vaccine beyond June. Palki Sharma tells you why.

Gravitas: European Union ditches AstraZeneca