Coronavirus hasn't been eliminated, but the world has learnt to live with the virus. New variants keep emerging. Will advanced vaccines stop the infections? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Potential vaccine breakthroughs in 2023

Coronaphobia. Does it warrant attention or is it simply another fancy phrase that surfaced during the pandemic?&nbsp;To put an end to this debate, let's be clear: it is not fancy but is in fact extremely genuine. The coronaphobia extends beyond health concerns and includes the dread of losing a loved one or even the worry of losing a career and a life without work. Regardless of the type of COVID phobia, there are several approaches to deal with it and overcome it.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/royal-variety-performance-2022-highlights-star-studded-performances-tributes-more-545013">Royal Variety Performance 2022 highlights: Star-studded performances, tributes &amp; more</a>

People who experience it have terrifying tales to share about how they feel. COVID undoubtedly inspired the creation of other concepts and jargon, such as epidemic learning pods, which anxious parents began setting up for their kids. Following that are social distancing, quarantine, and COVID bubble. Numerous other words, including asymptomatic, self-isolation, personal protective equipment (PPE), N95 respirator, incubation time, community spread, and COVID clusters, are often used by medical professionals. We have to be on top of everything, especially coronaphobia which concerns one's health.&nbsp;

<h2>What is Coronaphobia?</h2>

The genesis of the term Coronophobia took place in December 2020 almost a year after the first COVID&nbsp;case was detected. The researchers who helped develop the word say that coronaphobia is a new form of anxiety that is unique to COVID-19. Anyone can have anxiety when they consider getting a COVID, which can occasionally result in fatalities, and the epidemic was just that. However, there are instances when this worry turns into a serious problem, necessitating the adoption of certain coping mechanisms.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-welcomes-vikram-chandra-as-the-channel-takes-indias-voice-to-the-world-545046">WION welcomes Vikram Chandra as the channel takes India's voice to the world</a>

Researchers reviewed nearly 500 studies and defined coronophobia. As per the researchers, coronaphobia is as "an excessive triggered response of fear of contracting the virus causing COVID-19, leading to accompanied excessive concern over physiological symptoms, significant stress about personal and occupational loss, increased reassurance and safety seeking behaviours, and avoidance of public places and situations, causing marked impairment in daily life functioning."&nbsp;

<h2>What are the factors leading to coronaphobia?&nbsp;</h2>

Now the question that remains is what is it that triggers coronophobia. Researchers have come up with a list which includes various risk factors for coronaphobia. These include adopting new routines and avoidance behaviour, as well as the worry that can arise when you read about world leaders and celebrities who have gotten the virus. These uncertainties include if you'll catch COVID-19 or if your job is in peril. One of the other things that is seen to have caused coronophobia and its related anxiety is spending more time on social media platforms.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/eu-parliament-in-brussels-where-world-leaders-decide-the-fate-of-27-nations-545050">EU Parliament in Brussels: Where world leaders decide the fate of 27 nations</a>

<h2>Which gender, age group is at most risk?&nbsp;</h2>

In a conversation with Health media portal, Lily Brown, PhD, director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania, said that women have reported more anxiety than men during the pandemic. Brown said that women worry about family members catching the COVID virus or inadvertently spreading the virus themselves. Brown also found that younger people tend to experience increased anxiety in comparison to elder people. The reason behind this is anxieties pertaining to their future.&nbsp;

<h2>How to cope with coronaphobia? Opt for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)&nbsp;</h2>

Coronaphobia can be treated with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). One might choose between individual and group cognitive behavioural treatment in this. This therapy is useful in easing the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive disorders, anxiety, and other traumas. The goal of cognitive therapy is to alter a person's erroneous thought patterns by focusing on how ideas and beliefs affect mood and behaviour. The goal of behavioural therapy is to alter unhelpful behaviour patterns by putting an emphasis on actions.

<h2>Managing stress&nbsp;</h2>

Take pauses from reading the news, especially social media news. Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and other healthy foods to take care of your body. Stretch, breathe deeply, or practise meditation. Avoid using tobacco products, including smoking. Try engaging in some other enjoyable activities. Relate to others. Contact your faith- or community-based groups. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/stress-coping/cope-with-stress/index.html">Here is the guidance by CDC on how to cope with stress.&nbsp;</a>

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Coronaphobia. Does it warrant attention or is it simply another fancy phrase that surfaced during the pandemic? To put an end to this debate, let's be clear: it is not fancy but is in fact extremely genuine.

Coronaphobia. Does it warrant attention or is it simply another fancy phrase that surfaced during the pandemic? To put an end to this debate, let's be clear: it is not fancy but is in fact extremely genuine. The coronaphobia extends beyond health concerns and includes the dread of losing a loved one or even the worry of losing a career and a life without work. Regardless of the type of COVID phobia, there are several approaches to deal with it and overcome it. ALSO READ | Royal Variety Performance 2022 highlights: Star-studded performances, tributes & more People who experience it have terrifying tales to share about how they feel. COVID undoubtedly inspired the creation of other concepts and jargon, such as epidemic learning pods, which anxious parents began setting up for their kids. Following that are social distancing, quarantine, and COVID bubble. Numerous other words, including asymptomatic, self-isolation, personal protective equipment (PPE), N95 respirator, incubation time, community spread, and COVID clusters, are often used by medical professionals. We have to be on top of everything, especially coronaphobia which concerns one's health. What is Coronaphobia? The genesis of the term Coronophobia took place in December 2020 almost a year after the first COVID case was detected. The researchers who helped develop the word say that coronaphobia is a new form of anxiety that is unique to COVID-19. Anyone can have anxiety when they consider getting a COVID, which can occasionally result in fatalities, and the epidemic was just that. However, there are instances when this worry turns into a serious problem, necessitating the adoption of certain coping mechanisms. ALSO READ | WION welcomes Vikram Chandra as the channel takes India's voice to the world Researchers reviewed nearly 500 studies and defined coronophobia. As per the researchers, coronaphobia is as "an excessive triggered response of fear of contracting the virus causing COVID-19, leading to accompanied excessive concern over physiological symptoms, significant stress about personal and occupational loss, increased reassurance and safety seeking behaviours, and avoidance of public places and situations, causing marked impairment in daily life functioning." What are the factors leading to coronaphobia? Now the question that remains is what is it that triggers coronophobia. Researchers have come up with a list which includes various risk factors for coronaphobia. These include adopting new routines and avoidance behaviour, as well as the worry that can arise when you read about world leaders and celebrities who have gotten the virus. These uncertainties include if you'll catch COVID-19 or if your job is in peril. One of the other things that is seen to have caused coronophobia and its related anxiety is spending more time on social media platforms. WATCH | EU Parliament in Brussels: Where world leaders decide the fate of 27 nations Which gender, age group is at most risk? In a conversation with Health media portal, Lily Brown, PhD, director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania, said that women have reported more anxiety than men during the pandemic. Brown said that women worry about family members catching the COVID virus or inadvertently spreading the virus themselves. Brown also found that younger people tend to experience increased anxiety in comparison to elder people. The reason behind this is anxieties pertaining to their future. How to cope with coronaphobia? Opt for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Coronaphobia can be treated with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). One might choose between individual and group cognitive behavioural treatment in this. This therapy is useful in easing the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive disorders, anxiety, and other traumas. The goal of cognitive therapy is to alter a person's erroneous thought patterns by focusing on how ideas and beliefs affect mood and behaviour. The goal of behavioural therapy is to alter unhelpful behaviour patterns by putting an emphasis on actions. Managing stress Take pauses from reading the news, especially social media news. Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and other healthy foods to take care of your body. Stretch, breathe deeply, or practise meditation. Avoid using tobacco products, including smoking. Try engaging in some other enjoyable activities. Relate to others. Contact your faith- or community-based groups. Here is the guidance by CDC on how to cope with stress. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EXPLAINED: What is Coronaphobia & how to cope with it?

American company Pfizer cemented a deal with China to sell its antiviral medication Paxlovid. This is an addition to the supply of Covid treatments in the country. Watch further to know more.

Chinese drug company signs deal with America's Pfizer amid Covid cases surge

The Chinese authorities this week announced that the lockdowns are being lifted in at least seven districts due to protest against the zero-COVID strategy of the government.&nbsp;As per the experts, the zero-COVID strategy of China was a good approach when the pandemic had begun because it managed&nbsp;to keep the number of cases low. 
 
But, in the last three years, the world has changed and health services are now fully prepared to provide Covid treatments and deal with outbreaks.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/almost-three-years-of-zero-covid-policy-takes-its-toll-on-chinas-coffers-local-government-cash-strapped-539884">Almost three years of zero-Covid policy takes its toll on China's coffers; local government cash strapped</a>

University of Southampton's epidemiologist Michael Head said, "We now have the tools to address COVID as a public health concern. We have vaccines, antiviral drugs and a huge amount of knowledge about how to treat people and manage outbreaks in the community.” 
 
The experts stated that other nations have been successful in creating a strong protection shield from COVID in the population with the help of less stringent lockdowns that allowed mass vaccination drives and people's natural exposure to the virus. 
 
"A small silver lining of the extensive spread of COVID in Europe is that we have a memory in our immune system. That's the theory, anyway," Head added. 
 
However, since zero-COVID policies have been strongly pursued by China since the beginning of the pandemic, their population managed to get very little exposure to the virus, especially the omicron variant which is highly contagious. 
 
China's ineffective vaccination programmes 
 
Experts believe that China needs to rely on vaccination for its successful transition into the phase of living with COVID. However, the vaccination programme of the country has not been effective so far, especially in the administration of booster vaccines to old age people. 
 
University of Nottingham's emeritus professor in epidemiology Keith Neal says, "Vaccines are great at giving you protection against severe illness, but they don't give you sterilising immunity. You need boosters to keep your immunity up.” 
 
Neal further explained that sterilising immunity is when the virus is prevented by the immune system from infecting the host, which further stops the transmission. Sterilising immunity is not provided by current vaccines. 
 
Till August 10, 2022, China's full vaccination rate was 85.6% and the rate of administered booster vaccination for adults aged 60 and above was only 67.8%, which is comparatively lower than in nations like Germany, where vaccination coverage was 91.2% and 85.9%, respectively. 
 
"There was a vaccine campaign in China that prioritised young people to keep workers healthy. Older people are less vaccinated than in other countries. This is a problem, as the risk of death from COVID-19 increases significantly with age," added Neal.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-unwilling-to-allow-effective-foreign-covid-vaccine-despite-the-protests-us-539816">China unwilling to allow 'effective' foreign COVID vaccine despite the protests: US</a>

Is China facing vaccine hesitancy? 
 
According to observers, the perfect time to implement mass vaccination strategies was when people were leaving their homes only to get food. So what is the reason behind lower booster rates in China? 
 
Experts believe that one reason can be vaccine hesitancy among adults. According to a study, vaccine hesitancy recorded among teachers is 32% in China. The study says that vaccine hesitancy is present due to concern among people about their personal safety. 
 
"Chinese vaccines (Sinovac and Sinopharm) are not bad, perhaps similar to AstraZeneca's vaccine, but have lower effectiveness than mRNA vaccines like [those from] Pfizer and Moderna, especially when it comes to omicron," Head said. 
 
He further added&nbsp;that distrust in the government and political affiliation are the reasons for vaccine hesitancy. The protests over zero-COVID strategies in China show that the trust of people in the authorities is at an all-time low. 
 
"Health promotion is going to be key going forward to increase vaccine uptake. How to do this is a tricky thing to solve, especially if it comes from a government many distrust," he added.

WATCH|&nbsp;

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Will China become a cooking pot for the new variant? 
 
Due to low booster administration in people belonging to at-risk groups and weak natural immunity, experts say that easing lockdowns at local levels can turn out disastrous for China, in the wake of population-level protection against the contagious omicron variant remaining low.

"Omicron has an R0 of 10, meaning it's highly infectious. Without sterilising immunity, you haven't got a cat in hell's chance of stopping it," Neal explained. 
 
Both experts believe that Chinese regions may have to face severe outbreaks of Covid. According to them, there will be a high rise in the number of Covid cases among those with low immunity along the long-term impact of the pandemic. 
 
Along with immediate concern regarding public health, there is also a risk of the development of new COVID variants and subvariants in an uncontrolled outbreak 
 
"Uncontrolled outbreak in China would increase the risk of the emergence of new variants. China and the world will be keeping an eye on this," Head stated. 
 
Will outbreaks in China affect other nations? 
 
Experts believe that travel restrictions in China can keep other countries from risk if there are any outbreaks. "There isn't a lot of travel in and out of China — it's like a giant island. So if new variants do appear, they're likely to stay contained," Neal said. 
 
Eventually, what will happen to people contained in China will depend on the Chinese Communist Party's political decisions. 
 
"China has a political problem here. They wedded themselves to zero-COVID. They wedded themselves to 'we have the best system in the world to look after you.' They wedded themselves to less effective Chinese vaccines," he added. 
 
Will China adopt less stringent lockdown measures and buy Western vaccines remains to be seen.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The Chinese authorities this week announced that the lockdowns are being lifted in at least seven districts due to protest against the zero-COVID strategy of the government.

The Chinese authorities this week announced that the lockdowns are being lifted in at least seven districts due to protest against the zero-COVID strategy of the government. As per the experts, the zero-COVID strategy of China was a good approach when the pandemic had begun because it managed to keep the number of cases low. But, in the last three years, the world has changed and health services are now fully prepared to provide Covid treatments and deal with outbreaks. ALSO READ| Almost three years of zero-Covid policy takes its toll on China's coffers; local government cash strapped University of Southampton's epidemiologist Michael Head said, "We now have the tools to address COVID as a public health concern. We have vaccines, antiviral drugs and a huge amount of knowledge about how to treat people and manage outbreaks in the community.” The experts stated that other nations have been successful in creating a strong protection shield from COVID in the population with the help of less stringent lockdowns that allowed mass vaccination drives and people's natural exposure to the virus. "A small silver lining of the extensive spread of COVID in Europe is that we have a memory in our immune system. That's the theory, anyway," Head added. However, since zero-COVID policies have been strongly pursued by China since the beginning of the pandemic, their population managed to get very little exposure to the virus, especially the omicron variant which is highly contagious. China's ineffective vaccination programmes Experts believe that China needs to rely on vaccination for its successful transition into the phase of living with COVID. However, the vaccination programme of the country has not been effective so far, especially in the administration of booster vaccines to old age people. University of Nottingham's emeritus professor in epidemiology Keith Neal says, "Vaccines are great at giving you protection against severe illness, but they don't give you sterilising immunity. You need boosters to keep your immunity up.” Neal further explained that sterilising immunity is when the virus is prevented by the immune system from infecting the host, which further stops the transmission. Sterilising immunity is not provided by current vaccines. Till August 10, 2022, China's full vaccination rate was 85.6% and the rate of administered booster vaccination for adults aged 60 and above was only 67.8%, which is comparatively lower than in nations like Germany, where vaccination coverage was 91.2% and 85.9%, respectively. "There was a vaccine campaign in China that prioritised young people to keep workers healthy. Older people are less vaccinated than in other countries. This is a problem, as the risk of death from COVID-19 increases significantly with age," added Neal. ALSO READ| China unwilling to allow 'effective' foreign COVID vaccine despite the protests: US Is China facing vaccine hesitancy? According to observers, the perfect time to implement mass vaccination strategies was when people were leaving their homes only to get food. So what is the reason behind lower booster rates in China? Experts believe that one reason can be vaccine hesitancy among adults. According to a study, vaccine hesitancy recorded among teachers is 32% in China. The study says that vaccine hesitancy is present due to concern among people about their personal safety. "Chinese vaccines (Sinovac and Sinopharm) are not bad, perhaps similar to AstraZeneca's vaccine, but have lower effectiveness than mRNA vaccines like [those from] Pfizer and Moderna, especially when it comes to omicron," Head said. He further added that distrust in the government and political affiliation are the reasons for vaccine hesitancy. The protests over zero-COVID strategies in China show that the trust of people in the authorities is at an all-time low. "Health promotion is going to be key going forward to increase vaccine uptake. How to do this is a tricky thing to solve, especially if it comes from a government many distrust," he added. WATCH| Will China become a cooking pot for the new variant? Due to low booster administration in people belonging to at-risk groups and weak natural immunity, experts say that easing lockdowns at local levels can turn out disastrous for China, in the wake of population-level protection against the contagious omicron variant remaining low. "Omicron has an R0 of 10, meaning it's highly infectious. Without sterilising immunity, you haven't got a cat in hell's chance of stopping it," Neal explained. Both experts believe that Chinese regions may have to face severe outbreaks of Covid. According to them, there will be a high rise in the number of Covid cases among those with low immunity along the long-term impact of the pandemic. Along with immediate concern regarding public health, there is also a risk of the development of new COVID variants and subvariants in an uncontrolled outbreak "Uncontrolled outbreak in China would increase the risk of the emergence of new variants. China and the world will be keeping an eye on this," Head stated. Will outbreaks in China affect other nations? Experts believe that travel restrictions in China can keep other countries from risk if there are any outbreaks. "There isn't a lot of travel in and out of China — it's like a giant island. So if new variants do appear, they're likely to stay contained," Neal said. Eventually, what will happen to people contained in China will depend on the Chinese Communist Party's political decisions. "China has a political problem here. They wedded themselves to zero-COVID. They wedded themselves to 'we have the best system in the world to look after you.' They wedded themselves to less effective Chinese vaccines," he added. Will China adopt less stringent lockdown measures and buy Western vaccines remains to be seen.

China may face COVID-19 disaster if harsh lockdowns lifted, experts predict

From a scientist's laptop to the syringe used to inject the UK's first Covid vaccine dose, an exhibition that opened Wednesday in London recounts the quest to produce a coronavirus jab through objects.&nbsp;The "Injecting Hope" show at the Science Museum "explores the worldwide effort to develop vaccines at pandemic speed", looking at key moments in their design, trial, manufacture and rollout, said deputy director Julia Knights.

Items on display include artworks, notes taken by UK vaccine chief Kate Bingham during early meetings to decide the country's strategy, and the syringe used to administer its first dose.

Once they had an understanding of the genetic make-up of this new virus, she essentially sat at home, on her laptop, in her pyjamas, drinking lots of&nbsp;cups&nbsp;of&nbsp;tea, designing a vaccine," explained exhibition curator Stewart Emmens.

"We have a laptop, we have a mug and we have a T-shirt on display here. It's nice, in amongst all the science, to really drive it home that there are people behind this, just normal people doing their jobs."

The museum began collecting objects related to Covid in February 2020 as "objects associated with epidemics and pandemics are largely missing from historic collections", said Emmens.

Crucial&nbsp;crabs

The first section features news footage of lockdowns and images of deserted capital cities, empty shelves, at-home schoolchildren and food delivery apps, taking visitors back to the pre-vaccine world.

After exploring the development and testing of the products, visitors then get a glimpse into the unprecedented plans to administer the vaccine to Britain's 67 million citizens.

Machines used to manufacture the vaccine are also on show along with personal artefacts of those at the heart of the battle to&nbsp;beat the virus.

They include the laptop and mug that Teresa Lambe, co-developer of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine, relied upon during a weekend of intense work to calculate what its chemical composition should be.

Along with Bingham's scribbled notes are maps integral to the UK's successful rollout.

"When we collected these, they were just plastered on the walls of NHS headquarters," explained Emmens.

"Most people would think... vaccinating countries would be a very much a digital project, very much a big data, number-crunching exercise.&nbsp;But here we have these physical maps, which were used quite early to work out where best to place vaccine centres."

He also hopes that the show will reassure those nervous about taking the vaccine due to its speedy arrival on the market.

"Nothing focuses the mind like a global pandemic," said Emmens.&nbsp;

"The vaccines were following the same processes of approval, and trialing and testing as would normally be the case," he said.

"But very cleverly, things were streamlined, overlapped in a way that gave the same results as you would get normally, without cutting corners."

Sitting incongruously among the gleaming machines are also a collection of&nbsp;crabs.

"We do have some examples of horseshoe&nbsp;crabs&nbsp;within the exhibition, which many visitors will be very surprised by," said Emmens.

The blood from the horseshoe&nbsp;crabs&nbsp;is&nbsp;highly sensitive to bacterial contamination, and is used to make sure the vaccine and the vials that carry it are clean, he explained.

"So they've played a... crucial if unlikely role in the vaccine story."

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From a scientist's laptop to the syringe used to inject the UK's first Covid vaccine dose, an exhibition that opened Wednesday in London recounts the quest to produce a coronavirus jab through objects.

From a scientist's laptop to the syringe used to inject the UK's first Covid vaccine dose, an exhibition that opened Wednesday in London recounts the quest to produce a coronavirus jab through objects. The "Injecting Hope" show at the Science Museum "explores the worldwide effort to develop vaccines at pandemic speed", looking at key moments in their design, trial, manufacture and rollout, said deputy director Julia Knights. Items on display include artworks, notes taken by UK vaccine chief Kate Bingham during early meetings to decide the country's strategy, and the syringe used to administer its first dose. Once they had an understanding of the genetic make-up of this new virus, she essentially sat at home, on her laptop, in her pyjamas, drinking lots of cups of tea, designing a vaccine," explained exhibition curator Stewart Emmens. "We have a laptop, we have a mug and we have a T-shirt on display here. It's nice, in amongst all the science, to really drive it home that there are people behind this, just normal people doing their jobs." The museum began collecting objects related to Covid in February 2020 as "objects associated with epidemics and pandemics are largely missing from historic collections", said Emmens. Crucial crabs The first section features news footage of lockdowns and images of deserted capital cities, empty shelves, at-home schoolchildren and food delivery apps, taking visitors back to the pre-vaccine world. After exploring the development and testing of the products, visitors then get a glimpse into the unprecedented plans to administer the vaccine to Britain's 67 million citizens. Machines used to manufacture the vaccine are also on show along with personal artefacts of those at the heart of the battle to beat the virus. They include the laptop and mug that Teresa Lambe, co-developer of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine, relied upon during a weekend of intense work to calculate what its chemical composition should be. Along with Bingham's scribbled notes are maps integral to the UK's successful rollout. "When we collected these, they were just plastered on the walls of NHS headquarters," explained Emmens. "Most people would think... vaccinating countries would be a very much a digital project, very much a big data, number-crunching exercise. But here we have these physical maps, which were used quite early to work out where best to place vaccine centres." He also hopes that the show will reassure those nervous about taking the vaccine due to its speedy arrival on the market. "Nothing focuses the mind like a global pandemic," said Emmens. "The vaccines were following the same processes of approval, and trialing and testing as would normally be the case," he said. "But very cleverly, things were streamlined, overlapped in a way that gave the same results as you would get normally, without cutting corners." Sitting incongruously among the gleaming machines are also a collection of crabs. "We do have some examples of horseshoe crabs within the exhibition, which many visitors will be very surprised by," said Emmens. The blood from the horseshoe crabs is highly sensitive to bacterial contamination, and is used to make sure the vaccine and the vials that carry it are clean, he explained. "So they've played a... crucial if unlikely role in the vaccine story." WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Crabs, T-shirt, mugs and tea cups: UK show lifts the lid on Covid vaccine race

A combined coronavirus and influenza vaccine will be tested, according to Pfizer-BioNTech, which could lead to increased vaccination rates for both diseases.&nbsp;

The mRNA-based combination vaccination candidate was expected to advance to a phase one study in the United States with 180 participants, according to a statement from the firms.

The inoculation "could simplify immunisation practices against these two respiratory pathogens, potentially leading to better vaccine uptake for both diseases," said Annaliesa Anderson, head of vaccine research and development at US drugmaker Pfizer.

"Even with existing seasonal influenza vaccines, the burden of this virus is severe across the world, causing thousands of deaths and hospitalisations every year."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/christian-monastery-pre-dating-islam-unearthed-in-uae-530822">Christian monastery pre-dating Islam unearthed in UAE</a>

One of the most popular vaccines to fight COVID-19 was created by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech.&nbsp;

Competing vaccine producers Moderna and Novavax have also tested flu and COVID vaccines together.

(with inputs from agencies)

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A combined coronavirus and influenza vaccine will be tested, according to Pfizer-BioNTech, which could lead to increased vaccination rates for both diseases. The mRNA-based combination vaccination candidate was expected to advance to a phase one study in the United States with 180 participants, according to a statement from the firms.

A combined coronavirus and influenza vaccine will be tested, according to Pfizer-BioNTech, which could lead to increased vaccination rates for both diseases. The mRNA-based combination vaccination candidate was expected to advance to a phase one study in the United States with 180 participants, according to a statement from the firms. The inoculation "could simplify immunisation practices against these two respiratory pathogens, potentially leading to better vaccine uptake for both diseases," said Annaliesa Anderson, head of vaccine research and development at US drugmaker Pfizer. "Even with existing seasonal influenza vaccines, the burden of this virus is severe across the world, causing thousands of deaths and hospitalisations every year." Also Read: Christian monastery pre-dating Islam unearthed in UAE One of the most popular vaccines to fight COVID-19 was created by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. Competing vaccine producers Moderna and Novavax have also tested flu and COVID vaccines together. (with inputs from agencies)

Combined Covid and influenza vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech to enter testing phase

China has rolled out the Oral COVID-19 vaccine amid a surge in cases. Wuhan and Guangzhou have been put under partial lockdown. Watch this report.

China rolls out oral COVID-19 vaccine amid a surge in cases

East Africa was thrown into a whirlwind following the announcement by Ugandan health authorities of an Ebola outbreak that also claimed the lives of several people in the country's west of the capital, Kampala. New Uganda Sudan Ebola-virus outbreak means FDA-licensed vaccine for Zaire ebolavirus cannot be used that means that virologists and scientists have to go back to the drawing board and come up with a stronger and more efficient shield to this virus that has been classified as lethally fatal.

World of Africa | Ebola virus re-emerges in Uganda

Israel will start vaccinating its population with variant-tailored second-generation coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer, which is better suited to fight against new COVID-19 strains, by the end of this month, according to a media report on Thursday.

The consignment of the vaccines landed in Israel on Tuesday and is expected to reach the clinics by the end of September, coronavirus task force chief Salman Zarka announced on Wednesday.

Zarka, however, did not specify as to how many new shots were delivered by Pfizer, The Times of Israel newspaper reported. 
 
He said they are expected to be available in clinics within two weeks or at least by the end of the month, the report said.

Zarka also did not share details of how the vaccines were to be administered. In the earlier phases, it started with front-line workers and those at high risk.

"The vaccines have already landed in Israel, and in the coming days they will be delivered to healthcare providers, and we'll be able to get started and administer them," Zarka was quoted as saying in the report.

He asserted that the vaccines are "very very much recommended"&nbsp;for those at-risk and for medical professionals, adding that they will also be made available to the general public.

Israel was one of the first nations to fully vaccinate its population. Some 4.5 million Israelis are already vaccinated with the third dose and about 800K&nbsp;lakh elderly and those at at-risk have been injected with a fourth dose. Over 4.5 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Israel since the start of the pandemic, with 11,667 recorded deaths.

The new vaccines, customised to the Omicron variant but interred to also hold up well to subsequent strains, have raised expectations and the scientific community is waiting to see their effectiveness as compared to the original vaccines.

"We are receiving the first update to vaccines after two years, which is exciting, but we are still missing data regarding the real-life effectiveness of the new shots,"&nbsp;leading immunologist professor Cyrille Cohen said.

Cohen, the head of Bar Ilan University's immunology lab, stressed that effectiveness, in this case, should not be judged by infection levels, but rather by cases of serious illness.

Based on the very limited research that exists, which mostly relies on mouse model studies and in-vitro observation, the immunologist expects gains in cutting infection to be "modest", but believes they "may well help to enhance protection against severe disease."

"For this reason, they are most important for vulnerable and old populations, people with comorbidities, or for the immunosuppressed,"&nbsp;Cohen was quoted as saying in the report.

Elaborating on the need to encourage taking new shots, the expert pointed out that research has shown that boosters give additional protection, albeit relatively short-lasting, and early studies indicate the updated shots are at least as effective as original vaccines.

"This means there is nothing to lose by taking new shots, and time may show there are notable benefits," he added.

Some indication about the vaccine's effectiveness can be studied within a few weeks by comparing the health of people who took updated shots and those who didn't, but it still won't provide a full answer on how much the new shots will help Israel through the winter,"&nbsp;the report said.

This is because nobody knows what variants could arise over the coming weeks.

"So far, it doesn't seem that new variants have appeared,"&nbsp;Cohen noted adding, "But this may change later in the fall and winter, so therefore, we can't predict what the effectiveness of the vaccines will be."

"The fact that we have access to updated vaccines, approved by regulators, is certainly good news for the most vulnerable with the coming of the winter," the immunologist stressed.

"But really, there is still some uncertainty as we don't know how well our defence systems will stand up until we know the nature of the attack, namely how many mutations the next variant has, where in the virus they occur, and how well the new vaccines can deal with them,"&nbsp;he said. 
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Israel will start vaccinating its population with variant-tailored second-generation coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer, which is better suited to fight against new COVID-19 strains, by the end of this month, according to a media report on Thursday.

Israel will start vaccinating its population with variant-tailored second-generation coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer, which is better suited to fight against new COVID-19 strains, by the end of this month, according to a media report on Thursday. The consignment of the vaccines landed in Israel on Tuesday and is expected to reach the clinics by the end of September, coronavirus task force chief Salman Zarka announced on Wednesday. Zarka, however, did not specify as to how many new shots were delivered by Pfizer, The Times of Israel newspaper reported. He said they are expected to be available in clinics within two weeks or at least by the end of the month, the report said. Zarka also did not share details of how the vaccines were to be administered. In the earlier phases, it started with front-line workers and those at high risk. "The vaccines have already landed in Israel, and in the coming days they will be delivered to healthcare providers, and we'll be able to get started and administer them," Zarka was quoted as saying in the report. He asserted that the vaccines are "very very much recommended" for those at-risk and for medical professionals, adding that they will also be made available to the general public. Israel was one of the first nations to fully vaccinate its population. Some 4.5 million Israelis are already vaccinated with the third dose and about 800K lakh elderly and those at at-risk have been injected with a fourth dose. Over 4.5 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Israel since the start of the pandemic, with 11,667 recorded deaths. The new vaccines, customised to the Omicron variant but interred to also hold up well to subsequent strains, have raised expectations and the scientific community is waiting to see their effectiveness as compared to the original vaccines. "We are receiving the first update to vaccines after two years, which is exciting, but we are still missing data regarding the real-life effectiveness of the new shots," leading immunologist professor Cyrille Cohen said. Cohen, the head of Bar Ilan University's immunology lab, stressed that effectiveness, in this case, should not be judged by infection levels, but rather by cases of serious illness. Based on the very limited research that exists, which mostly relies on mouse model studies and in-vitro observation, the immunologist expects gains in cutting infection to be "modest", but believes they "may well help to enhance protection against severe disease." "For this reason, they are most important for vulnerable and old populations, people with comorbidities, or for the immunosuppressed," Cohen was quoted as saying in the report. Elaborating on the need to encourage taking new shots, the expert pointed out that research has shown that boosters give additional protection, albeit relatively short-lasting, and early studies indicate the updated shots are at least as effective as original vaccines. "This means there is nothing to lose by taking new shots, and time may show there are notable benefits," he added. Some indication about the vaccine's effectiveness can be studied within a few weeks by comparing the health of people who took updated shots and those who didn't, but it still won't provide a full answer on how much the new shots will help Israel through the winter," the report said. This is because nobody knows what variants could arise over the coming weeks. "So far, it doesn't seem that new variants have appeared," Cohen noted adding, "But this may change later in the fall and winter, so therefore, we can't predict what the effectiveness of the vaccines will be." "The fact that we have access to updated vaccines, approved by regulators, is certainly good news for the most vulnerable with the coming of the winter," the immunologist stressed. "But really, there is still some uncertainty as we don't know how well our defence systems will stand up until we know the nature of the attack, namely how many mutations the next variant has, where in the virus they occur, and how well the new vaccines can deal with them," he said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Israelis to be administered variant-tailored coronavirus vaccine: Report

Scientists at the University of Oxford have created a malaria vaccine that has the potential to change the world.

The team expect it to be rolled out next year after studies revealed up to 80 per cent protection against the devastating disease. Importantly, according to the researchers, their vaccine is affordable, and they already have a contract to produce more than 100 million doses annually.&nbsp;

Malaria No More, a charity, stated that because of recent advancements, malaria deaths among children may be eliminated "in our lifetimes."

Due to the malaria parasite's extraordinary complexity and elusiveness, which is spread by mosquitoes, it has taken more than a century to create viable vaccinations. It is challenging to develop immunity since it is a dynamic target that changes forms inside the body.&nbsp;

The World Health Organization gave the first vaccination, created by pharmaceutical behemoth GSK, the historic go-ahead to be deployed in Africa last year. However, the Oxford researchers claim their approach is more effective and can be manufactured on a significantly wider scale.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases has released the trial findings from 409 kids in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. It demonstrates how three initial doses, followed by a booster shot given a year later, can provide up to 80 per cent&nbsp;protection.&nbsp;

In the coming weeks, the team will begin the process of getting their vaccine licenced, but the ultimate decision will depend on the outcomes of a larger experiment including 4,800 kids that is due by the end of the year.&nbsp;

The Serum Institute of India, the biggest vaccine producer in the world, has already committed to producing more than 100 million doses annually.

The GSK vaccine that has been given official approval is similar to the Oxford vaccination. Both aim to stop the parasite in its tracks at the beginning of its lifecycle before it reaches the liver and gains a stronghold in the host.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-what-moving-out-of-majestic-white-house-looks-like-514091">In pics: What moving out of majestic white house looks like?</a>

The vaccines are made from a combination of hepatitis B virus and malaria parasite proteins, but Oxford's formulation contains a higher percentage of malaria proteins. This, according to the research team, helps the immune system concentrate on hepatitis rather than malaria.&nbsp;

The GSK vaccine's effectiveness has helped Oxford feel more positive about releasing their own vaccine the following year, for example by determining how practical an African vaccination programme would be.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Scientists at the University of Oxford have created a malaria vaccine that has the potential to change the world. The team expect it to be rolled out next year after studies revealed up to 80 per cent protection against the devastating disease.

Scientists at the University of Oxford have created a malaria vaccine that has the potential to change the world. The team expect it to be rolled out next year after studies revealed up to 80 per cent protection against the devastating disease. Importantly, according to the researchers, their vaccine is affordable, and they already have a contract to produce more than 100 million doses annually. Malaria No More, a charity, stated that because of recent advancements, malaria deaths among children may be eliminated "in our lifetimes." Due to the malaria parasite's extraordinary complexity and elusiveness, which is spread by mosquitoes, it has taken more than a century to create viable vaccinations. It is challenging to develop immunity since it is a dynamic target that changes forms inside the body. The World Health Organization gave the first vaccination, created by pharmaceutical behemoth GSK, the historic go-ahead to be deployed in Africa last year. However, the Oxford researchers claim their approach is more effective and can be manufactured on a significantly wider scale. The Lancet Infectious Diseases has released the trial findings from 409 kids in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. It demonstrates how three initial doses, followed by a booster shot given a year later, can provide up to 80 per cent protection. In the coming weeks, the team will begin the process of getting their vaccine licenced, but the ultimate decision will depend on the outcomes of a larger experiment including 4,800 kids that is due by the end of the year. The Serum Institute of India, the biggest vaccine producer in the world, has already committed to producing more than 100 million doses annually. The GSK vaccine that has been given official approval is similar to the Oxford vaccination. Both aim to stop the parasite in its tracks at the beginning of its lifecycle before it reaches the liver and gains a stronghold in the host. Also Read: In pics: What moving out of majestic white house looks like? The vaccines are made from a combination of hepatitis B virus and malaria parasite proteins, but Oxford's formulation contains a higher percentage of malaria proteins. This, according to the research team, helps the immune system concentrate on hepatitis rather than malaria. The GSK vaccine's effectiveness has helped Oxford feel more positive about releasing their own vaccine the following year, for example by determining how practical an African vaccination programme would be. (with inputs from agencies)

Malaria vaccine with 'world-changing' potential developed, gives 80% protection

US health officials said on Tuesday that Covid boosters are likely to be recommended annually just like influenza vaccines. The announcement has come after Food and Drug Administration authorised last week, authorised updated bivalent shots against both the original strain of the coronavirus and the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the Omicron variant.

"We likely are moving towards a path with a vaccination cadence similar to that of the annual influenza vaccine, with annual updated Covid-19 shots matched to the currently circulating strains," President Joe Biden's chief medical advisor Anthony Fauci told reporters.&nbsp;

The elderly and immunocompromised patients may require more shots in greater frequency.

Ashish Jha, the White House Covid coordinator, added the message was "simple" -- if you are 12 or older, and have been previously vaccinated, now is the time to get boosted. &nbsp;

If you were recently infected or vaccinated, "it's reasonable to wait a few months," he added.&nbsp;

He said that people can get Covid booster at the same time they take flu boosters

"I really believe this is why God gave us two arms, one for the flu shot and the other one for the Covid shot." he said.

Officials expect millions of people to receive their bivalent boosters

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US health officials said on Tuesday that Covid boosters are likely to be recommended annually just like influenza vaccines. The announcement has come after Food and Drug Administration authorised last week, authorised updated bivalent shots against both the original strain of the coronavirus and the BA.

US health officials said on Tuesday that Covid boosters are likely to be recommended annually just like influenza vaccines. The announcement has come after Food and Drug Administration authorised last week, authorised updated bivalent shots against both the original strain of the coronavirus and the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the Omicron variant. "We likely are moving towards a path with a vaccination cadence similar to that of the annual influenza vaccine, with annual updated Covid-19 shots matched to the currently circulating strains," President Joe Biden's chief medical advisor Anthony Fauci told reporters. The elderly and immunocompromised patients may require more shots in greater frequency. Ashish Jha, the White House Covid coordinator, added the message was "simple" -- if you are 12 or older, and have been previously vaccinated, now is the time to get boosted.  If you were recently infected or vaccinated, "it's reasonable to wait a few months," he added. He said that people can get Covid booster at the same time they take flu boosters "I really believe this is why God gave us two arms, one for the flu shot and the other one for the Covid shot." he said. Officials expect millions of people to receive their bivalent boosters You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US plans annual Covid vaccines, just like flu

A group of anti-vaxxers in Australia has been ordered to pay up USD 214,023 after the case in which they sued state and federal governments. The case was thrown out of the court, as per reports in Australian media. The anti-vaxxers had opposed the vaccine and mask mandates citing

The group has nine applicants who had approached Australia's federal court. The group claimed that vaccine and mask mandates were “being implemented or undertaken in the context of a new world order” and “constituted a breach of the Nuremberg Code”.

'New world order' is a conspiracy propogated by far-right group QAnon which claims that the world is witnessing emergence of a totalitarian world government.

The anti-vaxxer group had demanded that the then Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison “together with each of the Premiers and Chief Ministers of the States and Territories of Australia” &nbsp;meet at the entrance to the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Canberra and deliver an apology.

Vaccination has repeatedly seen to be and scientifically proven to be humanity's shield against various dieases including Covid. However, large number of people, including in developed countries think that vaccines are dangerous and cause ailements and conditions like autism. These claims do not have scientific basis.

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A group of anti-vaxxers in Australia has been ordered to pay up USD 214,023 after the case in which they sued state and federal governments. The case was thrown out of the court, as per reports in Australian media.

A group of anti-vaxxers in Australia has been ordered to pay up USD 214,023 after the case in which they sued state and federal governments. The case was thrown out of the court, as per reports in Australian media. The anti-vaxxers had opposed the vaccine and mask mandates citing The group has nine applicants who had approached Australia's federal court. The group claimed that vaccine and mask mandates were “being implemented or undertaken in the context of a new world order” and “constituted a breach of the Nuremberg Code”. 'New world order' is a conspiracy propogated by far-right group QAnon which claims that the world is witnessing emergence of a totalitarian world government. The anti-vaxxer group had demanded that the then Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison “together with each of the Premiers and Chief Ministers of the States and Territories of Australia” meet at the entrance to the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Canberra and deliver an apology. Vaccination has repeatedly seen to be and scientifically proven to be humanity's shield against various dieases including Covid. However, large number of people, including in developed countries think that vaccines are dangerous and cause ailements and conditions like autism. These claims do not have scientific basis. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Australia: Anti-vaxxers forced to pay $214,023 in legal costs 

Around 1 million children in London will be offered a polio booster vaccine. The decision came after the virus was detected in sewage samples across the UK capital.

United Kingdom: Urgent polio boosters for London children

New Yorkers stood in a long line on Sunday (July 17) to get themselves vaccinated against monkeypox. The city has become an epicentre of outbreak&nbsp;of the disease in the US. The city lacks adequate number of doses and AFP quoted people standing in line as saying that they felt lucky to have got appointment for vaccination. 9200 slots became available on city's dedicated website on Friday. Within seven minutes, the slots were full. The page had crashed three days ago due to very high traffic.

"It was frustrating, largely because especially with Covid, you'd think that we would have more of a structured process or vaccine rollout," Aidan Baglivo, 23, told AFP. "There just wasn't really anything."

Number of monkeypox infections rose last week in New York, a city of more than eight million people. On Friday (July 15), number of infections reached 461 new since the start of the outbreak. On Monday last week, this number was at 223.

Robert, who declined to give his last name, told AFP he sat at his computer refreshing the website "like a crazy person" until he got a slot.

"This shouldn't be an issue because there's already a vaccine, and it (the rollout) should be... more efficient to prevent it from becoming more of an issue," said the 28-year-old. His partner and his best friend have not been able to get a vaccine yet.

Neither his partner nor his best friend have been able to get a vaccine.

"Every additional day where there's not more people being vaccinated is a bummer."

Monkeypox spreads through close physical contact and anyone can get infected. However, the Jynneos vaccine is currently reserved for men who have sex with men. This section of society has seen a large number of infections.

 
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New Yorkers stood in a long line on Sunday (July 17) to get themselves vaccinated against monkeypox. The city has become an epicentre of outbreak of the disease in the US.

New Yorkers stood in a long line on Sunday (July 17) to get themselves vaccinated against monkeypox. The city has become an epicentre of outbreak of the disease in the US. The city lacks adequate number of doses and AFP quoted people standing in line as saying that they felt lucky to have got appointment for vaccination. 9200 slots became available on city's dedicated website on Friday. Within seven minutes, the slots were full. The page had crashed three days ago due to very high traffic. "It was frustrating, largely because especially with Covid, you'd think that we would have more of a structured process or vaccine rollout," Aidan Baglivo, 23, told AFP. "There just wasn't really anything." Number of monkeypox infections rose last week in New York, a city of more than eight million people. On Friday (July 15), number of infections reached 461 new since the start of the outbreak. On Monday last week, this number was at 223. Robert, who declined to give his last name, told AFP he sat at his computer refreshing the website "like a crazy person" until he got a slot. "This shouldn't be an issue because there's already a vaccine, and it (the rollout) should be... more efficient to prevent it from becoming more of an issue," said the 28-year-old. His partner and his best friend have not been able to get a vaccine yet. Neither his partner nor his best friend have been able to get a vaccine. "Every additional day where there's not more people being vaccinated is a bummer." Monkeypox spreads through close physical contact and anyone can get infected. However, the Jynneos vaccine is currently reserved for men who have sex with men. This section of society has seen a large number of infections. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

New York: People queue up in long lines for monkeypox vaccine

India has crossed a big milestone of giving 2 billion vaccine doses in just 18 months. For more on this we're joined by Dr. Manohar Agnani - Additional Secretary & Chairperson Interim Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (ICAHP) - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

India's covid vaccination drive sets two billion dose-record in just 18 months

Horseshoe crabs are vital for the safety of human vaccines because their blood contains a substance that detects a contaminant called endotoxin which is a type of bacterial toxin.

WION Climate Tracker: Horseshoe crab blood key to making covid-19 vaccine

A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, released on Friday, based on data from 185 countries and territories collected from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021, shows that Covid vaccines prevented nearly 20 million deaths in the first year after they were introduced, as reported by AFP.

It is the first attempt to estimate the number of deaths prevented directly and indirectly as a result of Covid-19 vaccinations. It found that 19.8 million deaths were prevented out of a potential 31.4 million deaths that would have occurred if no vaccines were available.

It was a 63 per cent reduction, the study found. &nbsp;The study used official figures or estimates when official data was not available for deaths from Covid, as well as total excess deaths from each country. These analyses were compared with a hypothetical alternative scenario in which no vaccine was administered.&nbsp;

The model accounted for variation in vaccination rates across countries, as well as differences in vaccine effectiveness based on the types of vaccines known to have been primarily used in each country. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-to-host-g20-meetings-in-2023-first-major-international-summit-after-abrogation-of-article-370-491384">J&amp;K to host G20 meetings in 2023, first major international summit after abrogation of Article 370</a>

The study found that high- and middle-income countries accounted for the largest number of deaths averted, 12.2 million out of 19.8 million, reflecting inequalities in access to vaccines worldwide.&nbsp;

Covid has officially killed more than 6.3 million people globally, according to the WHO. Nearly 600,000 additional deaths could have been prevented if the World Health Organization's (WHO) goal of vaccinating 40 per cent of each country's population by the end of 2021 had been met, it concluded. &nbsp;

As reported by AFP, lead study author Oliver Watson of Imperial College London said, "Millions of lives have probably been saved by making vaccines available to people around the world."

"We could have done more," he said. &nbsp;

( with inputs from agencies)

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A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, released on Friday, based on data from 185 countries and territories collected from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021, shows that Covid vaccines prevented nearly 20 million deaths in the first year after they were introduced, as reported by AFP.

A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, released on Friday, based on data from 185 countries and territories collected from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021, shows that Covid vaccines prevented nearly 20 million deaths in the first year after they were introduced, as reported by AFP. It is the first attempt to estimate the number of deaths prevented directly and indirectly as a result of Covid-19 vaccinations. It found that 19.8 million deaths were prevented out of a potential 31.4 million deaths that would have occurred if no vaccines were available. It was a 63 per cent reduction, the study found. The study used official figures or estimates when official data was not available for deaths from Covid, as well as total excess deaths from each country. These analyses were compared with a hypothetical alternative scenario in which no vaccine was administered. The model accounted for variation in vaccination rates across countries, as well as differences in vaccine effectiveness based on the types of vaccines known to have been primarily used in each country. Also Read: J&K to host G20 meetings in 2023, first major international summit after abrogation of Article 370 The study found that high- and middle-income countries accounted for the largest number of deaths averted, 12.2 million out of 19.8 million, reflecting inequalities in access to vaccines worldwide. Covid has officially killed more than 6.3 million people globally, according to the WHO. Nearly 600,000 additional deaths could have been prevented if the World Health Organization's (WHO) goal of vaccinating 40 per cent of each country's population by the end of 2021 had been met, it concluded. As reported by AFP, lead study author Oliver Watson of Imperial College London said, "Millions of lives have probably been saved by making vaccines available to people around the world." "We could have done more," he said. ( with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Covid vaccines prevented nearly 20 million deaths in first year: Report

Last group of Americans get vaccinated against covid-19. Parents of babies and toddlers express a sigh of relief after the first shot of the vaccine was administered to kids.

US vaccinates its youngest, vaccine circulation to improve in the coming days

US vaccinates youngest against covid-19, parents of toddlers express sigh of relief

Children aged 6 months to 5 years are now eligible in the US to get a jab against COVID-19. Pfizer & Moderna vaccines have been authorised by the FDA.

Pfizer & Moderna vaccines authorised by FDA & CDC as US approves COVID vaccines for children

United States FDA is going to discuss COVID vaccines for babies next week. Meanwhile, FDA is also investigating rare side-effects of Moderna jabs in teens.

Moderna jabs to approved for infants? FDA to discuss vaccines for babies next week

Since the emergency use authorisation of the first Covid&nbsp;vaccines in the country last winter, federal data show that US states received a staggering 720 million Covid&nbsp;doses, and more than 570 million of those shots have been administered, according to a report by ABC News.&nbsp;Millions of unused Covid-19 doses in the United States are set to go wasted as the country's vaccination rates continued to decline amid an uptick in new infections.

However, state-provided data found that millions of those vaccine shots have not ended up in arms, largely due to a significant decline in the number of individuals willing to get vaccinated, Xinhua news agency reported.

Many vaccine doses are now left unused in refrigerators or discarded in trash cans across the country.

Millions of Covid&nbsp;vaccine doses have either gone to waste, remain unused, or will expire in the coming weeks and months, according to the ABC News report, citing officials from health departments in states and state-provided data.

"It is a tremendous loss of opportunity for these vaccines to not make it into the shoulders of those who need them," said C. Buddy Creech, Director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program and professor at the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University.

"Not only is it a financial loss for the purchaser of vaccines -- the US government -- but also a significant health loss for those who are not yet protected from Covid and its complications," he added.

Nearly 66.1 per cent of the US population is fully vaccinated against Covid as of Monday, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Covid-19 boosters have been authorised in the US for adults since November. However, CDC data show less than 50 per cent of eligible Americans have received their first booster.

Vaccination rates continued to drop in the country amid declining demand for vaccines and hesitancy, leading to the waste of unused millions of doses currently in state stockpiles and at risk of expiring. As of April 20, the seven-day average number of administered vaccine doses per day was 470,903, a 13.2 per cent decrease from the previous week, according to the latest CDC data.

The country is witnessing an increase of new Covid-19 infections recently again, with an average of about 44,000 new cases and 310 new deaths each day, CDC data show.

"The pool of people that are unvaccinated is likely to remain unconvinced of the importance of vaccine-induced protection," said John Brownstein, an epidemiologist at Boston Children's Hospital and an ABC News contributor, adding that convincing those still hesitant to get the vaccine shot will be a difficult feat. 
Some politicians and public health experts have raised concerns over the ethical implications of so many vaccine shots going to waste.

"The wastage of millions of doses is a stark reminder of the privilege we have had in accessing vaccines while the majority of the world had to wait months. Extraordinary resources and financial investment will ultimately go to waste," Brownstein added.

[With inputs from agencies] 
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Since the emergency use authorisation of the first Covid vaccines in the country last winter, federal data show that US states received a staggering 720 million Covid doses, and more than 570 million of those shots have been administered, according to a report by ABC News.

Since the emergency use authorisation of the first Covid vaccines in the country last winter, federal data show that US states received a staggering 720 million Covid doses, and more than 570 million of those shots have been administered, according to a report by ABC News. Millions of unused Covid-19 doses in the United States are set to go wasted as the country's vaccination rates continued to decline amid an uptick in new infections. However, state-provided data found that millions of those vaccine shots have not ended up in arms, largely due to a significant decline in the number of individuals willing to get vaccinated, Xinhua news agency reported. Many vaccine doses are now left unused in refrigerators or discarded in trash cans across the country. Millions of Covid vaccine doses have either gone to waste, remain unused, or will expire in the coming weeks and months, according to the ABC News report, citing officials from health departments in states and state-provided data. "It is a tremendous loss of opportunity for these vaccines to not make it into the shoulders of those who need them," said C. Buddy Creech, Director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program and professor at the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University. "Not only is it a financial loss for the purchaser of vaccines -- the US government -- but also a significant health loss for those who are not yet protected from Covid and its complications," he added. Nearly 66.1 per cent of the US population is fully vaccinated against Covid as of Monday, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Covid-19 boosters have been authorised in the US for adults since November. However, CDC data show less than 50 per cent of eligible Americans have received their first booster. Vaccination rates continued to drop in the country amid declining demand for vaccines and hesitancy, leading to the waste of unused millions of doses currently in state stockpiles and at risk of expiring. As of April 20, the seven-day average number of administered vaccine doses per day was 470,903, a 13.2 per cent decrease from the previous week, according to the latest CDC data. The country is witnessing an increase of new Covid-19 infections recently again, with an average of about 44,000 new cases and 310 new deaths each day, CDC data show. "The pool of people that are unvaccinated is likely to remain unconvinced of the importance of vaccine-induced protection," said John Brownstein, an epidemiologist at Boston Children's Hospital and an ABC News contributor, adding that convincing those still hesitant to get the vaccine shot will be a difficult feat. Some politicians and public health experts have raised concerns over the ethical implications of so many vaccine shots going to waste. "The wastage of millions of doses is a stark reminder of the privilege we have had in accessing vaccines while the majority of the world had to wait months. Extraordinary resources and financial investment will ultimately go to waste," Brownstein added. [With inputs from agencies] WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Millions of unused Covid doses going to waste in United States

After several countries criticised and questioned WHO's official COVID-19 death figures. It admits to making another mistake and is recalculating the official COVID-19 death toll.

WHO admits to making another mistake and is recalculating the official COVID-19 death toll

American multinational pharmaceutical Pzifer completed its emergency use application to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to administer its COVID-19 vaccine to children under the age of 5 on Wednesday.

Pfizer said that its vaccine called ‘Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine’ is 80% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 for younger children.

"Pfizer and BioNTech completed a rolling application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization (EUA) of the 3-µg [microgram] dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children 6 months through 4 years of age (also referred to as 6 months to under 5 years of age) on June 1, 2022," the company said in a statement.

Children under 5 are the last to get vaccines, but it also requires safety measures in place as it is a very sensitive target age group.

"We recognize parents are anxious to have their young children vaccinated against COVID-19 and while the FDA cannot predict how long its evaluation of the data and information will take, we will review any EUA request we receive as quickly as possible using a science-based approach," the FDA said.

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, a lot of parents are hesitant to vaccinate children as young as 5, with 27 per cent saying they will "definitely not" get their children in this age group vaccinated. Only 18 per cent plan to vaccinate their kids right away, while 38 per cent say that they would like to wait and see before they decide.

[ With inputs from agencies] 
&nbsp;

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American multinational pharmaceutical Pzifer completed its emergency use application to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to administer its COVID-19 vaccine to children under the age of 5 on Wednesday.

American multinational pharmaceutical Pzifer completed its emergency use application to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to administer its COVID-19 vaccine to children under the age of 5 on Wednesday. Pfizer said that its vaccine called ‘Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine’ is 80% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 for younger children. "Pfizer and BioNTech completed a rolling application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization (EUA) of the 3-µg [microgram] dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children 6 months through 4 years of age (also referred to as 6 months to under 5 years of age) on June 1, 2022," the company said in a statement. Children under 5 are the last to get vaccines, but it also requires safety measures in place as it is a very sensitive target age group. "We recognize parents are anxious to have their young children vaccinated against COVID-19 and while the FDA cannot predict how long its evaluation of the data and information will take, we will review any EUA request we receive as quickly as possible using a science-based approach," the FDA said. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, a lot of parents are hesitant to vaccinate children as young as 5, with 27 per cent saying they will "definitely not" get their children in this age group vaccinated. Only 18 per cent plan to vaccinate their kids right away, while 38 per cent say that they would like to wait and see before they decide. [ With inputs from agencies] WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pfizer applies to FDA for covid vaccine approval for children under five

The Mumbai city recorded 505 new covid - 19 cases on Tuesday, showing a five-fold increase in cases in the past one month, increasing all India tally to 2745 new cases. On 1 May, 92 covid cases were recorded in the city.

The test positivity rate in the city has jumped to six per cent, the civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said today. It has asked officials to immediately increase testing "on war footing".

Testing labs have also been asked to be proactive and fully staffed." Daily new cases have tremendously increased in Mumbai, with monsoon around the corner, we will now see a rapid rise in symptomatic cases," it warned.

Iqbal Singh Chahal, BMC commissioner said that the jumbo facility at Malad will be put to use on priority for covid related hospitalisations.

The BMC has further instructed to ramp us the vaccination drive for teenagers and has also placed emphasis on booster dose delivery. It has asked both public and private hospitals to be on alert and increase bed capacity in case hospitalisations increase.

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Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said there was no need to panic, but advised to follow covid related precautions and SOPs.

“Out of 36 districts in Maharashtra, only Mumbai and Pune are seeing a rise in the number of cases, but nothing to worry as such since the rate of hospitalisation is low,” he added.

Tope said, “The necessary arrangements are in place and there is no harm in keeping everything ready. The health department is monitoring the situation.”

The Maharashtra government had lifted all Covid restrictions, including the mask mandate, on 2 April, when the state celebrated ‘Gudi Padwa’.

[ With inputs from agencies] 
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The Mumbai city recorded 505 new covid - 19 cases on Tuesday, showing a five-fold increase in cases in the past one month, increasing all India tally to 2745 new cases.

The Mumbai city recorded 505 new covid - 19 cases on Tuesday, showing a five-fold increase in cases in the past one month, increasing all India tally to 2745 new cases. On 1 May, 92 covid cases were recorded in the city. The test positivity rate in the city has jumped to six per cent, the civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said today. It has asked officials to immediately increase testing "on war footing". Testing labs have also been asked to be proactive and fully staffed." Daily new cases have tremendously increased in Mumbai, with monsoon around the corner, we will now see a rapid rise in symptomatic cases," it warned. Iqbal Singh Chahal, BMC commissioner said that the jumbo facility at Malad will be put to use on priority for covid related hospitalisations. The BMC has further instructed to ramp us the vaccination drive for teenagers and has also placed emphasis on booster dose delivery. It has asked both public and private hospitals to be on alert and increase bed capacity in case hospitalisations increase. Mumbai 739 covid cases today. pic.twitter.com/VfXQrOqA2F — Manoj Gadnis (@MGadnis) June 1, 2022 × Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said there was no need to panic, but advised to follow covid related precautions and SOPs. “Out of 36 districts in Maharashtra, only Mumbai and Pune are seeing a rise in the number of cases, but nothing to worry as such since the rate of hospitalisation is low,” he added. Tope said, “The necessary arrangements are in place and there is no harm in keeping everything ready. The health department is monitoring the situation.” The Maharashtra government had lifted all Covid restrictions, including the mask mandate, on 2 April, when the state celebrated ‘Gudi Padwa’. [ With inputs from agencies] WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Mumbai sees five-fold increase in covid cases

The monkeypox outbreak has been a concern for a number of countries around the world but United States president Joe Biden believes that his country has enough vaccines to deal with any sort of outbreak. When asked about possible quarantines in the future to stop the spread of monkeypox, Biden said that no "extra efforts" are needed on the part of the citizens and although a number of people have been infected in North America, the US is&nbsp;ready to combat the virus.

"No, I don't think so. Look, we've had this monkeypox in larger numbers in the past," he said at a press conference in Tokyo after talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tasteless-palaces-power-forever-russian-diplomat-blasts-ukraine-war-resigns-481574" hreflang="en">'Enjoying unlimited power': Russian diplomat blasts Ukraine war, resigns</a>

"Number two, we have vaccines to take care of it. Number three, thus far, there doesn't seem to be the need for any kind of extra efforts beyond what's going on," he added according to AFP.

Meanwhile, England and Scotland detected 37 more monkeypox cases to take the total tally to 57.

Chief medical adviser Susan Hopkins said that the authorities are trying to limit the spread by contact tracing – the process the UK used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-google-hatching-a-sinister-plot-to-butt-in-on-donald-trumps-app-truth-socials-success-481441">Is Google hatching a sinister plot to stop Trump's app Truth Social's success?</a>

"Because the virus spreads through close contact, we are urging everyone to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions and to contact a sexual health service if they have any symptoms," she added in a statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"A notable proportion of recent cases in the UK and Europe have been found in gay and bisexual men so we are particularly encouraging these men to be alert to the symptoms."

WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

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(With inputs from agencies)

The monkeypox outbreak has been a concern for a number of countries around the world but United States president Joe Biden believes that his country has enough vaccines to deal with any sort of outbreak.

The monkeypox outbreak has been a concern for a number of countries around the world but United States president Joe Biden believes that his country has enough vaccines to deal with any sort of outbreak. When asked about possible quarantines in the future to stop the spread of monkeypox, Biden said that no "extra efforts" are needed on the part of the citizens and although a number of people have been infected in North America, the US is ready to combat the virus. "No, I don't think so. Look, we've had this monkeypox in larger numbers in the past," he said at a press conference in Tokyo after talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Also read | 'Enjoying unlimited power': Russian diplomat blasts Ukraine war, resigns "Number two, we have vaccines to take care of it. Number three, thus far, there doesn't seem to be the need for any kind of extra efforts beyond what's going on," he added according to AFP. Meanwhile, England and Scotland detected 37 more monkeypox cases to take the total tally to 57. Chief medical adviser Susan Hopkins said that the authorities are trying to limit the spread by contact tracing – the process the UK used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Also read | Is Google hatching a sinister plot to stop Trump's app Truth Social's success? "Because the virus spreads through close contact, we are urging everyone to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions and to contact a sexual health service if they have any symptoms," she added in a statement. "A notable proportion of recent cases in the UK and Europe have been found in gay and bisexual men so we are particularly encouraging these men to be alert to the symptoms." WATCH WION LIVE HERE - (With inputs from agencies)

Joe Biden says US has enough vaccines, 'extra efforts' not needed against monkeypox

Covid restrictions may be one of the reasons why North Korea was not giving any response to offers of diplomatic talks, said an unnamed US administration official quoted by Reuters.

This statement has come just a day after US President Joe Biden said that he had offered vaccines to North Korea.&nbsp;

Biden on Saturday said that America "got no response" from North Korea over its offer of vaccines. There is a spiralling epidemic in North Korea currently and 2.5 million people have fallen sick with "fever".

"We've offered vaccines, not only to North Korea but to China as well, and we're prepared to do that immediately," he said at a press conference in Seoul.&nbsp;

"We've got no response," he added.

Earlier this month, North Korea reported its first case of Omicron and despite a "maximum emergency" epidemic campaign, the virus has torn through its unvaccinated 25 million population.

On Saturday, North Korean state media reported nearly 2.5 million people had been sick with "fever", with 66 confirmed deaths since the outbreak started.&nbsp;

It added that the country had "intensified" its anti-epidemic campaign.

Biden and new South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed concern Saturday over North Korea's spiralling Covid-19 outbreak.

"The ROK and the US are willing to work with the international community to provide assistance to the DPRK to combat the virus," they said in a joint statement.

Yoon said the offer of aid was being made according to "humanitarian principles, separate from political and military issues" with Pyongyang.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Covid restrictions may be one of the reasons why North Korea was not giving any response to offers of diplomatic talks, said an unnamed US administration official quoted by Reuters.

Covid restrictions may be one of the reasons why North Korea was not giving any response to offers of diplomatic talks, said an unnamed US administration official quoted by Reuters. This statement has come just a day after US President Joe Biden said that he had offered vaccines to North Korea. Biden on Saturday said that America "got no response" from North Korea over its offer of vaccines. There is a spiralling epidemic in North Korea currently and 2.5 million people have fallen sick with "fever". "We've offered vaccines, not only to North Korea but to China as well, and we're prepared to do that immediately," he said at a press conference in Seoul. "We've got no response," he added. Earlier this month, North Korea reported its first case of Omicron and despite a "maximum emergency" epidemic campaign, the virus has torn through its unvaccinated 25 million population. On Saturday, North Korean state media reported nearly 2.5 million people had been sick with "fever", with 66 confirmed deaths since the outbreak started. It added that the country had "intensified" its anti-epidemic campaign. Biden and new South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed concern Saturday over North Korea's spiralling Covid-19 outbreak. "The ROK and the US are willing to work with the international community to provide assistance to the DPRK to combat the virus," they said in a joint statement. Yoon said the offer of aid was being made according to "humanitarian principles, separate from political and military issues" with Pyongyang. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Covid curbs may be why North Korea is mum on vaccine offer: US official

North Korea has confirmed its first covid outbreak. Its state media says cases of an 'unidentified fever' are exploding. 350,000 people have reportedly been infected. North Korea has no vaccines. How will it fight the virus? Palki Sharma reports.

Gravitas: Covid cases are 'exploding' in North Korea

In yet another setback for the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine jab, the FDA limits its use. According to FTA, 15% cases of TTS have been fatal.

Another setback for Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine jab as FDA limits its use

In yet another setback to the American pharmaceutical giants, FDA has said that it's limiting the use of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine for adults citing the risk of a rare blood clotting syndrome.

United States: FDA limits use of Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on Thursday that they are going to evaluate Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for children between the age of six months and five years.

This is the only age group not eligible for vaccination in any country and if the Moderna vaccine is authorised, it will be a huge step considering the rise in Covid cases all around the world in the recent past.

"We have just started the evaluation of an application from Moderna to extend the use of Spikevax to children from six months of age to five years," said senior EMA official Marco Cavaleri.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-covid-death-toll-tripled-than-actually-reported-in-2020-21-says-who-476572" hreflang="en">World’s Covid death toll triple than actually reported in 2020-21, says WHO</a>

"This is the first application for this young age group," he added.

The EMA also said that they are looking to approve vaccines which will be able to combat the latest variants of the Coronavirus - mainly Omicron – by September this year, according to Reuters.

"Our priority is to ensure that adaptive vaccines are possibly approved by September at the latest to be ready for the rollout of new immunisation campaigns in the EU in the autumn."

"This would allow manufacturers to adjust their production lines accordingly," he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-woman-pinned-down-as-healthcare-workers-forcibly-conduct-covid-19-test-watch-476497">Chinese woman pinned down as COVID-19 test conducted forcibly - WATCH</a>

The mRNA vaccines, made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are currently undergoing clinical trials.

In related news, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the death count related to the pandemic is three times more than the official toll. “New estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that the full death toll associated directly or indirectly with #COVID19 pandemic (described as “excess mortality”) between 1 Jan 2020 and 31 Dec 2021 was approximately 14.9 million (range 13.3 million to 16.6 million),” the official statement from WHO stated.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on Thursday that they are going to evaluate Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for children between the age of six months and five years.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on Thursday that they are going to evaluate Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for children between the age of six months and five years. This is the only age group not eligible for vaccination in any country and if the Moderna vaccine is authorised, it will be a huge step considering the rise in Covid cases all around the world in the recent past. "We have just started the evaluation of an application from Moderna to extend the use of Spikevax to children from six months of age to five years," said senior EMA official Marco Cavaleri. Also read | World’s Covid death toll triple than actually reported in 2020-21, says WHO "This is the first application for this young age group," he added. The EMA also said that they are looking to approve vaccines which will be able to combat the latest variants of the Coronavirus - mainly Omicron – by September this year, according to Reuters. "Our priority is to ensure that adaptive vaccines are possibly approved by September at the latest to be ready for the rollout of new immunisation campaigns in the EU in the autumn." "This would allow manufacturers to adjust their production lines accordingly," he added. Also read | Chinese woman pinned down as COVID-19 test conducted forcibly - WATCH The mRNA vaccines, made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are currently undergoing clinical trials. In related news, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the death count related to the pandemic is three times more than the official toll. “New estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that the full death toll associated directly or indirectly with #COVID19 pandemic (described as “excess mortality”) between 1 Jan 2020 and 31 Dec 2021 was approximately 14.9 million (range 13.3 million to 16.6 million),” the official statement from WHO stated.

European Medicines Agency assessing Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children under five

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