United States President Donald Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence and other top US officials will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine, first of which was approved in the country recently. A report by Reuters claimed that the move would be undertaken to ensure the continuity of government.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scotus-denies-trump-allies-attempt-to-overturn-results-348456/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to the report, all essential personnel in the White House, along with certain officials in the government would receive the vaccination within 10 days.

Trump contracted the coronavirus recently, and recovered from it soon after. So it’s unclear whether he would receive the vaccine or not.

Additionally, it is unsure whether the transition team for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would receive the vaccinations.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/trump-vows-to-reject-defense-bill-passed-by-veto-proof-majority-349569" hreflang="en">Trump vows to reject defense bill passed by veto-proof majority</a>

On Saturday, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advisory panel recommended the country’s first coronavirus vaccine, jointly developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE.&nbsp;

The United States is hardest hit country by the virus across the globe, with the death toll topping 298,000.

The doses of COVID-19 vaccine are expected to reach 145 locations across the US on Monday. The earliest doses will be given to healthcare workers, and the elderly.

John Ullyot, the National Security Council spokesman said that senior officials in the Congress, judiciary, and the executive would receive vaccinations to ensure that the functioning of US government is not hampered during the pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/australian-mp-urges-donald-trump-to-pardon-julian-assange-before-leaving-white-house-349532" hreflang="en">Australian MP urges Donald Trump to pardon Julian Assange before leaving White House</a>

"The American people should have confidence that they are receiving the same safe and effective vaccine as senior officials of the United States government on the advice of public health professionals and national security leadership," Ullyot said in a statement.

In July 2016, former US President Barack Obama had set up a “National Continuity Policy” aimed at easing the pressure during such times.

"This will further ensure that the United States government will continue essential operations, without interruption, for our citizens as we continue to fight this pandemic and work toward a return to prosperity for our nation," the official added.

United States President Donald Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence and other top US officials will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine, first of which was approved in the country recently.

United States President Donald Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence and other top US officials will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine, first of which was approved in the country recently. A report by Reuters claimed that the move would be undertaken to ensure the continuity of government. According to the report, all essential personnel in the White House, along with certain officials in the government would receive the vaccination within 10 days. Trump contracted the coronavirus recently, and recovered from it soon after. So it’s unclear whether he would receive the vaccine or not. Additionally, it is unsure whether the transition team for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would receive the vaccinations. Also read: Trump vows to reject defense bill passed by veto-proof majority On Saturday, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advisory panel recommended the country’s first coronavirus vaccine, jointly developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE. The United States is hardest hit country by the virus across the globe, with the death toll topping 298,000. The doses of COVID-19 vaccine are expected to reach 145 locations across the US on Monday. The earliest doses will be given to healthcare workers, and the elderly. John Ullyot, the National Security Council spokesman said that senior officials in the Congress, judiciary, and the executive would receive vaccinations to ensure that the functioning of US government is not hampered during the pandemic. Also read: Australian MP urges Donald Trump to pardon Julian Assange before leaving White House "The American people should have confidence that they are receiving the same safe and effective vaccine as senior officials of the United States government on the advice of public health professionals and national security leadership," Ullyot said in a statement. In July 2016, former US President Barack Obama had set up a “National Continuity Policy” aimed at easing the pressure during such times. "This will further ensure that the United States government will continue essential operations, without interruption, for our citizens as we continue to fight this pandemic and work toward a return to prosperity for our nation," the official added.

Trump, Pence among top US officials to be offered COVID-19 vaccine on priority: Report

The US&nbsp;Food and Drug Administration authorised the first COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE, making it available for emergency use to patients aged 16 and older. 
 
In clinical trials, the vaccine was 95% effective at preventing illness and showed no short-term safety issues. 
 
The following is an outline of vaccine distribution plans. 
 
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? 
 
The federal government plans to release the nation’s first 2.9 million doses within days of the authorization to 64 states, US&nbsp;territories and major cities, as well as five federal agencies. Although the federal government is coordinating distribution efforts, states have the final decision over who gets the first shots. The federal government is sending the first shipments to more than 600 locations. 
 
WHO IS FIRST IN LINE FOR A SHOT? 
 
States are prioritizing healthcare workers and elderly long-term care residents for the first vaccinations. There are about 21 million healthcare workers in the United States and 3 million nursing home residents. Most states anticipate they will be able to vaccinate only between 13% and 18% of their healthcare workers with the first distribution, a Reuters analysis found. The federal government has said it will continue to send out millions of doses each week but has not released exact figures. 
 
 
 
WHO IS NEXT IN LINE? 
 
States have broad discretion over who will get the vaccine next. So far, a panel advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only issued the guidance that healthcare workers and nursing home residents should be first. 
 
The CDC has laid out a possible framework of three distribution phases, suggesting essential workers and people aged 65 and older as the next priority. 
 
Some states have indicated they plan to give essential workers priority after healthcare workers and nursing home residents receive the vaccine. 
 
At least 20 large industries are lobbying states to get their workers classified as essential, a Reuters analysis found, including Uber Technologies Inc, DoorDash Inc, and others. [nL1N2IO27C] 
 
WILL THERE BE ENOUGH VACCINES TO GO AROUND? 
 
Pfizer has said it would make 50 million doses this year - enough to inoculate 25 million people - about half of which would go to the United States. Pfizer has an agreement with the U.S. government to supply a total of 100 million doses, enough for 50 million people to be vaccinated. The United States has an option to buy an additional 500 million doses. 
 
An panel of expert advisers to the FDA will review a second COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna Inc next week. If that vaccine is authorized, federal officials have said they will be able to vaccinate 20 million Americans in December, 30 million in January, and 50 million in February. 
 
Johnson &amp; Johnson and AstraZeneca Plc also have vaccines in late-stage trials. If those vaccines receive authorization early next year, officials said there would be enough doses to vaccinate about 75 million Americans a month by about March or April. 
 
Officials said by the middle of next year, the United States will have distributed enough vaccines for most Americans who want the vaccine to be inoculated. 
 
 
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I GET THE VACCINE? 
 
The vaccine is given in two shots, three weeks apart. Pfizer has said side effects in trial volunteers were mostly mild to moderate, and cleared up quickly. The most severe side effects occurred after the second dose, including flu-like symptoms, fatigue and headache. 
 
Although the vaccine was shown to be highly effective at preventing illness, there is no data yet that suggests it also prevents infection or the ability to spread the virus to others. Mask-wearing and social distancing will likely remain in place until more people are vaccinated or proof emerges that the vaccine also prevents virus transmission.

The US Food and Drug Administration authorised the first COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE, making it available for emergency use to patients aged 16 and older.

The US Food and Drug Administration authorised the first COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE, making it available for emergency use to patients aged 16 and older. In clinical trials, the vaccine was 95% effective at preventing illness and showed no short-term safety issues. The following is an outline of vaccine distribution plans. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The federal government plans to release the nation’s first 2.9 million doses within days of the authorization to 64 states, US territories and major cities, as well as five federal agencies. Although the federal government is coordinating distribution efforts, states have the final decision over who gets the first shots. The federal government is sending the first shipments to more than 600 locations. WHO IS FIRST IN LINE FOR A SHOT? States are prioritizing healthcare workers and elderly long-term care residents for the first vaccinations. There are about 21 million healthcare workers in the United States and 3 million nursing home residents. Most states anticipate they will be able to vaccinate only between 13% and 18% of their healthcare workers with the first distribution, a Reuters analysis found. The federal government has said it will continue to send out millions of doses each week but has not released exact figures. WHO IS NEXT IN LINE? States have broad discretion over who will get the vaccine next. So far, a panel advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only issued the guidance that healthcare workers and nursing home residents should be first. The CDC has laid out a possible framework of three distribution phases, suggesting essential workers and people aged 65 and older as the next priority. Some states have indicated they plan to give essential workers priority after healthcare workers and nursing home residents receive the vaccine. At least 20 large industries are lobbying states to get their workers classified as essential, a Reuters analysis found, including Uber Technologies Inc, DoorDash Inc, and others. [nL1N2IO27C] WILL THERE BE ENOUGH VACCINES TO GO AROUND? Pfizer has said it would make 50 million doses this year - enough to inoculate 25 million people - about half of which would go to the United States. Pfizer has an agreement with the U.S. government to supply a total of 100 million doses, enough for 50 million people to be vaccinated. The United States has an option to buy an additional 500 million doses. An panel of expert advisers to the FDA will review a second COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna Inc next week. If that vaccine is authorized, federal officials have said they will be able to vaccinate 20 million Americans in December, 30 million in January, and 50 million in February. Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca Plc also have vaccines in late-stage trials. If those vaccines receive authorization early next year, officials said there would be enough doses to vaccinate about 75 million Americans a month by about March or April. Officials said by the middle of next year, the United States will have distributed enough vaccines for most Americans who want the vaccine to be inoculated. WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I GET THE VACCINE? The vaccine is given in two shots, three weeks apart. Pfizer has said side effects in trial volunteers were mostly mild to moderate, and cleared up quickly. The most severe side effects occurred after the second dose, including flu-like symptoms, fatigue and headache. Although the vaccine was shown to be highly effective at preventing illness, there is no data yet that suggests it also prevents infection or the ability to spread the virus to others. Mask-wearing and social distancing will likely remain in place until more people are vaccinated or proof emerges that the vaccine also prevents virus transmission.

Explainer: US has authorised the first COVID-19 vaccine - when will you get it?

To ease travel in-between the countries, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) is now considering Electronic- vaccination certificates', such a certificate will make it possible to identify and monitor people who have been vaccinated.

Your Story: W.H.O considers 'E-vaccination certificates' for international travel

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered mass COVID-19 vaccination to start next week in Russia.

Today Tonight: Putin says, "Russia to produce 2 Mn vaccine in next few days"

Russia will now start its vaccination drive from December 05, making it the first country to vaccinate citizens outside trials. Teachers and doctors would be the priority for the vaccination.

Your Story: Russia to vaccinate citizens from December 05

Your Story: After UK, Russia to begin mass COVID-19 vaccination

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said that India and China could start producing the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, news agency RIA reported.

Additionally, Putin suggested the fast-tracking of the creation of a BRICS vaccine research centre, as reported by TASS. BRICS nation-states are Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/watch-russias-covid-19-vaccine-sputnik-v-arrives-in-india-342873" hreflang="en">Watch: Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V arrives in India</a>

According to Russia, the Sputnik V is 92 per cent effective at protecting people from coronavirus. Western drugmakers Moderna and Pfizer have claimed their vaccines are 95 and 90 per cent effective respectively.

Sputnik V was registered for public use in August, even before its large-scale trial began in September.

"We are showing, based on the data, that we have a very effective vaccine," RDIF head Kirill Dmitriev had said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/russia-says-its-sputnik-v-covid-19-vaccine-is-92-effective-342373" hreflang="en">Russia says its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine is 92% effective</a>

Sputnik V, the Russian vaccine against coronavirus will be tested on 100 volunteers in India. Indian Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation`s Drug Controller General (DCGI) was quoted by Sputnik News in this regard. Dr Reddy's Laboratories has been granted permission to conduct the tests. Date and time of the tests however, will be determined by the company.

Sputnik quoted the organisation as saying that the vaccine will be tested in the second phase of its clinical trials before moving on to phase 3.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said that India and China could start producing the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, news agency RIA reported. Additionally, Putin suggested the fast-tracking of the creation of a BRICS vaccine research centre, as reported by TASS.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said that India and China could start producing the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, news agency RIA reported. Additionally, Putin suggested the fast-tracking of the creation of a BRICS vaccine research centre, as reported by TASS. BRICS nation-states are Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Also read: Watch: Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V arrives in India According to Russia, the Sputnik V is 92 per cent effective at protecting people from coronavirus. Western drugmakers Moderna and Pfizer have claimed their vaccines are 95 and 90 per cent effective respectively. Sputnik V was registered for public use in August, even before its large-scale trial began in September. "We are showing, based on the data, that we have a very effective vaccine," RDIF head Kirill Dmitriev had said. Also read: Russia says its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine is 92% effective Sputnik V, the Russian vaccine against coronavirus will be tested on 100 volunteers in India. Indian Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation`s Drug Controller General (DCGI) was quoted by Sputnik News in this regard. Dr Reddy's Laboratories has been granted permission to conduct the tests. Date and time of the tests however, will be determined by the company. Sputnik quoted the organisation as saying that the vaccine will be tested in the second phase of its clinical trials before moving on to phase 3.

India and China may start producing Sputnik V vaccine: Russian President Putin

Peru has recorded its first-ever case&nbsp;diphtheria after 20 long years after warnings were issued by various international health organisations that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic can affect the routine of vaccination programmes.

The warnings have been issued specifically for the younger generation, who have been negatively affected by the downward spiral in the economy and the availability of the health services in the country due to the pandemic.

Peru is now on a&nbsp;national epidemiological alert to detect other potential cases, bolster vaccinations and curb any potential wider outbreak which is expected to get worse with the commencement of the second wave of coronavirus in several countries. COVID-19 has severely affected Peru with more than 892,000 cases and 34,200 deaths.

As of now, a five-year-old girl&nbsp;living in the capital Lima has been diagnosed with the infectious respiratory disease, the&nbsp;Andean nation’s Public Health Vice Minister Luis Suarez reported on Tuesday. The young girl is in a stable condition and is being closely monitored by a team of doctors.

The case has been diagnosed after almost 20 years, as the last case was cured in 2000, and the&nbsp;Pan American Health Organization had warned in 2019 that the disease may exist in few other countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Haiti.

This disease affects the throat and upper airways which causes the dead tissue to build up and the patent, then, finds it difficult to breathe. Just like the novel coronavirus, this disease can also spread through physical contact, and also by respiratory contact. The most severe cases can take the mortality rate beyond 10 per cent.

The United Nations warned in July that immunizations against dangerous diseases, including diphtheria, had dropped alarmingly during the pandemic, with three-fourths of 82 countries reporting disruption to their programs in a May survey because of shortages of protective equipment for health workers, travel restrictions and low staffing.

Suarez admitted that due to lack of funds, the government had only issued 40 per cent of diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations instead of the usual 70 per cent.

Peru has recorded its first-ever case diphtheria after 20 long years after warnings were issued by various international health organisations that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic can affect the routine of vaccination programmes.

Peru has recorded its first-ever case diphtheria after 20 long years after warnings were issued by various international health organisations that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic can affect the routine of vaccination programmes. The warnings have been issued specifically for the younger generation, who have been negatively affected by the downward spiral in the economy and the availability of the health services in the country due to the pandemic. Peru is now on a national epidemiological alert to detect other potential cases, bolster vaccinations and curb any potential wider outbreak which is expected to get worse with the commencement of the second wave of coronavirus in several countries. COVID-19 has severely affected Peru with more than 892,000 cases and 34,200 deaths. As of now, a five-year-old girl living in the capital Lima has been diagnosed with the infectious respiratory disease, the Andean nation’s Public Health Vice Minister Luis Suarez reported on Tuesday. The young girl is in a stable condition and is being closely monitored by a team of doctors. The case has been diagnosed after almost 20 years, as the last case was cured in 2000, and the Pan American Health Organization had warned in 2019 that the disease may exist in few other countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Haiti. This disease affects the throat and upper airways which causes the dead tissue to build up and the patent, then, finds it difficult to breathe. Just like the novel coronavirus, this disease can also spread through physical contact, and also by respiratory contact. The most severe cases can take the mortality rate beyond 10 per cent. The United Nations warned in July that immunizations against dangerous diseases, including diphtheria, had dropped alarmingly during the pandemic, with three-fourths of 82 countries reporting disruption to their programs in a May survey because of shortages of protective equipment for health workers, travel restrictions and low staffing. Suarez admitted that due to lack of funds, the government had only issued 40 per cent of diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations instead of the usual 70 per cent.

First case of diphtheria reported in Peru after 20 years

In South Korea, nine people have lost their lives after getting flu shots in the last week. This has raised questions about the safety imbued in the vaccine.&nbsp;

South Korea recently upped its inoculation programme to ease the complications caused by COVID-19, and to decrease the burden on the country’s healthcare system.

On Wednesday alone, five new deaths were recorded. However, authorities do not plan to halt seasonal vaccination programme.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/five-south-koreans-die-after-getting-flu-shots-sparking-vaccine-fears-336877" hreflang="en">Five South Koreans die after getting flu shots, sparking vaccine fears</a>

Investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of deaths. The authorities are conducting post mortars to find any potential link. Preliminary investigations did not point to any link.

"We have reviewed whether it is appropriate to continue the vaccination or better to suspend and wait for the results," country’s health official Kim Joong-gon said during a briefing.&nbsp;

"We came to the conclusion that the deaths had no direct relations&nbsp;with the vaccination given the limited data we have now and without detailed post mortem reports”, Joong-gon added.

The health official added that out of the six victims, five had underlying health conditions. Additionally, no toxic substances have been found in the vaccine, which was given to many others. Reportedly, among the dead are a 17-year-old boy and a man aged above 70.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/south-koreas-pop-culture-machine-boosts-netflixs-international-growth-source-336777" hreflang="en">South Korea's pop culture machine boosts Netflix's international growth: source</a>

As winter nears, the country intends to mass inoculate its population to ease the stress caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Just weeks ago, the country’s national vaccine programme was suspended over safety concerns. Reportedly, 5 million doses that require refrigeration at all times were exposed to room temperatures while being transported.

Out of the 19 million eligible for free inoculation, 8.36 million people have already received the vaccine.&nbsp;

In South Korea, nine people have lost their lives after getting flu shots in the last week. This has raised questions about the safety imbued in the vaccine. South Korea recently upped its inoculation programme to ease the complications caused by COVID-19, and to decrease the burden on the country’s healthcare system.

In South Korea, nine people have lost their lives after getting flu shots in the last week. This has raised questions about the safety imbued in the vaccine. South Korea recently upped its inoculation programme to ease the complications caused by COVID-19, and to decrease the burden on the country’s healthcare system. On Wednesday alone, five new deaths were recorded. However, authorities do not plan to halt seasonal vaccination programme. Also read: Five South Koreans die after getting flu shots, sparking vaccine fears Investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of deaths. The authorities are conducting post mortars to find any potential link. Preliminary investigations did not point to any link. "We have reviewed whether it is appropriate to continue the vaccination or better to suspend and wait for the results," country’s health official Kim Joong-gon said during a briefing. "We came to the conclusion that the deaths had no direct relations with the vaccination given the limited data we have now and without detailed post mortem reports”, Joong-gon added. The health official added that out of the six victims, five had underlying health conditions. Additionally, no toxic substances have been found in the vaccine, which was given to many others. Reportedly, among the dead are a 17-year-old boy and a man aged above 70. Also read: South Korea's pop culture machine boosts Netflix's international growth: source As winter nears, the country intends to mass inoculate its population to ease the stress caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Just weeks ago, the country’s national vaccine programme was suspended over safety concerns. Reportedly, 5 million doses that require refrigeration at all times were exposed to room temperatures while being transported. Out of the 19 million eligible for free inoculation, 8.36 million people have already received the vaccine.

Panic grips South Korea as nine people die after receiving flu shots

The World Health Organization recently said that countries need to discard their own interests when dealing with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, or it could continue to get worse.

"(Acting) strategically and globally is actually in each country's national interest - no one is safe until everyone is safe," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday. During a virtual briefing, he also while called for an end to "vaccine nationalism".

He also called for countries to ensure a global supply of potential vaccines, otherwise the pandemic could continue to escalate.

Vaccine efforts on

Additionally, the WHO chief has sent out a letter to all WHO members asking them to join the multilateral COVAX vaccine effort.

As of now, over 21.9 million in the world have been infected by COVID-19, with 772,647 deaths recorded worldwide.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-says-people-in-20s-30s-40s-increasingly-driving-coronavirus-pandemic-321437" hreflang="en">WHO says people in 20s, 30s, 40s increasingly driving coronavirus pandemic</a>

Earlier today, the World Health Organization said that it was worried that the spread of COVID-19 now may be driven by people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.

The organisation added that most patients in the age brackets did not show symptoms, which could in turn continue to infect at-risk groups.

Younger people now the primary carriers

The organisation claimed that the number of younger people contracting the virus had risen across the world, which might in turn cause fatalities among vulnerable groups.

The elderly and people with co-morbidities, especially in poor countries with inadequate healthcare and densely populated areas, could face the virus’ wrath.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/who-says-no-evidence-of-coronavirus-on-frozen-food-packets-320368" hreflang="en">WHO says no evidence of coronavirus on frozen food packets</a>

"The epidemic is changing," WHO’s Western Pacific regional director, Takeshi Kasai, said during a virtual briefing.

"People in their 20s, 30s and 40s are increasingly driving the spread. Many are unaware they are infected."

"This increases the risk of spillovers to the more vulnerable," he added.

The World Health Organization recently said that countries need to discard their own interests when dealing with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, or it could continue to get worse.

The World Health Organization recently said that countries need to discard their own interests when dealing with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, or it could continue to get worse. "(Acting) strategically and globally is actually in each country's national interest - no one is safe until everyone is safe," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday. During a virtual briefing, he also while called for an end to "vaccine nationalism". He also called for countries to ensure a global supply of potential vaccines, otherwise the pandemic could continue to escalate. Vaccine efforts on Additionally, the WHO chief has sent out a letter to all WHO members asking them to join the multilateral COVAX vaccine effort. As of now, over 21.9 million in the world have been infected by COVID-19, with 772,647 deaths recorded worldwide. Also read: WHO says people in 20s, 30s, 40s increasingly driving coronavirus pandemic Earlier today, the World Health Organization said that it was worried that the spread of COVID-19 now may be driven by people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. The organisation added that most patients in the age brackets did not show symptoms, which could in turn continue to infect at-risk groups. Younger people now the primary carriers The organisation claimed that the number of younger people contracting the virus had risen across the world, which might in turn cause fatalities among vulnerable groups. The elderly and people with co-morbidities, especially in poor countries with inadequate healthcare and densely populated areas, could face the virus’ wrath. Also read: WHO says no evidence of coronavirus on frozen food packets "The epidemic is changing," WHO’s Western Pacific regional director, Takeshi Kasai, said during a virtual briefing. "People in their 20s, 30s and 40s are increasingly driving the spread. Many are unaware they are infected." "This increases the risk of spillovers to the more vulnerable," he added.

'Vaccine nationalism' must end to ensure global inoculation: WHO

The anti-vaccination movement (or commonly known as anti-vaxxers) are quite famous in the US. Turns out, their philosophy has also crossed the pond.

A new study claims that only half of Britain’s population would be up for getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

53% may get vaccinated

The shocking data reveals that 53 per cent of Britons would most likely get vaccinated against COVID-19, if one gets circulated soon.

Only half the population of Britain definitely would accept being vaccinated against Covid-19. That is the shock conclusion of a group of scientists and pollsters who have found that only 53% of a test group of citizens said they would be certain or very likely to allow themselves to be given a vaccine against the disease if one becomes available.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/russia-to-register-worlds-first-covid-19-vaccine-next-week-318832" hreflang="en">Russia to register world's first COVID-19 vaccine next week</a>

The research, undertaken by King’s College London and Ipsos Mori claims&nbsp; one in six Britons (16 per cent) will most definitely not accept a vaccine.

In addition, one in five (20 per cent) of the respondents claimed that they would be “fairly likely” to get vaccinated once it comes out.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://wionews.com/videos/health-experts-rattled-by-anti-vaxxers-anti-vaccination-protests-across-europe-300821/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Other factors come into play

The corollary parameters of the study ascertained that those who rejected the vaccine were also more likely to be sceptic of science and the real-life impact of COVID-19.

Those who answered with likely to refuse the vaccine also constituted the group least likely to don a mask, and further claimed that most of their coronavirus related information came from WhatsApp and various social media outlets.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/india-news/serum-institute-to-get-150-million-from-gates-foundation-for-covid-19-vaccine-318947" hreflang="en">Serum Institute to get $150 million from Gates Foundation for COVID-19 vaccine</a>

Age was also an important factor. 22 per cent of the responders within the groups of 16-24 and 25-34 said they would not arbitrarily accept vaccination, while only 11 per cent of those aged 55-75 echoed this sentiment. This may partly owing to the fact that the virus is more fatal among old people.

The study took into account 22,37 responses from the UK, between the age of 16-75, and was conducted online in July.

The lead author of the study, Bobby Duffy believes conspiracies and misperceptions surrounding vaccines may be influencing people’s intentions.

The authors of the study also believe that governments should undertake measures to dispel false notions surrounding COVID-19 and the vaccination projects that are underway.

The anti-vaccination movement (or commonly known as anti-vaxxers) are quite famous in the US. Turns out, their philosophy has also crossed the pond. A new study claims that only half of Britain’s population would be up for getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

The anti-vaccination movement (or commonly known as anti-vaxxers) are quite famous in the US. Turns out, their philosophy has also crossed the pond. A new study claims that only half of Britain’s population would be up for getting vaccinated against COVID-19. 53% may get vaccinated The shocking data reveals that 53 per cent of Britons would most likely get vaccinated against COVID-19, if one gets circulated soon. Only half the population of Britain definitely would accept being vaccinated against Covid-19. That is the shock conclusion of a group of scientists and pollsters who have found that only 53% of a test group of citizens said they would be certain or very likely to allow themselves to be given a vaccine against the disease if one becomes available. Also read: Russia to register world's first COVID-19 vaccine next week The research, undertaken by King’s College London and Ipsos Mori claims one in six Britons (16 per cent) will most definitely not accept a vaccine. In addition, one in five (20 per cent) of the respondents claimed that they would be “fairly likely” to get vaccinated once it comes out. Other factors come into play The corollary parameters of the study ascertained that those who rejected the vaccine were also more likely to be sceptic of science and the real-life impact of COVID-19. Those who answered with likely to refuse the vaccine also constituted the group least likely to don a mask, and further claimed that most of their coronavirus related information came from WhatsApp and various social media outlets. Also read: Serum Institute to get $150 million from Gates Foundation for COVID-19 vaccine Age was also an important factor. 22 per cent of the responders within the groups of 16-24 and 25-34 said they would not arbitrarily accept vaccination, while only 11 per cent of those aged 55-75 echoed this sentiment. This may partly owing to the fact that the virus is more fatal among old people. The study took into account 22,37 responses from the UK, between the age of 16-75, and was conducted online in July. The lead author of the study, Bobby Duffy believes conspiracies and misperceptions surrounding vaccines may be influencing people’s intentions. The authors of the study also believe that governments should undertake measures to dispel false notions surrounding COVID-19 and the vaccination projects that are underway.

Only half of Britain's population would get vaccinated against coronavirus: Study

The race to produce and deploy vaccinations against COVID-19 has amped up across the world. Be it “Operation Warp Speed” in the US, India’s Novaxin trials starting July 20, or Russia’s promise to begin vaccinating people starting next month - administrations across the globe are getting impatient and want to roll out the vaccine as quickly as possible to curb the ill effects of the virus, and somewhat return to a pre-pandemic lifestyle.

Russia has done a peculiar thing yet again. Its experimental vaccine developed by the state-run Gamaleya had begun testing among the country’s elite circle as early as April, reports suggest.

Early rollout?

The country clearly wants to be the first to inoculate people against the virus. The pilot vaccine will certainly give edge to whichever country does it first. In fact, reports have begun surfacing that Russia intends to roll out the vaccine for public use as early as next month, even before the phase&nbsp;3 trials are completed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/russian-envoy-denies-moscow-helped-hackers-target-virus-vaccine-314353" hreflang="en">Russian envoy denies Moscow helped hackers target virus vaccine</a>

As per the Bloomberg report, top executives at companies like United Company Rusal alongside affluent officials and industry professionals began getting vaccinated as early as April.

The vaccine in development is being funded by the state-run Russian Direct Investment Fund and is also being backed by the military. Just last week, the vaccine completed phase 1 trials undertaken on military personnel. The next round has already begun.

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Only for the elite - yet!

Even though phase 3 trials will begin only by the first week of August, the vaccine may be available to the public at the same time. Besides Russia, the vaccine is being tested in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Similar to China’s CanSino Biologics vaccine, the Gamaleya’s vaccine will imbibe a viral vector with a protein of COVID-19 to trigger an immune response.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/russia-ready-to-share-covid-19-vaccine-technology-with-other-countries-314263" hreflang="en">Russia ready to share COVID-19 vaccine technology with other countries</a>

The US, UK, and Canada have all accused Russia of attempting to break into their classified vaccine efforts to “steal” information.

Bloomberg was able to confirm that scores of elite Russians indeed received the shots, but did not want their names to go public. Even though the people aren’t part of any official studies, the results of the vaccine are monitored as they would under a study.

Gamaleya says that the immunisation effects of the vaccine will last upto two years.

Russia currently has the world’s fourth-most coronavirus cases, with over 750,000 cases reported so far.

The race to produce and deploy vaccinations against COVID-19 has amped up across the world. Be it “Operation Warp Speed” in the US, India’s Novaxin trials starting July 20, or Russia’s promise to begin vaccinating people starting next month - administrations across the globe are getting impatient and want to roll out the vaccine as quickly as possible to curb the ill effects of the virus, and somewhat return to a pre-pandemic lifestyle.

The race to produce and deploy vaccinations against COVID-19 has amped up across the world. Be it “Operation Warp Speed” in the US, India’s Novaxin trials starting July 20, or Russia’s promise to begin vaccinating people starting next month - administrations across the globe are getting impatient and want to roll out the vaccine as quickly as possible to curb the ill effects of the virus, and somewhat return to a pre-pandemic lifestyle. Russia has done a peculiar thing yet again. Its experimental vaccine developed by the state-run Gamaleya had begun testing among the country’s elite circle as early as April, reports suggest. Early rollout? The country clearly wants to be the first to inoculate people against the virus. The pilot vaccine will certainly give edge to whichever country does it first. In fact, reports have begun surfacing that Russia intends to roll out the vaccine for public use as early as next month, even before the phase 3 trials are completed. Also read: Russian envoy denies Moscow helped hackers target virus vaccine As per the Bloomberg report, top executives at companies like United Company Rusal alongside affluent officials and industry professionals began getting vaccinated as early as April. The vaccine in development is being funded by the state-run Russian Direct Investment Fund and is also being backed by the military. Just last week, the vaccine completed phase 1 trials undertaken on military personnel. The next round has already begun. Only for the elite - yet! Even though phase 3 trials will begin only by the first week of August, the vaccine may be available to the public at the same time. Besides Russia, the vaccine is being tested in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Similar to China’s CanSino Biologics vaccine, the Gamaleya’s vaccine will imbibe a viral vector with a protein of COVID-19 to trigger an immune response. Also read: Russia ready to share COVID-19 vaccine technology with other countries The US, UK, and Canada have all accused Russia of attempting to break into their classified vaccine efforts to “steal” information. Bloomberg was able to confirm that scores of elite Russians indeed received the shots, but did not want their names to go public. Even though the people aren’t part of any official studies, the results of the vaccine are monitored as they would under a study. Gamaleya says that the immunisation effects of the vaccine will last upto two years. Russia currently has the world’s fourth-most coronavirus cases, with over 750,000 cases reported so far.

Elite club: Russia secretly tested its coronavirus vaccine among the affluent as early as April

The United Nations children’s agency Unicef said hundreds of thousands were at risk as lockdowns across South Asia halted immunisation drives and parents refrained from taking their children to doctors to be inoculated.

“While the Covid-19 virus does not appear to make many children seriously ill, the health of hundreds of thousands of children could be impacted by this disruption of regular immunisation services,” said Jean Gough, director of Unicef’s South Asia office.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-considering-coronavirus-checks-on-international-flights-trump-295404">Also read:&nbsp;US considering coronavirus checks on international flights: Trump</a>

“This is a very serious threat. Early action is key.” Bangladesh and Nepal have halted their measles and rubella campaigns while Pakistan and Afghanistan have suspended their polio drives since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Unicef noted that “sporadic” outbreaks of preventable diseases that can be cured with vaccines, including the measles and diphtheria, have emerged in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.

Vaccine stocks were also running low in some countries in the region thanks to lockdowns and travel bans which have disrupted supply chains.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-outbreak-is-mumbai-turning-into-indias-new-york-city-295323">Also read:&nbsp;COVID-19 outbreak: Is Mumbai turning into India's New York City?</a>

“Unicef strongly recommends that, where immunisation campaigns are suspended, governments begin rigorous planning now to intensify immunisation activities once the Covid-19 pandemic is under control,” the agency said in a statement.

It added that as long as health workers take hygiene precautions, there was no reason for vaccinations not to continue.

The agency estimated that 4.5 million of South Asia’s children had already missed out on routine immunisations, even before the coronavirus pandemic struck.

The United Nations children’s agency Unicef said hundreds of thousands were at risk as lockdowns across South Asia halted immunisation drives and parents refrained from taking their children to doctors to be inoculated.

The United Nations children’s agency Unicef said hundreds of thousands were at risk as lockdowns across South Asia halted immunisation drives and parents refrained from taking their children to doctors to be inoculated. “While the Covid-19 virus does not appear to make many children seriously ill, the health of hundreds of thousands of children could be impacted by this disruption of regular immunisation services,” said Jean Gough, director of Unicef’s South Asia office. Also read: US considering coronavirus checks on international flights: Trump “This is a very serious threat. Early action is key.” Bangladesh and Nepal have halted their measles and rubella campaigns while Pakistan and Afghanistan have suspended their polio drives since the Covid-19 pandemic. Unicef noted that “sporadic” outbreaks of preventable diseases that can be cured with vaccines, including the measles and diphtheria, have emerged in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. Vaccine stocks were also running low in some countries in the region thanks to lockdowns and travel bans which have disrupted supply chains. Also read: COVID-19 outbreak: Is Mumbai turning into India's New York City? “Unicef strongly recommends that, where immunisation campaigns are suspended, governments begin rigorous planning now to intensify immunisation activities once the Covid-19 pandemic is under control,” the agency said in a statement. It added that as long as health workers take hygiene precautions, there was no reason for vaccinations not to continue. The agency estimated that 4.5 million of South Asia’s children had already missed out on routine immunisations, even before the coronavirus pandemic struck.

South Asia may face new health crisis as children miss vaccinations: UN

Johnson & Johnson, the producer of a new vaccine aimed at protecting people against the Ebola virus, announced on Sunday it would be providing 200,000 Ebola vaccines to Rwanda to stop the virus spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Vaccination programme begins to stop Ebola spread

Social media giants must crackdown on anti-vaccination posts that are fuelling <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../samoa-measles-outbreak-death-toll-rises-to-62- 266337">Samoa's deadly measles epidemic</a> from afar, UNICEF's Pacific islands chief said Thursday.

Sheldon Yett, the regional representative for the U.N. children's agency, said "incredibly irresponsible" online material on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram had exacerbated the Samoa measles outbreak, which has claimed 62 lives since mid-October,&nbsp;by discouraging immunisation.&nbsp;

"It's quite clear that they have a corporate responsibility to step up to the plate and make sure that populations, particularly vulnerable populations, get accurate information that's going to keep children alive," Yett said.

Immunisation rates in Samoa dropped to just over 30 percent before the outbreak, well below accepted best practice of around 90 percent, making the island nation extremely vulnerable to infection.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/climate-change-has-ill-effects-on-health-but -not-enough-funding-world-health-organisation-265954">World Health Organisation</a> blamed an anti-vaccine messaging campaign, which Yett said was carried out largely online by overseas-based activists.

"It's quite obvious that there are very loud people on social media making very false claims about vaccines," he said.

"Unfortunately it's found a ready audience in Samoa, where some people are suspicious about the quality of healthcare and may have issues with local (vaccine) providers."

He said activists posting anti-vaccine material from wealthy developed countries such as the United States and Australia needed to realise the impact of their actions in developing nations.&nbsp;

"It's devastating, it can be a death sentence for a child here where there's low immunisation and possibly other health issues going on in the background," he said from the capital Apia.

'No easy fix'&nbsp;

Yett said suspicion of vaccines in Samoa stemmed from a case last year when two babies died after receiving measles shots, leading to an eight-month suspension of the country's immunisation programme.

Subsequent investigations found there was no problem with the vaccine itself, but the nurses administering it accidentally mixed it with anaesthetic, instead of water.

However, trust in the immunisation programme was dented and anti-vaxxers stepped up efforts to push their agenda online, creating what Yett described as "a perfect formula" for an uncontrollable epidemic.

The activists have also hindered efforts to control the outbreak, with one prominent Australian-based blogger last week comparing compulsory vaccinations to Nazi Germany and saying "fascism is well and truly alive in Samoa".

Others have promoted quick remedies such as "Kangen water", alkaline water which supporters say can cure measles, despite no scientific evidence.

Yett said health authorities' focus at the moment was containing an epidemic that was still raging, resulting in fresh infections and child deaths every day.

But he said once it was over there had to be a discussion with platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram about their approach to anti-vaccine material.

He said the informed debate was important but it was wrong to allow online activists to question the effectiveness of vaccines, which the WHO estimates have saved the lives of 21 million children over the past 20 years.

"It's not easy, nobody wants to be a censor," he said.

"Companies have a responsibility to do it, but we also have to be honest and say there's no easy fix where they can flick a switch."

He conceded the clicks generated by heated online debate about vaccines could prevent the platforms from wanting to take swift action on the issue.

"We shouldn't be naive, there are many counter incentives here for social media giants as well," he said.

Social media giants must crackdown on anti-vaccination posts that are fuelling Samoa's deadly measles epidemic from afar, UNICEF's Pacific islands chief said Thursday.

Social media giants must crackdown on anti-vaccination posts that are fuelling Samoa's deadly measles epidemic from afar, UNICEF's Pacific islands chief said Thursday. Sheldon Yett, the regional representative for the U.N. children's agency, said "incredibly irresponsible" online material on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram had exacerbated the Samoa measles outbreak, which has claimed 62 lives since mid-October, by discouraging immunisation. "It's quite clear that they have a corporate responsibility to step up to the plate and make sure that populations, particularly vulnerable populations, get accurate information that's going to keep children alive," Yett said. Immunisation rates in Samoa dropped to just over 30 percent before the outbreak, well below accepted best practice of around 90 percent, making the island nation extremely vulnerable to infection. The World Health Organisation blamed an anti-vaccine messaging campaign, which Yett said was carried out largely online by overseas-based activists. "It's quite obvious that there are very loud people on social media making very false claims about vaccines," he said. "Unfortunately it's found a ready audience in Samoa, where some people are suspicious about the quality of healthcare and may have issues with local (vaccine) providers." He said activists posting anti-vaccine material from wealthy developed countries such as the United States and Australia needed to realise the impact of their actions in developing nations. "It's devastating, it can be a death sentence for a child here where there's low immunisation and possibly other health issues going on in the background," he said from the capital Apia. 'No easy fix' Yett said suspicion of vaccines in Samoa stemmed from a case last year when two babies died after receiving measles shots, leading to an eight-month suspension of the country's immunisation programme. Subsequent investigations found there was no problem with the vaccine itself, but the nurses administering it accidentally mixed it with anaesthetic, instead of water. However, trust in the immunisation programme was dented and anti-vaxxers stepped up efforts to push their agenda online, creating what Yett described as "a perfect formula" for an uncontrollable epidemic. The activists have also hindered efforts to control the outbreak, with one prominent Australian-based blogger last week comparing compulsory vaccinations to Nazi Germany and saying "fascism is well and truly alive in Samoa". Others have promoted quick remedies such as "Kangen water", alkaline water which supporters say can cure measles, despite no scientific evidence. Yett said health authorities' focus at the moment was containing an epidemic that was still raging, resulting in fresh infections and child deaths every day. But he said once it was over there had to be a discussion with platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram about their approach to anti-vaccine material. He said the informed debate was important but it was wrong to allow online activists to question the effectiveness of vaccines, which the WHO estimates have saved the lives of 21 million children over the past 20 years. "It's not easy, nobody wants to be a censor," he said. "Companies have a responsibility to do it, but we also have to be honest and say there's no easy fix where they can flick a switch." He conceded the clicks generated by heated online debate about vaccines could prevent the platforms from wanting to take swift action on the issue. "We shouldn't be naive, there are many counter incentives here for social media giants as well," he said.

U.N. says online anti-vaxxers fuelling Samoa measles deaths

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-measles-cases-three-times-higher-than-last-year-who-246324">Deaths related to measles</a>, mostly among small children, have more than tripled to 20 in the past week on the Pacific island of Samoa, the government has said eight days after declaring a state of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/samoa-measles-vaccine-now-mandatory-to-limit-deadly-outbreak-262803">emergency over the outbreak</a>.

The island state of just 200,000, located south of the equator and half way between Hawaii and New Zealand, declared a measles epidemic late in October after the first deaths.

The government has identified 1,644 suspected cases of measles, more than doubling over the past week, with deaths rising to 20 from six, it said on Friday. Children younger than five accounted for all but one of the deaths.

Staff of U.N. agency UNICEF have delivered 110,500 doses of measles containing vaccines this week as they fanned out across Samoa to boost its mandatory immunisation effort, the agency said in a statement.

It has also worked with governments of other tiny Pacific nations to run immunisation campaigns and develop preparedness plans to combat a regional outbreak, it added.

Australia is sending a specialist team of doctors, nurses and public health experts to Samoa, along with equipment and supplies, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Deaths related to measles, mostly among small children, have more than tripled to 20 in the past week on the Pacific island of Samoa, the government has said eight days after declaring a state of emergency over the outbreak.

Deaths related to measles, mostly among small children, have more than tripled to 20 in the past week on the Pacific island of Samoa, the government has said eight days after declaring a state of emergency over the outbreak. The island state of just 200,000, located south of the equator and half way between Hawaii and New Zealand, declared a measles epidemic late in October after the first deaths. The government has identified 1,644 suspected cases of measles, more than doubling over the past week, with deaths rising to 20 from six, it said on Friday. Children younger than five accounted for all but one of the deaths. Staff of U.N. agency UNICEF have delivered 110,500 doses of measles containing vaccines this week as they fanned out across Samoa to boost its mandatory immunisation effort, the agency said in a statement. It has also worked with governments of other tiny Pacific nations to run immunisation campaigns and develop preparedness plans to combat a regional outbreak, it added. Australia is sending a specialist team of doctors, nurses and public health experts to Samoa, along with equipment and supplies, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Samoa measles outbreak kills 20, mostly children

The Democratic Republic of the Congo will introduce a second vaccine next month to combat the Ebola virus, which has killed more than 2,100 people in the country, the World Health Organization said on Monday.

The announcement came as the aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) accused the WHO of rationing the first Ebola vaccine in the DRC.

"The health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have announced plans to introduce a second experimental Ebola vaccine, manufactured by Johnson &amp; Johnson, from mid-October," the global health body said in a statement.

"This vaccine, which is given as a 2-dose course, 56 days apart, will be provided under approved protocols to targeted at-risk populations in areas that do not have active Ebola transmission as an additional tool to extend protection against the virus", they added.

Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's Regional Director for Africa, said the second vaccine "will help ensure that we have potentially an additional tool to prevent the expansion of the outbreak and also a potential tool to protect populations before outbreaks hit areas at risk."

The ongoing Ebola outbreak is the second-worst one in history after more than 11,000 people were killed in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia between 2014 and 2016.

The WHO said last week that as of September 17, DRC had registered a total of 3,145 cases of Ebola since the outbreak began over a year ago, including 2,103 deaths.

It has declared the Ebola epidemic a "public health emergency of international concern".

Around 225,000 people have received the Ebola vaccine manufactured by the German pharma giant Merck since August 8, 2018.

'Insufficient' 
 
But the MSF said earlier Monday that "this number remains largely insufficient".

"One of the main problems currently is the fact that in practice the vaccine is rationed by the WHO and that too few people at risk are protected today," MSF said in a statement.

The WHO denied limiting the availability of the drug, saying it was doing "everything possible" to end the epidemic.

The UN's health agency has been pushing for the introduction of the second vaccine, but the DRC health ministry under former minister Oly Ilunga had resisted such a move, citing the risks of introducing a new product in communities where mistrust of Ebola responders is already high.

Ilunga stepped down on July 22 after being replaced as the head of the country's Ebola response effort.

He has since been charged with embezzling funds allotted for the Ebola fight, according to his lawyers who reject the allegations saying accounts prove that public funds were used "exclusively" for the anti-Ebola effort.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, praised the latest decision by DRC authorities, who he said, "Have once again shown leadership and their determination to end this outbreak as soon as possible".

The Democratic Republic of the Congo will introduce a second vaccine next month to combat the Ebola virus, which has killed more than 2,100 people in the country, the World Health Organization said on Monday.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo will introduce a second vaccine next month to combat the Ebola virus, which has killed more than 2,100 people in the country, the World Health Organization said on Monday. The announcement came as the aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) accused the WHO of rationing the first Ebola vaccine in the DRC. "The health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have announced plans to introduce a second experimental Ebola vaccine, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, from mid-October," the global health body said in a statement. "This vaccine, which is given as a 2-dose course, 56 days apart, will be provided under approved protocols to targeted at-risk populations in areas that do not have active Ebola transmission as an additional tool to extend protection against the virus", they added. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's Regional Director for Africa, said the second vaccine "will help ensure that we have potentially an additional tool to prevent the expansion of the outbreak and also a potential tool to protect populations before outbreaks hit areas at risk." The ongoing Ebola outbreak is the second-worst one in history after more than 11,000 people were killed in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia between 2014 and 2016. The WHO said last week that as of September 17, DRC had registered a total of 3,145 cases of Ebola since the outbreak began over a year ago, including 2,103 deaths. It has declared the Ebola epidemic a "public health emergency of international concern". Around 225,000 people have received the Ebola vaccine manufactured by the German pharma giant Merck since August 8, 2018. 'Insufficient' But the MSF said earlier Monday that "this number remains largely insufficient". "One of the main problems currently is the fact that in practice the vaccine is rationed by the WHO and that too few people at risk are protected today," MSF said in a statement. The WHO denied limiting the availability of the drug, saying it was doing "everything possible" to end the epidemic. The UN's health agency has been pushing for the introduction of the second vaccine, but the DRC health ministry under former minister Oly Ilunga had resisted such a move, citing the risks of introducing a new product in communities where mistrust of Ebola responders is already high. Ilunga stepped down on July 22 after being replaced as the head of the country's Ebola response effort. He has since been charged with embezzling funds allotted for the Ebola fight, according to his lawyers who reject the allegations saying accounts prove that public funds were used "exclusively" for the anti-Ebola effort. WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, praised the latest decision by DRC authorities, who he said, "Have once again shown leadership and their determination to end this outbreak as soon as possible".

Democratic Republic of Congo to receive second Ebola vaccine in mid-october: World Health Organisation

The Philippines recorded its second case of polio on Friday, as it prepared to vaccinate millions of children against a disease believed to have been eradicated two decades ago.

A five-year-old boy in Laguna, south of the capital Manila, tested positive for the polio virus, the Health Department said, the second case this week after a three-year-old girl was confirmed to be infected on Monday in a province about 1,400 km away.

Health officials appealed to parents and caregivers of children to take part in the government's Polio Vaccination Programme, which comes as the Philippines grapples to tackle twin outbreaks of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-suspends-worlds-first-dengue-vaccine-25587">dengue</a> and measles that have killed more than 1,000 people since January, most of them children.

"The polio vaccinations happen all year round, but our coverage dropped for the past five years", Rolando Enrique Domingo, an undersecretary of the Department of Health, told Reuters.

"We've learned our lesson. It is time to move on and really start vaccinating all kids and make sure we sustain this every year", he added.

The polio virus was detected in the sewage systems of Davao in a nearby province two months ago, and in Tondo, a rundown area of Metro Manila notorious for slum communities, Domingo said.

Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan are the last three countries where the disease is endemic. The last known case in the Philippines had been in 1993, the World Health Organization says.

Immunisation coverage in the Philippines is at 70%, below the recommended rate of 95%, Domingo said, as trust in vaccines declines.

The boy who tested positive in Laguna has been discharged from hospital already, officials said on Friday. The other case was confirmed on Monday and reported on Thursday in Lanao del Sur, one of the country's poorest provinces.

Vaccination teams will aim to administer polio drops to every child younger than five, he added.

There is no cure for polio, which invades the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours, but it can be prevented with vaccines.

The virus spreads rapidly among children, especially in unsanitary conditions in underdeveloped or war-torn regions where healthcare access is limited.

Children nationwide are at risk as long as a single child remains infected, the United Nations agency for children, UNICEF, has said.

The Philippines has faced a challenge recently in convincing parents to vaccinate children after it scrapped a dengue immunisation programme using Sanofi's Dengvaxia in late 2017, following its linkage to child deaths.

More than 800,000 children received the vaccine. The records of 119 dead children are being examined to determine if Dengvaxia was to blame, a panel of medical experts said in March.

The inquiry continues and Sanofi has repeatedly said that its vaccine is safe.

A vaccine campaign that started in August in the historic heart of Manila will be expanded to cover more than 5 million children and will go nationwide next year, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in a speech on Friday.

The Philippines recorded its second case of polio on Friday, as it prepared to vaccinate millions of children against a disease believed to have been eradicated two decades ago.

The Philippines recorded its second case of polio on Friday, as it prepared to vaccinate millions of children against a disease believed to have been eradicated two decades ago. A five-year-old boy in Laguna, south of the capital Manila, tested positive for the polio virus, the Health Department said, the second case this week after a three-year-old girl was confirmed to be infected on Monday in a province about 1,400 km away. Health officials appealed to parents and caregivers of children to take part in the government's Polio Vaccination Programme, which comes as the Philippines grapples to tackle twin outbreaks of dengue and measles that have killed more than 1,000 people since January, most of them children. "The polio vaccinations happen all year round, but our coverage dropped for the past five years", Rolando Enrique Domingo, an undersecretary of the Department of Health, told Reuters. "We've learned our lesson. It is time to move on and really start vaccinating all kids and make sure we sustain this every year", he added. The polio virus was detected in the sewage systems of Davao in a nearby province two months ago, and in Tondo, a rundown area of Metro Manila notorious for slum communities, Domingo said. Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan are the last three countries where the disease is endemic. The last known case in the Philippines had been in 1993, the World Health Organization says. Immunisation coverage in the Philippines is at 70%, below the recommended rate of 95%, Domingo said, as trust in vaccines declines. The boy who tested positive in Laguna has been discharged from hospital already, officials said on Friday. The other case was confirmed on Monday and reported on Thursday in Lanao del Sur, one of the country's poorest provinces. Vaccination teams will aim to administer polio drops to every child younger than five, he added. There is no cure for polio, which invades the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours, but it can be prevented with vaccines. The virus spreads rapidly among children, especially in unsanitary conditions in underdeveloped or war-torn regions where healthcare access is limited. Children nationwide are at risk as long as a single child remains infected, the United Nations agency for children, UNICEF, has said. The Philippines has faced a challenge recently in convincing parents to vaccinate children after it scrapped a dengue immunisation programme using Sanofi's Dengvaxia in late 2017, following its linkage to child deaths. More than 800,000 children received the vaccine. The records of 119 dead children are being examined to determine if Dengvaxia was to blame, a panel of medical experts said in March. The inquiry continues and Sanofi has repeatedly said that its vaccine is safe. A vaccine campaign that started in August in the historic heart of Manila will be expanded to cover more than 5 million children and will go nationwide next year, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in a speech on Friday.

Philippines to vaccinate millions as Polio virus resurfaces in two children

The Taliban on Sunday revoked their ban on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Afghanistan and gave a guarantee of security for its staff doing humanitarian work in areas under their control.

Taliban leaders imposed a ban on the ICRC and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in April saying the organisations were carrying out "suspicious" activities during vaccinations campaigns and not sticking to their declared missions.

"The Islamic Emirate restores the former security guarantees to ICRC in Afghanistan and instructs all mujahideen to pave the way for ICRC activities and be mindful of security to this committee's workers and equipment," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement.

The Taliban refer to themselves as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The spokesman did not refer to the WHO in his statement.

Officials at ICRC and WHO in Kabul were not immediately available for comment.

The WHO has been carrying out a vaccination campaign in Afghanistan, one of the last countries in the world where polio is endemic. The ICRC has been providing medical support for more than 30 years.

Aid groups operating in Afghanistan stress that they do not take sides.

The ICRC, in particular, is known for its strict neutrality in conflicts.

It operates in Taliban-controlled areas with a guarantee of safety and helps to repatriate bodies from both sides after fighting between the militants and the Afghan army.

The Taliban control or contest more than half of Afghanistan's 410 Afghan districts.

The Taliban on Sunday revoked their ban on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Afghanistan and gave a guarantee of security for its staff doing humanitarian work in areas under their control.

The Taliban on Sunday revoked their ban on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Afghanistan and gave a guarantee of security for its staff doing humanitarian work in areas under their control. Taliban leaders imposed a ban on the ICRC and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in April saying the organisations were carrying out "suspicious" activities during vaccinations campaigns and not sticking to their declared missions. "The Islamic Emirate restores the former security guarantees to ICRC in Afghanistan and instructs all mujahideen to pave the way for ICRC activities and be mindful of security to this committee's workers and equipment," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement. The Taliban refer to themselves as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The spokesman did not refer to the WHO in his statement. Officials at ICRC and WHO in Kabul were not immediately available for comment. The WHO has been carrying out a vaccination campaign in Afghanistan, one of the last countries in the world where polio is endemic. The ICRC has been providing medical support for more than 30 years. Aid groups operating in Afghanistan stress that they do not take sides. The ICRC, in particular, is known for its strict neutrality in conflicts. It operates in Taliban-controlled areas with a guarantee of safety and helps to repatriate bodies from both sides after fighting between the militants and the Afghan army. The Taliban control or contest more than half of Afghanistan's 410 Afghan districts.

Taliban revoke the ban on Red Cross, provide security guarantees

What is dengue, and why is it so widespread this year?

Measles cases nearly tripled globally during the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2018, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-health-organization-says-e-cigarettes-undoubtedly-harmful-238779">World Health Organization said Tuesday</a>, amid growing concern over public resistance to the vaccine.

So far this year, 364,808 measles cases were reported around the world, compared to 129,239 cases during the first seven months a year earlier.&nbsp;

These numbers are "the highest (registered) since 2006," WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva.

The numbers are especially worrying since only about one in 10 actual measles cases are believed to be reported worldwide, according to WHO.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-health-organisation-says-investigators-conclude-ebola-victim-did-not-enter-rwanda-237160">Measles, which is highly contagious</a>, can be entirely prevented through a two-dose vaccine, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has in recent months sounded the alarm overslipping vaccination rates.&nbsp;

Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Ukraine registered the highest number of cases, WHO said.

In Madagascar, which registered around 127,500 cases during the first half of this year alone, numbers have meanwhile dropped considerably in recent months following an emergency national vaccination campaign, the UN health agency stressed.

Measles cases have soared worldwide, with the African region seeing a 900 per cent jump in cases year-on-year, while cases rose 230 per cent in the western Pacific.

Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sudan, South Sudan and Thailand have all seen major outbreaks of the disease.

The United States has meanwhile registered 1,164 cases so far this year, compared to 372 for all of 2018 and the highest number on record in a quarter-century.

And in the European region, nearly 90,000 cases have been registered this year, well above the 84,462 cases registered last year.

Measles, an airborne infection causing fever, coughing and rashes that can be deadly in rare cases had been officially eliminated in many countries with advanced healthcare systems.

But the so-called anti-vax movement, driven by fraudulent claims linking the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, and risk of autism in children has gained traction.

WHO pointed out that the reasons for people not being vaccinated vary significantly between communities and countries, with a lack of access to quality healthcare or vaccination services hindering some from getting the jabs, while others are led astray by "misinformation about vaccines, or low awareness about the need to vaccinate."

The measles vaccine is a "safe and highly effective vaccine", WHO stressed in a statement, urging "everyone to ensure their measles vaccinations are up to date."

Measles cases nearly tripled globally during the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2018, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, amid growing concern over public resistance to the vaccine.

Measles cases nearly tripled globally during the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2018, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, amid growing concern over public resistance to the vaccine. So far this year, 364,808 measles cases were reported around the world, compared to 129,239 cases during the first seven months a year earlier. These numbers are "the highest (registered) since 2006," WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva. The numbers are especially worrying since only about one in 10 actual measles cases are believed to be reported worldwide, according to WHO. Measles, which is highly contagious, can be entirely prevented through a two-dose vaccine, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has in recent months sounded the alarm overslipping vaccination rates. Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Ukraine registered the highest number of cases, WHO said. In Madagascar, which registered around 127,500 cases during the first half of this year alone, numbers have meanwhile dropped considerably in recent months following an emergency national vaccination campaign, the UN health agency stressed. Measles cases have soared worldwide, with the African region seeing a 900 per cent jump in cases year-on-year, while cases rose 230 per cent in the western Pacific. Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sudan, South Sudan and Thailand have all seen major outbreaks of the disease. The United States has meanwhile registered 1,164 cases so far this year, compared to 372 for all of 2018 and the highest number on record in a quarter-century. And in the European region, nearly 90,000 cases have been registered this year, well above the 84,462 cases registered last year. Measles, an airborne infection causing fever, coughing and rashes that can be deadly in rare cases had been officially eliminated in many countries with advanced healthcare systems. But the so-called anti-vax movement, driven by fraudulent claims linking the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, and risk of autism in children has gained traction. WHO pointed out that the reasons for people not being vaccinated vary significantly between communities and countries, with a lack of access to quality healthcare or vaccination services hindering some from getting the jabs, while others are led astray by "misinformation about vaccines, or low awareness about the need to vaccinate." The measles vaccine is a "safe and highly effective vaccine", WHO stressed in a statement, urging "everyone to ensure their measles vaccinations are up to date."

Global measles cases triple year-on-year: World Health Organization

The World Health Organisation has vaccinated&nbsp;over&nbsp;1,300&nbsp;people&nbsp;who&nbsp;potentially came into contact with the&nbsp;Ebola&nbsp;virus in the Congolese city of&nbsp;Goma, it said on Sunday, helping contain what many feared would be a rapid spread in an urban centre.

A year-long&nbsp;Ebola&nbsp;outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has killed at least 1,800, the second biggest toll ever, and efforts to contain the virus have been hobbled by militia violence and some local resistance to outside interference.

Goma, a lakeside city of nearly 2 million people on the Rwandan border, has been on high alert&nbsp;over&nbsp;the past week after a gold miner with a large family contaminated several people before dying himself.

"Ongoing vaccination activities have reached the majority (98%) of eligible contacts, and 1,314 contacts, contacts of contacts and frontline workers (have been) vaccinated to date," the WHO&nbsp;said in a statement on Sunday.

No&nbsp;new&nbsp;confirmed&nbsp;cases&nbsp;have been reported in&nbsp;Goma&nbsp;since the&nbsp;WHO's last report on Aug. 2.

The use of an experimental&nbsp;Ebola&nbsp;vaccine, developed by Merck, has proven to be a key weapon against the hemorrhagic fever, although reaching contacts in rural areas beset by violence has proven difficult.

The vaccine's success has been most obvious in cities where contacts can be easier to trace, helping avoid the widespread havoc seen in densely populated areas during a 2013-2016 outbreak in West Africa that killed&nbsp;over&nbsp;11,000 people.

The World Health Organisation has vaccinated over 1,300 people who potentially came into contact with the Ebola virus in the Congolese city of Goma, it said on Sunday, helping contain what many feared would be a rapid spread in an urban centre.

The World Health Organisation has vaccinated over 1,300 people who potentially came into contact with the Ebola virus in the Congolese city of Goma, it said on Sunday, helping contain what many feared would be a rapid spread in an urban centre. A year-long Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has killed at least 1,800, the second biggest toll ever, and efforts to contain the virus have been hobbled by militia violence and some local resistance to outside interference. Goma, a lakeside city of nearly 2 million people on the Rwandan border, has been on high alert over the past week after a gold miner with a large family contaminated several people before dying himself. "Ongoing vaccination activities have reached the majority (98%) of eligible contacts, and 1,314 contacts, contacts of contacts and frontline workers (have been) vaccinated to date," the WHO said in a statement on Sunday. No new confirmed cases have been reported in Goma since the WHO's last report on Aug. 2. The use of an experimental Ebola vaccine, developed by Merck, has proven to be a key weapon against the hemorrhagic fever, although reaching contacts in rural areas beset by violence has proven difficult. The vaccine's success has been most obvious in cities where contacts can be easier to trace, helping avoid the widespread havoc seen in densely populated areas during a 2013-2016 outbreak in West Africa that killed over 11,000 people.

WHO says no new Ebola cases in Goma, vaccinates over 1,300

With population growth, climate change, new infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance and several new threats emerging each day, the need for new vaccines is urgent.&nbsp;

Significant progress has been made in the last one decade, as more infants in India today receive all basic vaccinations, as compared to a decade ago.

It is also a sign of improved social indicators like educated mothers, increased enrolment in schools and much better access to healthcare facilities.&nbsp;

In 2015-16, 62 per cent of Indian children (6 of 10) aged 12-23 months received basic vaccinations, up from 44 per cent a decade ago in 2005-06, according to National Health Survey data.&nbsp;

Interventions such as timely treatment in the case of diarrhoea, vaccinations for tetanus and measles and an increase in hospital births have also enabled this improvement.&nbsp;

Advancing the commitment to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, launched the ambitious Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in February 2017.&nbsp;

It is the largest immunisation campaign in the world that aims to cover 40 crore children in the age group of nine months to less than 15 years.&nbsp;

As of December 2018, under this campaign, more than 20 crore children across India have been administered this vaccine.

It reflects on the dedication of thousands of frontline health workers, school teachers, principals, government officers and above all parents, that no child should suffer from any vaccine-preventable diseases.&nbsp;

These accelerated efforts are being made towards reducing under-five child mortality and birth defects such as irreversible deafness and blindness.&nbsp;

In Delhi, the campaign will be introduced in January 2019 with an aim to cover nearly 55 lakh children across its eleven districts.

The five-week immunisation campaign in the national capital will have nearly 30,000 vaccination sessions. In the first phase, children from 5,400 big schools will receive these life-saving vaccines followed by 4,300 other small and informal schools.

Children receiving the vaccine will get a certificate and an ink mark on their nail to avoid any repeat. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Religious and cultural beliefs do play a role in influencing parents’ decision to get their children immunised. However, many parents remain unaware about the gains of vaccines.&nbsp;

While not actively rejecting them, they simply don’t know enough to seek them out. When children are not vaccinated fully and on time, the entire community’s health is at risk.&nbsp;

In a country of 1.2 billion people with varying social and economic realities, prevention is always better than the occurrence of disease.&nbsp;

Undergoing treatment poses a financial burden and out of pocket expenditure for the family.&nbsp;

Vaccine-preventable diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and measles are significant contributors to child morbidity and mortality in our country.&nbsp;

The risk is not just child death, but also that children who do survive these diseases, are risking long-term hazards like deafness, seizures, motor impairment, cognitive impacts and stunting.&nbsp;

They also miss out on learning and development, while they are ill. It is a well-known fact that vaccine-preventable diseases cause serious illness and can be fatal. The advantage of existing immunisation programme should be availed to safeguard the health of our children from vaccine-preventable diseases.&nbsp;

All vaccines used under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) are safe and effective. They undergo rigorous testing and trials before they are licensed for use in the country. The technical body, CDSCO, under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, deliberate on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy, among other key considerations.&nbsp;

Surveillance for Measles and Rubella has also been strengthened, which is vital to the success of the campaign just like the polio eradication programme. The success of this campaign will set the precedence for other public health programmes. &nbsp;

Economic and social dividends awarded by vaccination are substantial — particularly when one considers that vaccines are able to reach the poorest and most vulnerable who are disproportionately impacted by the tragic consequences of severe diseases.&nbsp;

The country is putting its best efforts to meet the goal of elimination of measles and control of CRS by 2020.

This is a goal worth striving for. 
 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the<a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-measles-rubella-vaccination-campaign-is-world-s-largest-2707538"> original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

With population growth, climate change, new infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance and several new threats emerging each day, the need for new vaccines is urgent.

With population growth, climate change, new infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance and several new threats emerging each day, the need for new vaccines is urgent. Significant progress has been made in the last one decade, as more infants in India today receive all basic vaccinations, as compared to a decade ago. It is also a sign of improved social indicators like educated mothers, increased enrolment in schools and much better access to healthcare facilities. In 2015-16, 62 per cent of Indian children (6 of 10) aged 12-23 months received basic vaccinations, up from 44 per cent a decade ago in 2005-06, according to National Health Survey data. Interventions such as timely treatment in the case of diarrhoea, vaccinations for tetanus and measles and an increase in hospital births have also enabled this improvement. Advancing the commitment to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, launched the ambitious Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in February 2017. It is the largest immunisation campaign in the world that aims to cover 40 crore children in the age group of nine months to less than 15 years. As of December 2018, under this campaign, more than 20 crore children across India have been administered this vaccine. It reflects on the dedication of thousands of frontline health workers, school teachers, principals, government officers and above all parents, that no child should suffer from any vaccine-preventable diseases. These accelerated efforts are being made towards reducing under-five child mortality and birth defects such as irreversible deafness and blindness. In Delhi, the campaign will be introduced in January 2019 with an aim to cover nearly 55 lakh children across its eleven districts. The five-week immunisation campaign in the national capital will have nearly 30,000 vaccination sessions. In the first phase, children from 5,400 big schools will receive these life-saving vaccines followed by 4,300 other small and informal schools. Children receiving the vaccine will get a certificate and an ink mark on their nail to avoid any repeat. Religious and cultural beliefs do play a role in influencing parents’ decision to get their children immunised. However, many parents remain unaware about the gains of vaccines. While not actively rejecting them, they simply don’t know enough to seek them out. When children are not vaccinated fully and on time, the entire community’s health is at risk. In a country of 1.2 billion people with varying social and economic realities, prevention is always better than the occurrence of disease. Undergoing treatment poses a financial burden and out of pocket expenditure for the family. Vaccine-preventable diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and measles are significant contributors to child morbidity and mortality in our country. The risk is not just child death, but also that children who do survive these diseases, are risking long-term hazards like deafness, seizures, motor impairment, cognitive impacts and stunting. They also miss out on learning and development, while they are ill. It is a well-known fact that vaccine-preventable diseases cause serious illness and can be fatal. The advantage of existing immunisation programme should be availed to safeguard the health of our children from vaccine-preventable diseases. All vaccines used under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) are safe and effective. They undergo rigorous testing and trials before they are licensed for use in the country. The technical body, CDSCO, under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, deliberate on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy, among other key considerations. Surveillance for Measles and Rubella has also been strengthened, which is vital to the success of the campaign just like the polio eradication programme. The success of this campaign will set the precedence for other public health programmes. Economic and social dividends awarded by vaccination are substantial — particularly when one considers that vaccines are able to reach the poorest and most vulnerable who are disproportionately impacted by the tragic consequences of severe diseases. The country is putting its best efforts to meet the goal of elimination of measles and control of CRS by 2020. This is a goal worth striving for. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign is world’s largest

Any parent will tell you that having children is one of life’s greatest joys and biggest challenges. As a mother, keeping my six-year-old protected and healthy is a big concern. After all, no parent wants to see their children get sick and suffer. No one wants their kids to miss out on school and jeopardize their chance at a brighter future. And, certainly, no parent should have to cope with the loss of a child.

If a child at my son’s school ever misses classes due to an infectious illness, all parents are immediately notified so that swift action can be taken to ensure the other kids don’t catch it. The school also checks that every child is immunised as vaccines are one of the most effective ways to protect against several life-threatening diseases like pneumonia and diarrhoea.&nbsp;

In India, as around the world, immunisation has played a big role in protecting children against infectious diseases. Smallpox, which cost thousands of children their lives till only a few decades ago, was eradicated globally in 1980. Similarly, the government’s Pulse Polio immunisation program helped eliminate the dreadful disease in India in 2014. Luckily, this generation of children won’t remember how this disease painfully paralysed hundreds of children.

However, despite progress, I can’t help but wonder if we are doing enough today to make sure our children are safe and healthy tomorrow.

Take the case of pneumonia, for instance. It’s a serious lung infection that can affect anyone and which makes breathing difficult, causing bouts of painful coughing and wheezing. In infants and young children, severe pneumonia can make eating and drinking difficult, and may cause convulsions, loss of consciousness and even death. Young children especially children under the age of two are particularly vulnerable to this disease — every year India loses over 1.5 lakh children to pneumonia before they can celebrate their fifth birthday.

The real tragedy is that many of these deaths are easily preventable. Vaccinating against the leading causes of the disease, coupled with other simple interventions such as washing hands and exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of life can considerably reduce the risk of pneumonia.&nbsp;

There are several vaccines that protect against causes of pneumonia, many of which are available for free under the government’s national immunisation program. The government also provides life-saving vaccines against diseases like diarrhoea and measles, which can prove to be dangerous for children, through the Universal Immunisation Programme. Yet, despite the availability of these vaccines, there are still many parents who are either unaware of the benefits of immunisation or are misinformed by rumours circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms. This results in many parents hesitating to vaccinate their children, leaving them exposed to the risk to a host of dangerous illnesses.&nbsp;

We are fortunate that today, treatment is often available for most of our children and in many cases, infections are overcome in a matter of days if the child receives appropriate treatment. What we sometimes fail to take into account are the broader and long-term impacts of frequent illnesses, which make children more prone to diseases in the future and can impair development and capacities to learn. Further, for those children whose access to an education is already threatened by economic vulnerabilities, missing school days could lead to them eventually dropping out of school, resulting in the loss of a secure future.&nbsp;

Vaccinating children also protects against high costs of treatment. In a country like ours, where there is still a lot of economic inequality, treating diseases like pneumonia can often prove to be expensive for lower-income families. Vaccinating children ensures that parents don’t have to stay at home looking after their sick children, thus losing their daily wages. It also reduces the risk of hospitalisations, which might drive families further into poverty.

When we become parents, we sign an unspoken contract — that we will protect our kids no matter what. Why, then, should we hesitate to adopt proven methods such as immunisation that protects our children from serious diseases that can even prove to be fatal? The more children are vaccinated, the stronger the collective immunity of our community. It’s important, therefore, that we come together — as parents and citizens — to ensure that no child is left behind in this fight against diseases. Together, we can gift our children a safe and secure future, so that they can grow up to become who they want to be.

 
(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-vaccinating-children-key-to-stronger-collective-immunity-2692918">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Any parent will tell you that having children is one of life’s greatest joys and biggest challenges. As a mother, keeping my six-year-old protected and healthy is a big concern.

Any parent will tell you that having children is one of life’s greatest joys and biggest challenges. As a mother, keeping my six-year-old protected and healthy is a big concern. After all, no parent wants to see their children get sick and suffer. No one wants their kids to miss out on school and jeopardize their chance at a brighter future. And, certainly, no parent should have to cope with the loss of a child. If a child at my son’s school ever misses classes due to an infectious illness, all parents are immediately notified so that swift action can be taken to ensure the other kids don’t catch it. The school also checks that every child is immunised as vaccines are one of the most effective ways to protect against several life-threatening diseases like pneumonia and diarrhoea. In India, as around the world, immunisation has played a big role in protecting children against infectious diseases. Smallpox, which cost thousands of children their lives till only a few decades ago, was eradicated globally in 1980. Similarly, the government’s Pulse Polio immunisation program helped eliminate the dreadful disease in India in 2014. Luckily, this generation of children won’t remember how this disease painfully paralysed hundreds of children. However, despite progress, I can’t help but wonder if we are doing enough today to make sure our children are safe and healthy tomorrow. Take the case of pneumonia, for instance. It’s a serious lung infection that can affect anyone and which makes breathing difficult, causing bouts of painful coughing and wheezing. In infants and young children, severe pneumonia can make eating and drinking difficult, and may cause convulsions, loss of consciousness and even death. Young children especially children under the age of two are particularly vulnerable to this disease — every year India loses over 1.5 lakh children to pneumonia before they can celebrate their fifth birthday. The real tragedy is that many of these deaths are easily preventable. Vaccinating against the leading causes of the disease, coupled with other simple interventions such as washing hands and exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of life can considerably reduce the risk of pneumonia. There are several vaccines that protect against causes of pneumonia, many of which are available for free under the government’s national immunisation program. The government also provides life-saving vaccines against diseases like diarrhoea and measles, which can prove to be dangerous for children, through the Universal Immunisation Programme. Yet, despite the availability of these vaccines, there are still many parents who are either unaware of the benefits of immunisation or are misinformed by rumours circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms. This results in many parents hesitating to vaccinate their children, leaving them exposed to the risk to a host of dangerous illnesses. We are fortunate that today, treatment is often available for most of our children and in many cases, infections are overcome in a matter of days if the child receives appropriate treatment. What we sometimes fail to take into account are the broader and long-term impacts of frequent illnesses, which make children more prone to diseases in the future and can impair development and capacities to learn. Further, for those children whose access to an education is already threatened by economic vulnerabilities, missing school days could lead to them eventually dropping out of school, resulting in the loss of a secure future. Vaccinating children also protects against high costs of treatment. In a country like ours, where there is still a lot of economic inequality, treating diseases like pneumonia can often prove to be expensive for lower-income families. Vaccinating children ensures that parents don’t have to stay at home looking after their sick children, thus losing their daily wages. It also reduces the risk of hospitalisations, which might drive families further into poverty. When we become parents, we sign an unspoken contract — that we will protect our kids no matter what. Why, then, should we hesitate to adopt proven methods such as immunisation that protects our children from serious diseases that can even prove to be fatal? The more children are vaccinated, the stronger the collective immunity of our community. It’s important, therefore, that we come together — as parents and citizens — to ensure that no child is left behind in this fight against diseases. Together, we can gift our children a safe and secure future, so that they can grow up to become who they want to be. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Vaccinating children key to stronger collective immunity

China health authorities have started a nationwide inspection of vaccinations four months after a scandal broke involving nearly $90 million worth of illegal vaccines that were suspected of being sold in dozens of provinces.

Authorities will track purchases as well as the distribution of vaccines and vaccination records, to ensure they are legally traded and properly handled and used, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said in a statement published online.

Random checks will be conducted at 20 per cent of hospitals and clinics providing vaccinations, while all disease control and prevention agencies nationwide will be inspected, it said.

In March, authorities pledged to crack down on the black market sale of vaccines after a mother and daughter in Shandong province were found to have illegally bought vaccines from traders and sold on to hundreds of re-sellers around China.

The vaccines, which police said were made by licensed producers, were not kept and transported in the required cold conditions, which could mean that patients taking them could suffer severe side effects or even death.

Hong Kong limited the number of non-resident children getting vaccinations at government clinics there after the scare raised fears that mainland families would go to the city for inoculations and put pressure on supplies. 
 
(Reuters)

Licensed vaccines weren't transported in the required conditions, which could lead to patients suffering severe side effects, even death

China health authorities have started a nationwide inspection of vaccinations four months after a scandal broke involving nearly $90 million worth of illegal vaccines that were suspected of being sold in dozens of provinces. Authorities will track purchases as well as the distribution of vaccines and vaccination records, to ensure they are legally traded and properly handled and used, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said in a statement published online. Random checks will be conducted at 20 per cent of hospitals and clinics providing vaccinations, while all disease control and prevention agencies nationwide will be inspected, it said. In March, authorities pledged to crack down on the black market sale of vaccines after a mother and daughter in Shandong province were found to have illegally bought vaccines from traders and sold on to hundreds of re-sellers around China. The vaccines, which police said were made by licensed producers, were not kept and transported in the required cold conditions, which could mean that patients taking them could suffer severe side effects or even death. Hong Kong limited the number of non-resident children getting vaccinations at government clinics there after the scare raised fears that mainland families would go to the city for inoculations and put pressure on supplies. (Reuters)

China launches nationwide inspection of vaccines

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