The delivery of the Pfizer vaccine has fallen by 15% this week. It is expected to drop by 30% in February. Countries are now bracing for a shortage. Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you why the deliveries of the shots are delayed.

Gravitas: Pfizer vaccine: Governments feel the pinch of shortages

Pakistan is facing a new dilemma: How to source millions of doses for its citizens. Meanwhile, Anti-vaxxers in Pak are making absurd claims that vaccines contain the DNA of pigs & monkeys.

Gravitas: Pak struggling to get a vaccine

India is donating millions of doses of vaccines to a string of countries in Asia, drawing praise from neighbors and pushing back against China's dominating presence in the region.

WION Dispatch: India sends Covishield doses to Bangladesh, Nepal

A plane carrying the first shipment of Indian-manufactured COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Nepal's capital of Kathmandu on Thursday (January 21).

India gifts COVID-19 vaccine doses to its neighbours

Last week, 29 people died after being administered Pfizer-BioNtech coronavirus vaccine in Norway. Following the incident, the Australian Health Minister has demanded detailed information of the incident on an urgent basis.

Greg Hunt, the Australian minister, said the Therapeutic Goods Administration will ask for "additional information, both from the company, but also from the Norwegian medical regulator".

This statement came after a local Australian media house reported that the Norwegian Medicines Agency (NOMA) has claimed that there is a possibility the deaths could have been caused due to side effects of the vaccination, which can include fever and nausea.

However, it also added that since Norway has been vaccinating the elderly with underlying diseases, it may also have been a huge factor. &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/29-dead-in-norway-after-covid-19-vaccination-heres-the-report-357432">WATCH|</a>

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"Therefore it is expected that deaths close to the time of vaccination may occur," the agency said in a statement.

After the deaths, the Norwegian authorities had warned the world against vaccinating the elderly and critically ill population.

Pfizer, on the other hand, has claimed there were no concerns raised in their private investigation of the matter.&nbsp;

"Overall, there were no safety signals of concern identified in our clinical trials, including no signal of serious allergic reactions associated with the vaccine," the pharmaceutical company said in a statement.

As of now, Australia has agreed to buy 10 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Last week, 29 people died after being administered Pfizer-BioNtech coronavirus vaccine in Norway. Following the incident, the Australian Health Minister has demanded detailed information of the incident on an urgent basis.

Last week, 29 people died after being administered Pfizer-BioNtech coronavirus vaccine in Norway. Following the incident, the Australian Health Minister has demanded detailed information of the incident on an urgent basis. Greg Hunt, the Australian minister, said the Therapeutic Goods Administration will ask for "additional information, both from the company, but also from the Norwegian medical regulator". This statement came after a local Australian media house reported that the Norwegian Medicines Agency (NOMA) has claimed that there is a possibility the deaths could have been caused due to side effects of the vaccination, which can include fever and nausea. However, it also added that since Norway has been vaccinating the elderly with underlying diseases, it may also have been a huge factor. WATCH| "Therefore it is expected that deaths close to the time of vaccination may occur," the agency said in a statement. After the deaths, the Norwegian authorities had warned the world against vaccinating the elderly and critically ill population. Pfizer, on the other hand, has claimed there were no concerns raised in their private investigation of the matter. "Overall, there were no safety signals of concern identified in our clinical trials, including no signal of serious allergic reactions associated with the vaccine," the pharmaceutical company said in a statement. As of now, Australia has agreed to buy 10 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Norway: Australia demands information after 29 die following COVID-19 vaccine

The Israel Prison Service said Sunday it will begin <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccinating</a> all incarcerated people against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>, including Palestinians, following calls from right groups, Palestinian officials and Israel's attorney general.&nbsp;

Israel has given at least one vaccine dose to more than two million of its citizens, a pace widely described as the world's fastest per capita.&nbsp;

But the Jewish state faced harsh criticism when Public Security Minister Amir Ohana said Palestinian prisoners would be the last to get innoculated.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/13-in-israel-experience-facial-paralysis-after-receiving-covid-19-vaccine-report-356985">13 in Israel experience facial paralysis after receiving Covid-19 vaccine: Report</a>

Israel's Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit wrote to Ohana condemning the comment as "tainted with illegality", Israel's Ma'ariv newspaper reported.&nbsp;

Israeli and global rights groups, including Amnesty International, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization have also issued public calls for Israel to vaccinate the estimated 4,400 Palestinians held in its jails. &nbsp;

According to the Palestinian Prisoner's Club, about 250 Palestinians in Israeli prisons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. &nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-european-unions-pfizer-vaccine-deliveries-to-be-delayed-for-next-3-4-weeks-356982">Covid-19: European Union's Pfizer vaccine deliveries to be delayed 'for next 3-4 weeks'</a>

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein announced last week that the first vaccine doses would be distributed to prisons over the coming days.

The prison service issued a statement Sunday saying, "following the vaccination of staff... the vaccination of detainees will begin in prisons in accordance with medical and operational protocol established by the Prison Service."

A prison service spokesperson told AFP the directive applied to "all prisoners, without distinction".

Reacting to the announcement, a spokesman for the Hamas Islamists, who control the Gaza Strip, said Israel "had an obligation to provide vaccines to prisoners".

Human Rights Watch on Sunday also called on Israel to provide vaccinations for the 2.8 million Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the two million Palestinians in Israeli-blockaded Gaza.&nbsp;

Israel and Palestine director for HRW, Omar Shakir, particularly criticised the practice of vaccinating Jewish settlers in the West Bank, but not their Palestinian neighbours.&nbsp;

"Nothing can justify today's reality in parts of the West Bank, where people on one side of the street are receiving vaccines, while those on the other do not, based on whether they're Jewish or Palestinian," Shakir said.

"Everyone in the same territory should have equitable access to the vaccine, regardless of their ethnicity," he added.&nbsp;

The Palestinian Authority has said it has signed contracts with four vaccine providers, including the maker's of Russia's Sputnik V.

The PA said it expects to have sufficient doses to vaccinate 70 percent of the Palestinian population, in both the West Bank and Gaza, with doses expected by mid-March.&nbsp;

The Israel Prison Service said Sunday it will begin vaccinating all incarcerated people against COVID-19, including Palestinians, following calls from right groups, Palestinian officials and Israel's attorney general.

The Israel Prison Service said Sunday it will begin vaccinating all incarcerated people against COVID-19, including Palestinians, following calls from right groups, Palestinian officials and Israel's attorney general. Israel has given at least one vaccine dose to more than two million of its citizens, a pace widely described as the world's fastest per capita. But the Jewish state faced harsh criticism when Public Security Minister Amir Ohana said Palestinian prisoners would be the last to get innoculated. Also read| 13 in Israel experience facial paralysis after receiving Covid-19 vaccine: Report Israel's Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit wrote to Ohana condemning the comment as "tainted with illegality", Israel's Ma'ariv newspaper reported. Israeli and global rights groups, including Amnesty International, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization have also issued public calls for Israel to vaccinate the estimated 4,400 Palestinians held in its jails. According to the Palestinian Prisoner's Club, about 250 Palestinians in Israeli prisons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Also read| Covid-19: European Union's Pfizer vaccine deliveries to be delayed 'for next 3-4 weeks' Health Minister Yuli Edelstein announced last week that the first vaccine doses would be distributed to prisons over the coming days. The prison service issued a statement Sunday saying, "following the vaccination of staff... the vaccination of detainees will begin in prisons in accordance with medical and operational protocol established by the Prison Service." A prison service spokesperson told AFP the directive applied to "all prisoners, without distinction". Reacting to the announcement, a spokesman for the Hamas Islamists, who control the Gaza Strip, said Israel "had an obligation to provide vaccines to prisoners". Human Rights Watch on Sunday also called on Israel to provide vaccinations for the 2.8 million Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the two million Palestinians in Israeli-blockaded Gaza. Israel and Palestine director for HRW, Omar Shakir, particularly criticised the practice of vaccinating Jewish settlers in the West Bank, but not their Palestinian neighbours. "Nothing can justify today's reality in parts of the West Bank, where people on one side of the street are receiving vaccines, while those on the other do not, based on whether they're Jewish or Palestinian," Shakir said. "Everyone in the same territory should have equitable access to the vaccine, regardless of their ethnicity," he added. The Palestinian Authority has said it has signed contracts with four vaccine providers, including the maker's of Russia's Sputnik V. The PA said it expects to have sufficient doses to vaccinate 70 percent of the Palestinian population, in both the West Bank and Gaza, with doses expected by mid-March.

Israel Prison Service to vaccinate Palestinian inmates

Covid-19 vaccine deliveries to European Union nations by US Pharma group Pfizer will be delayed in coming one month because of works at the US Pharma firm's plant in Belgium, Germany's health ministry said Friday.

"At short notice, the EU Commission and, via it, the EU member states, were informed that Pfizer will not be able to fully meet the already promised delivery volume for the next three to four weeks due to modifications at the Puurs plant," the ministry said.

Pfizer said the renovation works were aimed at augmenting production capacity from mid-February, according to the ministry.

Pfizer limiting output so that it can upgrade production capacity to 2 billion vaccine doses per year from 1.3 billion currently.

(With inputs from agencies)

Covid-19 vaccine deliveries to European Union nations by US Pharma group Pfizer will be delayed in coming one month because of works at the US Pharma firm's plant in Belgium, Germany's health ministry said Friday.

Covid-19 vaccine deliveries to European Union nations by US Pharma group Pfizer will be delayed in coming one month because of works at the US Pharma firm's plant in Belgium, Germany's health ministry said Friday. "At short notice, the EU Commission and, via it, the EU member states, were informed that Pfizer will not be able to fully meet the already promised delivery volume for the next three to four weeks due to modifications at the Puurs plant," the ministry said. Pfizer said the renovation works were aimed at augmenting production capacity from mid-February, according to the ministry. Pfizer limiting output so that it can upgrade production capacity to 2 billion vaccine doses per year from 1.3 billion currently. (With inputs from agencies)

Covid-19: European Union's Pfizer vaccine deliveries to be delayed 'for next 3-4 weeks'

A head nurse at a hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., caused a brief scare on Thursday when she fainted shortly after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, according to reports. 
 
Nurse manager Tiffany Dover had been giving a press briefing from CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, about her team being among the first to be given the COVID-19 vaccinations. 
 
Dover was happily answering questions when she suddenly started trailing off.

However, according to news agency AFP, Tiffany Dover&nbsp;said that she has a history of passing out.

“I have a history of having an overactive vagal response, and so with that, if I have pain from anything -- hangnail, or if I stub a toe, I can just pass out,” Tiffany Dover said, according to a video from the WRCB Chattanooga TV channel.

“I have passed out probably six times in the past six weeks... it’s common for me,” Dover said.

(With inputs from agencies)

A head nurse at a hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., caused a brief scare on Thursday when she fainted shortly after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, according to reports.

A head nurse at a hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., caused a brief scare on Thursday when she fainted shortly after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, according to reports. Nurse manager Tiffany Dover had been giving a press briefing from CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, about her team being among the first to be given the COVID-19 vaccinations. Dover was happily answering questions when she suddenly started trailing off. However, according to news agency AFP, Tiffany Dover said that she has a history of passing out. “I have a history of having an overactive vagal response, and so with that, if I have pain from anything -- hangnail, or if I stub a toe, I can just pass out,” Tiffany Dover said, according to a video from the WRCB Chattanooga TV channel. “I have passed out probably six times in the past six weeks... it’s common for me,” Dover said. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: US nurse passes out after getting Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine

Nepal foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali will be on a 3-day India visit from tomorrow with a focus on procuring COVID vaccines from India. Nepal wants 20% or around 12 million doses of Covid vaccines from India. He will be meeting India's external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar as part of the 6th Nepal-India joint commission meet for which the invite was extended last year.

A release by Nepal foreign ministry, "The Joint Commission Meeting will discuss the whole gamut of Nepal-India bilateral relations, including trade, transit, energy, boundary, COVID-19 cooperation, infrastructure, connectivity, investment, agriculture, tourism, culture, among others."

The joint commission meeting, which alternates between the 2 countries, takes place in New Delhi this year. The Fifth Joint Commission Meeting was held in August 2019 in Kathmandu with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visiting the country. The Nepali delegation will consist of the Nepali envoy to India, Foreign Secretary, Health Secretary, and other senior officials of the Government of Nepal.

Last year saw 3 high-level visits from Delhi to Nepal. These include the visit of India's intelligence chief, followed by the Indian army chief, and then by the visit of the foreign secretary.

This is the first high-level visit from Kathmandu in over a year and comes in the backdrop of India Nepal row over the new map issued by the Oli government. The new Nepali map showed Indian territories of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as Nepali territories drawing the ire of New Delhi which dismissed the "Unjustified Cartographic Assertion'. He will be the first foreign minister to visit Delhi this year.

While the map row did impact the political ties, the focus on people to people relations continued. India has been involved in a number of projects in the country and plans to operationalize Jayanagar-Kurtha cross-border rail line. Earlier both countries inaugurated the Motihari–Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline, the first cross country pipeline in south Asia. The pipeline can carry two million metric tonnes of petroleum products into Nepal and so far has led to a saving of over 800 million Nepali rupees.

Nepal foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali will be on a 3-day India visit from tomorrow with a focus on procuring COVID vaccines from India. Nepal wants 20% or around 12 million doses of Covid vaccines from India.

Nepal foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali will be on a 3-day India visit from tomorrow with a focus on procuring COVID vaccines from India. Nepal wants 20% or around 12 million doses of Covid vaccines from India. He will be meeting India's external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar as part of the 6th Nepal-India joint commission meet for which the invite was extended last year. A release by Nepal foreign ministry, "The Joint Commission Meeting will discuss the whole gamut of Nepal-India bilateral relations, including trade, transit, energy, boundary, COVID-19 cooperation, infrastructure, connectivity, investment, agriculture, tourism, culture, among others." The joint commission meeting, which alternates between the 2 countries, takes place in New Delhi this year. The Fifth Joint Commission Meeting was held in August 2019 in Kathmandu with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visiting the country. The Nepali delegation will consist of the Nepali envoy to India, Foreign Secretary, Health Secretary, and other senior officials of the Government of Nepal. Last year saw 3 high-level visits from Delhi to Nepal. These include the visit of India's intelligence chief, followed by the Indian army chief, and then by the visit of the foreign secretary. This is the first high-level visit from Kathmandu in over a year and comes in the backdrop of India Nepal row over the new map issued by the Oli government. The new Nepali map showed Indian territories of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as Nepali territories drawing the ire of New Delhi which dismissed the "Unjustified Cartographic Assertion'. He will be the first foreign minister to visit Delhi this year. While the map row did impact the political ties, the focus on people to people relations continued. India has been involved in a number of projects in the country and plans to operationalize Jayanagar-Kurtha cross-border rail line. Earlier both countries inaugurated the Motihari–Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline, the first cross country pipeline in south Asia. The pipeline can carry two million metric tonnes of petroleum products into Nepal and so far has led to a saving of over 800 million Nepali rupees.

With procurement of Covid vaccine in focus, Nepal FM to visit Delhi from tomorrow

The Centre said 54.72 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses have been received at designated national and state-level stores till Tuesday afternoon, and all the shots -- 1.1 crore from the Serum Institute of India and 55 lakh from Bharat Biotech -- will be received by January 14.

A massive pan-India inoculation drive against COVID-19 was set in process with Covishield vaccine leaving Pune for 13 cities across India early in the morning, four days before vaccination is scheduled to begin on January 16.

Apart form the 1.1 crore doses of Covishield being procured from the Serum Institute of India, 55 lakh doses of indigenously developed Covaxin were being obtained from Bharat Biotech, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said at a press conference.

"Fifty-five lakh doses of Covaxin are being procured from Bharat Biotech. For 38.5 lakh doses the price is Rs 295 each, excluding taxes. Bharat Biotech is providing 16.5 lakh doses for free which ultimately brings the cost of Covaxin down to Rs 206 per dose," he said.

Bhushan said there are four Central Government Medical Stores Depots at Chennai, Karnal, Kolkata and Mumbai where the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, doses are being received.

Besides this, all states have at least one regional vaccine store. Some big states have multiple stores. Uttar Pradesh has nine such stores, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat four each, Kerala has three such facilities, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Rajasthan two each, he said.

"As we speak, 54,72,000 doses have already been received till 4 pm at these vaccine stores, while 100 per cent doses, 1.1 crore from Serum Institute and 55 lakh from Bharat Biotech, will be received by January 14 in all states and Union Territories," the health secretary added.

NITI Aayog member Dr V K Paul, Covishield and Covaxin have been tested on thousands of people. "They are the safest and there is no risk of any significant side effect."

Bhushan said that Zydus Cadila, Russia''s Sputnik V, Biological E and Gennova are the other vaccines which are in advanced stages of clinical trials in India.

"In the coming days some of these vaccines too may be approaching the drug controller for emergency use authorisation. There will be sequential roll-out of COVID-19 vaccination.

"Healthcare workers will be on the top of priority list, followed by frontline workers and prioritized age groups. The cost of vaccination for healthcare and frontline workers will be borne by the central government," the Union health secretary said.

Giving a scenario of the price of vaccines available round the world, Bhushan said each dose of the vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech costs Rs 1,431 per dose, Moderna Rs 2,348 to Rs 2,715, Sinovac Rs 1,027, Novavax Rs 1,114, Sputnik V less than Rs 734 and the one developed by Johnson and Johnson at Rs 734.

"All these vaccines except the one developed by Pfizer can be stored between two to eight degrees Celsius. The one developed by Pfizer needs to be stored at -70 degrees Celsius," he added.

About the effectiveness of the vaccines, Bhushan said those can be observed only after 14 days. "So we urge people to keep following COVID-appropriate behaviour."

The health secretary said the five key principles for anti-coronavirus vaccination are to ensure people''s participation, utilise the experience of elections and universal immunisation programme, making no compromise on scientific and regulatory norms and neither on existing healthcare services.

Noting that the COVID-19 situation is worrisome around the world, he said even though daily new cases are declining in India, there should not be any laxity in following COVID-appropriate behaviour.

India's overall COVID-19 positivity rate stands at 5.7 per cent while positivity rate in the last one week was recorded at 2 per cent, Bhushan said, adding that about 43.96 per cent of the total COVID-19 patients are in healthcare facilities while 56.04 per cent patients are in home isolation.

The Centre said 54.72 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses have been received at designated national and state-level stores till Tuesday afternoon, and all the shots -- 1.

The Centre said 54.72 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses have been received at designated national and state-level stores till Tuesday afternoon, and all the shots -- 1.1 crore from the Serum Institute of India and 55 lakh from Bharat Biotech -- will be received by January 14. A massive pan-India inoculation drive against COVID-19 was set in process with Covishield vaccine leaving Pune for 13 cities across India early in the morning, four days before vaccination is scheduled to begin on January 16. Apart form the 1.1 crore doses of Covishield being procured from the Serum Institute of India, 55 lakh doses of indigenously developed Covaxin were being obtained from Bharat Biotech, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said at a press conference. "Fifty-five lakh doses of Covaxin are being procured from Bharat Biotech. For 38.5 lakh doses the price is Rs 295 each, excluding taxes. Bharat Biotech is providing 16.5 lakh doses for free which ultimately brings the cost of Covaxin down to Rs 206 per dose," he said. Bhushan said there are four Central Government Medical Stores Depots at Chennai, Karnal, Kolkata and Mumbai where the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, doses are being received. Besides this, all states have at least one regional vaccine store. Some big states have multiple stores. Uttar Pradesh has nine such stores, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat four each, Kerala has three such facilities, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Rajasthan two each, he said. "As we speak, 54,72,000 doses have already been received till 4 pm at these vaccine stores, while 100 per cent doses, 1.1 crore from Serum Institute and 55 lakh from Bharat Biotech, will be received by January 14 in all states and Union Territories," the health secretary added. NITI Aayog member Dr V K Paul, Covishield and Covaxin have been tested on thousands of people. "They are the safest and there is no risk of any significant side effect." Bhushan said that Zydus Cadila, Russia''s Sputnik V, Biological E and Gennova are the other vaccines which are in advanced stages of clinical trials in India. "In the coming days some of these vaccines too may be approaching the drug controller for emergency use authorisation. There will be sequential roll-out of COVID-19 vaccination. "Healthcare workers will be on the top of priority list, followed by frontline workers and prioritized age groups. The cost of vaccination for healthcare and frontline workers will be borne by the central government," the Union health secretary said. Giving a scenario of the price of vaccines available round the world, Bhushan said each dose of the vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech costs Rs 1,431 per dose, Moderna Rs 2,348 to Rs 2,715, Sinovac Rs 1,027, Novavax Rs 1,114, Sputnik V less than Rs 734 and the one developed by Johnson and Johnson at Rs 734. "All these vaccines except the one developed by Pfizer can be stored between two to eight degrees Celsius. The one developed by Pfizer needs to be stored at -70 degrees Celsius," he added. About the effectiveness of the vaccines, Bhushan said those can be observed only after 14 days. "So we urge people to keep following COVID-appropriate behaviour." The health secretary said the five key principles for anti-coronavirus vaccination are to ensure people''s participation, utilise the experience of elections and universal immunisation programme, making no compromise on scientific and regulatory norms and neither on existing healthcare services. Noting that the COVID-19 situation is worrisome around the world, he said even though daily new cases are declining in India, there should not be any laxity in following COVID-appropriate behaviour. India's overall COVID-19 positivity rate stands at 5.7 per cent while positivity rate in the last one week was recorded at 2 per cent, Bhushan said, adding that about 43.96 per cent of the total COVID-19 patients are in healthcare facilities while 56.04 per cent patients are in home isolation.

54.72 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses received till Tuesday afternoon: Centre

Almost a week after approving two coronavirus vaccines, the Indian government has decided to start the mass vaccination drive from January 16.

The decision was announced by the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday, January 09 through a press release.

This decision was taken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the status of COVID-19 in the South Asian country — which was once declared as the second-worst affected country of the world. The meeting&nbsp;was attended by Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to PM, Health Secretary, and other senior officials concerned.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-will-continue-export-of-medicines-including-vaccines-pm-modi-355562" hreflang="en">India will continue export of medicines, including vaccines: PM Modi</a>

It has been decided to start the vaccination drive after the festivities of the month — such as&nbsp;Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu etc. — are wrapped up.

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On 16th January, India takes a landmark step forward in fighting COVID-19. Starting that day, India’s nation-wide vaccination drive begins. Priority will be given to our brave doctors, healthcare workers, frontline workers including Safai Karamcharis. <a href="https://t.co/P5Arw64wVt">https://t.co/P5Arw64wVt</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1347876066291896322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"The vaccination exercise in underpinned by the principles of people’s participation (Jan Bhagidari); utilizing experience of elections (booth strategy) and Universal Immunization Program (UIP); no compromise of existing healthcare services, especially national programs and primary health care; no compromise on scientific and regulatory norms, other SOPs; and an orderly and smooth implementation driven by technology," the press release read.

Covishield and COVAXIN&nbsp;the two approved vaccines will first be administered to&nbsp;the healthcare workers and the frontline workers — who are estimated to be nearly three crores.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-pm-narendra-modi-speaks-at-pravasi-bharatiya-divas-convention-355557">WATCH|</a>

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The second group in priority line will be citizens aged above 50 years and people who are vulnerable to the deadly virus and then "the under-50 population groups with co-morbidities numbering around 27 crores," the government of India said.

India has already conducted dry runs to test the readiness of the authorities and healthcare workers.

Almost a week after approving two coronavirus vaccines, the Indian government has decided to start the mass vaccination drive from January 16. The decision was announced by the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday, January 09 through a press release.

Almost a week after approving two coronavirus vaccines, the Indian government has decided to start the mass vaccination drive from January 16. The decision was announced by the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday, January 09 through a press release. This decision was taken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the status of COVID-19 in the South Asian country — which was once declared as the second-worst affected country of the world. The meeting was attended by Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to PM, Health Secretary, and other senior officials concerned. Also read| India will continue export of medicines, including vaccines: PM Modi It has been decided to start the vaccination drive after the festivities of the month — such as Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu etc. — are wrapped up. On 16th January, India takes a landmark step forward in fighting COVID-19. Starting that day, India’s nation-wide vaccination drive begins. Priority will be given to our brave doctors, healthcare workers, frontline workers including Safai Karamcharis. https://t.co/P5Arw64wVt — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 9, 2021 × "The vaccination exercise in underpinned by the principles of people’s participation (Jan Bhagidari); utilizing experience of elections (booth strategy) and Universal Immunization Program (UIP); no compromise of existing healthcare services, especially national programs and primary health care; no compromise on scientific and regulatory norms, other SOPs; and an orderly and smooth implementation driven by technology," the press release read. Covishield and COVAXIN the two approved vaccines will first be administered to the healthcare workers and the frontline workers — who are estimated to be nearly three crores. WATCH| × The second group in priority line will be citizens aged above 50 years and people who are vulnerable to the deadly virus and then "the under-50 population groups with co-morbidities numbering around 27 crores," the government of India said. India has already conducted dry runs to test the readiness of the authorities and healthcare workers.

India to begin coronavirus vaccination drive from January 16: PM Modi

A&nbsp; 56-year-old&nbsp;doctor from Florida died two weeks after he received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech. The cause of his death was ruled to be&nbsp;a rare blood disorder.

Dr. Gregory Michael, an&nbsp;obstetrician-gynaecologist, lost his life 16 days after getting the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech coronavirus vaccine, which was the first to be approved in the United States.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-us-nurse-passes-out-after-getting-pfizer-biontechs-covid-19-vaccine-350712">Watch| US nurse passes out after getting Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine</a>

Following his death, the&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),&nbsp;the Florida Health Department and the Miami-Dade medical examiner’s office have launched an investigation into the matter.&nbsp;

"The cause of death is pending the completion of studies being done by the medical examiner and the Centers for Disease Control," said&nbsp;office’s director, Darren Caprara. "The case is still under investigation, so nothing has been finalized."

While a direct link to the vaccine has not been established yet, it is also not being completely ruled out by the local health authorities. Michael's condition is linked to a rare condition that affects the body’s ability to clot blood.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indonesian-clerics-declare-sinovacs-vaccine-halal-355617">WATCH|</a>

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Pfizer has also started an independent investigation in this matter and has admitted that the doctor's death was caused due to a "highly unusual clinical case of severe thrombocytopenia", and also hinted that till now their researchers believe there is a very less chance that&nbsp;"there is any direct connection to the vaccine."

The news has come a few days after it was revealed that a&nbsp;paediatric surgery assistant in Port also lost her life two days after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Although,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/portuguese-nurse-dies-two-days-after-getting-the-pfizer-covid-vaccine-354526">Sonia Acevedo</a>, 41, who worked in paediatrics at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology, had not shown any side-effects after being administered the vaccine.

A 56-year-old doctor from Florida died two weeks after he received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech. The cause of his death was ruled to be a rare blood disorder.

A 56-year-old doctor from Florida died two weeks after he received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech. The cause of his death was ruled to be a rare blood disorder. Dr. Gregory Michael, an obstetrician-gynaecologist, lost his life 16 days after getting the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech coronavirus vaccine, which was the first to be approved in the United States. Watch| US nurse passes out after getting Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine Following his death, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Florida Health Department and the Miami-Dade medical examiner’s office have launched an investigation into the matter. "The cause of death is pending the completion of studies being done by the medical examiner and the Centers for Disease Control," said office’s director, Darren Caprara. "The case is still under investigation, so nothing has been finalized." While a direct link to the vaccine has not been established yet, it is also not being completely ruled out by the local health authorities. Michael's condition is linked to a rare condition that affects the body’s ability to clot blood. WATCH| × Pfizer has also started an independent investigation in this matter and has admitted that the doctor's death was caused due to a "highly unusual clinical case of severe thrombocytopenia", and also hinted that till now their researchers believe there is a very less chance that "there is any direct connection to the vaccine." The news has come a few days after it was revealed that a paediatric surgery assistant in Port also lost her life two days after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Although, Sonia Acevedo, 41, who worked in paediatrics at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology, had not shown any side-effects after being administered the vaccine.

Miami doctor dies after taking Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine; CDC launches investigation

Frustration over the slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has sparked tensions within the European Union, echoing disarray within the bloc at the beginning of the pandemic over sharing of protective medical equipment and the closure of borders.

Slow vaccine rollout stokes tensions among EU states

A day after India's drug regulator approved COVAXIN for emergency use, various private clinics in Brazil are seeking Bharat Biotech's vaccine to fight against the increasing coronavirus tally.

The Brazilian Association of Vaccine Clinics (ABCVAC) has confirmed on its website that it has signed a&nbsp;memorandum of understanding with the Indian firm to purchase the Indian vaccine after the pharmaceutical company finishes its final stage of clinical trials.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-approves-sii-and-bharat-biotechs-covid-19-vaccines-for-restricted-emergency-use-354141">India approves SII and Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccines for restricted emergency use</a>

"We had been looking for solutions for the private market, and the possibility came up of using this Indian vaccine, which is very promising,"&nbsp;ABCVAC president Geraldo Barbosa told local reporters. "It's an additional sale that will not interfere with the quantity of vaccine doses the government has ordered."

This news has come out a few hours after the Indian drug regulator approved two vaccines —&nbsp;Serum Institute of India's Covishield, developed by Oxford University and pharma major AstraZeneca, and Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN — for emergency use in the country.

The order placement, however, depends on the approval by the far-right government, lead by the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and&nbsp;Brazil's health regulator, Anvisa. As of now, the regulator has not approved any vaccine against the new coronavirus.

This decision has been taken by private clinics as Brazil's coronavirus death toll saw an alarming increase. Private clinics and few state governments are now have decided to launch their own vaccinations to be able to protect locals.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-dcgi-approves-serum-bharat-biotech-vaccines-for-emergency-use-354148">WATCH|</a>

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ABCVAC also explained that the reason private clinics are looking at other vaccines is to make sure all locals can access vaccines as the ones approved by the Bolsonaro government will first be reserved for high-priority groups, which will include leaders and vulnerable people.

Depending on the approval by&nbsp;Anvisa, the clinics are hoping to start mass inoculation drives by mid-March. On the other hand, Bolsonaro's government has not yet announced a start date for its vaccination campaign but is expected to make an announcement on Monday. Opposition leaders have accused the far-right government of waiting too long to make the announcement. "Neighboring countries have already started their vaccination campaigns. It is urgent we establish a timeframe to do the same. Ignorance must not prevail over science," Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes tweeted.

A day after India's drug regulator approved COVAXIN for emergency use, various private clinics in Brazil are seeking Bharat Biotech's vaccine to fight against the increasing coronavirus tally.

A day after India's drug regulator approved COVAXIN for emergency use, various private clinics in Brazil are seeking Bharat Biotech's vaccine to fight against the increasing coronavirus tally. The Brazilian Association of Vaccine Clinics (ABCVAC) has confirmed on its website that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian firm to purchase the Indian vaccine after the pharmaceutical company finishes its final stage of clinical trials. Also read| India approves SII and Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccines for restricted emergency use "We had been looking for solutions for the private market, and the possibility came up of using this Indian vaccine, which is very promising," ABCVAC president Geraldo Barbosa told local reporters. "It's an additional sale that will not interfere with the quantity of vaccine doses the government has ordered." This news has come out a few hours after the Indian drug regulator approved two vaccines — Serum Institute of India's Covishield, developed by Oxford University and pharma major AstraZeneca, and Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN — for emergency use in the country. The order placement, however, depends on the approval by the far-right government, lead by the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and Brazil's health regulator, Anvisa. As of now, the regulator has not approved any vaccine against the new coronavirus. This decision has been taken by private clinics as Brazil's coronavirus death toll saw an alarming increase. Private clinics and few state governments are now have decided to launch their own vaccinations to be able to protect locals. WATCH| × ABCVAC also explained that the reason private clinics are looking at other vaccines is to make sure all locals can access vaccines as the ones approved by the Bolsonaro government will first be reserved for high-priority groups, which will include leaders and vulnerable people. Depending on the approval by Anvisa, the clinics are hoping to start mass inoculation drives by mid-March. On the other hand, Bolsonaro's government has not yet announced a start date for its vaccination campaign but is expected to make an announcement on Monday. Opposition leaders have accused the far-right government of waiting too long to make the announcement. "Neighboring countries have already started their vaccination campaigns. It is urgent we establish a timeframe to do the same. Ignorance must not prevail over science," Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes tweeted.

Brazil's private clinics seek India's COVAXIN vaccine

Top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has denied following the UK's decision to delay the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"I would not be in favor of that... We're going to keep doing what we're doing," Faudi said during an interview with a local media channel.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sets-a-new-record-marks-277000-covid-cases-in-24-hours-354101" hreflang="en">US sets a new record, marks 277,000 Covid cases in 24 hours</a>

This clarification from Fauci has come after it was reported by the local media that the UK government will be prioritsing giving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to people in the high-risk groups and administer the second dose after 12 weeks.

The decision has been taken to make sure majority people are administered the first dose as quickly as possible. Fauci had retweeted a report about this decision with a caption "that's under consideration".&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/post-brexit-uk-abolishes-tampon-tax-354107">Post Brexit, UK abolishes ‘tampon tax’</a>

However, like majority of other times, Fauci has this time, too, backtracked on his words and claimed his words were "misinterpreted".

"The fact is we want to stick with what the science tells us, and the data that we have for both (vaccines) indicate you give a prime, followed by a boost in 21 days with Pfizer and 28 days with Moderna. And right now, that`s the way we`re going with it, and that`s the decision that is made," The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-approved-for-emergency-use-354092">WATCH|</a>

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"We make decisions based on data. We don`t have any data of giving a single dose and waiting for more than the normal period of time (to give the second dose)," he added.

Fauci also spoke about the new variant of coronavirus found in South Africa, and if it would pose a threat to the existing vaccines. "The proof of the pudding is we have to test it, and that is what is happening now, testing the strain found in South Africa against the antibodies produced by the vaccines. We don`t have that answer, but I am sure that answer is forthcoming soon," Fauci said.

Top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has denied following the UK's decision to delay the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. "I would not be in favor of that.

Top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has denied following the UK's decision to delay the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. "I would not be in favor of that... We're going to keep doing what we're doing," Faudi said during an interview with a local media channel. Also read| US sets a new record, marks 277,000 Covid cases in 24 hours This clarification from Fauci has come after it was reported by the local media that the UK government will be prioritsing giving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to people in the high-risk groups and administer the second dose after 12 weeks. The decision has been taken to make sure majority people are administered the first dose as quickly as possible. Fauci had retweeted a report about this decision with a caption "that's under consideration". Also read| Post Brexit, UK abolishes ‘tampon tax’ However, like majority of other times, Fauci has this time, too, backtracked on his words and claimed his words were "misinterpreted". "The fact is we want to stick with what the science tells us, and the data that we have for both (vaccines) indicate you give a prime, followed by a boost in 21 days with Pfizer and 28 days with Moderna. And right now, that`s the way we`re going with it, and that`s the decision that is made," The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said. WATCH| × "We make decisions based on data. We don`t have any data of giving a single dose and waiting for more than the normal period of time (to give the second dose)," he added. Fauci also spoke about the new variant of coronavirus found in South Africa, and if it would pose a threat to the existing vaccines. "The proof of the pudding is we have to test it, and that is what is happening now, testing the strain found in South Africa against the antibodies produced by the vaccines. We don`t have that answer, but I am sure that answer is forthcoming soon," Fauci said.

Anthony Fauci denies following UK's decision to delay COVID-19 vaccine's second dose

Israel leads the vaccine race; administers 11.5 vaccination doses per 100 people. Over 10% of the country's population has been vaccinated so far. By the end of this month, the high-risk population will receive the second dose of the vaccine.

Israel administers 11.5 vaccination doses per 100 people

Britain will allow people to be given shots of different COVID-19 vaccines on rare occasions, despite a lack of evidence about the extent of immunity offered by mixing doses.

UK to allow mixing of COVID-19 vaccines on rare occasions

India's drugs regulator on Sunday gave final approval for the emergency-use of two coronavirus vaccines, one developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and the other by local company Bharat Biotech and a state-run institute.

India approves AstraZeneca and local COVID-19 vaccines

As the vaccination drive to end the pandemic slowly heats up, another health worker has suffered a serious allergic reaction after getting Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine.&nbsp; 
 
A 32-year-old female doctor in Mexico was hospitalized after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

The doctor, whose name has not been released, was admitted to the intensive care unit of a public hospital in the northern state of Nuevo Leon after she experienced seizures, difficulty breathing and a skin rash.

"The initial diagnosis is encephalomyelitis," the Health Ministry said in a statement released on Friday night. Encephalomyelitis is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

The ministry added that the doctor has a history of allergic reactions and said that there is no evidence from clinical trials that anyone has developed an inflammation of the brain after the vaccine's application.

Pfizer and BioNTech could not immediately be reached for comment.

More than 126,500 people have died from COVID-19 in Mexico. The country began distributing the first round of COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare workers on December&nbsp;24.

(With inputs from agencies)

As the vaccination drive to end the pandemic slowly heats up, another health worker has suffered a serious allergic reaction after getting Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine.

As the vaccination drive to end the pandemic slowly heats up, another health worker has suffered a serious allergic reaction after getting Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine. A 32-year-old female doctor in Mexico was hospitalized after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The doctor, whose name has not been released, was admitted to the intensive care unit of a public hospital in the northern state of Nuevo Leon after she experienced seizures, difficulty breathing and a skin rash. "The initial diagnosis is encephalomyelitis," the Health Ministry said in a statement released on Friday night. Encephalomyelitis is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. The ministry added that the doctor has a history of allergic reactions and said that there is no evidence from clinical trials that anyone has developed an inflammation of the brain after the vaccine's application. Pfizer and BioNTech could not immediately be reached for comment. More than 126,500 people have died from COVID-19 in Mexico. The country began distributing the first round of COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare workers on December 24. (With inputs from agencies)

Mexican doctor admitted to ICU after receiving Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine

More than 10% of Israel’s population has received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, a rate that has far outstripped the rest of the world and buoyed the battered domestic image of the country’s leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, at a critical juncture.

Israel’s campaign, which began Dec. 20, has distributed the vaccine to three times as much of its population as the second-fastest nation, the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom of Bahrain, according to figures compiled mostly from local government sources by Our World in Data.

By contrast, less than 1% of the population of the United States and only small fractions of the population in many European countries received a vaccine dose by the end of 2020, according to Our World in Data, though China, the United States and Britain have each distributed more doses overall.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/is-pakistan-set-to-normalise-ties-with-israel-353460">Is Pakistan set to normalise ties with Israel?</a>

“It’s quite an astonishing story,” said professor Ran Balicer, chair of the national advisory team of experts that is counseling the Israeli government on its COVID-19 response.

Israel’s heavily digitized, community-based health system — all citizens, by law, must register with one of the country’s four HMOs — and its centralized government have proved adept at orchestrating a national inoculation campaign, according to Israeli health experts.

With a population of 9 million, Israel’s relatively small size has played a role as well, said Balicer, who is also the chief innovation officer for Clalit, the largest of the country’s four HMOs.

An aggressive procurement effort helped set the stage.

The health minister, Yuli Edelstein, said in an interview Friday that Israel had entered into negotiations with drugmakers as an “early bird,” and that the companies were interested in supplying Israel because of its HMOs’ reputation for efficiency and gathering reliable data.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-50-countries-launch-covid-19-vaccination-campaigns-353687">More than 50 countries launch Covid-19 vaccination campaigns</a>

“We are leading the world race thanks to our early preparations,” he said.

Internal political conflicts, confusing instructions and a lack of public trust in the government left Israel seemingly fractured in October as the country struggled to cope with a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths that, relative to the size of the population, were among the worst in the world.

While restrictions imposed in the fall reduced the number of new coronavirus cases, in recent weeks, Israel has seen them rise to more than 5,000 a day, sending the country back into a third, if partial, lockdown. More than 420,000 Israelis have been infected and 3,325 have died.

Israeli officials have not publicized the exact number of vaccine doses that it has received so far, or how much it paid for them, saying the agreements are confidential. But if it turns out that Israel overpaid compared to other countries, Edelstein said, the cost would still be worth it even to reopen the Israeli economy one week earlier than it otherwise could have done.

Professor Jonathan Halevy, president of Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, said getting in early had been a “correct strategy.”

With Israel having prioritized health workers and citizens ages 60 and older, Edelstein said that a majority of its high-risk population should receive the second of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by late January. About 150,000 Israelis are being vaccinated per day.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-mutated-wuhan-virus-targets-the-young-353941">WATCH|</a>

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Netanyahu — who is on trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust — has made the vaccination campaign something of a personal mission, taking credit for signing agreements and securing millions of doses from Pfizer, along with Moderna and other companies.

With Israel heading toward another election in March, the country’s fourth in two years, Netanyahu has made the prospect of a speedy emergence from the health and economic crisis wrought by the pandemic a keystone of his fight for political survival. He has held out the prospect of Israel becoming the first country in the world to be fully vaccinated.

Political motives aside, the prime minister has won praise for his efforts even from some longtime critics, after being widely blamed for mishandling the crisis last year.

“We can’t blame Netanyahu for all of Israel’s ills — correctly, most of the time — and then ignore his contribution when something works,” wrote Gideon Levy, a columnist for the left-leaning Haaretz newspaper this week.

Netanyahu became the first Israeli to be inoculated against COVID-19 on December 19, saying he wanted to set an example. On Tuesday, he dropped into a Jerusalem facility to congratulate the 500,000th Israeli to receive a vaccine.

On Thursday, he visited a vaccination center in the town of Tira, in central Israel, to encourage a higher turnout among the country’s Arab minority. Arab citizens, who make up one-fifth of the population, have been more hesitant than others to get the vaccine.

“We brought millions of vaccines here, more than any other country in the world relative to its population,” Netanyahu said, adding, “We brought them to everyone: Jews and Arabs, religious and secular.”

“Come and be vaccinated,” he urged in Arabic.

Arab representatives say they have been battling a flood of disinformation about the vaccine in the Arabic news and social media. Dr. Samir Subhi, the mayor of Umm al-Fahm, where Netanyahu and Edelstein visited Friday, told Israeli television that he had sent a voice message to 25,000 phones in the area urging people to get vaccinated and describing the fight against the virus as “holy for everyone.”

Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, which has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, was also seen as a population that might resist vaccinations. But those initial fears appear to have dissipated.

Rabbi Yitzchok Zilberstein, a leading ultra-Orthodox authority in Jewish law, issued a public ruling after consulting with Balicer saying that any dangers posed by the vaccine were negligible compared with the dangers of the virus. Several important figures in the community were photographed getting the vaccine.

So far, the government’s inoculation campaign has not extended to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, who have not had access to any vaccinations yet, and the Palestinian Authority does not appear to have publicly requested them. Legal experts and human rights activists said Israel was obliged to provide the Palestinians with vaccines.

The United Nations humanitarian affairs agency for the occupied territories said this week that the Palestinian Authority had applied for financial support from the global vaccine-sharing system Covax, and was working with international organizations on the logistics.

Edelstein said the government’s first obligation was to its own citizens, but it was in Israel’s interest to help suppress the infection among the Palestinians. “If, God willing, there will be a situation where we can say we are in a position to help others,” he said, “no doubt it will be done.”

At the headquarters of one of the HMOs in Jerusalem this week, the atmosphere was calm and orderly. A constant stream of people were seated in small booths and injected within a minute or two of their arrival — much less time than it had taken them to get through on the phone to make the appointment.

In Tel Aviv, City Hall and the Sourasky Medical Center said that to meet demand, they were opening a huge vaccination center in the city’s iconic Rabin Square in the first week of January.

Facilities have been accommodating toward younger Israelis who have shown up with older relatives and have sometimes called on the general public to come rather than throw away leftover trays of thawed vaccine that cannot be stored until the next day.

“We make use of every drop,” Sharon Alroy-Preis, a senior Health Ministry official, said on television Thursday.

More than 10% of Israel’s population has received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, a rate that has far outstripped the rest of the world and buoyed the battered domestic image of the country’s leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, at a critical juncture.

More than 10% of Israel’s population has received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, a rate that has far outstripped the rest of the world and buoyed the battered domestic image of the country’s leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, at a critical juncture. Israel’s campaign, which began Dec. 20, has distributed the vaccine to three times as much of its population as the second-fastest nation, the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom of Bahrain, according to figures compiled mostly from local government sources by Our World in Data. By contrast, less than 1% of the population of the United States and only small fractions of the population in many European countries received a vaccine dose by the end of 2020, according to Our World in Data, though China, the United States and Britain have each distributed more doses overall. Also read| Is Pakistan set to normalise ties with Israel? “It’s quite an astonishing story,” said professor Ran Balicer, chair of the national advisory team of experts that is counseling the Israeli government on its COVID-19 response. Israel’s heavily digitized, community-based health system — all citizens, by law, must register with one of the country’s four HMOs — and its centralized government have proved adept at orchestrating a national inoculation campaign, according to Israeli health experts. With a population of 9 million, Israel’s relatively small size has played a role as well, said Balicer, who is also the chief innovation officer for Clalit, the largest of the country’s four HMOs. An aggressive procurement effort helped set the stage. The health minister, Yuli Edelstein, said in an interview Friday that Israel had entered into negotiations with drugmakers as an “early bird,” and that the companies were interested in supplying Israel because of its HMOs’ reputation for efficiency and gathering reliable data. Also read| More than 50 countries launch Covid-19 vaccination campaigns “We are leading the world race thanks to our early preparations,” he said. Internal political conflicts, confusing instructions and a lack of public trust in the government left Israel seemingly fractured in October as the country struggled to cope with a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths that, relative to the size of the population, were among the worst in the world. While restrictions imposed in the fall reduced the number of new coronavirus cases, in recent weeks, Israel has seen them rise to more than 5,000 a day, sending the country back into a third, if partial, lockdown. More than 420,000 Israelis have been infected and 3,325 have died. Israeli officials have not publicized the exact number of vaccine doses that it has received so far, or how much it paid for them, saying the agreements are confidential. But if it turns out that Israel overpaid compared to other countries, Edelstein said, the cost would still be worth it even to reopen the Israeli economy one week earlier than it otherwise could have done. Professor Jonathan Halevy, president of Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, said getting in early had been a “correct strategy.” With Israel having prioritized health workers and citizens ages 60 and older, Edelstein said that a majority of its high-risk population should receive the second of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by late January. About 150,000 Israelis are being vaccinated per day. WATCH| × Netanyahu — who is on trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust — has made the vaccination campaign something of a personal mission, taking credit for signing agreements and securing millions of doses from Pfizer, along with Moderna and other companies. With Israel heading toward another election in March, the country’s fourth in two years, Netanyahu has made the prospect of a speedy emergence from the health and economic crisis wrought by the pandemic a keystone of his fight for political survival. He has held out the prospect of Israel becoming the first country in the world to be fully vaccinated. Political motives aside, the prime minister has won praise for his efforts even from some longtime critics, after being widely blamed for mishandling the crisis last year. “We can’t blame Netanyahu for all of Israel’s ills — correctly, most of the time — and then ignore his contribution when something works,” wrote Gideon Levy, a columnist for the left-leaning Haaretz newspaper this week. Netanyahu became the first Israeli to be inoculated against COVID-19 on December 19, saying he wanted to set an example. On Tuesday, he dropped into a Jerusalem facility to congratulate the 500,000th Israeli to receive a vaccine. On Thursday, he visited a vaccination center in the town of Tira, in central Israel, to encourage a higher turnout among the country’s Arab minority. Arab citizens, who make up one-fifth of the population, have been more hesitant than others to get the vaccine. “We brought millions of vaccines here, more than any other country in the world relative to its population,” Netanyahu said, adding, “We brought them to everyone: Jews and Arabs, religious and secular.” “Come and be vaccinated,” he urged in Arabic. Arab representatives say they have been battling a flood of disinformation about the vaccine in the Arabic news and social media. Dr. Samir Subhi, the mayor of Umm al-Fahm, where Netanyahu and Edelstein visited Friday, told Israeli television that he had sent a voice message to 25,000 phones in the area urging people to get vaccinated and describing the fight against the virus as “holy for everyone.” Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, which has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, was also seen as a population that might resist vaccinations. But those initial fears appear to have dissipated. Rabbi Yitzchok Zilberstein, a leading ultra-Orthodox authority in Jewish law, issued a public ruling after consulting with Balicer saying that any dangers posed by the vaccine were negligible compared with the dangers of the virus. Several important figures in the community were photographed getting the vaccine. So far, the government’s inoculation campaign has not extended to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, who have not had access to any vaccinations yet, and the Palestinian Authority does not appear to have publicly requested them. Legal experts and human rights activists said Israel was obliged to provide the Palestinians with vaccines. The United Nations humanitarian affairs agency for the occupied territories said this week that the Palestinian Authority had applied for financial support from the global vaccine-sharing system Covax, and was working with international organizations on the logistics. Edelstein said the government’s first obligation was to its own citizens, but it was in Israel’s interest to help suppress the infection among the Palestinians. “If, God willing, there will be a situation where we can say we are in a position to help others,” he said, “no doubt it will be done.” At the headquarters of one of the HMOs in Jerusalem this week, the atmosphere was calm and orderly. A constant stream of people were seated in small booths and injected within a minute or two of their arrival — much less time than it had taken them to get through on the phone to make the appointment. In Tel Aviv, City Hall and the Sourasky Medical Center said that to meet demand, they were opening a huge vaccination center in the city’s iconic Rabin Square in the first week of January. Facilities have been accommodating toward younger Israelis who have shown up with older relatives and have sometimes called on the general public to come rather than throw away leftover trays of thawed vaccine that cannot be stored until the next day. “We make use of every drop,” Sharon Alroy-Preis, a senior Health Ministry official, said on television Thursday.

How Israel became a world leader in vaccinating against COVID-19

China on Thursday said it will provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all citizens as it has granted conditional approval to the first homegrown vaccine developed by state-owned pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm.

The approval comes a day after Sinopharm said its vaccine showed 79.34 per cent efficacy and a 99.52 per cent antibody-positive conversion rate in the interim results of the Phase III clinical trials.

"The inactivated vaccine, developed by Beijing Biological Products Institute under Sinopharm's subsidiary China National Biotec Group (CNBG), got official authorisation from China's National Medical Products Administration on Wednesday," Chen Shifei, deputy head of the National Medical Products Administration, was quoted as saying by the state-run Global Times.

The National Medical Products Administration's drug registration bureau said earlier that a total of 11 Chinese vaccine candidates are in different stages of testing at home and abroad.

Beijing Biological Products Institute Co, a Sinopharm subsidiary, said in a statement on Wednesday that interim results show the Sinopharm vaccine is safe and people who received two doses produced high-level antibodies.

The announcement of China's approval for one of its vaccines came after the US authorised Pfizer and Moderna jabs.

Britain has approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for use in the UK, with the first doses due to be given on Monday.

Russia too has approved its vaccine Sputnik-V.

Both Moderna's and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have shown similar efficacy levels of nearly 95 per cent, which the official media here said was beyond predictions and drove up the public's expectation for Chinese inactivated vaccines.

Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health Commission (NHC), said China will provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all its citizens.

"All Chinese people will receive this vaccine free of charge," sate-run Xinhua quoted the Zeng as saying.

After the COVID-19 vaccines are approved to enter the market, especially when production capacity increases, China will comprehensively vaccinate senior citizens, people with underlying conditions, and the general public in an orderly manner, he said.

"China will vaccinate the eligible population as widely as possible, and gradually build an immune barrier in the whole population to control the epidemic," said Zeng.

He added that 60 or even 70 per cent of the vaccination rate is needed to establish universal protection.

Xinhua also reported that Pakistan has decided to pre-book COVID-19 vaccine from Sinopharm for emergency use for healthcare workers.

It quoted a Pakistan's Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination statement stating that it was decided that the Pakistani government will provide free COVID-19 vaccine for all frontline health workers in the first quarter of 2021, after procuring it from the Chinese company.

The CNBG chairman, Yang Xiaoming, stated that data on safety and efficacy collected so far in the Phase III clinical trials is better than expected.

Reported side effects of the vaccines are also milder than expected, Yang said.

The side effects of CNBG's inactivated vaccines include aches or redness at the injection site, fever, muscular soreness, sickness and headache, the Global Times report said.

To form an immunology barrier, it requires at least 700 million Chinese residents to be vaccinated, which means at least 1.4 billion doses are needed, Yang said.

Normally there would only be 500-700 million doses of vaccines available on the Chinese market every year, Yang said, adding that it would be a big challenge for China to conduct mass vaccination in such a short time.

He said CNBG's production capacity of COVID-19 inactivated vaccines has reached 120 million doses by the end of the year and it will expand to one billion doses per year in 2021.

China has established a complete cold-chain industry for vaccine delivery, he said.

Sinopharm's inactivated vaccines have been administered to nearly one million people for emergency use in China and no serious adverse reactions have been reported, the paper said.

About 70,000 volunteers have participated in the phase-III clinical trials in more than 10 countries, it said.

Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the coronavirus emerged a year ago before it became a pandemic, has started the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine candidates on certain key groups of people from December 19.

So far, at least 10 provinces in China, including East China's Jiangsu province and South China's Guangdong province, have officially announced a vaccination plan for their residents.

China's National Health Commission said that the Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 25 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 87,052 by Wednesday, including 368 patients still receiving treatment, it said.

China has already joined the COVAX, an international vaccine alliance.

According to the WHO, nine candidate vaccines, including two from China, are currently being evaluated for inclusion in the COVAX facility.

The COVAX is co-led by Gavi, an international vaccine alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the WHO.

China on Thursday said it will provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all citizens as it has granted conditional approval to the first homegrown vaccine developed by state-owned pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm.

China on Thursday said it will provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all citizens as it has granted conditional approval to the first homegrown vaccine developed by state-owned pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm. The approval comes a day after Sinopharm said its vaccine showed 79.34 per cent efficacy and a 99.52 per cent antibody-positive conversion rate in the interim results of the Phase III clinical trials. "The inactivated vaccine, developed by Beijing Biological Products Institute under Sinopharm's subsidiary China National Biotec Group (CNBG), got official authorisation from China's National Medical Products Administration on Wednesday," Chen Shifei, deputy head of the National Medical Products Administration, was quoted as saying by the state-run Global Times. The National Medical Products Administration's drug registration bureau said earlier that a total of 11 Chinese vaccine candidates are in different stages of testing at home and abroad. Beijing Biological Products Institute Co, a Sinopharm subsidiary, said in a statement on Wednesday that interim results show the Sinopharm vaccine is safe and people who received two doses produced high-level antibodies. The announcement of China's approval for one of its vaccines came after the US authorised Pfizer and Moderna jabs. Britain has approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for use in the UK, with the first doses due to be given on Monday. Russia too has approved its vaccine Sputnik-V. Both Moderna's and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have shown similar efficacy levels of nearly 95 per cent, which the official media here said was beyond predictions and drove up the public's expectation for Chinese inactivated vaccines. Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health Commission (NHC), said China will provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all its citizens. "All Chinese people will receive this vaccine free of charge," sate-run Xinhua quoted the Zeng as saying. After the COVID-19 vaccines are approved to enter the market, especially when production capacity increases, China will comprehensively vaccinate senior citizens, people with underlying conditions, and the general public in an orderly manner, he said. "China will vaccinate the eligible population as widely as possible, and gradually build an immune barrier in the whole population to control the epidemic," said Zeng. He added that 60 or even 70 per cent of the vaccination rate is needed to establish universal protection. Xinhua also reported that Pakistan has decided to pre-book COVID-19 vaccine from Sinopharm for emergency use for healthcare workers. It quoted a Pakistan's Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination statement stating that it was decided that the Pakistani government will provide free COVID-19 vaccine for all frontline health workers in the first quarter of 2021, after procuring it from the Chinese company. The CNBG chairman, Yang Xiaoming, stated that data on safety and efficacy collected so far in the Phase III clinical trials is better than expected. Reported side effects of the vaccines are also milder than expected, Yang said. The side effects of CNBG's inactivated vaccines include aches or redness at the injection site, fever, muscular soreness, sickness and headache, the Global Times report said. To form an immunology barrier, it requires at least 700 million Chinese residents to be vaccinated, which means at least 1.4 billion doses are needed, Yang said. Normally there would only be 500-700 million doses of vaccines available on the Chinese market every year, Yang said, adding that it would be a big challenge for China to conduct mass vaccination in such a short time. He said CNBG's production capacity of COVID-19 inactivated vaccines has reached 120 million doses by the end of the year and it will expand to one billion doses per year in 2021. China has established a complete cold-chain industry for vaccine delivery, he said. Sinopharm's inactivated vaccines have been administered to nearly one million people for emergency use in China and no serious adverse reactions have been reported, the paper said. About 70,000 volunteers have participated in the phase-III clinical trials in more than 10 countries, it said. Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the coronavirus emerged a year ago before it became a pandemic, has started the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine candidates on certain key groups of people from December 19. So far, at least 10 provinces in China, including East China's Jiangsu province and South China's Guangdong province, have officially announced a vaccination plan for their residents. China's National Health Commission said that the Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 25 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 87,052 by Wednesday, including 368 patients still receiving treatment, it said. China has already joined the COVAX, an international vaccine alliance. According to the WHO, nine candidate vaccines, including two from China, are currently being evaluated for inclusion in the COVAX facility. The COVAX is co-led by Gavi, an international vaccine alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the WHO.

China grants conditional approval to homegrown COVID-19 vaccine; to provide it free for all citizens

Drugmakers including Pfizer Inc, Sanofi SA, and GlaxoSmithKline Plc plan to raise U.S. prices on more than 300 drugs in the United States on Jan. 1, according to drugmakers and data analyzed by healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors.

Fineprint: Drugmakers to hike prices for 2021 as pandemic, political pressure put revenues at risk

With an alarming increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the country, a nationwide lockdown has bene reimposed in Israel for the third time in this pandemic year.

Voicing a tone of optimism and hope, Israel's&nbsp;Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a "world record" vaccination will bring things back to normal within weeks, but urged people to stay indoors till the point of normal is reached.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-to-inoculate-quarter-of-its-population-against-coronavirus-in-a-month-says-netanyahu-352705">Israel to inoculate quarter of its population against coronavirus in a month, says Netanyahu</a>

The country went into a third nationwide lockdown to limit the transmission by following strict regulations that have previously, too, helped the country bounce back to near-normal conditions.

Starting from 5 pm on Sunday, people will not be allowed to step out of their houses unless they are seeking&nbsp;medical care, attending legal proceedings, going to school or exercising.&nbsp;

Unlike last time, the Israel government has decided to keep the schools open amid this lockdown. However, children under the age of six, students in grade one to four and teenagers finishing secondary school in grades 11 and 12 will only be allowed to attend the school physically. Grades five to 10 will stay closed and continue with virtual classes.

Also read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-announces-third-nationwide-virus-lockdown-352002">&nbsp;Israel announces third nationwide virus lockdown</a>

The decision to keep&nbsp;grades five through 10 home has attracted criticism from experts who believe this decision will negatively affect the emotional and mental wellbeing of these teenagers.

"The decision to ignore this age bracket means the abandonment of hundreds of thousands of children, only because in theory they can be left at home alone while (their parents) go to work," NCC head Vered Windman was quoted by a local newspaper. "But this is precisely the age group that is at a higher risk of developing emotional difficulties, fears and isolation."

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, on Saturday after&nbsp;Shabbat, told the masses he has personally spoken to head of companies developing the coronavirus vaccine and has been assured that the companies will be able to provide the requisite number of doses to Israel.

Appreciating the efforts of the local officials for starting the vaccine drive, he said the targets set by the country's administration for vaccination drive of "such a magnitude (they amount to) a world record".

With an alarming increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the country, a nationwide lockdown has bene reimposed in Israel for the third time in this pandemic year.

With an alarming increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the country, a nationwide lockdown has bene reimposed in Israel for the third time in this pandemic year. Voicing a tone of optimism and hope, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a "world record" vaccination will bring things back to normal within weeks, but urged people to stay indoors till the point of normal is reached. Also read| Israel to inoculate quarter of its population against coronavirus in a month, says Netanyahu The country went into a third nationwide lockdown to limit the transmission by following strict regulations that have previously, too, helped the country bounce back to near-normal conditions. Starting from 5 pm on Sunday, people will not be allowed to step out of their houses unless they are seeking medical care, attending legal proceedings, going to school or exercising. Unlike last time, the Israel government has decided to keep the schools open amid this lockdown. However, children under the age of six, students in grade one to four and teenagers finishing secondary school in grades 11 and 12 will only be allowed to attend the school physically. Grades five to 10 will stay closed and continue with virtual classes. Also read| Israel announces third nationwide virus lockdown The decision to keep grades five through 10 home has attracted criticism from experts who believe this decision will negatively affect the emotional and mental wellbeing of these teenagers. "The decision to ignore this age bracket means the abandonment of hundreds of thousands of children, only because in theory they can be left at home alone while (their parents) go to work," NCC head Vered Windman was quoted by a local newspaper. "But this is precisely the age group that is at a higher risk of developing emotional difficulties, fears and isolation." Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, on Saturday after Shabbat, told the masses he has personally spoken to head of companies developing the coronavirus vaccine and has been assured that the companies will be able to provide the requisite number of doses to Israel. Appreciating the efforts of the local officials for starting the vaccine drive, he said the targets set by the country's administration for vaccination drive of "such a magnitude (they amount to) a world record".

Israel enters third nationwide lockdown; PM hopes for 'world record' of vaccinated people

India's parliamentary panel on Thursday said that “athletes, coaches and support staff going for the Tokyo Olympics should be put in the priority group for the Covid-19 vaccination.”

The parliamentary standing committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, which is headed by Vinay P Sahasrabuddhe, submitted a report om 'Preparation for Olympics – 2021' to India's vice president and Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu.&nbsp;

“Our suggestions were sought on all aspects towards the preparation of our athletes for the Tokyo Olympics. We were of the same view on vaccination. It is a welcome move,” said IOA secretary general Rajiv Mehta.

Tokyo Olympics was set to take place this year, but they were postponed by a year due to coronavirus pandemic. The Games will now begin on July 23, 2021, and will host approximately 11,0000 athletes.&nbsp;

The International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has said IOC will appeal to athletes to get the vaccine, but it will not be a mandatory requirement.

“We will encourage athletes that whenever possible they have the vaccination because it is better for their health, and it is also a demonstration of solidarity with their fellow athletes and also the Japanese people,” Bach had said during a visit to Tokyo last month.

According to the parliamentary panel, the pandemic and travel restrictions have affected the training of athletes. The panel also recommended that should host some international tournaments in India to help athletes prepare. As per them, it will also help them fill up vacancies for coaches.&nbsp;

“About 561 vacancies exist for coaches. This is unacceptable. These should be filled up within a specific time-bound manner so that Olympic preparations don’t suffer,” the committee said in the report.

“International competitions should be accorded priority as they prepare athletes for pressure situations hey may find themselves in during the actual Olympics,” it noted.

India's parliamentary panel on Thursday said that “athletes, coaches and support staff going for the Tokyo Olympics should be put in the priority group for the Covid-19 vaccination.

India's parliamentary panel on Thursday said that “athletes, coaches and support staff going for the Tokyo Olympics should be put in the priority group for the Covid-19 vaccination.” The parliamentary standing committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, which is headed by Vinay P Sahasrabuddhe, submitted a report om 'Preparation for Olympics – 2021' to India's vice president and Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu. “Our suggestions were sought on all aspects towards the preparation of our athletes for the Tokyo Olympics. We were of the same view on vaccination. It is a welcome move,” said IOA secretary general Rajiv Mehta. Tokyo Olympics was set to take place this year, but they were postponed by a year due to coronavirus pandemic. The Games will now begin on July 23, 2021, and will host approximately 11,0000 athletes. The International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has said IOC will appeal to athletes to get the vaccine, but it will not be a mandatory requirement. “We will encourage athletes that whenever possible they have the vaccination because it is better for their health, and it is also a demonstration of solidarity with their fellow athletes and also the Japanese people,” Bach had said during a visit to Tokyo last month. According to the parliamentary panel, the pandemic and travel restrictions have affected the training of athletes. The panel also recommended that should host some international tournaments in India to help athletes prepare. As per them, it will also help them fill up vacancies for coaches. “About 561 vacancies exist for coaches. This is unacceptable. These should be filled up within a specific time-bound manner so that Olympic preparations don’t suffer,” the committee said in the report. “International competitions should be accorded priority as they prepare athletes for pressure situations hey may find themselves in during the actual Olympics,” it noted.

Star atheletes need to be given vaccine priority before Tokyo 2021: Parliamentary panel

Moderna Inc said it expects that the immunity induced by its COVID-19 vaccine would be protective against the coronavirus variants reported in the UK.

The company said it plans to run tests to confirm the vaccine's activity against any strain.

Moderna's comments came amid the British government's plan to place huge swathes of England under its strictest COVID-19 restrictions as a highly infectious virus variant sweeps the country.

The company said it expects its vaccine, which was recently granted the U.S. emergency use authorization, to be protective against the UK variant based on data to date.

"We have already tested sera from animals and humans vaccinated with the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine against a number of previous variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that have emerged since the first outbreak of the pandemic and found our vaccine to remain equally effective," Moderna said.

The US-based company said it would be performing additional tests of the vaccine in the coming weeks to confirm its expectation.

Moderna Inc said it expects that the immunity induced by its COVID-19 vaccine would be protective against the coronavirus variants reported in the UK. The company said it plans to run tests to confirm the vaccine's activity against any strain.

Moderna Inc said it expects that the immunity induced by its COVID-19 vaccine would be protective against the coronavirus variants reported in the UK. The company said it plans to run tests to confirm the vaccine's activity against any strain. Moderna's comments came amid the British government's plan to place huge swathes of England under its strictest COVID-19 restrictions as a highly infectious virus variant sweeps the country. The company said it expects its vaccine, which was recently granted the U.S. emergency use authorization, to be protective against the UK variant based on data to date. "We have already tested sera from animals and humans vaccinated with the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine against a number of previous variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that have emerged since the first outbreak of the pandemic and found our vaccine to remain equally effective," Moderna said. The US-based company said it would be performing additional tests of the vaccine in the coming weeks to confirm its expectation.

Moderna expects its COVID-19 vaccine to protect against UK coronavirus variant

As U.S. industries push for their workers to receive early access to COVID-19 vaccines, local health departments and pharmacies face the challenge of verifying the identity of essential workers to ensure no one cuts the line.

US vaccine rollout's next challenge: How to verify an 'essential' worker?

The creator of the world’s first approved coronavirus vaccine has warned that he believes the deadly coronavirus may survive for several years to come.

Lead scientist behind Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine, Ugur Sahin, said that “The virus will stay with us for the next 10 years,”. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-us-nurse-passes-out-after-getting-pfizer-biontechs-covid-19-vaccine-350712">Watch: US nurse passes out after getting Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine</a>

“We need to get used to the fact there’ll be more outbreaks," he added.

Asked when he believed the world might be able to return to normal, Sahin responded: “We need a new definition of ‘normal’.” 
 
<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>

Sahin continued that a “new normal” would not mean countries having to go into lockdown and that scenario could be possible “by the end of the summer”.

Ugur Sahin, chief executive of Germany's BioNTech, partnered with US drug company Pfizer and took less than a year to get a vaccine approved.

Sahin also urged caution on whether 60-70% of the world’s population being vaccinated would be enough to prevent further outbreaks.

(With inputs from agencies)

The creator of the world’s first approved coronavirus vaccine has warned that he believes the deadly coronavirus may survive for several years to come. Lead scientist behind Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine, Ugur Sahin, said that “The virus will stay with us for the next 10 years,”.

The creator of the world’s first approved coronavirus vaccine has warned that he believes the deadly coronavirus may survive for several years to come. Lead scientist behind Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine, Ugur Sahin, said that “The virus will stay with us for the next 10 years,”. Watch: US nurse passes out after getting Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine “We need to get used to the fact there’ll be more outbreaks," he added. Asked when he believed the world might be able to return to normal, Sahin responded: “We need a new definition of ‘normal’.” Also read: Four trial volunteers who got Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine developed Bell's palsy Sahin continued that a “new normal” would not mean countries having to go into lockdown and that scenario could be possible “by the end of the summer”. Ugur Sahin, chief executive of Germany's BioNTech, partnered with US drug company Pfizer and took less than a year to get a vaccine approved. Sahin also urged caution on whether 60-70% of the world’s population being vaccinated would be enough to prevent further outbreaks. (With inputs from agencies)

Coronavirus will stay with us for the next 10 years, says vaccine creator

Some Catholics have refused to take the Wuhan virus vaccines that use aborted fetal cells. In Indonesia, Muslims were concerned about the 'halal status' of the vaccines. Are anti-vaxxers exploiting religion? WION's Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you more.

Gravitas: Are anti-vaxxers exploiting religion?

Health officials in Alaska have reported that a second health care worker had an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alaska-healthcare-worker-suffers-an-allergic-reaction-to-covid-19-vaccine-pfizer-to-assess-the-report-350354">Also read | Alaska healthcare worker suffers an allergic reaction to Covid-19 vaccine, Pfizer to assess the report</a> 
 
Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau says the two workers showed adverse reactions about 10 minutes after receiving the vaccine and were treated.&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>

Earlier on December 17, a health care worker in Alaska developed a severe allergic reaction shortly after receiving the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine&nbsp;and had to be hospitalized overnight. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/black-asian-and-minority-ethnic-groups-reluctant-to-take-covid-19-vaccine-jab-uk-study-350330">Also read | Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups reluctant to take Covid-19 vaccine jab: UK study</a> 
 
One of the healthcare workers, a middle-aged woman, had no history of allergies but had an anaphylactic reaction 10 minutes after receiving the vaccine. She experienced a rash over her face and torso, shortness of breath and an elevated heart rate, the NYT report said adding that anaphylaxis can be life-threatening, with impaired breathing and drops in blood pressure that usually occurs within minutes or even seconds after exposure to a food or medicine, or even a substance like latex to which the person is allergic. 
 
<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 second worker received his shot on Wednesday and developed eye puffiness, lightheadedness and a scratchy throat 10 minutes after the injection, the hospital said in a statement. He was taken to the emergency room and treated with medication including epinephrine and Benadryl. The worker was back to normal within an hour and released.

The first COVID-19 vaccinations began this week across the US and critical care nurse Sandra Lindsay in New York became the first person in the US to be vaccinated for COVID19. The Pfizer vaccine was shown to be safe with an efficacy rate of about 95 per cent in a clinical trial involving 44,000 participants.

The NYT report added that the Alaska cases will likely intensify concerns about possible side effects and may prompt calls for stricter guidelines to ensure that recipients were carefully monitored for adverse reactions. Despite the initial cases of allergic reactions, health officials have said that the cases would not disrupt their vaccine rollout plans. We have no plans to change our vaccine schedule, dosing or regimen, Dr Anne Zink, Alaska's chief medical officer, said in a statement.

Bartlett Regional Hospital's emergency department medical director Dr Lindy Jones said the first worker was given a shot of epinephrine, a standard treatment for severe allergic reactions. While her symptoms subsided, they re-emerged, and she was treated with steroids and an epinephrine drip. The NYT report said when the doctors tried to stop the drip, her symptoms re-emerged yet again, so the woman was moved to the intensive care unit.

The hospital has administered 144 total doses as of Wednesday night. Dr Paul A Offit, a vaccine expert and member of an outside advisory panel that recommended the Food and Drug Administration authorize the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use, said the initial cases of allergic reaction in individuals should not mean that the vaccine rollout should be paused.

I don't think this means we should pause vaccine distribution, he said. Not at all. But he said researchers need to figure out what component of the vaccine is causing this reaction. Dr Jay Butler, a top infectious-disease expert with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the Alaska situation showed that the monitoring system worked. The federal agency has recommended that the vaccine be administered in settings that have supplies, including oxygen and epinephrine, to manage anaphylactic reactions.

Similar allergic reactions have also occurred in individuals getting the vaccine in Britain. According to the NYT, a Pfizer spokeswoman Jerica Pitts said the company did not yet have all of the details of the Alaska situation but was working with local health authorities. The vaccine comes with information warning that medical treatment should be available in case of a rare anaphylactic event, she said.

We will closely monitor all reports suggestive of serious allergic reactions following vaccination and update labelling language if needed, Pitts said. Pfizer officials have said the two British people who had the reaction had a history of severe allergies. One, a 49-year-old woman, had a history of egg allergies. The other, a 40-year-old woman, had a history of allergies to several medications.

FDA officials have said they would require Pfizer to increase its monitoring for anaphylaxis and submit data on it once the vaccine comes into further use, the NYT report said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Health officials in Alaska have reported that a second health care worker had an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine. Also read | Alaska healthcare worker suffers an allergic reaction to Covid-19 vaccine, Pfizer to assess the report Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau says the two workers showed adverse reactions about 10 minutes after receiving the vaccine and were treated.

Health officials in Alaska have reported that a second health care worker had an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine. Also read | Alaska healthcare worker suffers an allergic reaction to Covid-19 vaccine, Pfizer to assess the report Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau says the two workers showed adverse reactions about 10 minutes after receiving the vaccine and were treated. Also read: Four trial volunteers who got Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine developed Bell's palsy Earlier on December 17, a health care worker in Alaska developed a severe allergic reaction shortly after receiving the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine and had to be hospitalized overnight. Also read | Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups reluctant to take Covid-19 vaccine jab: UK study One of the healthcare workers, a middle-aged woman, had no history of allergies but had an anaphylactic reaction 10 minutes after receiving the vaccine. She experienced a rash over her face and torso, shortness of breath and an elevated heart rate, the NYT report said adding that anaphylaxis can be life-threatening, with impaired breathing and drops in blood pressure that usually occurs within minutes or even seconds after exposure to a food or medicine, or even a substance like latex to which the person is allergic. Also read | Next four to six months could be worst of coronavirus pandemic: Bill Gates The second worker received his shot on Wednesday and developed eye puffiness, lightheadedness and a scratchy throat 10 minutes after the injection, the hospital said in a statement. He was taken to the emergency room and treated with medication including epinephrine and Benadryl. The worker was back to normal within an hour and released. The first COVID-19 vaccinations began this week across the US and critical care nurse Sandra Lindsay in New York became the first person in the US to be vaccinated for COVID19. The Pfizer vaccine was shown to be safe with an efficacy rate of about 95 per cent in a clinical trial involving 44,000 participants. The NYT report added that the Alaska cases will likely intensify concerns about possible side effects and may prompt calls for stricter guidelines to ensure that recipients were carefully monitored for adverse reactions. Despite the initial cases of allergic reactions, health officials have said that the cases would not disrupt their vaccine rollout plans. We have no plans to change our vaccine schedule, dosing or regimen, Dr Anne Zink, Alaska's chief medical officer, said in a statement. Bartlett Regional Hospital's emergency department medical director Dr Lindy Jones said the first worker was given a shot of epinephrine, a standard treatment for severe allergic reactions. While her symptoms subsided, they re-emerged, and she was treated with steroids and an epinephrine drip. The NYT report said when the doctors tried to stop the drip, her symptoms re-emerged yet again, so the woman was moved to the intensive care unit. The hospital has administered 144 total doses as of Wednesday night. Dr Paul A Offit, a vaccine expert and member of an outside advisory panel that recommended the Food and Drug Administration authorize the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use, said the initial cases of allergic reaction in individuals should not mean that the vaccine rollout should be paused. I don't think this means we should pause vaccine distribution, he said. Not at all. But he said researchers need to figure out what component of the vaccine is causing this reaction. Dr Jay Butler, a top infectious-disease expert with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the Alaska situation showed that the monitoring system worked. The federal agency has recommended that the vaccine be administered in settings that have supplies, including oxygen and epinephrine, to manage anaphylactic reactions. Similar allergic reactions have also occurred in individuals getting the vaccine in Britain. According to the NYT, a Pfizer spokeswoman Jerica Pitts said the company did not yet have all of the details of the Alaska situation but was working with local health authorities. The vaccine comes with information warning that medical treatment should be available in case of a rare anaphylactic event, she said. We will closely monitor all reports suggestive of serious allergic reactions following vaccination and update labelling language if needed, Pitts said. Pfizer officials have said the two British people who had the reaction had a history of severe allergies. One, a 49-year-old woman, had a history of egg allergies. The other, a 40-year-old woman, had a history of allergies to several medications. FDA officials have said they would require Pfizer to increase its monitoring for anaphylaxis and submit data on it once the vaccine comes into further use, the NYT report said. (With inputs from agencies)

Second Alaska health care worker has a severe reaction to COVID-19 vaccine

China is planning to vaccinate 50 million people in the high-priority group against the coronavirus before the start of the peak Lunar New Year travel season early next year, the South China Morning Post reported on Friday.

China to vaccinate 50 million people for Lunar New Year

A health care worker in Alaska developed a severe allergic reaction shortly after receiving the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine Tuesday evening and had to be hospitalized overnight. 
 
<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>

During a media briefing Wednesday, health officials said the middle-aged woman had no history of allergies and had never experienced anaphylaxis, a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/black-asian-and-minority-ethnic-groups-reluctant-to-take-covid-19-vaccine-jab-uk-study-350330">Also read | Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups reluctant to take Covid-19 vaccine jab: UK study</a>

The woman is now stable, public health authorities said.

The reaction was reportedly similar to the anaphylactic shock suffered by multiple healthcare workers in the UK, where the Pfizer-BioNTech jab was approved earlier this month. 
 
<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>

Britain’s medical regulator has said that anyone with a history of anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reactions to medicine or food, should not get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that most Americans with allergies should be safe to receive the vaccine. It said only people who have previously had severe allergic reactions to vaccines or ingredients in this particular vaccine should avoid getting the shot.

The symptoms in the middle-aged patient resolved after being administered with allergy treatment epinephrine.

The patient was still in Juneau’s Bartlett Regional Hospital being monitored.

Pfizer said the vaccine comes with a clear warning that appropriate medical treatment and supervision should always be readily available in case of anaphylaxis, but it would update the labeling language for the vaccine if needed.

Administration of the vaccine began Monday in the United States, following emergency-use authorization last week. Early doses have been set aside for healthcare workers and nursing home residents

Former FDA Chief Scientist Jesse Goodman called the allergic reaction concerning but said that more information must be known in order to better understand the risks.

“What we need to know is what the denominator is -- how many doses have been given? Is this going to be something that’s going to be seen at a higher incidence with this vaccine than with others?” Goodman said. “We’re going to have to find out those things to inform whether that changes recommendations or how this is used.”

(With inputs from agencies)

A health care worker in Alaska developed a severe allergic reaction shortly after receiving the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine Tuesday evening and had to be hospitalized overnight.

A health care worker in Alaska developed a severe allergic reaction shortly after receiving the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine Tuesday evening and had to be hospitalized overnight. Also read: Four trial volunteers who got Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine developed Bell's palsy During a media briefing Wednesday, health officials said the middle-aged woman had no history of allergies and had never experienced anaphylaxis, a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction. Also read | Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups reluctant to take Covid-19 vaccine jab: UK study The woman is now stable, public health authorities said. The reaction was reportedly similar to the anaphylactic shock suffered by multiple healthcare workers in the UK, where the Pfizer-BioNTech jab was approved earlier this month. Also read | Next four to six months could be worst of coronavirus pandemic: Bill Gates Britain’s medical regulator has said that anyone with a history of anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reactions to medicine or food, should not get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that most Americans with allergies should be safe to receive the vaccine. It said only people who have previously had severe allergic reactions to vaccines or ingredients in this particular vaccine should avoid getting the shot. The symptoms in the middle-aged patient resolved after being administered with allergy treatment epinephrine. The patient was still in Juneau’s Bartlett Regional Hospital being monitored. Pfizer said the vaccine comes with a clear warning that appropriate medical treatment and supervision should always be readily available in case of anaphylaxis, but it would update the labeling language for the vaccine if needed. Administration of the vaccine began Monday in the United States, following emergency-use authorization last week. Early doses have been set aside for healthcare workers and nursing home residents Former FDA Chief Scientist Jesse Goodman called the allergic reaction concerning but said that more information must be known in order to better understand the risks. “What we need to know is what the denominator is -- how many doses have been given? Is this going to be something that’s going to be seen at a higher incidence with this vaccine than with others?” Goodman said. “We’re going to have to find out those things to inform whether that changes recommendations or how this is used.” (With inputs from agencies)

Alaska healthcare worker suffers an allergic reaction to Covid-19 vaccine, Pfizer to assess the report

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