The head of German pharmaceutical company BioNTech said on Monday that there is no need to waive patents on coronavirus vaccines because manufacturers will be able to produce enough shots to supply the world over the coming year.

Vaccine maker BioNTech says no need to waive patents 

Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur on Sunday said the government has provided 175.6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses so far to states and union territories for inoculation of people of all age groups and 4.

175.6 million free vaccine doses provided to states: MoS Anurag Thakur 

Top W.H.O officials are pushing assumptions and conjectures on vaccine efficacy amid a deadly second wave in India. Instead of speculating vaccine efficacy on virus variants, shouldn't the W.H.O be fighting for universal vaccination? Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Is the W.H.O feeding vaccine hesitancy?

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that if wealthy nations hogged COVID-19 shots while millions in poor countries died waiting for them it would amount to 'vaccine apartheid'.

South Africa warns of 'vaccine apartheid' if rich countries hog shots 

Pope Francis on Saturday supported waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, backing a proposal by US President Joe Biden that has been rebuffed by some European nations, including Germany.

Pope Francis backs waivers on intellectual property rights for vaccines

An estimated 360 million Indians will get Russian covid vaccine Sputnik V's by the end of March 2022 as India will have approximately 361 million doses of vaccine, officials coordinating the entire vaccine measure in the country have said.

360 million Indians to get Sputnik V jabs by March 2022 

You could hear the music from the sidewalk, high-spirited renditions of “Ice Ice Baby” and “MMMBop.” It was ’90s night at Rumi, a ballroom and event space in the Chelsea section of Manhattan in New York City, and millennials and Gen Zers lined up to get inside.

Want to party? You might need a ‘vaccine passport.’

A successful TRIPS waiver, an unofficial ban on Huawei, customer restrictions on Amex & the revival of trade talks with the EU. WION's Palki tells you about 4 strategic moves India has made in the last 14 days.

Gravitas: Here are India's 4 strategic moves in 14 days

Pharma giants Pfizer and BioNTech said on Friday that they were seeking approval for use of their vaccines for individuals aged 16 and above. The companies are planning to submi data to support application "on a rolling basis over the coming weeks" to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they said in a press release.

Pfizer, BioNTech seek approval for Covid vaccine for teens

The CoWIN system is introducing a new feature of four-digit security code from May 8 to minimise data entry errors about vaccination status that would subsequently reduce inconvenience caused to citizens, the health ministry said.

Covid in India: 4-digit security code in CoWIN from May 8 to minimise data entry error about vaccination status

Hong Kong authorities are planning to reduce the compulsory quarantine period for fully vaccinated people from Friday, as per local reports. However, the length of new quarantine period is still unknown.

Coronavirus: Hong Kong plans to ease 3-week mandatory quarantine for vaccinated travellers

Vaccines are the only way out of the pandemic. However, vaccine making has become exclusive - almost like a cartel. Cartels work ruthlessly, just like big pharma.

Vaccine profits: Why big pharma is defending patents amid pandemic

With multiple variants of Coronavirus infecting millions around the world, the United Kingdom has decided to boost research in vaccines with new labs. Britain has invested $40 million to build Porton Down labs at Ministry of Defense's top secret complex.

UK puts $40 mn into Porton Down labs to boost Coronavirus vaccines research

Top US Democratic lawmakers have launched #FreeTheVaccine campaign in support of a proposal by India and South Africa before the World Trade Organisation to temporarily waive anti-COVID vaccine patents to boost its supply.

US lawmakers launch #FreeTheVaccine campaign in support of India, South Africa  

The United States is expected to authorise the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine for children age 12 and up by early next week, US media reported on Monday. Pfizer has applied for emergency use authorisation for its Covid vaccine for children and teenagers between ages 12 and 15, according to CNN, citing a government official.

US to authorise Pfizer vaccine for age 12 and up: Report

Venezuela this month will begin clinical trials of the Cuban coronavirus vaccine candidate Abdala, and plans to produce enough doses locally to vaccinate 4 million people, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said on Monday.

Venezuela to begin clinical trials of Cuba's Abdala vaccine candidate

Malaysia will begin a parallel COVID-19 innoculation programme this week for people who chose to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, after it was removed from an ongoing rollout due to public fears over its safety, a minister said on Monday.

Malaysia makes AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine optional amid safety fears

Considering the pandemic situation in the country, vaccines are on top of India's wish list. There are more than 3,000 pharma companies in India. Together they run 10,500 manufacturing facilities.

India needs to take some decisions to ease pandemic situation

Russia is turning to multiple Chinese firms to manufacture the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in an effort to speed up production as demand soars for its shot. Russia has announced three deals totaling 260,000,000 doses with Chinese vaccine companies in recent weeks.

COVID-19: Russia, facing lags, turns to China to produce Sputnik shots 

Russia's state statistical service says the number of deaths nationwide in the first three months of 2021 was more than 25% higher than the same period a year ago, and it reported thousands more deaths due to COVID-19 in March than tallied by the country's coronavirus task force.

Virus-hit Russia reports 25% death increase in January-March

Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of Serum Institute of India made a startling claim in an interview to a UK newspaper. In the interview, Poonawalla said that he received 'threats' from powerful people for delivery of vaccines.

'I received threats', says Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla

78,60,779 COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs which will receive 56,20,670 additional doses within the next three days, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday.

78,60,779 COVID-19 vaccine doses still available with states: Centre 

India will start the vaccination drive for those in the 18-44 age bracket from Saturday as the country continues to battle the second wave of COVID-19. However, some states have flagged the shortage of vaccines and expressed their inability to start vaccination of people above 18 years from Saturday.

COVID-19: India to begin vaccination drive for 18+ from today amid vaccine shortage

A flight carrying the first lot of Sputnik V vaccines from Russia landed in Hyderabad, Telangana on Saturday. Last month, the Drug Controller General (DCGI) had issued permission for Dr. Reddy`s Laboratories to import the Russian vaccine to India for emergency use.

COVID-19: First lot of Russian vaccine Sputnik V arrives in India

vaccine

Vaccine, News on Vaccine, stories on Vaccine, articles on Vaccine, Vaccine stories at Wion, Vaccine news, Vaccine latest news