In a shocking revelation, Pfizer has been accused of holding Brazil "to ransom" and bullying the government over demands to protect itself from any possible lawsuits.<o:p></o:p>

As per reports, Brazil government signed a $1 billion (£700m) deal with Pfizer in which the government signed "a liability waiver be signed for any possible side-effects of the vaccine, exempting Pfizer from any civil liability for serious side-effects arising from the use of the vaccine, indefinitely."

<o:p>Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-booster-shot-not-needed-for-everyone-oxford-vaccine-creator-says-412098">&nbsp;Covid booster shot not needed for everyone, Oxford vaccine creator says</a></o:p>

As per the signed contract, Brazil cannot hold Pfizer liable for any serious or non-serious side-effects caused by their vaccine.&nbsp;The pharmaceutical company has successfully shielded itself from any civil liability in such cases, and that too, indefinitely.<o:p></o:p>

"Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless&nbsp;Pfizer, BioNTech, [and] each of their affiliates … from and against any and all suits, claims, actions, demands, losses, damages, liabilities, settlements, penalties, fines, costs and expenses … caused by, arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the vaccine," the contract states.<o:p></o:p>

An additional condition of the contract is that the Brazil government is not allowed to use Pfizer’s "name, trade name, service marks, trademarks, trade dress or logos" in any of the official press releases or even for advertising purposes, without taking prior consent from the company for every situation.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/joe-biden-unvaccinated-people-hampering-us-vaccine-drive-412057">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/joe-biden-unvaccinated-people-hampering-us-vaccine-drive-412057/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Reports also suggest that Brazil procured cheaper jabs than what the EU obtained from Pfizer — nearly $10 per dose.<o:p></o:p>

The contract came to light after it was leaked on the health ministry’s website, but was immediately removed from the portal. While the authorities believed that the posting of contract had gone unnoticed by western countries, a French lawyer and writer Juan Branco caught sight of it and raised the issue soon after. He posted the contract on Twitter and questioned the legitimacy of profits of Pfizer in comparison to its assumed production cost.<o:p></o:p>

"This debate can't happen if the public and the citizens are kept out of the loop,"&nbsp;Branco said.<o:p></o:p>

In a shocking revelation, Pfizer has been accused of holding Brazil "to ransom" and bullying the government over demands to protect itself from any possible lawsuits.

In a shocking revelation, Pfizer has been accused of holding Brazil "to ransom" and bullying the government over demands to protect itself from any possible lawsuits. As per reports, Brazil government signed a $1 billion (£700m) deal with Pfizer in which the government signed "a liability waiver be signed for any possible side-effects of the vaccine, exempting Pfizer from any civil liability for serious side-effects arising from the use of the vaccine, indefinitely." Also read | Covid booster shot not needed for everyone, Oxford vaccine creator says As per the signed contract, Brazil cannot hold Pfizer liable for any serious or non-serious side-effects caused by their vaccine. The pharmaceutical company has successfully shielded itself from any civil liability in such cases, and that too, indefinitely. "Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Pfizer, BioNTech, [and] each of their affiliates … from and against any and all suits, claims, actions, demands, losses, damages, liabilities, settlements, penalties, fines, costs and expenses … caused by, arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the vaccine," the contract states. An additional condition of the contract is that the Brazil government is not allowed to use Pfizer’s "name, trade name, service marks, trademarks, trade dress or logos" in any of the official press releases or even for advertising purposes, without taking prior consent from the company for every situation. WATCH | Reports also suggest that Brazil procured cheaper jabs than what the EU obtained from Pfizer — nearly $10 per dose. The contract came to light after it was leaked on the health ministry’s website, but was immediately removed from the portal. While the authorities believed that the posting of contract had gone unnoticed by western countries, a French lawyer and writer Juan Branco caught sight of it and raised the issue soon after. He posted the contract on Twitter and questioned the legitimacy of profits of Pfizer in comparison to its assumed production cost. "This debate can't happen if the public and the citizens are kept out of the loop," Branco said.

Pfizer is holding Brazil 'to ransom' over vaccine contract: Reports

Representatives of Pfizer met privately with senior US&nbsp;scientists and regulators Monday to press their case for swift authorization of coronavirus booster vaccines, amid growing public confusion about whether they will be needed and pushback from federal health officials who say the extra doses are not necessary now.

The high-level online meeting, which lasted an hour and involved Pfizer’s chief scientific officer briefing virtually every top doctor in the federal government, came on the same day Israel started administering third doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to heart transplant patients and others with compromised immune systems. Officials said after the meeting that more data — and possibly several more months — would be needed before regulators could determine whether booster shots were necessary.

The twin developments underscored the intensifying debate about whether booster shots are needed in the United States, at what point and for whom. Many American experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser for the pandemic, have said there is insufficient evidence yet that boosters are necessary. Some, though, say Israel’s move may foreshadow a government decision to at least recommend them for the vulnerable.

Pfizer is gathering information on antibody responses in those who receive a third dose, as well as data from Israel, and expects to submit at least some of that to the Food and Drug Administration in the coming weeks in a formal request to broaden the emergency authorization for its coronavirus vaccine.

But the final decision on booster shots, several officials said after the meeting, will also depend on real-world information gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about breakthrough infections — those occurring in vaccinated people — that cause serious disease or hospitalization.

And any recommendations about booster shots are likely to be calibrated, even within age groups, officials said. For example, if booster shots are recommended, they might go first to nursing home residents who received their vaccines in late 2020 or early 2021, while elderly people who received their first shots in the spring might have a longer wait. And then there is the question of what kind of booster: a third dose of the original vaccine, or perhaps a shot tailored to the highly infectious delta variant, which is surging in the United States.

“It was an interesting meeting. They shared their data. There wasn’t anything resembling a decision,” Fauci said in a brief interview Monday evening, adding, “This is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle, and it’s one part of the data, so there isn’t a question of a convincing case one way or the other.”

Amy Rose, a Pfizer spokesperson, said in a statement, “We had a productive meeting with U.S. public health officials on the elements of our research program and the preliminary booster data.”

The Department of Health and Human Services, which convened the meeting, issued its own statement reiterating the administration’s stance. “At this time, fully vaccinated Americans do not need a booster shot,” it said.

With less than half of the United States population fully vaccinated, some experts said Monday that the country needed to remain focused on getting all Americans their first dose. The FDA's most important task, they said, is to increase public confidence by granting full approval to the coronavirus vaccines in use, which for now are authorized on an emergency basis.

“At this point, the most important booster we need is to get people vaccinated,” said Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease expert at Emory University in Atlanta. The booster doses in Israel, he added, “will help us answer some questions, but at the end of the day I don’t agree with what they’re doing. I think it’s awfully premature.”

Within the Biden administration, some fear that if Americans are convinced that coronavirus vaccines provide only short-lived immunity before requiring a booster, they will be less likely to accept a shot. But those concerns could fall by the wayside if new data from Israel, expected in the next several weeks, shows conclusively that immunity wanes after six to eight months, significantly raising the risks for the elderly or other vulnerable populations.

The administration convened Monday’s session in response to last week’s announcement by Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, that they were developing a version of their vaccine that targets the delta variant, and reporting promising results from studies of people who received a third dose of the original vaccine six months after the second.

The new data is not yet published or peer reviewed, but when the companies announced that they would submit data to the FDA for authorization of booster shots, it caught the Biden White House by surprise.

In an unusual joint statement Thursday evening, hours after the Pfizer-BioNTech announcement, the FDA and the CDC pushed back.

“Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time,” the statement said, adding, “We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed.”

The move may make good business sense for Pfizer-BioNTech. Since the onset of the pandemic, the partner companies have pursued a “get to market first” strategy in manufacturing and marketing their vaccine.

The companies did not take federal money or participate in Operation Warp Speed, former President Donald Trump’s fast-track vaccine initiative. They were not only the first to win FDA authorization for their coronavirus vaccine, the first to use novel mRNA technology, but also the first to gain authorization for their vaccine’s use in adolescents.

The strategy has “paid off as handsomely as anyone could ask for,” said Steve Brozak, president of WBB Securities, a research investment bank focused on biotechnology.

Last week, Pfizer and BioNTech said a booster given six months after the second dose of the vaccine increased the potency of antibodies against the original virus and the beta variant by five- to tenfold. But antibody levels may not be the best biological measurement of the need for booster doses, according to experts, who say it is no surprise that antibodies would increase after taking a third dose.

“Antibody response is not the only measure of immune protection,” said Dr. Leana S. Wen, a former health commissioner for Baltimore. “There have been multiple studies that suggest these vaccines also stimulate B cell and T cell immunity, so even if there isn’t as much antibody, that doesn’t mean someone isn’t protected.”

In Israel, the government agreed to provide Pfizer with data on its vaccine recipients, and Pfizer has been matching the Israeli data with its own laboratory tests on antibody responses. Some people familiar with the data say that taken together, the two data sets indicate that immunity is waning among the vaccinated after roughly six to eight months, leading to a growing number of breakthrough infections.

The attendees at Monday’s session amounted to a who’s who of government doctors: Fauci; Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC; Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health; Dr. Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general; Dr. Rachel Levine, the assistant secretary for health; Dr. Janet Woodcock, the acting FDA commissioner; Dr. Peter Marks, the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; and Dr. David Kessler, a former FDA commissioner who is heading the Biden administration’s vaccine distribution effort, among others.

Del Rio of Emory University complained about Monday’s meeting being conducted in private instead of Pfizer presenting its data publicly to the CDC’s advisory committee on vaccine practices, which will ultimately recommend whether booster shots are necessary.

Slightly more than two-thirds of American adults — 67.7% — have had at least one COVID-19 shot, according to the CDC. That figure falls short of the Biden administration’s goals; the president had hoped to have 70% of adults at least partially vaccinated by July 4.

Still, the national vaccination campaign has made clear that the vaccine succeeds at preventing disease, and studies suggest that vaccines remain effective against the delta variant. Outbreaks are occurring in areas with low rates of vaccination, and the national caseload has ticked up recently; according to a New York Times database.

World Health Organization officials emphasized Monday the importance of prioritizing global vaccine production and distribution over the development of boosters in light of the stark gaps among countries’ vaccination programs.

“It’s not to say one or the other; it’s putting things in a crisis in order,” said Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director of the organization’s health emergencies program, in reference to addressing what the organization calls a two-tier pandemic.

Representatives of Pfizer met privately with senior US scientists and regulators Monday to press their case for swift authorization of coronavirus booster vaccines, amid growing public confusion about whether they will be needed and pushback from federal health officials who say the extra doses are not necessary now.

Representatives of Pfizer met privately with senior US scientists and regulators Monday to press their case for swift authorization of coronavirus booster vaccines, amid growing public confusion about whether they will be needed and pushback from federal health officials who say the extra doses are not necessary now. The high-level online meeting, which lasted an hour and involved Pfizer’s chief scientific officer briefing virtually every top doctor in the federal government, came on the same day Israel started administering third doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to heart transplant patients and others with compromised immune systems. Officials said after the meeting that more data — and possibly several more months — would be needed before regulators could determine whether booster shots were necessary. The twin developments underscored the intensifying debate about whether booster shots are needed in the United States, at what point and for whom. Many American experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser for the pandemic, have said there is insufficient evidence yet that boosters are necessary. Some, though, say Israel’s move may foreshadow a government decision to at least recommend them for the vulnerable. Pfizer is gathering information on antibody responses in those who receive a third dose, as well as data from Israel, and expects to submit at least some of that to the Food and Drug Administration in the coming weeks in a formal request to broaden the emergency authorization for its coronavirus vaccine. But the final decision on booster shots, several officials said after the meeting, will also depend on real-world information gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about breakthrough infections — those occurring in vaccinated people — that cause serious disease or hospitalization. And any recommendations about booster shots are likely to be calibrated, even within age groups, officials said. For example, if booster shots are recommended, they might go first to nursing home residents who received their vaccines in late 2020 or early 2021, while elderly people who received their first shots in the spring might have a longer wait. And then there is the question of what kind of booster: a third dose of the original vaccine, or perhaps a shot tailored to the highly infectious delta variant, which is surging in the United States. “It was an interesting meeting. They shared their data. There wasn’t anything resembling a decision,” Fauci said in a brief interview Monday evening, adding, “This is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle, and it’s one part of the data, so there isn’t a question of a convincing case one way or the other.” Amy Rose, a Pfizer spokesperson, said in a statement, “We had a productive meeting with U.S. public health officials on the elements of our research program and the preliminary booster data.” The Department of Health and Human Services, which convened the meeting, issued its own statement reiterating the administration’s stance. “At this time, fully vaccinated Americans do not need a booster shot,” it said. With less than half of the United States population fully vaccinated, some experts said Monday that the country needed to remain focused on getting all Americans their first dose. The FDA's most important task, they said, is to increase public confidence by granting full approval to the coronavirus vaccines in use, which for now are authorized on an emergency basis. “At this point, the most important booster we need is to get people vaccinated,” said Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease expert at Emory University in Atlanta. The booster doses in Israel, he added, “will help us answer some questions, but at the end of the day I don’t agree with what they’re doing. I think it’s awfully premature.” Within the Biden administration, some fear that if Americans are convinced that coronavirus vaccines provide only short-lived immunity before requiring a booster, they will be less likely to accept a shot. But those concerns could fall by the wayside if new data from Israel, expected in the next several weeks, shows conclusively that immunity wanes after six to eight months, significantly raising the risks for the elderly or other vulnerable populations. The administration convened Monday’s session in response to last week’s announcement by Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, that they were developing a version of their vaccine that targets the delta variant, and reporting promising results from studies of people who received a third dose of the original vaccine six months after the second. The new data is not yet published or peer reviewed, but when the companies announced that they would submit data to the FDA for authorization of booster shots, it caught the Biden White House by surprise. In an unusual joint statement Thursday evening, hours after the Pfizer-BioNTech announcement, the FDA and the CDC pushed back. “Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time,” the statement said, adding, “We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed.” The move may make good business sense for Pfizer-BioNTech. Since the onset of the pandemic, the partner companies have pursued a “get to market first” strategy in manufacturing and marketing their vaccine. The companies did not take federal money or participate in Operation Warp Speed, former President Donald Trump’s fast-track vaccine initiative. They were not only the first to win FDA authorization for their coronavirus vaccine, the first to use novel mRNA technology, but also the first to gain authorization for their vaccine’s use in adolescents. The strategy has “paid off as handsomely as anyone could ask for,” said Steve Brozak, president of WBB Securities, a research investment bank focused on biotechnology. Last week, Pfizer and BioNTech said a booster given six months after the second dose of the vaccine increased the potency of antibodies against the original virus and the beta variant by five- to tenfold. But antibody levels may not be the best biological measurement of the need for booster doses, according to experts, who say it is no surprise that antibodies would increase after taking a third dose. “Antibody response is not the only measure of immune protection,” said Dr. Leana S. Wen, a former health commissioner for Baltimore. “There have been multiple studies that suggest these vaccines also stimulate B cell and T cell immunity, so even if there isn’t as much antibody, that doesn’t mean someone isn’t protected.” In Israel, the government agreed to provide Pfizer with data on its vaccine recipients, and Pfizer has been matching the Israeli data with its own laboratory tests on antibody responses. Some people familiar with the data say that taken together, the two data sets indicate that immunity is waning among the vaccinated after roughly six to eight months, leading to a growing number of breakthrough infections. The attendees at Monday’s session amounted to a who’s who of government doctors: Fauci; Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC; Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health; Dr. Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general; Dr. Rachel Levine, the assistant secretary for health; Dr. Janet Woodcock, the acting FDA commissioner; Dr. Peter Marks, the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; and Dr. David Kessler, a former FDA commissioner who is heading the Biden administration’s vaccine distribution effort, among others. Del Rio of Emory University complained about Monday’s meeting being conducted in private instead of Pfizer presenting its data publicly to the CDC’s advisory committee on vaccine practices, which will ultimately recommend whether booster shots are necessary. Slightly more than two-thirds of American adults — 67.7% — have had at least one COVID-19 shot, according to the CDC. That figure falls short of the Biden administration’s goals; the president had hoped to have 70% of adults at least partially vaccinated by July 4. Still, the national vaccination campaign has made clear that the vaccine succeeds at preventing disease, and studies suggest that vaccines remain effective against the delta variant. Outbreaks are occurring in areas with low rates of vaccination, and the national caseload has ticked up recently; according to a New York Times database. World Health Organization officials emphasized Monday the importance of prioritizing global vaccine production and distribution over the development of boosters in light of the stark gaps among countries’ vaccination programs. “It’s not to say one or the other; it’s putting things in a crisis in order,” said Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director of the organization’s health emergencies program, in reference to addressing what the organization calls a two-tier pandemic.

US officials press Pfizer for more evidence of need for booster shot

Nearly&nbsp;50-60 million doses of Pfizer's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine</a> are ready to be delivered to India even as talks continue for a "partial indemnity" on the impact of the vaccine with New Delhi. &nbsp;

As of now, a "complete waiver" won't be given on the Pfizer vaccine by India. As per sources,&nbsp;"reactions to the vaccine are indemnified" but the "reaction amounting to death or serious ailment like paralysis can't be given waiver and will carry liability".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-vaccination-tips-to-follow-before-and-after-taking-the-jab-388927" hreflang="en">COVID-19 vaccination: Tips to follow before and after taking the jab</a>

However, the talks are ongoing on priority, and are expected to conclude by the end of this month.&nbsp;

Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine is an mRNA vaccine that instructs the cells to generate the spike protein found on the surface of the novel <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a>. This, in turn, generates an immune response. mRNA vaccines do not contain any virus particles — weakened or dead parts of a virus. Like other vaccines, Pfizer can also&nbsp;cause&nbsp;allergic reactions such as breathing difficulty, fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness.

ALso read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-drugs-regulator-dcgi-eases-norms-for-clearing-foreign-made-covid-19-vaccines-388931" hreflang="en">Indian drugs regulator DCGI eases norms for clearing foreign-made COVID-19 vaccines</a>

The other key question with the Pfizer vaccine is logistics, considering it requires cold temperature. For that, logistics control infrastructure is needed to create a temperature-controlled vaccine. The developed countries, today, have excess supply and don't need reserves of this vaccine, leading to&nbsp;spare capacity for India.&nbsp;

These important issues were also discussed during India's External Affairs Minister Dr&nbsp;S Jaishankar's US visit. The visit, from May 24-28, focused on Covid-related cooperations between India and the US.

Nearly 50-60 million doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine are ready to be delivered to India even as talks continue for a "partial indemnity" on the impact of the vaccine with New Delhi.

Nearly 50-60 million doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine are ready to be delivered to India even as talks continue for a "partial indemnity" on the impact of the vaccine with New Delhi. As of now, a "complete waiver" won't be given on the Pfizer vaccine by India. As per sources, "reactions to the vaccine are indemnified" but the "reaction amounting to death or serious ailment like paralysis can't be given waiver and will carry liability". Also read | COVID-19 vaccination: Tips to follow before and after taking the jab However, the talks are ongoing on priority, and are expected to conclude by the end of this month. Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine is an mRNA vaccine that instructs the cells to generate the spike protein found on the surface of the novel coronavirus. This, in turn, generates an immune response. mRNA vaccines do not contain any virus particles — weakened or dead parts of a virus. Like other vaccines, Pfizer can also cause allergic reactions such as breathing difficulty, fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. ALso read | Indian drugs regulator DCGI eases norms for clearing foreign-made COVID-19 vaccines The other key question with the Pfizer vaccine is logistics, considering it requires cold temperature. For that, logistics control infrastructure is needed to create a temperature-controlled vaccine. The developed countries, today, have excess supply and don't need reserves of this vaccine, leading to spare capacity for India. These important issues were also discussed during India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar's US visit. The visit, from May 24-28, focused on Covid-related cooperations between India and the US.

Over 50 million Pfizer vaccines ready to be delivered to India; talks ongoing for 'partial indemnity'

An organisation, led by doctors, in Britain has expressed apprehension about the decision to give people a second dose of coronavirus vaccine up to 12 weeks after the first, rather than the shorter gap recommended by manufacturers and the World Health Organisation.

The UK, which has Europe's deadliest coronavirus outbreak, adopted the policy in order to give as many people a first dose of the vaccine as quickly as possible.

So far almost 5.5 million people have received a first dose of either a vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech or one developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

To this end, the British Medical Association has urged England's chief medical officer to "urgently review" the policy for the Pfizer vaccine -- amid a growing concern as far as the timetable is concerned.

Pfizer says its second dose should take place 21 days after the first. The World Health Organisation says the second shots of coronavirus vaccines can been given up to six weeks after the first.&nbsp;

AstraZeneca has said it believes a dose of its vaccine offers protection after 12 weeks, but Pfizer says it has not tested the efficacy of its jab after such a long gap. 
&nbsp;

An organisation, led by doctors, in Britain has expressed apprehension about the decision to give people a second dose of coronavirus vaccine up to 12 weeks after the first, rather than the shorter gap recommended by manufacturers and the World Health Organisation.

An organisation, led by doctors, in Britain has expressed apprehension about the decision to give people a second dose of coronavirus vaccine up to 12 weeks after the first, rather than the shorter gap recommended by manufacturers and the World Health Organisation. The UK, which has Europe's deadliest coronavirus outbreak, adopted the policy in order to give as many people a first dose of the vaccine as quickly as possible. So far almost 5.5 million people have received a first dose of either a vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech or one developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. To this end, the British Medical Association has urged England's chief medical officer to "urgently review" the policy for the Pfizer vaccine -- amid a growing concern as far as the timetable is concerned. Pfizer says its second dose should take place 21 days after the first. The World Health Organisation says the second shots of coronavirus vaccines can been given up to six weeks after the first. AstraZeneca has said it believes a dose of its vaccine offers protection after 12 weeks, but Pfizer says it has not tested the efficacy of its jab after such a long gap.

Doctors in Britain want review of Pfizer shots' timetable

The European Union has scored a deal with the vaccine producer Pfizer-BioNTech to purchase additional&nbsp;300 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine, which is double the number of doses being purchased from these companies.

"We make sure Europeans have sufficient doses of safe &amp; effective #COVID19 vaccines," the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said in a press conference.

"We now enable EU countries to buy more doses of the 1st vaccine approved in EU," she said. "They can now buy up to 300 million more doses of the #BioNTech/ 
@Pfizer&nbsp;vaccine."

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We make sure Europeans have sufficient doses of safe &amp; effective <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> vaccines. 
 
We now enable EU countries to buy more doses of the 1st vaccine approved in EU. 
 
They can now buy up to 300 million more doses of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BioNTech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BioNTech</a>/<a href="https://twitter.com/pfizer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pfizer</a> vaccine.<a href="https://t.co/vjZd0L17VL">https://t.co/vjZd0L17VL</a>
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1347468965732360192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"We have right now, access to 300 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine. Now the good news is, we now have agreed with BioNTech/Pfizer to extend this contract. With the new agreement we could purchase a total of up to an additional 300 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine," she said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-uk-variant-reported-in-ile-de-france-and-brittany-355374">WATCH|</a>

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This&nbsp;agreement includes a possible immediate order for 200 million doses and an additional option to buy another 100 million, the Commission said.

The announcement has come at a time when the European countries are struggling to contain the spread of the new variant of the coronavirus. Many countries have also started looking for vaccines from local producers, and some have also turned to Moderna Inc. Brazil's private clinics have taken a step further and requested for the usage of India's local vaccine, which was approved by the Indian government last week.

The European Union has scored a deal with the vaccine producer Pfizer-BioNTech to purchase additional 300 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine, which is double the number of doses being purchased from these companies.

The European Union has scored a deal with the vaccine producer Pfizer-BioNTech to purchase additional 300 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine, which is double the number of doses being purchased from these companies. "We make sure Europeans have sufficient doses of safe & effective #COVID19 vaccines," the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said in a press conference. "We now enable EU countries to buy more doses of the 1st vaccine approved in EU," she said. "They can now buy up to 300 million more doses of the #BioNTech/ @Pfizer vaccine." We make sure Europeans have sufficient doses of safe & effective #COVID19 vaccines. We now enable EU countries to buy more doses of the 1st vaccine approved in EU. They can now buy up to 300 million more doses of the #BioNTech/@Pfizer vaccine.https://t.co/vjZd0L17VL — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 8, 2021 × "We have right now, access to 300 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine. Now the good news is, we now have agreed with BioNTech/Pfizer to extend this contract. With the new agreement we could purchase a total of up to an additional 300 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine," she said. WATCH| × This agreement includes a possible immediate order for 200 million doses and an additional option to buy another 100 million, the Commission said. The announcement has come at a time when the European countries are struggling to contain the spread of the new variant of the coronavirus. Many countries have also started looking for vaccines from local producers, and some have also turned to Moderna Inc. Brazil's private clinics have taken a step further and requested for the usage of India's local vaccine, which was approved by the Indian government last week.

EU increases COVID vaccine deal with Pfizer-BioNTech to 600 million doses

In a unique incident, eight care home workers in Germany were accidentally infected with five doses of coronavirus vaccine, local authorities reported on Monday.

The incident occurred with seven women and one man who were all aged between 38 and 54. The eight infected people are employees of a care home in&nbsp;the town of Stralsund in northeastern Germany.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-vaccine-delivery-delayed-in-spain-and-other-eu-countries-352931" hreflang="en">Pfizer vaccine delivery delayed in Spain and other EU countries</a>

As of now, the eight affected locals have not shown any serious ill effects but are under careful observation of the local health experts.

The eight were put in a priority group due to the nature of their profession — meaning&nbsp;they were chosen to be the first ones to receive the&nbsp;Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, which has recently been approved by the regulatory board of the European Union. However, on Sunday when the EU, and Germany, began vaccinating locals, the eight employees were injected with five doses of the vaccine at once, reported&nbsp;Stefan Kerth, the administrator of the district where the facility is located.

as soon as the error was reported, four of the eight were admitted to a nearby hospital after they showed mild flu-like symptoms. The remaining four were sent home as they did not show any symptoms or report any ill health.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-approve-astrazeneca-oxford-vaccine-soon-adar-poonawalla-352976">India to approve AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine soon: Adar Poonawalla</a>

"I deeply regret this incident," Kerth said. "I hope all those affected suffer no serious side effects." He also added that this incident was an isolated one and was solely a result of human error.

The authorities are hoping the eight will recover soon without any symptoms. The hope was supported by the authorities of Pfizer-BioNTech who claimed they had injected extra doses during clinical trials and had not observed any serious ill effects.

As per the initial instructions, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is supposed to be administered in two injections and is being&nbsp;delivered in vials that each contain five doses once diluted.

In a unique incident, eight care home workers in Germany were accidentally infected with five doses of coronavirus vaccine, local authorities reported on Monday.

In a unique incident, eight care home workers in Germany were accidentally infected with five doses of coronavirus vaccine, local authorities reported on Monday. The incident occurred with seven women and one man who were all aged between 38 and 54. The eight infected people are employees of a care home in the town of Stralsund in northeastern Germany. Also read| Pfizer vaccine delivery delayed in Spain and other EU countries As of now, the eight affected locals have not shown any serious ill effects but are under careful observation of the local health experts. The eight were put in a priority group due to the nature of their profession — meaning they were chosen to be the first ones to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, which has recently been approved by the regulatory board of the European Union. However, on Sunday when the EU, and Germany, began vaccinating locals, the eight employees were injected with five doses of the vaccine at once, reported Stefan Kerth, the administrator of the district where the facility is located. as soon as the error was reported, four of the eight were admitted to a nearby hospital after they showed mild flu-like symptoms. The remaining four were sent home as they did not show any symptoms or report any ill health. Also read| India to approve AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine soon: Adar Poonawalla "I deeply regret this incident," Kerth said. "I hope all those affected suffer no serious side effects." He also added that this incident was an isolated one and was solely a result of human error. The authorities are hoping the eight will recover soon without any symptoms. The hope was supported by the authorities of Pfizer-BioNTech who claimed they had injected extra doses during clinical trials and had not observed any serious ill effects. As per the initial instructions, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is supposed to be administered in two injections and is being delivered in vials that each contain five doses once diluted.

8 people aged between 38 and 54 overdosed on Pfizer vaccine in Germany, show flu symptoms

The incoming US Vice-President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris </a>got vaccinated against the novel coronavirus on live television,&nbsp;the Biden transition team reported.

Harris, dressed in a black shirt, was given a jab of the&nbsp;vaccine on Tuesday morning at the&nbsp;United Medical Center in Washington, DC, administered by clinical nurse manager Patricia Cummings.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/take-it-there-is-nothing-to-worry-about-biden-receives-vaccine-live-on-television-351481">‘Take it, there is nothing to worry about': Biden receives vaccine live on television</a>

"I urge everyone, when it is your turn, get vaccinated. It's about saving your life, the life of your family members and the life of your community," Harris said.

She got vaccinated a week after the President-elect <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> took a shot of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine&nbsp;on December 21, 2020. He was administered the vaccine at Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, Delaware. After saying "I'm ready", he rolled up the sleeve on his left arm and later assured Americans that "there's nothing to worry about".

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-milestone-us-administers-first-moderna-covid-19-vaccines-351449">Another milestone: US administers first Moderna COVID-19 vaccines</a>

Later, he took to Twitter to thank the scientists, researchers and all frontline workers who have tirelessly worked throughout the year to battle the novel coronavirus. "Today, I received the COVID-19 vaccine. To the scientists and researchers who worked tirelessly to make this possible — thank you. We owe you an awful lot. And to the American people — know there is nothing to worry about. When the vaccine is available, I urge you to take it," he tweeted.

The incoming US Vice-President Kamala Harris got vaccinated against the novel coronavirus on live television, the Biden transition team reported. Harris, dressed in a black shirt, was given a jab of the vaccine on Tuesday morning at the United Medical Center in Washington, DC, administered by clinical nurse manager Patricia Cummings.

The incoming US Vice-President Kamala Harris got vaccinated against the novel coronavirus on live television, the Biden transition team reported. Harris, dressed in a black shirt, was given a jab of the vaccine on Tuesday morning at the United Medical Center in Washington, DC, administered by clinical nurse manager Patricia Cummings. Also read| ‘Take it, there is nothing to worry about': Biden receives vaccine live on television "I urge everyone, when it is your turn, get vaccinated. It's about saving your life, the life of your family members and the life of your community," Harris said. She got vaccinated a week after the President-elect Joe Biden took a shot of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine on December 21, 2020. He was administered the vaccine at Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, Delaware. After saying "I'm ready", he rolled up the sleeve on his left arm and later assured Americans that "there's nothing to worry about". Also read| Another milestone: US administers first Moderna COVID-19 vaccines Later, he took to Twitter to thank the scientists, researchers and all frontline workers who have tirelessly worked throughout the year to battle the novel coronavirus. "Today, I received the COVID-19 vaccine. To the scientists and researchers who worked tirelessly to make this possible — thank you. We owe you an awful lot. And to the American people — know there is nothing to worry about. When the vaccine is available, I urge you to take it," he tweeted.

US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris gets COVID-19 vaccine

The US government has signed a deal with Pfizer Inc according to which it will pay nearly $2 billion for 100 million additional doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to bolster its supply.

Under the new agreement, Pfizer will deliver at least 70 million doses by June 30 and the rest no later than July 31, the company said on Wednesday.

This will bring the total number of doses to 200 million for a total price of about $4 billion.

The purchase price amounts to $19.50 per shot and is slightly higher than the $18.90 per dose that Reuters has reported the European Union has agreed to pay.

The US deal comes after growing concern that the government had not done enough to secure doses of one of the two authorised vaccines, made more pressing amid a COVID-19 surge that has left hospitals struggling to find beds for the sick.

Pfizer first started asking for the government’s help in obtaining supplies as early as September and has been unhappy about the lack of response, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times.

Pfizer already has a federal contract, signed in July, to deliver 100 million doses of its vaccine by the end of March.&nbsp;

(with inputs)

The US government has signed a deal with Pfizer Inc according to which it will pay nearly $2 billion for 100 million additional doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to bolster its supply.

The US government has signed a deal with Pfizer Inc according to which it will pay nearly $2 billion for 100 million additional doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to bolster its supply. Under the new agreement, Pfizer will deliver at least 70 million doses by June 30 and the rest no later than July 31, the company said on Wednesday. This will bring the total number of doses to 200 million for a total price of about $4 billion. The purchase price amounts to $19.50 per shot and is slightly higher than the $18.90 per dose that Reuters has reported the European Union has agreed to pay. The US deal comes after growing concern that the government had not done enough to secure doses of one of the two authorised vaccines, made more pressing amid a COVID-19 surge that has left hospitals struggling to find beds for the sick. Pfizer first started asking for the government’s help in obtaining supplies as early as September and has been unhappy about the lack of response, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times. Pfizer already has a federal contract, signed in July, to deliver 100 million doses of its vaccine by the end of March. (with inputs)

Pfizer, US strike 100 million COVID-19 vaccine deal

Since its arrival Monday, the coronavirus vaccine has brought hope to New Yorkers.

But so far, only a few have actually been administered the vaccine.

In the first 72 hours after the vaccine’s arrival, some 5,200 health care workers in New York City received the first of two doses, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday. It was a slow start to what officials are calling the greatest mass vaccination campaign in the past 50 years, perhaps since polio.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/belgian-minister-accidentally-reveals-covid-19-vaccine-price-list-on-twitter-351043" hreflang="en">Belgian minister 'accidentally' reveals COVID-19 vaccine price list on Twitter</a>

In fact, in the first three days of vaccinations, more than twice as many new coronavirus cases have been reported in the city as shots administered.

Mass citywide distribution isn’t expected for months. But the first week has brought at least some clarity on how the process might go.

It’s going to move slowly, at least initially

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-a-televised-vaccination-undo-months-of-skepticism-350977" hreflang="en">Can a televised vaccination undo months of skepticism?</a>

On Monday, as the first shipments of vaccines arrived, Gov. Andrew Cuomo predicted a speedy rollout. “Today we’re in the process of administering 10,000 vaccines,” he said.

But two days later, the state health commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker, said only 4,000 people had been vaccinated across the state.

Hospitals took it slow from the start. At Mount Sinai in Manhattan, about 25 people were vaccinated at the health system’s flagship hospital Tuesday shortly after it received its first shipment, though doctors there said the vaccination program would quickly scale up.

“We’re going to need to pick up the pace dramatically just to vaccinate all our health care workers, let alone the population at large,” said Mark Levine, a New York City councilman who is chair of the City Council’s Committee on Health.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-fda-investigating-5-allergic-reactions-after-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-in-country-350896" hreflang="en">US FDA investigating 5 allergic reactions after Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in country</a>

Hospitals do expect to quicken the pace. But with so many unanswered questions at the start of the week — when the vaccine would arrive, how many doses they would receive — it did not make sense to schedule too many people for vaccinations at first.

So the vaccination campaign is off to a slow start. In 1947, New York City managed to vaccinate a few million people against smallpox in a matter of weeks.

Fewer doses arrived than anticipated

Earlier this month, Cuomo said that New York state would receive 170,000 doses of the vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Cuomo said only about 87,000 of that initial batch had arrived. By Friday, the rest of the shipment had arrived, according to the governor’s office.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-authorises-moderna-as-second-covid-19-vaccine-350878" hreflang="en">US authorises Moderna as second Covid-19 vaccine</a>

Amid growing scarcity, the state Health Department has instructed hospitals in New York not to publicly disclose how much they received, even asking them to sign a memorandum of understanding, representatives of three hospital systems said.

“Due to the potential for security concerns, the MOU requires facilities not to disclose quantity on hand,” the state Department of Health said in a statement.

Levine said he believed that hospitals got slightly under 1,000 doses each, although a single hospital system like Mount Sinai or NewYork-Presbyterian may have received shipments at multiple hospitals.

Regardless, the doses that did arrive were well-received.

On Tuesday, Ji Won Lee, an emergency room nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital, said she was inspired by watching the video of a nurse in Queens, Sandra Lindsay, become the first person in the U.S. to be vaccinated.

“It was groundbreaking,” she said. “We have been waiting for this vaccine for so many months, for this pandemic to be over.”

“I wanted it, too,” she added.

Being first can be worrisome

While many health care workers are eager to be vaccinated, some acknowledge feeling ambivalent.

In authorizing the Pfizer vaccine, which during a clinical trial appeared to offer strong protection against the virus, the FDA said it found no “meaningful imbalances” in serious health complications between those that received the vaccine and those that received the placebo in a large-scale trial.

But that was not enough to convince all health care workers, who are part of Phase 1 of vaccine distribution.

“Some of my colleagues feel they want to wait for the second wave,” said Petrona Ennis-Welch, a critical care nurse and the first health care worker to receive the vaccine at Mount Sinai Hospital this week. “They do not want to be a part of the first round. They want to see how people do — which is understandable.”

Ennis-Welch, 54, has been treating coronavirus patients since March, when the first wave brought a surge of desperately sick people to emergency rooms across the city. “Patients were very ill, and they were dying quickly,” she recalled.

She acknowledged that even she had some misgivings. “To be honest, I had concerns, but when I stopped to think about it, I said, ‘You know, you’re here working every day, you’re among COVID patients, you really should just take it,’” she recalled.

Still, it seemed that the overwhelming majority of health care workers would choose to be vaccinated. At Northwell Health, the state’s largest hospital system, more than 1,600 people had been vaccinated by midday Thursday. Only two people had declined or deferred, said Joe Kemp, a spokesperson for the hospital.

One of the earliest Mount Sinai Hospital employees to be vaccinated was John Gomez, 53, who cleans hospital floors and patient rooms. Back in March, he fell sick with a severe case of the virus and was hospitalized for about a week.

When he heard a vaccine was available, it was an easy decision: “I’ll take it,” he said.

He noted that among some of his colleagues in housekeeping, the vaccine might prove a tougher sell. He had heard a number of conspiracy theories from them.

Past infection didn’t eliminate anyone

Some of those receiving the vaccine likely already have some protection against the coronavirus from a past infection. At Mount Sinai, several of the first group to be vaccinated recalled being sick with the virus or testing positive for antibodies.

Dr. Jolion McGreevy, medical director of the emergency department, said he had the coronavirus a couple of months ago, though it was a light case with just one day of symptoms.

“It’s important protection, not just for us, but more importantly for the patients we care for and our families at home,” McGreevy said about the shot he had received just a few minutes earlier.

The amount and duration of protection that past COVID-19 infections offer is not fully understood, but some researchers believe that many people likely experience some long-term protection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that clinical trials suggest the vaccine “is safe and likely efficacious” in people who have had prior coronavirus infections.

Dr. Dave Chokshi, the New York City health commissioner, has said an “antibody test result has no bearing on whether or not you should get a COVID-19 vaccine.”

That’s an important point in New York City, where one study suggested that more than one-fifth of the city’s residents had the coronavirus during the first wave in the spring.

More is on the way

The Pfizer vaccine has so far received the most attention, because it’s the first vaccine the FDA has authorized for emergency use.

But the Moderna vaccine, which received FDA approval on Friday night, could start arriving in New York early next week in larger numbers than the Pfizer vaccine. Cuomo has said he expected the state to soon receive 346,000 doses from Moderna.

But the initial shipments from Pfizer and Moderna won’t even cover half of the 1.8 million people in the state who form part of the Phase 1 group, which also includes nursing home residents and workers.

On Wednesday, Cuomo indicated that Phase 2, which includes those categorized as essential workers, isn’t likely to start until late January.

Since its arrival Monday, the coronavirus vaccine has brought hope to New Yorkers. But so far, only a few have actually been administered the vaccine. In the first 72 hours after the vaccine’s arrival, some 5,200 health care workers in New York City received the first of two doses, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday.

Since its arrival Monday, the coronavirus vaccine has brought hope to New Yorkers. But so far, only a few have actually been administered the vaccine. In the first 72 hours after the vaccine’s arrival, some 5,200 health care workers in New York City received the first of two doses, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday. It was a slow start to what officials are calling the greatest mass vaccination campaign in the past 50 years, perhaps since polio. Also read| Belgian minister 'accidentally' reveals COVID-19 vaccine price list on Twitter In fact, in the first three days of vaccinations, more than twice as many new coronavirus cases have been reported in the city as shots administered. Mass citywide distribution isn’t expected for months. But the first week has brought at least some clarity on how the process might go. It’s going to move slowly, at least initially Also read| Can a televised vaccination undo months of skepticism? On Monday, as the first shipments of vaccines arrived, Gov. Andrew Cuomo predicted a speedy rollout. “Today we’re in the process of administering 10,000 vaccines,” he said. But two days later, the state health commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker, said only 4,000 people had been vaccinated across the state. Hospitals took it slow from the start. At Mount Sinai in Manhattan, about 25 people were vaccinated at the health system’s flagship hospital Tuesday shortly after it received its first shipment, though doctors there said the vaccination program would quickly scale up. “We’re going to need to pick up the pace dramatically just to vaccinate all our health care workers, let alone the population at large,” said Mark Levine, a New York City councilman who is chair of the City Council’s Committee on Health. Also read| US FDA investigating 5 allergic reactions after Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in country Hospitals do expect to quicken the pace. But with so many unanswered questions at the start of the week — when the vaccine would arrive, how many doses they would receive — it did not make sense to schedule too many people for vaccinations at first. So the vaccination campaign is off to a slow start. In 1947, New York City managed to vaccinate a few million people against smallpox in a matter of weeks. Fewer doses arrived than anticipated Earlier this month, Cuomo said that New York state would receive 170,000 doses of the vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Cuomo said only about 87,000 of that initial batch had arrived. By Friday, the rest of the shipment had arrived, according to the governor’s office. Also read| US authorises Moderna as second Covid-19 vaccine Amid growing scarcity, the state Health Department has instructed hospitals in New York not to publicly disclose how much they received, even asking them to sign a memorandum of understanding, representatives of three hospital systems said. “Due to the potential for security concerns, the MOU requires facilities not to disclose quantity on hand,” the state Department of Health said in a statement. Levine said he believed that hospitals got slightly under 1,000 doses each, although a single hospital system like Mount Sinai or NewYork-Presbyterian may have received shipments at multiple hospitals. Regardless, the doses that did arrive were well-received. On Tuesday, Ji Won Lee, an emergency room nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital, said she was inspired by watching the video of a nurse in Queens, Sandra Lindsay, become the first person in the U.S. to be vaccinated. “It was groundbreaking,” she said. “We have been waiting for this vaccine for so many months, for this pandemic to be over.” “I wanted it, too,” she added. Being first can be worrisome While many health care workers are eager to be vaccinated, some acknowledge feeling ambivalent. In authorizing the Pfizer vaccine, which during a clinical trial appeared to offer strong protection against the virus, the FDA said it found no “meaningful imbalances” in serious health complications between those that received the vaccine and those that received the placebo in a large-scale trial. But that was not enough to convince all health care workers, who are part of Phase 1 of vaccine distribution. “Some of my colleagues feel they want to wait for the second wave,” said Petrona Ennis-Welch, a critical care nurse and the first health care worker to receive the vaccine at Mount Sinai Hospital this week. “They do not want to be a part of the first round. They want to see how people do — which is understandable.” Ennis-Welch, 54, has been treating coronavirus patients since March, when the first wave brought a surge of desperately sick people to emergency rooms across the city. “Patients were very ill, and they were dying quickly,” she recalled. She acknowledged that even she had some misgivings. “To be honest, I had concerns, but when I stopped to think about it, I said, ‘You know, you’re here working every day, you’re among COVID patients, you really should just take it,’” she recalled. Still, it seemed that the overwhelming majority of health care workers would choose to be vaccinated. At Northwell Health, the state’s largest hospital system, more than 1,600 people had been vaccinated by midday Thursday. Only two people had declined or deferred, said Joe Kemp, a spokesperson for the hospital. One of the earliest Mount Sinai Hospital employees to be vaccinated was John Gomez, 53, who cleans hospital floors and patient rooms. Back in March, he fell sick with a severe case of the virus and was hospitalized for about a week. When he heard a vaccine was available, it was an easy decision: “I’ll take it,” he said. He noted that among some of his colleagues in housekeeping, the vaccine might prove a tougher sell. He had heard a number of conspiracy theories from them. Past infection didn’t eliminate anyone Some of those receiving the vaccine likely already have some protection against the coronavirus from a past infection. At Mount Sinai, several of the first group to be vaccinated recalled being sick with the virus or testing positive for antibodies. Dr. Jolion McGreevy, medical director of the emergency department, said he had the coronavirus a couple of months ago, though it was a light case with just one day of symptoms. “It’s important protection, not just for us, but more importantly for the patients we care for and our families at home,” McGreevy said about the shot he had received just a few minutes earlier. The amount and duration of protection that past COVID-19 infections offer is not fully understood, but some researchers believe that many people likely experience some long-term protection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that clinical trials suggest the vaccine “is safe and likely efficacious” in people who have had prior coronavirus infections. Dr. Dave Chokshi, the New York City health commissioner, has said an “antibody test result has no bearing on whether or not you should get a COVID-19 vaccine.” That’s an important point in New York City, where one study suggested that more than one-fifth of the city’s residents had the coronavirus during the first wave in the spring. More is on the way The Pfizer vaccine has so far received the most attention, because it’s the first vaccine the FDA has authorized for emergency use. But the Moderna vaccine, which received FDA approval on Friday night, could start arriving in New York early next week in larger numbers than the Pfizer vaccine. Cuomo has said he expected the state to soon receive 346,000 doses from Moderna. But the initial shipments from Pfizer and Moderna won’t even cover half of the 1.8 million people in the state who form part of the Phase 1 group, which also includes nursing home residents and workers. On Wednesday, Cuomo indicated that Phase 2, which includes those categorized as essential workers, isn’t likely to start until late January.

5 takeaways from the first week of vaccines in New York

As the world is now relying on the&nbsp;Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has decided to not show complete trust in this vaccine.

Bolsonaro, who has often termed COVID-19 as just "a little flu", believes the vaccines should not be trusted and has claimed he will not be getting vaccinated.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolsonaro-under-fire-over-brazils-troubled-vaccine-roll-out-350890">Bolsonaro under fire over Brazil's troubled vaccine roll-out</a>

Voicing his concern over the vaccine, he reminded everyone that the company has denied taking responsibility of any side effects caused by the vaccine. "In the Pfizer contract it's very clear: 'we're not responsible for any side effects.' If you turn into a crocodile, it's your problem," he claimed.

"If you become superhuman, if a woman starts to grow a beard or if a man starts to speak with an effeminate voice, they will not have anything to do with it," he continued scaring the people.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazils-supreme-court-paves-way-for-sanctions-against-covid-anti-vaxxers-350797">Brazil’s Supreme Court paves way for sanctions against COVID anti-vaxxers</a>

His statement has come at a time when the UK, US and several other countries have started mass vaccination drives. Brazil's&nbsp;regulatory agency Anvisa, too, will soon be certifying the vaccine, as per local reports.&nbsp;

Brazil's Supreme Court recently also ordered the vaccine to be obligatory. However, it also ruled that this vaccine can not be "forced" on Brazilians, which means that while people cannot be forced to take the vaccine, they can surely be banned from certain places or fine people who fail to get vaccinated.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/brazil-president-jair-bolsonaro-and-his-non-normal-antics-314020">Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and his 'non-normal' antics</a>

The mass vaccination drive will be free of cost in Brazil, Bolsonaro reported in the last week while launching&nbsp;the immunization campaign on Wednesday.

While the world is showing trust in the vaccine, despite few hiccups, Bolsonaro has decided to stay away from the needle. "It will be available for everyone that wants it. But me, I won't get vaccinated," he said.

Jair Bolsonaro, who supported Donald Trump's claims of finding cures for te novel coronavirus, had also tested positive for the deadly a few months back.

As of now, Brazil has reported nearly 7.1 million cases with nearly 185,000 deaths from March till December. The country is not in a lockdown anymore, but citizens are advised to practice social distancing and wear face masks when stepping outdoors.

As the world is now relying on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has decided to not show complete trust in this vaccine.

As the world is now relying on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has decided to not show complete trust in this vaccine. Bolsonaro, who has often termed COVID-19 as just "a little flu", believes the vaccines should not be trusted and has claimed he will not be getting vaccinated. Also read| Bolsonaro under fire over Brazil's troubled vaccine roll-out Voicing his concern over the vaccine, he reminded everyone that the company has denied taking responsibility of any side effects caused by the vaccine. "In the Pfizer contract it's very clear: 'we're not responsible for any side effects.' If you turn into a crocodile, it's your problem," he claimed. "If you become superhuman, if a woman starts to grow a beard or if a man starts to speak with an effeminate voice, they will not have anything to do with it," he continued scaring the people. Also read| Brazil’s Supreme Court paves way for sanctions against COVID anti-vaxxers His statement has come at a time when the UK, US and several other countries have started mass vaccination drives. Brazil's regulatory agency Anvisa, too, will soon be certifying the vaccine, as per local reports. Brazil's Supreme Court recently also ordered the vaccine to be obligatory. However, it also ruled that this vaccine can not be "forced" on Brazilians, which means that while people cannot be forced to take the vaccine, they can surely be banned from certain places or fine people who fail to get vaccinated. Also see| Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and his 'non-normal' antics The mass vaccination drive will be free of cost in Brazil, Bolsonaro reported in the last week while launching the immunization campaign on Wednesday. While the world is showing trust in the vaccine, despite few hiccups, Bolsonaro has decided to stay away from the needle. "It will be available for everyone that wants it. But me, I won't get vaccinated," he said. Jair Bolsonaro, who supported Donald Trump's claims of finding cures for te novel coronavirus, had also tested positive for the deadly a few months back. As of now, Brazil has reported nearly 7.1 million cases with nearly 185,000 deaths from March till December. The country is not in a lockdown anymore, but citizens are advised to practice social distancing and wear face masks when stepping outdoors.

Women may grow beard after taking Pfizer vaccine: Jair Bolsonaro

The US Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) has granted the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine an emergency use authorisation.

The approval, given on Friday, paves the way for its imminent rollout across the country.

"I am authorising the emergency use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID‑19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19," Denise Hinton, the agency's chief scientist wrote in a letter to a Pfizer executive.

President Donald Trump, to this end, said the US would&nbsp;start administering the vaccine "in less than 24 hours."

"The first vaccine will be administered in less than 24 hours," Trump said in a televised address released on Twitter.

"Through our partnership with FedEx and UPS, we have already begun shipping the vaccine to every state and zip code in the country," he said, adding that governors would decide who would receive the shots first in their states.

"We want our senior citizens, health care workers and first responders to be first in line," said Trump. "This will quickly and dramatically reduce deaths and hospitalisations."

Earlier on Friday,&nbsp;Trump had piled pressure on the US drug regulator to quickly approve the vaccine as America readied to roll out mass immunisations.

The Washington Post reported that the White House told the FDA chief Stephen Hahn to submit his resignation if the agency does not clear the vaccine by the end of the day.

The country hopes to have 20 million people inoculated this month.&nbsp;

The government also said Friday that it is buying 100 million more doses of the Moderna vaccine candidate, amid reports the government passed on the opportunity to secure more supply of the Pfizer jab.

The purchase brings its total supply of Moderna doses to 200 million, enough to immunize 100 million people with the two-shot regimen, which is yet to be green-lighted by authorities.

The World Health Organisation warned Friday that Christmas celebrations could turn to tears if people fail to keep up their guard against Covid-19 during the festive season.

Britain this week became the first Western country to roll out the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, which Canada, Mexico, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have also approved.&nbsp;

The FDA said the vaccine can be given to people aged 16 and older. Healthcare workers and elderly people in long-term care facilities are expected to be the main recipients of a first round of 2.9 million doses.

The US government has said it will begin distributing the vaccine around the country immediately after FDA authorization, and that the first inoculations would happen early next week.

The FDA authorisation comes at a time when infections, hospitalisations and deaths are soaring to record levels in the United States, which has failed to mount a coordinated effort to slow the spread of the virus. Earlier this week, the one-day COVID-19 death total topped 3,000, while hospital intensive care units across the country are nearing capacity, threatening to overwhelm healthcare systems.

BioNTech began developing the vaccine in January, using a technology called synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) that had yet to produce an approved product. The technology uses a chemical messenger to instruct cells to make proteins that mimic part of the new coronavirus, which the immune system learns to recognise as an invader. BioNTech struck a development deal with Pfizer in March.

The vaccine comes with complex distribution challenges as it must be shipped and stored at -70 Celsius (-94 F), requiring specialised ultra-cold freezers or supplies of dry ice.

(with inputs from agencies)

The US Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) has granted the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine an emergency use authorisation. The approval, given on Friday, paves the way for its imminent rollout across the country.

The US Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) has granted the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine an emergency use authorisation. The approval, given on Friday, paves the way for its imminent rollout across the country. "I am authorising the emergency use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID‑19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19," Denise Hinton, the agency's chief scientist wrote in a letter to a Pfizer executive. President Donald Trump, to this end, said the US would start administering the vaccine "in less than 24 hours." "The first vaccine will be administered in less than 24 hours," Trump said in a televised address released on Twitter. "Through our partnership with FedEx and UPS, we have already begun shipping the vaccine to every state and zip code in the country," he said, adding that governors would decide who would receive the shots first in their states. "We want our senior citizens, health care workers and first responders to be first in line," said Trump. "This will quickly and dramatically reduce deaths and hospitalisations." Earlier on Friday, Trump had piled pressure on the US drug regulator to quickly approve the vaccine as America readied to roll out mass immunisations. The Washington Post reported that the White House told the FDA chief Stephen Hahn to submit his resignation if the agency does not clear the vaccine by the end of the day. The country hopes to have 20 million people inoculated this month. The government also said Friday that it is buying 100 million more doses of the Moderna vaccine candidate, amid reports the government passed on the opportunity to secure more supply of the Pfizer jab. The purchase brings its total supply of Moderna doses to 200 million, enough to immunize 100 million people with the two-shot regimen, which is yet to be green-lighted by authorities. The World Health Organisation warned Friday that Christmas celebrations could turn to tears if people fail to keep up their guard against Covid-19 during the festive season. Britain this week became the first Western country to roll out the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, which Canada, Mexico, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have also approved. The FDA said the vaccine can be given to people aged 16 and older. Healthcare workers and elderly people in long-term care facilities are expected to be the main recipients of a first round of 2.9 million doses. The US government has said it will begin distributing the vaccine around the country immediately after FDA authorization, and that the first inoculations would happen early next week. The FDA authorisation comes at a time when infections, hospitalisations and deaths are soaring to record levels in the United States, which has failed to mount a coordinated effort to slow the spread of the virus. Earlier this week, the one-day COVID-19 death total topped 3,000, while hospital intensive care units across the country are nearing capacity, threatening to overwhelm healthcare systems. BioNTech began developing the vaccine in January, using a technology called synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) that had yet to produce an approved product. The technology uses a chemical messenger to instruct cells to make proteins that mimic part of the new coronavirus, which the immune system learns to recognise as an invader. BioNTech struck a development deal with Pfizer in March. The vaccine comes with complex distribution challenges as it must be shipped and stored at -70 Celsius (-94 F), requiring specialised ultra-cold freezers or supplies of dry ice. (with inputs from agencies)

US authorises Pfizer jab; first vaccine to be administered 'in less than 24 hours'

Canada on Wednesday approved the Pfizer-BioNTech <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus&nbsp;vaccine</a>, days after Britain became the first country to greenlight and roll it out.

"Today, Canada reached a critical milestone in its fight against Covid-19 with the authorization of the first Covid-19 vaccine," Health Canada said in a statement.

The vaccine, it added, had undergone a fast-tracked review, which concluded that it met "stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements for use in Canada."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-issues-allergy-warning-over-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-after-two-reported-cases-348594" hreflang="en">UK issues 'allergy warning' over Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after two reported cases</a>

The nation's first coronavirus vaccine green light comes under a new interim order system that allows for accelerated approval very similar to the US&nbsp;Food and Drug Administration's emergency use authorizations.

"The approval of the vaccine is supported by evidence that it is safe, effective and of good quality," Health&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;said in a statement. The vaccine has initially been authorized for use in people 16 years of age or older.

Canadian officials have said that under their procurement deal with Pfizer, doses would not be shipped to&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;until the vaccine won Health&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;approval.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-pm-trudeau-under-political-firestorm-over-lack-of-transparency-of-billions-of-dollars-in-aid-348411" hreflang="en">Canadian PM Trudeau under political firestorm over lack of transparency of billions of dollars in aid</a>

Fend off attacks

Canada&nbsp;will start receiving its first doses of Pfizer's vaccine before the end of December, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday.

The news could help the minority Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fend off attacks from opposition parties that have accused Ottawa of acting too slowly to tackle a worsening coronavirus second wave.

Officials had initially expected to get a total of six million doses of vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna Inc by end-March. That would be enough to inoculate three million people as both vaccines require two shots about a month apart.

But Trudeau said up to 249,000 doses of the vaccine Pfizer is producing with German partner BionNTech SE would arrive this month, and a further three million doses should be delivered at the start of 2021.

Saying vaccinations could start next week, Trudeau dismissed the suggestion his government had pressed for early delivery to relieve political attacks by the opposition.

"There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty in terms of which vaccines were going to arrive first ... we wanted not to get people's hopes up," he told reporters, repeating Ottawa expects regulators to approve the Pfizer vaccine this week.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-is-here-348424/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On December 2, the United Kingdom became the first to approve the Pfizer vaccine, which in a large clinical trial was 95% effective at preventing illness.

Pfizer is responsible for shipping its vaccine, which requires ultra-cold storage, to warehouses across&nbsp;Canada.

Canada&nbsp;has a firm order for 20 million doses of the vaccine, enough to inoculate 10 million people, with options to buy up to 56 million more.

For the most part, provincial and territorial health systems will administer the shot, for free, across the country. They will have final say over how to use scarce early supplies in their jurisdictions.

According to preliminary guidance published by the federal government in early November, vulnerable people and those who look after them are high priority, including long-term care residents and some healthcare workers.

Canada&nbsp;has ordered more shots per capita than any other country.

Canada on Wednesday approved the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, days after Britain became the first country to greenlight and roll it out. "Today, Canada reached a critical milestone in its fight against Covid-19 with the authorization of the first Covid-19 vaccine," Health Canada said in a statement.

Canada on Wednesday approved the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, days after Britain became the first country to greenlight and roll it out. "Today, Canada reached a critical milestone in its fight against Covid-19 with the authorization of the first Covid-19 vaccine," Health Canada said in a statement. The vaccine, it added, had undergone a fast-tracked review, which concluded that it met "stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements for use in Canada." Also read: UK issues 'allergy warning' over Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after two reported cases The nation's first coronavirus vaccine green light comes under a new interim order system that allows for accelerated approval very similar to the US Food and Drug Administration's emergency use authorizations. "The approval of the vaccine is supported by evidence that it is safe, effective and of good quality," Health Canada said in a statement. The vaccine has initially been authorized for use in people 16 years of age or older. Canadian officials have said that under their procurement deal with Pfizer, doses would not be shipped to Canada until the vaccine won Health Canada approval. Also read: Canadian PM Trudeau under political firestorm over lack of transparency of billions of dollars in aid Fend off attacks Canada will start receiving its first doses of Pfizer's vaccine before the end of December, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday. The news could help the minority Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fend off attacks from opposition parties that have accused Ottawa of acting too slowly to tackle a worsening coronavirus second wave. Officials had initially expected to get a total of six million doses of vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna Inc by end-March. That would be enough to inoculate three million people as both vaccines require two shots about a month apart. But Trudeau said up to 249,000 doses of the vaccine Pfizer is producing with German partner BionNTech SE would arrive this month, and a further three million doses should be delivered at the start of 2021. Saying vaccinations could start next week, Trudeau dismissed the suggestion his government had pressed for early delivery to relieve political attacks by the opposition. "There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty in terms of which vaccines were going to arrive first ... we wanted not to get people's hopes up," he told reporters, repeating Ottawa expects regulators to approve the Pfizer vaccine this week. On December 2, the United Kingdom became the first to approve the Pfizer vaccine, which in a large clinical trial was 95% effective at preventing illness. Pfizer is responsible for shipping its vaccine, which requires ultra-cold storage, to warehouses across Canada. Canada has a firm order for 20 million doses of the vaccine, enough to inoculate 10 million people, with options to buy up to 56 million more. For the most part, provincial and territorial health systems will administer the shot, for free, across the country. They will have final say over how to use scarce early supplies in their jurisdictions. According to preliminary guidance published by the federal government in early November, vulnerable people and those who look after them are high priority, including long-term care residents and some healthcare workers. Canada has ordered more shots per capita than any other country.

Now, Canada approves Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine

90-year-old Margaret Keenan, became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shot outside of a trial as Britain began vaccinating its population.

90-year-old UK woman, first in the world to get Pfizer vaccine shot

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

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