A 26-year-old man's death in New Zealand has been linked to a side effect from Pfizer's Covid vaccine after he died within two weeks of receiving it. After taking his first dose, the person suffered from myocarditis, which is a rare inflammation of the heart muscle.

The man had not taken any medical advice or treatment for his symptoms.&nbsp;

New Zealand’s Covid vaccine independent safety monitoring board in a statement said, "With the current available information, the board has considered that the myocarditis was probably due to vaccination in this individual."

In response, a Pfizer spokesperson said that the company was aware of the incident in New Zealand, and it had monitored all reports of possible adverse events. He further mentioned that it will continue to believe the benefit-risk profile for its vaccine was positive.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/christmas-travel-can-lead-to-doubling-of-omicron-cases-fauci-438291">Also read |&nbsp;Christmas travel can lead to doubling of Omicron cases: Fauci</a>

Earlier, in August, a woman in New Zealand died after she was administered the Pfizer Covid vaccine.&nbsp;

The health ministry said, "This is the first case in New Zealand where a death in the days following vaccination has been linked to the Pfizer Covid vaccine."

The health ministry further added that the cause of death has not yet been determined while asserting that, "the benefits of vaccination with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continue to greatly outweigh the risk of both Covid infection and vaccine side effects, including myocarditis."

Earlier, the World Health Organization had acknowledged that "a very rare signal of myocarditis" has been reported from some Covid vaccines. The organization further added that most myocarditis cases occur in young men aged between 16 to 24.

(With inputs from agencies)

A 26-year-old man's death in New Zealand has been linked to a side effect from Pfizer's Covid vaccine after he died within two weeks of receiving it. After taking his first dose, the person suffered from myocarditis, which is a rare inflammation of the heart muscle.

A 26-year-old man's death in New Zealand has been linked to a side effect from Pfizer's Covid vaccine after he died within two weeks of receiving it. After taking his first dose, the person suffered from myocarditis, which is a rare inflammation of the heart muscle. The man had not taken any medical advice or treatment for his symptoms. New Zealand’s Covid vaccine independent safety monitoring board in a statement said, "With the current available information, the board has considered that the myocarditis was probably due to vaccination in this individual." In response, a Pfizer spokesperson said that the company was aware of the incident in New Zealand, and it had monitored all reports of possible adverse events. He further mentioned that it will continue to believe the benefit-risk profile for its vaccine was positive. Also read | Christmas travel can lead to doubling of Omicron cases: Fauci Earlier, in August, a woman in New Zealand died after she was administered the Pfizer Covid vaccine. The health ministry said, "This is the first case in New Zealand where a death in the days following vaccination has been linked to the Pfizer Covid vaccine." The health ministry further added that the cause of death has not yet been determined while asserting that, "the benefits of vaccination with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continue to greatly outweigh the risk of both Covid infection and vaccine side effects, including myocarditis." Earlier, the World Health Organization had acknowledged that "a very rare signal of myocarditis" has been reported from some Covid vaccines. The organization further added that most myocarditis cases occur in young men aged between 16 to 24. (With inputs from agencies)

Young man's death in New Zealand linked to Pfizer Covid vaccine after he suffered from myocarditis

20,000 US troops soldiers are at risk of being removed from the service over their refusal for taking the vaccine against COVID-19.

COVID-19: 20,000 US troops face disciplinary action for vaccine refusal

Portugal, one of the countries with the highest Covid-19 vaccination rates worldwide, began inoculating over-fives Saturday, and France said it was ready to roll out jabs for them from next week.

Europe is currently battling to rein in the spread of the highly mutated Omicron variant of the coronavirus, believed to be much more infectious, and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has warned the new strain could be dominant in Europe by mid-January.&nbsp;

A number of countries have already opened up their immunisation drives to younger children, even though the EU's health agency has warned that jabs alone will not be sufficient to stop the variant's rise.

In Portugal, where 88.9 percent of the population is vaccinated, more than 60,000 children aged between five and 11 were set to receive their first jab of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine this weekend.&nbsp;

And in France, health minister Olivier Veran said that jabs will start to be administered to children in the same age group from Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-evidence-to-suggest-new-variant-omicron-less-severe-than-delta-reveals-uk-study-437843">Also read |&nbsp;No evidence to suggest new variant Omicron less severe than Delta, reveals UK study</a>

"If all goes well, we will start vaccination of children on the afternoon of December 22 in specially adapted centres," he told France Inter radio.

But even as children line up to get jabs, the EU health agency ECDC has said measures like mask-wearing, distance working and the prevention of crowds were essential to reduce the burden on healthcare systems in the time available, with vaccines alone taking too long.

The EU's medicines watchdog last month approved the lower-dosage Pfizer-BioNTech shot for five to 11-year-olds, an age group experiencing high coronavirus infection rates across the continent.

Denmark, which has seen a surge in cases attributed to the new Omicron variant, and some Austrian regions already began offering jabs to younger kids in November.

The United States was the first large country to take the plunge and has so far vaccinated more than five million children in the five-to-11 age bracket.&nbsp;

Portugal, one of the countries with the highest Covid-19 vaccination rates worldwide, began inoculating over-fives Saturday, and France said it was ready to roll out jabs for them from next week.

Portugal, one of the countries with the highest Covid-19 vaccination rates worldwide, began inoculating over-fives Saturday, and France said it was ready to roll out jabs for them from next week. Europe is currently battling to rein in the spread of the highly mutated Omicron variant of the coronavirus, believed to be much more infectious, and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has warned the new strain could be dominant in Europe by mid-January. A number of countries have already opened up their immunisation drives to younger children, even though the EU's health agency has warned that jabs alone will not be sufficient to stop the variant's rise. In Portugal, where 88.9 percent of the population is vaccinated, more than 60,000 children aged between five and 11 were set to receive their first jab of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine this weekend. And in France, health minister Olivier Veran said that jabs will start to be administered to children in the same age group from Wednesday. Also read | No evidence to suggest new variant Omicron less severe than Delta, reveals UK study "If all goes well, we will start vaccination of children on the afternoon of December 22 in specially adapted centres," he told France Inter radio. But even as children line up to get jabs, the EU health agency ECDC has said measures like mask-wearing, distance working and the prevention of crowds were essential to reduce the burden on healthcare systems in the time available, with vaccines alone taking too long. The EU's medicines watchdog last month approved the lower-dosage Pfizer-BioNTech shot for five to 11-year-olds, an age group experiencing high coronavirus infection rates across the continent. Denmark, which has seen a surge in cases attributed to the new Omicron variant, and some Austrian regions already began offering jabs to younger kids in November. The United States was the first large country to take the plunge and has so far vaccinated more than five million children in the five-to-11 age bracket.

Portugal, France begin vaccinating younger children

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday gave emergency approval to Covovax, Serum Institute of India’s version of Novavax Inc`s COVID-19 vaccine.

CEO of the Pune-based world's largest manufacturer Adar Poonawalla hailed the WHO for giving approval for emergency use.

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This is yet another milestone in our fight against COVID-19, Covovax is now W.H.O. approved for emergency use, showing excellent safety and efficacy. Thank you all for a great collaboration, <a href="https://twitter.com/Novavax?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Novavax</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WHO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GaviSeth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GaviSeth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/gavi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Gavi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/gatesfoundation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gatesfoundation</a> <a href="https://t.co/7C8RVZa3Y4">https://t.co/7C8RVZa3Y4</a>
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) <a href="https://twitter.com/adarpoonawalla/status/1471846236181262340?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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“This is yet another milestone in our fight against COVID-19, Covovax is now W.H.O approved for emergency use, showing excellent safety and efficacy. Thank you all for a great collaboration,” he tweeted.

Covavax—a two-dose vaccine— will also likely be used for children aged above 3 years and it would be launched in mid-2022, Poonawalla had said earlier.

Covovax was assessed under the WHO EUL procedure based on the review of data on quality, safety and efficacy, a risk management plan, programmatic suitability, and manufacturing site inspections carried out by the Drugs Controller General of India.

The Technical Advisory Group for Emergency Use Listing (TAG-EUL) determined that the vaccine meets WHO standards for protection against COVID-19, that the benefit of the vaccine far outweighs any risks, and that the vaccine can be used globally, the global health body said.

The agency said that Novovax’s own vaccine is currently under assessment by the European Medicines Agency, and it will complete its own assessment of this vaccine once the EMA has issued its recommendation.

Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine had shown 90 per cent efficacy at preventing Covid illness, according to results from a Phase 3 clinical trial.

In addition to being highly effective in preventing Covid illness of any severity, the vaccine was 100 per cent effective in preventing moderate and severe disease that required hospitalisation, revealed the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

(With inputs from agencies)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday gave emergency approval to Covovax, Serum Institute of India’s version of Novavax Inc`s COVID-19 vaccine. CEO of the Pune-based world's largest manufacturer Adar Poonawalla hailed the WHO for giving approval for emergency use.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday gave emergency approval to Covovax, Serum Institute of India’s version of Novavax Inc`s COVID-19 vaccine. CEO of the Pune-based world's largest manufacturer Adar Poonawalla hailed the WHO for giving approval for emergency use. This is yet another milestone in our fight against COVID-19, Covovax is now W.H.O. approved for emergency use, showing excellent safety and efficacy. Thank you all for a great collaboration, @Novavax @WHO @GaviSeth @Gavi @gatesfoundation https://t.co/7C8RVZa3Y4 — Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) December 17, 2021 × “This is yet another milestone in our fight against COVID-19, Covovax is now W.H.O approved for emergency use, showing excellent safety and efficacy. Thank you all for a great collaboration,” he tweeted. Covavax—a two-dose vaccine— will also likely be used for children aged above 3 years and it would be launched in mid-2022, Poonawalla had said earlier. Covovax was assessed under the WHO EUL procedure based on the review of data on quality, safety and efficacy, a risk management plan, programmatic suitability, and manufacturing site inspections carried out by the Drugs Controller General of India. The Technical Advisory Group for Emergency Use Listing (TAG-EUL) determined that the vaccine meets WHO standards for protection against COVID-19, that the benefit of the vaccine far outweighs any risks, and that the vaccine can be used globally, the global health body said. The agency said that Novovax’s own vaccine is currently under assessment by the European Medicines Agency, and it will complete its own assessment of this vaccine once the EMA has issued its recommendation. Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine had shown 90 per cent efficacy at preventing Covid illness, according to results from a Phase 3 clinical trial. In addition to being highly effective in preventing Covid illness of any severity, the vaccine was 100 per cent effective in preventing moderate and severe disease that required hospitalisation, revealed the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. (With inputs from agencies)

WHO gives approval to Novavax-Serum Institute's Covavax Covid vaccine for emergency use

Expert advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet Thursday to discuss what federal health officials see as a concerning increase in the rates of a rare but serious blood-clotting disorder linked to Johnson &amp; Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine.

The Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices will see new data at the meeting that shows elevated risks of the condition in men and women, according to one federal official, setting the stage for the experts to possibly recommend new restrictions on the use of the vaccine.

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday said that although problems arose in men and women, the highest rate was in about 1 in 100,000 in women ages 30-49.

Among the women who were diagnosed with the syndrome, which can impair clotting and cause internal bleeding, about 1 in 7 died, the FDA said. The federal official who described the planning for Thursday’s meeting said that updated figures showed roughly nine deaths from the disorder.

The panel on Thursday may advise that the vaccine only be given to people who cannot access a different brand or who want it despite the risk, or restrict it to certain groups.

The Washington Post first reported the plans for Thursday’s meeting and the new federal data.

Jake Sargent, a spokesperson for Johnson &amp; Johnson, said the company shares with regulators reports of side effects in people who have received the vaccine and strongly supports “raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of this rare event.”

About 16 million people in the United States have received a single shot of the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine as their primary immunisation, compared to 73 million fully immunised with Moderna’s vaccine and 113 million with Pfizer’s. Among the people in the United States who have received a booster shot, just 1.5% have gotten the one from Johnson &amp; Johnson.

The side effect, known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, can impair clotting and cause internal bleeding. An increased risk for the condition has been linked to the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine and the shot from AstraZeneca, which is not authorised in the United States. It has not been linked to the vaccines from Moderna or Pfizer.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-possibly-an-engineered-virus-and-leaked-from-wuhan-lab-harvard-scientist-437263">Also read |&nbsp;COVID-19 possibly an engineered virus and leaked from Wuhan lab: Harvard scientist</a>

On Tuesday, the FDA announced that it added a warning to the vaccine’s fact sheets for patients and providers, saying the shot should not be given to anyone who has had a clotting problem after a first dose. The agency said that it “continues to find” that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh its risks.

As more cases of the clotting disorder were adjudicated by federal health officials in recent months, FDA and CDC officials grew increasingly alarmed by the numbers presented to them by the CDC’s immunisation safety office, which monitors reports in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERS, a decades-old system that relies on self-reported cases from patients and health care providers.

The reports of the condition grew worrisome enough in recent weeks that federal officials determined they needed to call an emergency meeting of the CDC advisers.

In April, soon after Johnson &amp; Johnson’s vaccine started being administered in the United States, federal officials briefly recommended halting use of the shot because of concerns about the risk of blood clots. At the time, the condition had emerged in six women, all of whom developed the illness within one to three weeks of vaccination. One of the women had died. By May, 28 cases had been confirmed.

The updated FDA fact sheet for providers says that “currently available evidence supports a causal relationship” between the condition and Johnson &amp; Johnson’s vaccine.

The new data come during a surge in virus cases driven by the delta coronavirus variant and omicron, the version of the virus that has already become dominant in some countries and is spreading fast in the United States.

Several laboratory experiments suggest that a single dose of Johnson &amp; Johnson’s shot may offer little defense against infection with omicron. The company said late last month that it is testing blood samples from clinical trial participants who have received its shot as a booster to see how their vaccine-induced antibodies fare against omicron.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-develops-new-software-to-predict-actions-that-can-trigger-outsized-chinese-reactions-437252">Also read |&nbsp;US develops new software to predict actions that can trigger 'outsized' Chinese reactions</a>

The shot has largely fallen out of favor in the United States, despite early hopes that its one-and-done format would be easy to deploy in more isolated communities and among people skittish about receiving two doses.

Federal health officials in October authorised booster shots for people who had received a single shot of Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine at least two months earlier. They allowed for a “mix and match” approach, allowing people to get a second shot of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Among people in the United States who originally received a single Johnson &amp; Johnson shot and then got a second shot, fewer than 28% have gotten Johnson &amp; Johnson as their booster.

Expert advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet Thursday to discuss what federal health officials see as a concerning increase in the rates of a rare but serious blood-clotting disorder linked to Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine.

Expert advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet Thursday to discuss what federal health officials see as a concerning increase in the rates of a rare but serious blood-clotting disorder linked to Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine. The Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices will see new data at the meeting that shows elevated risks of the condition in men and women, according to one federal official, setting the stage for the experts to possibly recommend new restrictions on the use of the vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday said that although problems arose in men and women, the highest rate was in about 1 in 100,000 in women ages 30-49. Among the women who were diagnosed with the syndrome, which can impair clotting and cause internal bleeding, about 1 in 7 died, the FDA said. The federal official who described the planning for Thursday’s meeting said that updated figures showed roughly nine deaths from the disorder. The panel on Thursday may advise that the vaccine only be given to people who cannot access a different brand or who want it despite the risk, or restrict it to certain groups. The Washington Post first reported the plans for Thursday’s meeting and the new federal data. Jake Sargent, a spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson, said the company shares with regulators reports of side effects in people who have received the vaccine and strongly supports “raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of this rare event.” About 16 million people in the United States have received a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as their primary immunisation, compared to 73 million fully immunised with Moderna’s vaccine and 113 million with Pfizer’s. Among the people in the United States who have received a booster shot, just 1.5% have gotten the one from Johnson & Johnson. The side effect, known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, can impair clotting and cause internal bleeding. An increased risk for the condition has been linked to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the shot from AstraZeneca, which is not authorised in the United States. It has not been linked to the vaccines from Moderna or Pfizer. Also read | COVID-19 possibly an engineered virus and leaked from Wuhan lab: Harvard scientist On Tuesday, the FDA announced that it added a warning to the vaccine’s fact sheets for patients and providers, saying the shot should not be given to anyone who has had a clotting problem after a first dose. The agency said that it “continues to find” that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh its risks. As more cases of the clotting disorder were adjudicated by federal health officials in recent months, FDA and CDC officials grew increasingly alarmed by the numbers presented to them by the CDC’s immunisation safety office, which monitors reports in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERS, a decades-old system that relies on self-reported cases from patients and health care providers. The reports of the condition grew worrisome enough in recent weeks that federal officials determined they needed to call an emergency meeting of the CDC advisers. In April, soon after Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine started being administered in the United States, federal officials briefly recommended halting use of the shot because of concerns about the risk of blood clots. At the time, the condition had emerged in six women, all of whom developed the illness within one to three weeks of vaccination. One of the women had died. By May, 28 cases had been confirmed. The updated FDA fact sheet for providers says that “currently available evidence supports a causal relationship” between the condition and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine. The new data come during a surge in virus cases driven by the delta coronavirus variant and omicron, the version of the virus that has already become dominant in some countries and is spreading fast in the United States. Several laboratory experiments suggest that a single dose of Johnson & Johnson’s shot may offer little defense against infection with omicron. The company said late last month that it is testing blood samples from clinical trial participants who have received its shot as a booster to see how their vaccine-induced antibodies fare against omicron. Also read | US develops new software to predict actions that can trigger 'outsized' Chinese reactions The shot has largely fallen out of favor in the United States, despite early hopes that its one-and-done format would be easy to deploy in more isolated communities and among people skittish about receiving two doses. Federal health officials in October authorised booster shots for people who had received a single shot of Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months earlier. They allowed for a “mix and match” approach, allowing people to get a second shot of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Among people in the United States who originally received a single Johnson & Johnson shot and then got a second shot, fewer than 28% have gotten Johnson & Johnson as their booster.

CDC panel will discuss blood clot risk linked to Johnson & Johnson vaccine

After there were reports of animals contracting the deadly coronavirus, many zoos and wildlife parks have started vaccinating their animals as a precautionary measure. Potter Park Zoo in Michigan became one of the first zoos to take such an initiative after numerous zoo animals across the country tested positive.

The vaccines were donated by a New Jersey-based animal health company named Zoetis Inc. This company makes one of the few approved Covid vaccines for animals.

The company started working on its vaccine in February 2020, after a &nbsp;dog tested positive for Covid in Hong Kong. It was concluded that the 20 animals that received the experimental vaccine developed a robust antibody response against SARS-CoV-2. However, the 10 that received a placebo did not. Also, there were no safety concerns reported by the company.

Potter Park Zoo Animal Care Supervisor Pat Fountain, in a report, said, "They were finding that it was happening in a lot of big cats and things like that. As a different number of animals grew, it became clear that it was a much bigger deal for the animals.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/in-a-first-three-white-tailed-deer-test-positive-for-covid-in-canada-433696">Also read |&nbsp;In a first, three white-tailed deer test positive for Covid in Canada</a>

The fountain further added that vaccinating animals is more challenging than vaccinating humans. He highlighted how limiting animal stress is the biggest priority. "I do train the animals daily to get used to the idea of being poked or getting shots or getting their blood drawn, or anything like that. It’s more about the stress of the animal than anything. So we don’t want to overstress any of them because they can get sick or hurt," he said.&nbsp;

In another such incident, nearly 260 animals, including many different species, received an experiment Covid vaccine at San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, various animals have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus. This includes three white-tailed deers in Canada. Also, the Alpha variant of Covid was detected in pets when two cats and dogs tested positive in a PCR test. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

After there were reports of animals contracting the deadly coronavirus, many zoos and wildlife parks have started vaccinating their animals as a precautionary measure.

After there were reports of animals contracting the deadly coronavirus, many zoos and wildlife parks have started vaccinating their animals as a precautionary measure. Potter Park Zoo in Michigan became one of the first zoos to take such an initiative after numerous zoo animals across the country tested positive. The vaccines were donated by a New Jersey-based animal health company named Zoetis Inc. This company makes one of the few approved Covid vaccines for animals. The company started working on its vaccine in February 2020, after a dog tested positive for Covid in Hong Kong. It was concluded that the 20 animals that received the experimental vaccine developed a robust antibody response against SARS-CoV-2. However, the 10 that received a placebo did not. Also, there were no safety concerns reported by the company. Potter Park Zoo Animal Care Supervisor Pat Fountain, in a report, said, "They were finding that it was happening in a lot of big cats and things like that. As a different number of animals grew, it became clear that it was a much bigger deal for the animals.” Also read | In a first, three white-tailed deer test positive for Covid in Canada The fountain further added that vaccinating animals is more challenging than vaccinating humans. He highlighted how limiting animal stress is the biggest priority. "I do train the animals daily to get used to the idea of being poked or getting shots or getting their blood drawn, or anything like that. It’s more about the stress of the animal than anything. So we don’t want to overstress any of them because they can get sick or hurt," he said. In another such incident, nearly 260 animals, including many different species, received an experiment Covid vaccine at San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. Meanwhile, various animals have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus. This includes three white-tailed deers in Canada. Also, the Alpha variant of Covid was detected in pets when two cats and dogs tested positive in a PCR test. (With inputs from agencies)

Wildlife parks are starting to vaccinate animals amid a surge in Covid cases

After reports claimed Pfizer had shown a "shocking risk level" for its vaccine, a fact-check by AFP revealed it was an inaccurate claim and that there was no causal link established between the problems and the jabs.

After reports claimed Pfizer had shown a "shocking risk level" for its vaccine, a fact-check by AFP revealed it was an inaccurate claim and that there was no causal link established between the problems and the jabs. The report related to recent documents released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which claimed important revelations pertaining to the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. The documents which were obtained by a group of doctors, professors, and journalists apparently showed that Pfizer recorded nearly 160,000 adverse reactions to its vaccine during the initial months. As per the documents, over 25,000 nervous system disorders were reported. This was accompanied with 17,000 musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders and 14,000 gastrointestinal disorders. "The figure of 1,223 fatalities among 158,893 adverse effects reflect "spontaneous" reports from sources that include health officials in several countries, without any verification of the cause, among the millions of vaccinated people worldwide during that period," Pfizer spokeswoman Dervila Keane told AFP. "It does not indicate specific causes of death and the fatalities may include people with "various illnesses" such as cancer or cardiovascular disease," Dervila added. The documents were reportedly obtained after doctors, professors and journalists filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the FDA. The first set of documents claimed that in February 2021, when the shot was being given out on an emergency basis, over 42,000 case were reported. These highlighted nearly 160,000 adverse reactions to the jab which ranged from the mild to severe. Out of these 1,223 are said to be fatal, reports RT. However, FDA spokeswoman Alison Hunt told AFP that it requires health care providers to report any death following vaccination to the system, "even if it's unclear whether the vaccine was the cause." "Reviews by FDA and CDC have determined that the vast majority of the deaths reported are not directly attributable to the vaccines," she said, adding that reports of deaths after Covid-19 vaccination are "rare." All of thee side effects have been mentioned in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System database. As of Sunday, it had recorded a total of 3,300 deaths following vaccination with the company's vaccine. While some say that these effects and deaths are underreported, critics said that these deaths cannot be linked with vaccination. The AFP fact-check said clinical research indicates no link between the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and fatalities. (With inputs from agencies)

Fact-check: Documents claiming Pfizer vaccine led to adverse effects are false

A new study by Hong Kong researchers has revealed that the Covid vaccine made by Sinovac Biotech does not provide the required antibodies to neutralise the newly discovered Omicron variant. This comes in as millions of people are relying on the Sinovac vaccine to offer protection against the variant.&nbsp;

Led by microbiologist Yuen Kwok Yung, a professor in infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong, the study involved a total of 50 people. They were divided into two groups of 25 people each. The first group was fully vaccinated with the Sinovac shot and the second group was fully vaccinated with the mRNA shot developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.

In the first group, nobody displayed the required antibodies to neutralise Omicron. However, in the second group, five people showed neutralising ability against the new variant.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-study-finds-pfizer-booster-to-be-effective-against-omicron-variant-436411">Also read |&nbsp;Israeli study finds Pfizer booster to be effective against Omicron variant</a>

According to The Straits Times, the study has been accepted for publication in the medical journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. It is available online as a pre-print.

Meanwhile, a latest Israeli study had revealed that a three-shot course of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine offers protection against the new variant.

The study was carried out by the Sheba Medical Center and the Health Ministry’s Central Virology Laboratory.&nbsp;

As a part of the study, a comparison was made between the blood of 20 people who had received two vaccine doses 5-6 months before the same number of people who had received a booster just a month before.&nbsp;

(With input from agencies)

A new study by Hong Kong researchers has revealed that the Covid vaccine made by Sinovac Biotech does not provide the required antibodies to neutralise the newly discovered Omicron variant.

A new study by Hong Kong researchers has revealed that the Covid vaccine made by Sinovac Biotech does not provide the required antibodies to neutralise the newly discovered Omicron variant. This comes in as millions of people are relying on the Sinovac vaccine to offer protection against the variant. Led by microbiologist Yuen Kwok Yung, a professor in infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong, the study involved a total of 50 people. They were divided into two groups of 25 people each. The first group was fully vaccinated with the Sinovac shot and the second group was fully vaccinated with the mRNA shot developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. In the first group, nobody displayed the required antibodies to neutralise Omicron. However, in the second group, five people showed neutralising ability against the new variant. Also read | Israeli study finds Pfizer booster to be effective against Omicron variant According to The Straits Times, the study has been accepted for publication in the medical journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. It is available online as a pre-print. Meanwhile, a latest Israeli study had revealed that a three-shot course of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine offers protection against the new variant. The study was carried out by the Sheba Medical Center and the Health Ministry’s Central Virology Laboratory. As a part of the study, a comparison was made between the blood of 20 people who had received two vaccine doses 5-6 months before the same number of people who had received a booster just a month before. (With input from agencies)

Sinovac Covid vaccine does not provide sufficient antibodies to battle Omicron

Sinovac Covid vaccine does not provide sufficient antibodies to battle Omicron, reveals Hong Kong study

Twenty-seven US Air Force personnel were discharged from duty for refusing to take COVID-19 vaccine, reportedly making them the first from the service community to be booted out for disobeying the mandate to get the jabs.

The air force had given November 2 deadline for its members to get vaccinated. In October, the US air force had warned that those defying the mandatory vaccine order would not only be discharged from service, but would also&nbsp;be barred from receiving any benefits and would not be considered for re-enlistment.

Air force’s spokeswoman Ann Stefanek on Monday said that these were the first airmen— all younger and lower-ranking personnel—to be administratively discharged for reasons involving the vaccine.

According to the latest Air Force data, more than 1,000 airmen have refused the shot and more than 4,700 are seeking a religious exemption. As of last week, a bit more than 97 per cent of the active-duty Air Force had gotten at least one shot, reports news agency AP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-army-to-bar-promotion-re-enlistment-for-soldiers-who-refuse-to-take-covid-vaccine-430505">US Army to bar promotion, re-enlistment for soldiers who refuse to take Covid vaccine</a>

But none of the 27 airmen sought any type of exemption, medical, administrative or religious, Stefanek said.

Earlier this year, the Pentagon made the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for all members of the military, including active duty, National Guard and the Reserves. Each of the services set its own deadlines and procedures for the mandate, and the Air Force set the earliest deadline.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has said the vaccine is critical to maintaining the health of the force and its ability to respond to a national security crisis.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/12000-us-air-force-members-defy-mandatory-vaccination-order-425560">12,000 US Air Force members defy mandatory vaccination order</a>

As of December 10, 96.4 per cent of active-duty personnel had gotten at least one shot, the Pentagon said. The number declined to about 74 per cent, however, when the Guard and Reserve are included.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 72 per cent of the US population 18 and older have gotten at least one shot.

(With inputs from agencies)

Twenty-seven US Air Force personnel were discharged from duty for refusing to take COVID-19 vaccine, reportedly making them the first from the service community to be booted out for disobeying the mandate to get the jabs.

Twenty-seven US Air Force personnel were discharged from duty for refusing to take COVID-19 vaccine, reportedly making them the first from the service community to be booted out for disobeying the mandate to get the jabs. The air force had given November 2 deadline for its members to get vaccinated. In October, the US air force had warned that those defying the mandatory vaccine order would not only be discharged from service, but would also be barred from receiving any benefits and would not be considered for re-enlistment. Air force’s spokeswoman Ann Stefanek on Monday said that these were the first airmen— all younger and lower-ranking personnel—to be administratively discharged for reasons involving the vaccine. According to the latest Air Force data, more than 1,000 airmen have refused the shot and more than 4,700 are seeking a religious exemption. As of last week, a bit more than 97 per cent of the active-duty Air Force had gotten at least one shot, reports news agency AP. Also read | US Army to bar promotion, re-enlistment for soldiers who refuse to take Covid vaccine But none of the 27 airmen sought any type of exemption, medical, administrative or religious, Stefanek said. Earlier this year, the Pentagon made the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for all members of the military, including active duty, National Guard and the Reserves. Each of the services set its own deadlines and procedures for the mandate, and the Air Force set the earliest deadline. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has said the vaccine is critical to maintaining the health of the force and its ability to respond to a national security crisis. Also read | 12,000 US Air Force members defy mandatory vaccination order As of December 10, 96.4 per cent of active-duty personnel had gotten at least one shot, the Pentagon said. The number declined to about 74 per cent, however, when the Guard and Reserve are included. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 72 per cent of the US population 18 and older have gotten at least one shot. (With inputs from agencies)

27 US Air Force personnel removed for refusing to take COVID-19 vaccine

Nearly 44,000 people gathered in Austria's Vienna to protest against mandatory Covid vaccines. Europe is currently seeing a surge in infections amid concerns of the new Covid variant, Omicron.&nbsp;

Protestors were seen holding placards that read, "No to vaccine fascism," "I'm not a neo-Nazi or a hooligan," and, "I'm fighting for freedom and against the vaccine," states AFP.

Nearly 68 per cent of the country's population is fully vaccinated. This accounts for one of the lowest rates in Western Europe.

The government in Austria has stated that those who have not received the required vaccine dose will need to stay at home as it makes the vaccine mandatory from February for all residents older than 14.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-fears-of-new-variant-looms-europe-surpasses-75-million-covid-cases-433994">Also read |&nbsp;As fears of new variant looms, Europe surpasses 75 million Covid cases</a>

As per the government, nobody will be vaccinated forcefully. However, those who have not received the jab will need to pay an initial fine of $670. This can further go upto $4,000, if not settled.

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Over 44,000 have taken to the streets in Vienna, Austria to protest against medical segregation and lockdown for the unvaccinated.<a href="https://t.co/K6SwuEX0oh">pic.twitter.com/K6SwuEX0oh</a>
— Michael P Senger (@MichaelPSenger) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelPSenger/status/1469751646166999042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Now that’s a protest! 
 
Austria rises up against the mandate madness being inflicted upon them. 
 
Godspeed good people . <a href="https://t.co/Vg0T1neDZ6">pic.twitter.com/Vg0T1neDZ6</a>
— Kat A 🌸 (@SaiKate108) <a href="https://twitter.com/SaiKate108/status/1469690158651904005?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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According to a tally by the Johns Hopkins University, Austria has confirmed 1.2 million infections with nearly 13,000 fatalities since the start of the pandemic.

This comes a few days after a Reuters tally stated that Europe has surpassed 75 million coronavirus cases. The European

Union's public health agency has warned that within a few months, the new Covid variant could be responsible for more than half of all the cases.&nbsp;

Before Omicron was even discovered, Europe had become the epicentre of the pandemic, for the second time.&nbsp;

The WHO had warned that 700,000 more people could die from coronavirus by March 2022, taking the total to above 2.2 million. WHO had said that it is expected that there will be high or extreme stress on hospital beds in 25 countries.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Nearly 44,000 people gathered in Austria's Vienna to protest against mandatory Covid vaccines. Europe is currently seeing a surge in infections amid concerns of the new Covid variant, Omicron.

Nearly 44,000 people gathered in Austria's Vienna to protest against mandatory Covid vaccines. Europe is currently seeing a surge in infections amid concerns of the new Covid variant, Omicron. Protestors were seen holding placards that read, "No to vaccine fascism," "I'm not a neo-Nazi or a hooligan," and, "I'm fighting for freedom and against the vaccine," states AFP. Nearly 68 per cent of the country's population is fully vaccinated. This accounts for one of the lowest rates in Western Europe. The government in Austria has stated that those who have not received the required vaccine dose will need to stay at home as it makes the vaccine mandatory from February for all residents older than 14. Also read | As fears of new variant looms, Europe surpasses 75 million Covid cases As per the government, nobody will be vaccinated forcefully. However, those who have not received the jab will need to pay an initial fine of $670. This can further go upto $4,000, if not settled. Over 44,000 have taken to the streets in Vienna, Austria to protest against medical segregation and lockdown for the unvaccinated.pic.twitter.com/K6SwuEX0oh — Michael P Senger (@MichaelPSenger) December 11, 2021 × Now that’s a protest! Austria rises up against the mandate madness being inflicted upon them. Godspeed good people . pic.twitter.com/Vg0T1neDZ6 — Kat A 🌸 (@SaiKate108) December 11, 2021 × According to a tally by the Johns Hopkins University, Austria has confirmed 1.2 million infections with nearly 13,000 fatalities since the start of the pandemic. This comes a few days after a Reuters tally stated that Europe has surpassed 75 million coronavirus cases. The European Union's public health agency has warned that within a few months, the new Covid variant could be responsible for more than half of all the cases. Before Omicron was even discovered, Europe had become the epicentre of the pandemic, for the second time. The WHO had warned that 700,000 more people could die from coronavirus by March 2022, taking the total to above 2.2 million. WHO had said that it is expected that there will be high or extreme stress on hospital beds in 25 countries. (With inputs from agencies)

Nearly 44,000 people protest in Austria after government mandates Covid vaccine

As South Africa continues to battle with growing cases of deadly coronavirus, a health official has revealed that the country will be rolling out Pfizer booster shots starting from next month. "The first people who will qualify for the booster dose in South Africa will be people over the age of 60 years," Dr Nicolas Crisp, director general at the health ministry, said during a weekly conference.

Several health practitioners had already started being offered&nbsp;the Johnson &amp; Johnson booster shots.

This comes just a few days after President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that the country is preparing its hospitals for additional admissions as the newly emerged Omicron variant&nbsp;has pushed the country into the fourth wave of infections. He further added that daily infections have increased five-fold in the past week. Two weeks ago, only two per cent of tests were positive. 
Ramaphosa, who called the increase in infections a "grave concern."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-cases-increase-five-fold-in-south-africa-president-says-emergence-of-omicron-was-inevitable-434753">Also read |&nbsp;Covid cases increase five-fold in South Africa; President says emergence of Omicron was inevitable</a>

"While the surge in infections is of great concern, we should remember that we anticipated it. Disease modellers in our country have told us that we would likely experience a fourth wave around this time and that it was almost inevitable that new variants of the virus would emerge, " Ramaphosa said in his weekly newsletter.

Health Minister Joe Phaahla recently revealed that the new Omicron variant account for&nbsp;70 per cent of new infections in South Africa. He further revealed that the&nbsp;hospitalised patients are so far showing mild symptoms.

Scientists all across the globe are still working to determine the efficacy of the existing vaccine against the Omicron variant. The transmissibility of this variant is said to be lower than any other previously existing variant.

(With inputs from agencies)

As South Africa continues to battle with growing cases of deadly coronavirus, a health official has revealed that the country will be rolling out Pfizer booster shots starting from next month.

As South Africa continues to battle with growing cases of deadly coronavirus, a health official has revealed that the country will be rolling out Pfizer booster shots starting from next month. "The first people who will qualify for the booster dose in South Africa will be people over the age of 60 years," Dr Nicolas Crisp, director general at the health ministry, said during a weekly conference. Several health practitioners had already started being offered the Johnson & Johnson booster shots. This comes just a few days after President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that the country is preparing its hospitals for additional admissions as the newly emerged Omicron variant has pushed the country into the fourth wave of infections. He further added that daily infections have increased five-fold in the past week. Two weeks ago, only two per cent of tests were positive. Ramaphosa, who called the increase in infections a "grave concern." Also read | Covid cases increase five-fold in South Africa; President says emergence of Omicron was inevitable "While the surge in infections is of great concern, we should remember that we anticipated it. Disease modellers in our country have told us that we would likely experience a fourth wave around this time and that it was almost inevitable that new variants of the virus would emerge, " Ramaphosa said in his weekly newsletter. Health Minister Joe Phaahla recently revealed that the new Omicron variant account for 70 per cent of new infections in South Africa. He further revealed that the hospitalised patients are so far showing mild symptoms. Scientists all across the globe are still working to determine the efficacy of the existing vaccine against the Omicron variant. The transmissibility of this variant is said to be lower than any other previously existing variant. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid deadly fourth wave, South Africa to roll out booster shots next month

The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned several nations against hoarding vaccines for booster shots in an attempt to battle the new Omicron variant. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus further warned that the world is not on its path to meet the target as he said that the world is in a "perilous situation."

The experts are still working to find out how the efficacy of existing vaccines are against Omicron.&nbsp;

Elaborating on vaccine inequity, Tedros said, "Despite our best efforts in the year since the start of the global vaccination campaign, low and lower-middle-income countries have been left behind."

As per WHO, the new variant now accounts for 46 per cent of reported cases globally.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-49-migrants-killed-58-injured-in-a-cargo-truck-accident-in-southern-mexico-435655">Also read |&nbsp;At least 49 migrants killed, 58 injured in a cargo truck accident in southern Mexico</a>

Experts had earlier warned that as the rich countries rushed to vaccinate their citizens and start the booster shot campaign, it would have been much better if they would have helped poor countries get vaccinated. As per these experts, the failure to successfully vaccinate the poorer countries against coronavirus led to the creation of a breeding ground for the Omicron variant.

"Omicron is with us because we have failed to vaccinate the world," said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAids and co-chair of the People’s Vaccine Alliance, a campaign group. "This should be a wake-up call."

Meanwhile, another report by WHO highlighted that there could be a global syringe shortage of around two billion next year.&nbsp;

The production needs to ramp up or the situation may lead to hoarding and panic buying. It will also hit the efforts to protect people against several illnesses, the WHO said.&nbsp;

"We are raising the real concern that we could have a shortage of immunisation syringes, which would in turn lead to serious problems, such as slowing down immunisation efforts. Depending on how the vaccine uptake goes, it could be a deficit of anywhere from one billion to two billion," Lisa Hedman, WHO senior advisor to the Division of Access to Medicines and Health Products, told AFP.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned several nations against hoarding vaccines for booster shots in an attempt to battle the new Omicron variant. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus further warned that the world is not on its path to meet the target as he said that the world is in a "perilous situation.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned several nations against hoarding vaccines for booster shots in an attempt to battle the new Omicron variant. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus further warned that the world is not on its path to meet the target as he said that the world is in a "perilous situation." The experts are still working to find out how the efficacy of existing vaccines are against Omicron. Elaborating on vaccine inequity, Tedros said, "Despite our best efforts in the year since the start of the global vaccination campaign, low and lower-middle-income countries have been left behind." As per WHO, the new variant now accounts for 46 per cent of reported cases globally. Also read | At least 49 migrants killed, 58 injured in a cargo truck accident in southern Mexico Experts had earlier warned that as the rich countries rushed to vaccinate their citizens and start the booster shot campaign, it would have been much better if they would have helped poor countries get vaccinated. As per these experts, the failure to successfully vaccinate the poorer countries against coronavirus led to the creation of a breeding ground for the Omicron variant. "Omicron is with us because we have failed to vaccinate the world," said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAids and co-chair of the People’s Vaccine Alliance, a campaign group. "This should be a wake-up call." Meanwhile, another report by WHO highlighted that there could be a global syringe shortage of around two billion next year. The production needs to ramp up or the situation may lead to hoarding and panic buying. It will also hit the efforts to protect people against several illnesses, the WHO said. "We are raising the real concern that we could have a shortage of immunisation syringes, which would in turn lead to serious problems, such as slowing down immunisation efforts. Depending on how the vaccine uptake goes, it could be a deficit of anywhere from one billion to two billion," Lisa Hedman, WHO senior advisor to the Division of Access to Medicines and Health Products, told AFP. (With inputs from agencies)

WHO warns against vaccine hoarding as world is in a 'perilous situation'

More than 200 million Americans, over 60% of the population, have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The United States crossed that milestone as the threat of the omicron variant spurred a flurry of inoculations in recent days, although the daily rate remains far below its peak in April. And the U.S. lags significantly behind several other countries, which have inoculated over 80% of their populations.

Providers are administering about 1.78 million doses per day on average, including first, second and additional doses, about a 47% decrease from the peak of 3.38 million reported April 13, according to federal data.

The United States remains far behind not only developed countries like Singapore and Portugal, which will soon have vaccinated 90% of their populations, but developing nations like Cambodia (over 80%), according to Our World in Data.

Even before the arrival of omicron, cases and hospitalisations were on the rise in the U.S. as the weather grew colder in much of the country and the highly contagious delta variant remained a threat. Daily cases are averaging over 120,000, and more than 55,000 patients are hospitalised nationwide, far fewer than in September but an increase of more than 15% over the past two weeks. Hospitals have been overstretched from upstate New York to New Mexico.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-democracy-summit-100-nations-invited-china-russia-see-red-after-being-left-out-435351">Also read |&nbsp;Biden's Democracy Summit: 100+ nations invited, China &amp; Russia see red after being left out</a>

The US has been ahead of other countries in booster shots, which it authorised in September and October for many Americans. Then on Oct. 29, the Food and Drug Administration cleared the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.

The daily rate of Americans getting their shots had been steadily climbing since the government widened eligibility and has soared since Thanksgiving, when the omicron variant was discovered. With dozens of mutations never before seen, omicron was named a variant of concern by the World Health Organization.

Scientists have feared that the fast-spreading variant could evade the protection of vaccines. But on Wednesday, Pfizer and BioNTech said laboratory tests suggested that three doses of their coronavirus vaccine offered significant protection against omicron. The lab experiments don’t indicate with any certainty how the vaccines will perform in the real world, and scientists say it could take a month or more to understand the new variant’s threat.

Many questions remain about omicron.

There are early signs that it may cause only mild illness, although that observation was based mainly on cases in South Africa among young people, who are generally less likely to become severely ill from COVID-19. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that while the data is limited, “the disease is mild” in almost all of the U.S. cases recorded so far. Reported symptoms have mainly been cough, congestion and fatigue, and some cases have grown more severe over time, she said.

Scientists are also waiting to see whether cases lead to more hospitalisations and deaths; both lag surges in infections by days or weeks.

Broad mandates by President Joe Biden that had helped boost vaccination rates have been put on hold by courts.

Americans who have resisted getting vaccinated can be grouped into two categories, as a New York Times report showed in July.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-threatens-russia-with-severe-sanctions-if-ukraine-is-attacked-435291">Also read |&nbsp;Biden threatens Russia with 'severe sanctions' if Ukraine is attacked; US troops not to be involved</a>

In one are those who are adamant in their refusal; they include a mix of people but tend to be disproportionately white, rural, evangelical Christian and politically conservative, surveys show.

In the other are those who are persuadable but say they have been putting off vaccination or want to wait and see before making a decision; they are a broad range of people but tend to be a more diverse and urban group, including many younger people, Black and Latino Americans, and Democrats.

It’s this second group that health officials have made progress in inoculating, but surveys suggest they account for less than half of all unvaccinated adults in the United States.

More than 200 million Americans, over 60% of the population, have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The United States crossed that milestone as the threat of the omicron variant spurred a flurry of inoculations in recent days, although the daily rate remains far below its peak in April.

More than 200 million Americans, over 60% of the population, have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The United States crossed that milestone as the threat of the omicron variant spurred a flurry of inoculations in recent days, although the daily rate remains far below its peak in April. And the U.S. lags significantly behind several other countries, which have inoculated over 80% of their populations. Providers are administering about 1.78 million doses per day on average, including first, second and additional doses, about a 47% decrease from the peak of 3.38 million reported April 13, according to federal data. The United States remains far behind not only developed countries like Singapore and Portugal, which will soon have vaccinated 90% of their populations, but developing nations like Cambodia (over 80%), according to Our World in Data. Even before the arrival of omicron, cases and hospitalisations were on the rise in the U.S. as the weather grew colder in much of the country and the highly contagious delta variant remained a threat. Daily cases are averaging over 120,000, and more than 55,000 patients are hospitalised nationwide, far fewer than in September but an increase of more than 15% over the past two weeks. Hospitals have been overstretched from upstate New York to New Mexico. Also read | Biden's Democracy Summit: 100+ nations invited, China & Russia see red after being left out The US has been ahead of other countries in booster shots, which it authorised in September and October for many Americans. Then on Oct. 29, the Food and Drug Administration cleared the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The daily rate of Americans getting their shots had been steadily climbing since the government widened eligibility and has soared since Thanksgiving, when the omicron variant was discovered. With dozens of mutations never before seen, omicron was named a variant of concern by the World Health Organization. Scientists have feared that the fast-spreading variant could evade the protection of vaccines. But on Wednesday, Pfizer and BioNTech said laboratory tests suggested that three doses of their coronavirus vaccine offered significant protection against omicron. The lab experiments don’t indicate with any certainty how the vaccines will perform in the real world, and scientists say it could take a month or more to understand the new variant’s threat. Many questions remain about omicron. There are early signs that it may cause only mild illness, although that observation was based mainly on cases in South Africa among young people, who are generally less likely to become severely ill from COVID-19. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that while the data is limited, “the disease is mild” in almost all of the U.S. cases recorded so far. Reported symptoms have mainly been cough, congestion and fatigue, and some cases have grown more severe over time, she said. Scientists are also waiting to see whether cases lead to more hospitalisations and deaths; both lag surges in infections by days or weeks. Broad mandates by President Joe Biden that had helped boost vaccination rates have been put on hold by courts. Americans who have resisted getting vaccinated can be grouped into two categories, as a New York Times report showed in July. Also read | Biden threatens Russia with 'severe sanctions' if Ukraine is attacked; US troops not to be involved In one are those who are adamant in their refusal; they include a mix of people but tend to be disproportionately white, rural, evangelical Christian and politically conservative, surveys show. In the other are those who are persuadable but say they have been putting off vaccination or want to wait and see before making a decision; they are a broad range of people but tend to be a more diverse and urban group, including many younger people, Black and Latino Americans, and Democrats. It’s this second group that health officials have made progress in inoculating, but surveys suggest they account for less than half of all unvaccinated adults in the United States.

Over 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated

Up to one million COVID-19 vaccines are estimated to have expired in Nigeria last month. In Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and home to more than 200 million people, fewer than 4 per cent of adults have been fully vaccinated.

Up To 1 Million Covid Vaccine Doses Wasted In Nigeria: Report

India has vaccinated more than 50% of its adults with two jabs within 11 months of the launch of its anti-Covid programme. A total of 127.93 crore doses have been administered with over 85% of the 18+ population covered with at least one dose.

India: 50% of adults fully vaccinated against COVID-19 virus

In what comes as a new milestone, India has vaccinated 50 per cent of its adult population against the deadly coronavirus by administrating 1,04,18,707 vaccine doses in 24 hours. The total Covid vaccine doses given in the country has now exceeded 127.61 crores.

States and Union territories with more than 50 per cent of the adult population fully vaccinated include, Andaman Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttrakhand, and Tripura.&nbsp;

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हम होंगे कामयाब ✌🏼 
 
Congratulations India 🇮🇳 
 
It is a moment of great pride as over 50% of the eligible population are now fully vaccinated 💉 
 
We will win the battle against COVID-19 together ✌🏼<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarGharDastak?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HarGharDastak</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SabkoMuftVaccine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SabkoMuftVaccine</a> <a href="https://t.co/q4evljMChk">pic.twitter.com/q4evljMChk</a>
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) <a href="https://twitter.com/mansukhmandviya/status/1467351665690906626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"Congratulations India. It is a moment of great pride as over 50 per cent of the eligible population is now fully vaccinated. We will win the battle against COVID-19 together," said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on his Twitter.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-india-reports-16-new-cases-of-omicron-variant-tally-rises-to-21-434362">Also read |&nbsp;Covid: India reports 16 new cases of Omicron variant, tally rises to 21</a>

Earlier, in October, India administered a billion vaccine doses.

India achieved this milestone at a time when the new variant of Covid, Omicron is rapidly spreading in the nation. India reported its first case of Omicron variant when a 72-year-old Zimbabwe resident travelled to Jamnagar, Gujarat and tested positive for coronavirus. The total tally for the Omicron variant in India now stands at 21.&nbsp;Out of these 21, eight are in Maharashtra, nine in Jaipur, one in Delhi and Gujarat each, and two in Bangalore.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health has urged the government and experts to do an efficacy check on the existing vaccines against coronavirus.

"The committee believes that timely detection and isolation of potentially infectious people is very crucial in reducing the impact of the pandemic," the panel said in its report.

(With inputs from agencies)

In what comes as a new milestone, India has vaccinated 50 per cent of its adult population against the deadly coronavirus by administrating 1,04,18,707 vaccine doses in 24 hours.

In what comes as a new milestone, India has vaccinated 50 per cent of its adult population against the deadly coronavirus by administrating 1,04,18,707 vaccine doses in 24 hours. The total Covid vaccine doses given in the country has now exceeded 127.61 crores. States and Union territories with more than 50 per cent of the adult population fully vaccinated include, Andaman Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttrakhand, and Tripura. हम होंगे कामयाब ✌🏼 Congratulations India 🇮🇳 It is a moment of great pride as over 50% of the eligible population are now fully vaccinated 💉 We will win the battle against COVID-19 together ✌🏼#HarGharDastak #SabkoMuftVaccine pic.twitter.com/q4evljMChk — Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) December 5, 2021 × "Congratulations India. It is a moment of great pride as over 50 per cent of the eligible population is now fully vaccinated. We will win the battle against COVID-19 together," said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on his Twitter. Also read | Covid: India reports 16 new cases of Omicron variant, tally rises to 21 Earlier, in October, India administered a billion vaccine doses. India achieved this milestone at a time when the new variant of Covid, Omicron is rapidly spreading in the nation. India reported its first case of Omicron variant when a 72-year-old Zimbabwe resident travelled to Jamnagar, Gujarat and tested positive for coronavirus. The total tally for the Omicron variant in India now stands at 21. Out of these 21, eight are in Maharashtra, nine in Jaipur, one in Delhi and Gujarat each, and two in Bangalore. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health has urged the government and experts to do an efficacy check on the existing vaccines against coronavirus. "The committee believes that timely detection and isolation of potentially infectious people is very crucial in reducing the impact of the pandemic," the panel said in its report. (With inputs from agencies)

India achieves new milestone as over 50% of adult population now vaccinated against Covid

After offering a ride to teens, whose parents are against inoculation, to site, vaccine&nbsp;advocates in Canada seem to have sparked a row. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Along with facing backlash, the people, who support vaccination, are reportedly receiving threats. &nbsp;

On Friday, the controversy began when a community organiser in Saskatchewan named Julian Wotherspoon, in a Twitter message, offered to help any 13- to 17-year-olds, who want to get inoculated despite opposition from parents. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-capital-reports-first-case-of-omicron-variant-taking-countrys-total-to-5-434252">Indian capital reports first case of Omicron, taking country's total to 5</a>

“I’m your ride to the clinic. If anyone asks, I’m taking you and my kids to a movie. Let’s do this,” she said. &nbsp;

As per the Health Authority of Saskatchewan, children aged 13 and older, “who are able to understand the benefits and possible reactions” of a vaccine, do not need parent’s permission to get inoculated. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The teens can also refuse inoculation by giving “mature minor” consent to health provider. &nbsp;

The tweet of Wotherspoon has caused stir as it attracted both praise and outrage. Since then, she has made her account private. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-introduces-new-travel-measures-as-omicron-cases-rise-to-160-434232" hreflang="en">Britain introduces new travel measures as Omicron cases rise to 160</a>

A “mommy blogger”, Tenille Lafontaine, called the offer “amazing.” Lafontaine, who also belongs to Saskatchewan, said, “I’ve heard of a few teens getting the vaccine on their own because their parents are insane in the membrane. The kids are gonna be alright. Side note: I’m available to drive anytime.” &nbsp;

“We don’t want to ever give the perception we’re giving Covid vaccine behind parents’ backs,” Health Minister Paul Merriman told CBC News. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After offering a ride to teens, whose parents are against inoculation, to site, vaccine advocates in Canada seem to have sparked a row. Along with facing backlash, the people, who support vaccination, are reportedly receiving threats.

After offering a ride to teens, whose parents are against inoculation, to site, vaccine advocates in Canada seem to have sparked a row. Along with facing backlash, the people, who support vaccination, are reportedly receiving threats. On Friday, the controversy began when a community organiser in Saskatchewan named Julian Wotherspoon, in a Twitter message, offered to help any 13- to 17-year-olds, who want to get inoculated despite opposition from parents. Also Read: Indian capital reports first case of Omicron, taking country's total to 5 “I’m your ride to the clinic. If anyone asks, I’m taking you and my kids to a movie. Let’s do this,” she said. As per the Health Authority of Saskatchewan, children aged 13 and older, “who are able to understand the benefits and possible reactions” of a vaccine, do not need parent’s permission to get inoculated. The teens can also refuse inoculation by giving “mature minor” consent to health provider. The tweet of Wotherspoon has caused stir as it attracted both praise and outrage. Since then, she has made her account private. Also Read: Britain introduces new travel measures as Omicron cases rise to 160 A “mommy blogger”, Tenille Lafontaine, called the offer “amazing.” Lafontaine, who also belongs to Saskatchewan, said, “I’ve heard of a few teens getting the vaccine on their own because their parents are insane in the membrane. The kids are gonna be alright. Side note: I’m available to drive anytime.” “We don’t want to ever give the perception we’re giving Covid vaccine behind parents’ backs,” Health Minister Paul Merriman told CBC News. (With inputs from agencies)

Vaccine advocates offer rides to teens to inoculation site, spark controversy

Many vaccination clinics and local officials are reporting long lines and delays in booking vaccination appointments recently, the product of expanded eligibility on booster shots and fears of the omicron variant, experts said.

The stresses on the US&nbsp;vaccination program are worsened by the broader labor shortage that is affecting many sectors, including health care.

“What the public needs to keep in mind is that we’ve got a stressed and strained health care delivery system,” said Mitchel Rothholz, the lead for immunisation policy at the American Pharmacists Association.

Vaccine demand has more than doubled since the beginning of October, especially for boosters and first doses, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rothholz said he has noticed that pharmacies are moving more to an appointment-based model with the uptick in demand, similar to when vaccines were first rolled out and there was a crush to get them. This means that people wanting a vaccine may need to plan ahead and could have to wait a few more days.

<a href="wionews.com/world/19-year-old-man-arrested-for-threatening-to-release-sexually-explicit-photos-of-florida-state-senator-434145">Also read |&nbsp;19-year-old man arrested for threatening to release sexually explicit photos of Florida state senator</a>

“We’ve got to go to a system where we can manage expectations,” he said.

The Biden administration is trying to make getting vaccinated easier. In announcing actions Thursday to protect against delta and omicron, President Joe Biden said the government would create hundreds of family vaccination clinics, one-stop shops for first shots to boosters. Partners in a federal pharmacy program, including major chains such as CVS and Rite Aid, will also make “family-based scheduling” available in the months ahead, according to the White House.

Since the emergence of the omicron variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster shot, six months after a Pfizer or Moderna series or two months after a Johnson &amp; Johnson shot.

Dr. Leana Wen, a public health professor at George Washington University, said there are some pockets of the country where vaccines are expiring because demand is low and others where lines are longer than a month ago because of greater demand.

But, she said, demand will likely ease in a few weeks.

“Whenever there is a new recommendation, there are the early adopters who are extremely eager to want to get that booster right now,” she said, adding that “supply and demand will equilibrate in short order.”

Some states and counties have hosted mass-vaccination clinics to alleviate the burden on pharmacies and meet demand from residents.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-may-have-acquired-a-mutation-from-common-cold-virus-say-researchers-434118">Also read |&nbsp;Omicron may have acquired a mutation from common cold virus, say researchers</a>

Richard Clark, director of emergency management for Bernalillo County, which includes Albuquerque, New Mexico, said the county had been running vaccination clinics that would attract about 300 or 400 people each time. Clark said he kept hearing comments about people driving from counties an hour away to get their vaccine, because they were worried about the upcoming holidays and virus variants.

“We decided, let’s just do a large one,” he said, “and our 1,000 slots were filled within probably a day and a half.”

Gov. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts said this past week that demand for vaccines skyrocketed after boosters became widely available.

“We are doing over 50,000 shots per day,” Baker said, according to a Boston 25 News story published Tuesday, “and if we can find a way to work with our local colleagues in local government, we will come up with ways to put more shots on the table.”

Many vaccination clinics and local officials are reporting long lines and delays in booking vaccination appointments recently, the product of expanded eligibility on booster shots and fears of the omicron variant, experts said.

Many vaccination clinics and local officials are reporting long lines and delays in booking vaccination appointments recently, the product of expanded eligibility on booster shots and fears of the omicron variant, experts said. The stresses on the US vaccination program are worsened by the broader labor shortage that is affecting many sectors, including health care. “What the public needs to keep in mind is that we’ve got a stressed and strained health care delivery system,” said Mitchel Rothholz, the lead for immunisation policy at the American Pharmacists Association. Vaccine demand has more than doubled since the beginning of October, especially for boosters and first doses, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rothholz said he has noticed that pharmacies are moving more to an appointment-based model with the uptick in demand, similar to when vaccines were first rolled out and there was a crush to get them. This means that people wanting a vaccine may need to plan ahead and could have to wait a few more days. Also read | 19-year-old man arrested for threatening to release sexually explicit photos of Florida state senator “We’ve got to go to a system where we can manage expectations,” he said. The Biden administration is trying to make getting vaccinated easier. In announcing actions Thursday to protect against delta and omicron, President Joe Biden said the government would create hundreds of family vaccination clinics, one-stop shops for first shots to boosters. Partners in a federal pharmacy program, including major chains such as CVS and Rite Aid, will also make “family-based scheduling” available in the months ahead, according to the White House. Since the emergence of the omicron variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster shot, six months after a Pfizer or Moderna series or two months after a Johnson & Johnson shot. Dr. Leana Wen, a public health professor at George Washington University, said there are some pockets of the country where vaccines are expiring because demand is low and others where lines are longer than a month ago because of greater demand. But, she said, demand will likely ease in a few weeks. “Whenever there is a new recommendation, there are the early adopters who are extremely eager to want to get that booster right now,” she said, adding that “supply and demand will equilibrate in short order.” Some states and counties have hosted mass-vaccination clinics to alleviate the burden on pharmacies and meet demand from residents. Also read | Omicron may have acquired a mutation from common cold virus, say researchers Richard Clark, director of emergency management for Bernalillo County, which includes Albuquerque, New Mexico, said the county had been running vaccination clinics that would attract about 300 or 400 people each time. Clark said he kept hearing comments about people driving from counties an hour away to get their vaccine, because they were worried about the upcoming holidays and virus variants. “We decided, let’s just do a large one,” he said, “and our 1,000 slots were filled within probably a day and a half.” Gov. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts said this past week that demand for vaccines skyrocketed after boosters became widely available. “We are doing over 50,000 shots per day,” Baker said, according to a Boston 25 News story published Tuesday, “and if we can find a way to work with our local colleagues in local government, we will come up with ways to put more shots on the table.”

Vaccine demand grows in the US and so do wait times

When Covid pandemic hit in 2020, it was definitely scary. All seemed lost until development of vaccines.

Vaccines were a ray of hope. Vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University was one of the initial vaccines that were used against Covid. The cries of welcome were soon turned into apprehension as it was seen that AstraZeneca vaccine caused blood clots in some recipients. Some countries had even stopped administering AstrZeneca vaccines due to this.

It was soon revealed that formation of blood clots was an extremely rare occurence. But the scare was enough to temporarily disrupt global fight against the pandemic.

Now, scientists have pointed at a possible reason behind the blood clots. A team consisting of researchers from Cardiff and US have shed more light on this.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/moderna-says-current-vaccines-not-effective-against-the-omicron-variant-432697">Moderna says current vaccines not effective against the Omicron variant</a>

AstraZeneca vaccine uses Adenovirus to transfer genetic material of coronavirus into cells. According to the researchers, formation of blood clot is related to the way this Adenovirus binds with a specific protein in the blood. This &nbsp;prtein is known as platelet factor 4 (PF4).

Researchers think that this sparks a chain reaction that leads to formation of blood clots. Formation of blood clots due to the vaccine is known as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT).

“Our data confirms PF4 can bind to adenoviruses, an important step in unravelling the mechanism underlying VITT. Establishing a mechanism could help to prevent and treat this disorder," Prof Alan Parker from Cardiff University was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

“We hope our findings can be used to better understand the rare side effects of these new vaccines and potentially to design new and improved vaccines to turn the tide on this global pandemic.”

When Covid pandemic hit in 2020, it was definitely scary. All seemed lost until development of vaccines. Vaccines were a ray of hope. Vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University was one of the initial vaccines that were used against Covid.

When Covid pandemic hit in 2020, it was definitely scary. All seemed lost until development of vaccines. Vaccines were a ray of hope. Vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University was one of the initial vaccines that were used against Covid. The cries of welcome were soon turned into apprehension as it was seen that AstraZeneca vaccine caused blood clots in some recipients. Some countries had even stopped administering AstrZeneca vaccines due to this. It was soon revealed that formation of blood clots was an extremely rare occurence. But the scare was enough to temporarily disrupt global fight against the pandemic. Now, scientists have pointed at a possible reason behind the blood clots. A team consisting of researchers from Cardiff and US have shed more light on this. Also Read | Moderna says current vaccines not effective against the Omicron variant AstraZeneca vaccine uses Adenovirus to transfer genetic material of coronavirus into cells. According to the researchers, formation of blood clot is related to the way this Adenovirus binds with a specific protein in the blood. This prtein is known as platelet factor 4 (PF4). Researchers think that this sparks a chain reaction that leads to formation of blood clots. Formation of blood clots due to the vaccine is known as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). “Our data confirms PF4 can bind to adenoviruses, an important step in unravelling the mechanism underlying VITT. Establishing a mechanism could help to prevent and treat this disorder," Prof Alan Parker from Cardiff University was quoted as saying by The Guardian. “We hope our findings can be used to better understand the rare side effects of these new vaccines and potentially to design new and improved vaccines to turn the tide on this global pandemic.”

Scientists tell why some people developed blood clots after AstraZeneca jab

The word 'vaccine' has defeated 'insurrection' to become Merriam-Webster's word of the year 2021.

Over 2020, the use of the word 'vaccine' increased 601 per cent.&nbsp;Debates over inequitable distribution, vaccine mandates and boosters kept interest high.

According to its editor, Peter Sokolowski, It really represents two different stories. One is the science story, which is this remarkable speed with which the vaccines were developed. But there’s also the debates regarding policy, politics and political affiliation. It’s one word that carries these two huge stories.''

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-omicron-has-high-number-of-mutations-compared-to-delta-shows-first-image-432671">Omicron has high number of mutations compared to Delta, shows first image</a>

“The pandemic was the gun going off and now we have the aftereffects,” Sokolowski said.

The other word that were runners-up in the word biography of 2021 include, infrastructure, perseverance and nomad.

Merriam-Webster bases its selection on lookup data, paying close attention to spikes and, more recently, year-over-year increases in searches after weeding out evergreens.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/collins-dictionary-makes-nft-its-word-of-the-year-431592">Also read |&nbsp;Collins Dictionary makes NFT its word of the year</a>

However, other dictionary companies choose words of the year by committee.

Borrowed from the New Latin “vaccina,” which goes back to Latin’s feminine “vaccinus,” meaning “of or from a cow,” the word 'vaccine' was first used in 1882.

It comes after the Oxford English Dictionary has chosen the word ''vax'' and Collins Dictionary had chosen ''NFT'' as their respective word of the year.&nbsp;

Merriam-Webster has been declaring a word of the year since 2008.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The word 'vaccine' has defeated 'insurrection' to become Merriam-Webster's word of the year 2021. Over 2020, the use of the word 'vaccine' increased 601 per cent.

The word 'vaccine' has defeated 'insurrection' to become Merriam-Webster's word of the year 2021. Over 2020, the use of the word 'vaccine' increased 601 per cent. Debates over inequitable distribution, vaccine mandates and boosters kept interest high. According to its editor, Peter Sokolowski, It really represents two different stories. One is the science story, which is this remarkable speed with which the vaccines were developed. But there’s also the debates regarding policy, politics and political affiliation. It’s one word that carries these two huge stories.'' Also read | Omicron has high number of mutations compared to Delta, shows first image “The pandemic was the gun going off and now we have the aftereffects,” Sokolowski said. The other word that were runners-up in the word biography of 2021 include, infrastructure, perseverance and nomad. Merriam-Webster bases its selection on lookup data, paying close attention to spikes and, more recently, year-over-year increases in searches after weeding out evergreens. Also read | Collins Dictionary makes NFT its word of the year However, other dictionary companies choose words of the year by committee. Borrowed from the New Latin “vaccina,” which goes back to Latin’s feminine “vaccinus,” meaning “of or from a cow,” the word 'vaccine' was first used in 1882. It comes after the Oxford English Dictionary has chosen the word ''vax'' and Collins Dictionary had chosen ''NFT'' as their respective word of the year. Merriam-Webster has been declaring a word of the year since 2008. (With inputs from agencies)

Vaccine beats insurrection to become Merriam-Webster's word of the year 2021

As nations severed air links from southern Africa amid fears of another global surge of the coronavirus, scientists scrambled Sunday to gather data on the new omicron variant, its capabilities and — perhaps most important — how effectively the current vaccines will protect against it.

The early findings are a mixed picture. The variant may be more transmissible and better able to evade the body’s immune responses, both to vaccination and to natural infection, than prior versions of the virus, experts said.

The vaccines may well continue to ward off severe illness and death, although booster doses may be needed to protect most people. Still, the makers of the two most effective vaccines, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are preparing to reformulate their shots if necessary.

Even as scientists began vigorous scrutiny of the new variant, countries around the world curtailed travel to and from nations in southern Africa, where omicron was first identified. Despite the restrictions, the virus has been found in a half-dozen European countries, including the United Kingdom, as well as Australia, Israel and Hong Kong.

Already, omicron accounts for most of the 2,300 new daily cases in the province of Gauteng, South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Sunday. Nationally, new infections have more than tripled in the past week, and test positivity has increased to 9% from 2%.

Scientists have reacted more quickly to omicron than to any other variant. In just 36 hours from the first signs of trouble in South Africa on Tuesday, researchers analyzed samples from 100 infected patients, collated the data and alerted the world, said Tulio de Oliveira, a geneticist at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine in Durban.

Within an hour of the first alarm, scientists in South Africa also rushed to test coronavirus vaccines against the new variant. Now, dozens of teams worldwide — including researchers at Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna — have joined the chase.

They won’t know the results for two weeks, at the earliest. But the mutations that omicron carries suggest that the vaccines most likely will be less effective, to some unknown degree, than they were against any previous variant.

South African doctors are seeing an increase in reinfections in people who already had a bout of COVID-19, suggesting that the variant can overcome natural immunity, said Dr. Richard Lessells, an infectious diseases physician at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

As nations severed air links from southern Africa amid fears of another global surge of the coronavirus, scientists scrambled Sunday to gather data on the new omicron variant, its capabilities and — perhaps most important — how effectively the current vaccines will protect against it.

As nations severed air links from southern Africa amid fears of another global surge of the coronavirus, scientists scrambled Sunday to gather data on the new omicron variant, its capabilities and — perhaps most important — how effectively the current vaccines will protect against it. The early findings are a mixed picture. The variant may be more transmissible and better able to evade the body’s immune responses, both to vaccination and to natural infection, than prior versions of the virus, experts said. The vaccines may well continue to ward off severe illness and death, although booster doses may be needed to protect most people. Still, the makers of the two most effective vaccines, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are preparing to reformulate their shots if necessary. Even as scientists began vigorous scrutiny of the new variant, countries around the world curtailed travel to and from nations in southern Africa, where omicron was first identified. Despite the restrictions, the virus has been found in a half-dozen European countries, including the United Kingdom, as well as Australia, Israel and Hong Kong. Already, omicron accounts for most of the 2,300 new daily cases in the province of Gauteng, South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Sunday. Nationally, new infections have more than tripled in the past week, and test positivity has increased to 9% from 2%. Scientists have reacted more quickly to omicron than to any other variant. In just 36 hours from the first signs of trouble in South Africa on Tuesday, researchers analyzed samples from 100 infected patients, collated the data and alerted the world, said Tulio de Oliveira, a geneticist at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine in Durban. Within an hour of the first alarm, scientists in South Africa also rushed to test coronavirus vaccines against the new variant. Now, dozens of teams worldwide — including researchers at Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna — have joined the chase. They won’t know the results for two weeks, at the earliest. But the mutations that omicron carries suggest that the vaccines most likely will be less effective, to some unknown degree, than they were against any previous variant. South African doctors are seeing an increase in reinfections in people who already had a bout of COVID-19, suggesting that the variant can overcome natural immunity, said Dr. Richard Lessells, an infectious diseases physician at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Will the vaccines stop Omicron? Scientists are racing to find out.

Demonstrators in Australia took over the streets protesting against the Covid-19 vaccine mandate. People were seen gathering around Melbourne's state parliament and in towns and cities across Australia.

Demonstrators in Australia took over the streets protesting against the Covid-19 vaccine mandate. People were seen gathering around Melbourne's state parliament and in towns and cities across Australia. The protestors are also demanding the sacking of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Such protests have been going on for weeks but the situation worsened after thousands of workers across various sectors were required to show their proof of vaccination in order to continue work. Virus liberation protest in Melbourne. Protestors say "keeping B.1.1.529 segregated from its AY.39.1 friends in Australia is racial discrimination and apartheid. Free B.1.1.529! Australia should be multicultural and multiviral!" 🙄</s>#MelbourneProtests #Covid19Vic pic.twitter.com/pG2lmA1Fa6 — Deus Abscondis (@Deus_Abscondis) November 27, 2021 × Australia 🇦🇺: Thousands rallied in Sydney on to protest pandemic restrictions and vaccine mandates. #Sydney #Australia #vaccinemandates #COVID19 #lockdown #freedom pic.twitter.com/kjsGCfcs8l — Tali (@TaliSimak2841) November 27, 2021 × Massive protest underway in Melbourne, Australia against the government restrictions. Protests are taking place all across Australia. pic.twitter.com/QLQ615ZT9L — Qanon211 (@qanon211) November 27, 2021 × Teachers in schools, childcare, early education services and other workers in educational facilities are required to show evidence of their full vaccination on Monday, November 29. There was a heavy police presence as these demonstrators walked through Bourke Street Mall. They were seen chanting, and using drums. Also read | As a 'precautionary measure', US to restrict travel over fears of new COVID-19 variant Citizens in Melbourne had spent over 260 days under lockdown amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Sydney had undergone a lockdown lasting for 106 days. The Australian government had imposed a strict travel ban for over 18 months in a bid to keep the virus at bay but last month PM Scott Morrison declared that citizens will be able to return home since the vaccination rate had reached over 80 per cent. The Australian government had imposed the world's toughest border restrictions as it grounded flights and did not allow its own citizens to come back.

Australia protests: People march against vaccine mandate; demand removal of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews

As the world continues to battle against the deadly coronavirus, US President Joe Biden on Friday urged other countries to match the "generosity" of the US and donate more COVID-19 vaccines. "This pandemic will not end until we have global vaccinations," he said.

"For the world community, the news about this new variant should make clearer than ever why this pandemic will not end until we have global vaccinations," Biden said.

"The United States has already donated more vaccines to other countries than every other country combined. It is time for other countries to match America's speed and generosity."

With this, he urged countries that are taking part in a ministerial-level meeting of the World Trade Organization to lift intellectual property protections on their coronavirus vaccines. This would allow the manufacturing to expand rapidly.

"This news today reiterates the importance of moving on this quickly," he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-a-precautionary-measure-us-to-restrict-travel-over-fears-of-new-covid-19-variant-432251">Also read |&nbsp;As a 'precautionary measure', US to restrict travel over fears of new COVID-19 variant</a>

This comes in at a time when a new variant of Covid-19 has emerged. The variant termed Omicron, has been classified as a "variant of concern" by the WHO. “This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning,” the WHO said, adding, "preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant as compared to other variants of concern."

Global authorities are taking precautions for curbing the spread of a new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, with several imposing travel curbs and tightening border control.&nbsp;

Countries including the UK, France, Scotland, Italy, Israel, Philippines, Canada, and the US have banned travellers from southern Africa over fears of the new variant.&nbsp;

US will be restricting travel from South Africa and seven other southern African countries, including, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. Starting from Monday, only US citizens and residents will be allowed to travel from the region.

(With inputs from agencies)

As the world continues to battle against the deadly coronavirus, US President Joe Biden on Friday urged other countries to match the "generosity" of the US and donate more COVID-19 vaccines.

As the world continues to battle against the deadly coronavirus, US President Joe Biden on Friday urged other countries to match the "generosity" of the US and donate more COVID-19 vaccines. "This pandemic will not end until we have global vaccinations," he said. "For the world community, the news about this new variant should make clearer than ever why this pandemic will not end until we have global vaccinations," Biden said. "The United States has already donated more vaccines to other countries than every other country combined. It is time for other countries to match America's speed and generosity." With this, he urged countries that are taking part in a ministerial-level meeting of the World Trade Organization to lift intellectual property protections on their coronavirus vaccines. This would allow the manufacturing to expand rapidly. "This news today reiterates the importance of moving on this quickly," he said. Also read | As a 'precautionary measure', US to restrict travel over fears of new COVID-19 variant This comes in at a time when a new variant of Covid-19 has emerged. The variant termed Omicron, has been classified as a "variant of concern" by the WHO. “This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning,” the WHO said, adding, "preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant as compared to other variants of concern." Global authorities are taking precautions for curbing the spread of a new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, with several imposing travel curbs and tightening border control. Countries including the UK, France, Scotland, Italy, Israel, Philippines, Canada, and the US have banned travellers from southern Africa over fears of the new variant. US will be restricting travel from South Africa and seven other southern African countries, including, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. Starting from Monday, only US citizens and residents will be allowed to travel from the region. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden urges countries to donate more vaccines and match 'generosity' of the US

Russian President Vladimir Putin has received a booster shot against COVID-19 virus, Russian news agencies said.

According to local media reports, Putin said he has been revaccinated with Sputnik Light vaccine.

“Today, on your recommendation and that of your colleagues, I got another vaccination, Sputnik Light. This is called revaccination," Putin was quoted as saying by state-owned Russian&nbsp;News Agency TASS after meeting with the deputy director of the Gamaleya Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, which developed both vaccines.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-orders-week-long-paid-holiday-in-russia-to-combat-virus-surge-422430">Putin orders week-long paid holiday in Russia to combat virus surge</a>

"I was revaccinated two hours ago. I feel nothing. I am in normal condition. Everything is all right," he added.

Putin&nbsp;received his second dose of Covid vaccine in April of this year, though at the time he did not disclose which vaccine he received.

A Kremlin spokesperson said they were deliberately not saying which vaccine Putin received, saying all three COVID-19 vaccines available in Russia were good options.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-reports-highest-daily-covid-deaths-as-delta-variant-surges-418674">Russia reports highest daily Covid deaths as Delta variant surges</a>

The Sputnik Light is a one-shot COVID-19 vaccine. It has been authorised for use in more than 15 countries with the registration process on in another 30 countries.

Russia first announced the deployment of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots in July, terming the shots "Sputnik Light." The jabs were made available to individuals who had been fully vaccinated&nbsp;at least six months ago.

On Friday, November 12, Putin had urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to speed the approval of new COVID-19 vaccines. He added that access to dosages in impoverished nations is limited due to unjust compassion.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has received a booster shot against COVID-19 virus, Russian news agencies said. According to local media reports, Putin said he has been revaccinated with Sputnik Light vaccine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has received a booster shot against COVID-19 virus, Russian news agencies said. According to local media reports, Putin said he has been revaccinated with Sputnik Light vaccine. “Today, on your recommendation and that of your colleagues, I got another vaccination, Sputnik Light. This is called revaccination," Putin was quoted as saying by state-owned Russian News Agency TASS after meeting with the deputy director of the Gamaleya Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, which developed both vaccines. Also read | Putin orders week-long paid holiday in Russia to combat virus surge "I was revaccinated two hours ago. I feel nothing. I am in normal condition. Everything is all right," he added. Putin received his second dose of Covid vaccine in April of this year, though at the time he did not disclose which vaccine he received. A Kremlin spokesperson said they were deliberately not saying which vaccine Putin received, saying all three COVID-19 vaccines available in Russia were good options. Also read | Russia reports highest daily Covid deaths as Delta variant surges The Sputnik Light is a one-shot COVID-19 vaccine. It has been authorised for use in more than 15 countries with the registration process on in another 30 countries. Russia first announced the deployment of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots in July, terming the shots "Sputnik Light." The jabs were made available to individuals who had been fully vaccinated at least six months ago. On Friday, November 12, Putin had urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to speed the approval of new COVID-19 vaccines. He added that access to dosages in impoverished nations is limited due to unjust compassion. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Putin gets booster shot, revaccinated with Sputnik Light

China has inoculated 76.3 per cent of its population with the Covid-19 vaccine as a total of 1.076 billion people in the country have received the required number of doses, the NHC spokesperson informed in a news briefing.

China has inoculated 76.3 per cent of its population with the Covid-19 vaccine as a total of 1.076 billion people in the country have received the required number of doses, the NHC spokesperson informed in a news briefing. China is now experiencing a new wave of coronavirus cases as the new Covid-19 flareups have affected 21 provinces, accounting to two-thirds of the country. The Chinese daily had quoted the spokesman of China's NHC who said that the country's "zero COVID" strategy will continue. The infection cases on China's border with Russia and Mongolia has surged in the past month. Also read | China's coronavirus 'flareups' surge in provinces The newspaper said the virus situation in China's northeast Liaoning province is "complex" with "community transmission" detected in towns and streets. Chinese authorities have imposed a lockdown in several areas and cities in the past two months. They have also restricted domestic travel in an attempt to combat the new virus wave. In Wuhan, reports claimed authorities have detained three organisers for allowing people to congregate during an eSports event. (With inputs from agencies)

China has vaccinated over 75% of its population amid a surge in cases

In what&nbsp;has been termed as a "a major milestone" by Health Canada, the country&nbsp;has now authorised the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children between 5 and 11. The decision comes in after a few companies sent an application requesting a clinical trial for thousands of children in this age group.

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(1/9) The NACI recommends two 10 mcg doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CovidVaccine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CovidVaccine</a> may be offered to children 5-11 years of age, with at least 8 weeks between the first and second dose. Read the summary of NACI’s recommendations: <a href="https://t.co/W9RHyOe4RJ">https://t.co/W9RHyOe4RJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/y50P5qtLb7">pic.twitter.com/y50P5qtLb7</a>
— Health Canada and PHAC (@GovCanHealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovCanHealth/status/1461709661346926598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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It was then concluded that the vaccine shows the same efficacy rate as those recorded in trials among adults aged 16 to 25.&nbsp;

"After a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, the department has determined that the benefits of this vaccine for children between five and 11 years of age outweigh the risks," said an official statement from Health Canada. 
It was found that the vaccine is 90 per cent effective at preventing the deadly coronavirus. Also, there were no serious side effects seen.

"To date, Health Canada has not identified any new safety issues for 5-11 year olds compared to the known safety profile in adolescents and young adults. Safety data will be continually monitored," Health Canada wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, Canada had authorised the same vaccine for children aged 12 years and up.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-strikes-usd-53-billion-deal-to-sell-10-million-covid-treatments-in-us-430309">Also read |&nbsp;Pfizer strikes USD 5.3 billion deal to sell 10 million COVID treatments in US</a>

As per data by Health Canada, nearly 75 per cent of all Canadians are fully vaccinated, including 84 per cent of those 12 and older.

Not just Canada but countries like Israel and the US have also authorised Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for children.&nbsp; 
China, the United Arab Emirates, Cambodia and Colombia have also started vaccinating children under 12. However, they are using Chinese vaccines.

Meanwhile, the pharma giant has struck a deal to sell 10 million Covid-19 treatment courses to the US government for USD 5.3 billion. It said that approval of the agreement was pending from regulators.&nbsp;

Pfizer will start delivering the treatments to the US government later this year and continue through the end of 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)

In what has been termed as a "a major milestone" by Health Canada, the country has now authorised the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children between 5 and 11.

In what has been termed as a "a major milestone" by Health Canada, the country has now authorised the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children between 5 and 11. The decision comes in after a few companies sent an application requesting a clinical trial for thousands of children in this age group. (1/9) The NACI recommends two 10 mcg doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty #CovidVaccine may be offered to children 5-11 years of age, with at least 8 weeks between the first and second dose. Read the summary of NACI’s recommendations: https://t.co/W9RHyOe4RJ pic.twitter.com/y50P5qtLb7 — Health Canada and PHAC (@GovCanHealth) November 19, 2021 × It was then concluded that the vaccine shows the same efficacy rate as those recorded in trials among adults aged 16 to 25. "After a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, the department has determined that the benefits of this vaccine for children between five and 11 years of age outweigh the risks," said an official statement from Health Canada. It was found that the vaccine is 90 per cent effective at preventing the deadly coronavirus. Also, there were no serious side effects seen. "To date, Health Canada has not identified any new safety issues for 5-11 year olds compared to the known safety profile in adolescents and young adults. Safety data will be continually monitored," Health Canada wrote on Twitter. Earlier this year, Canada had authorised the same vaccine for children aged 12 years and up. Also read | Pfizer strikes USD 5.3 billion deal to sell 10 million COVID treatments in US As per data by Health Canada, nearly 75 per cent of all Canadians are fully vaccinated, including 84 per cent of those 12 and older. Not just Canada but countries like Israel and the US have also authorised Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for children. China, the United Arab Emirates, Cambodia and Colombia have also started vaccinating children under 12. However, they are using Chinese vaccines. Meanwhile, the pharma giant has struck a deal to sell 10 million Covid-19 treatment courses to the US government for USD 5.3 billion. It said that approval of the agreement was pending from regulators. Pfizer will start delivering the treatments to the US government later this year and continue through the end of 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

'A major milestone': Canada approves Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for kids aged 5-11

A standoff between the governor of Oklahoma and the Pentagon over a coronavirus vaccine mandate for troops has turned into a stormy test of federal power, as President Joe Biden moves to require vaccinations for a broad swath of the American workforce.

Last week, Oklahoma’s newly appointed adjutant general for the National Guard, Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, announced on behalf of the governor, Kevin Stitt, that guardsmen in the state would not be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine, defying a Pentagon directive issued in August that makes vaccinations mandatory for all troops, including the National Guard, by deadlines set by each service branch.

“The order I issued came directly from the governor. That is the lawful order to the men and women of the Oklahoma National Guard,” Mancino said in an interview, adding that he had been vaccinated.

Pentagon officials said Wednesday that a failure to follow “valid medical readiness requirements” could “jeopardize” the status of troops.

The officials insist that Stitt has no legal standing to obviate the mandate, although experts on the obscure laws governing the Guard disagree. They note that unless federally deployed, National Guard members are under the jurisdiction of the governor of their state and therefore not subject to federal mandates. “Guard members can only serve one boss at a time,” said John Goheen, a spokesperson for the National Guard Association of the United States.

The Pentagon is not without redress. It could deny funding to state units or impede the promotions of Guard members who refuse to get vaccinated. Officials said Wednesday that Guard members who refused to be vaccinated also could face dismissal, just as with active duty troops.

“Oklahoma may be able to take this step as a legal matter, but there are definitely things the federal government can do in response that might make it a painful Pyrrhic victory,” said Eugene Fidell, an adjunct professor of law at the New York University Law School. “The governor and state adjutant general thus might find themselves commanding some very unhappy personnel.”

The Pentagon is bracing for other states to follow Oklahoma’s lead. So far none have, but many are believed to be closely watching the situation, which could become the subject of lawsuits. “This could be contagious,” Fidell said.

National Guard troops have been caught in the political cross hairs over the years, including in 2018, when several governors said they would withhold or recall their troops from the border with Mexico as the Trump administration separated adults who illegally crossed into the United States from their children. In 1986, several governors balked at sending Guard troops for maneuvers in Honduras ordered by President Ronald Reagan.

But these rare conflicts in the military have never centered on vaccine mandates, which have existed for decades.

The standoff, while so far limited in scope, demonstrates the headaches Biden faces as he pushes the Jan. 4 deadline for large companies to mandate coronavirus vaccinations or start weekly testing of their workers. The new rule, applying to companies with 100 or more employees, would cover roughly 84 million workers, and is already meeting fierce resistance.

Stitt is one of several Republican state officials who have been resisting Biden’s vaccine mandates covering federal employees and contractors.

Some governors who have been more resistant to mandates have so far declined to join Stitt.

“I took an oath, and I intend to do what I promised the country I would do,” Gen. Thomas Carden, the head of the Georgia National Guard, told a local reporter last week. “It’s cut and dry for us.”

Spokesmen for the Guards in North Dakota and Florida — two other states whose governors oppose vaccine mandates — said they were following the Pentagon order, while Texas officials were more vague.

“The decision whether or not to receive a vaccination is a personal matter each Soldier and Airman must weigh. The Texas National Guard provides the resources necessary for each Service member to make informed decisions,” an unidentified spokesperson said in response to an email query.

While the vast majority of active duty troops have been vaccinated, the percentage of those in the Guard has dragged below the averages for the civilian population. In Oklahoma, 89% of airmen in the Guard have been vaccinated, while only 40% of Army guardsmen have had shots.

Mancino issued his memo a day after Stitt dismissed his predecessor, Maj. Gen. Michael C. Thompson, a proponent for vaccines.

A standoff between the governor of Oklahoma and the Pentagon over a coronavirus vaccine mandate for troops has turned into a stormy test of federal power, as President Joe Biden moves to require vaccinations for a broad swath of the American workforce.

A standoff between the governor of Oklahoma and the Pentagon over a coronavirus vaccine mandate for troops has turned into a stormy test of federal power, as President Joe Biden moves to require vaccinations for a broad swath of the American workforce. Last week, Oklahoma’s newly appointed adjutant general for the National Guard, Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, announced on behalf of the governor, Kevin Stitt, that guardsmen in the state would not be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine, defying a Pentagon directive issued in August that makes vaccinations mandatory for all troops, including the National Guard, by deadlines set by each service branch. “The order I issued came directly from the governor. That is the lawful order to the men and women of the Oklahoma National Guard,” Mancino said in an interview, adding that he had been vaccinated. Pentagon officials said Wednesday that a failure to follow “valid medical readiness requirements” could “jeopardize” the status of troops. The officials insist that Stitt has no legal standing to obviate the mandate, although experts on the obscure laws governing the Guard disagree. They note that unless federally deployed, National Guard members are under the jurisdiction of the governor of their state and therefore not subject to federal mandates. “Guard members can only serve one boss at a time,” said John Goheen, a spokesperson for the National Guard Association of the United States. The Pentagon is not without redress. It could deny funding to state units or impede the promotions of Guard members who refuse to get vaccinated. Officials said Wednesday that Guard members who refused to be vaccinated also could face dismissal, just as with active duty troops. “Oklahoma may be able to take this step as a legal matter, but there are definitely things the federal government can do in response that might make it a painful Pyrrhic victory,” said Eugene Fidell, an adjunct professor of law at the New York University Law School. “The governor and state adjutant general thus might find themselves commanding some very unhappy personnel.” The Pentagon is bracing for other states to follow Oklahoma’s lead. So far none have, but many are believed to be closely watching the situation, which could become the subject of lawsuits. “This could be contagious,” Fidell said. National Guard troops have been caught in the political cross hairs over the years, including in 2018, when several governors said they would withhold or recall their troops from the border with Mexico as the Trump administration separated adults who illegally crossed into the United States from their children. In 1986, several governors balked at sending Guard troops for maneuvers in Honduras ordered by President Ronald Reagan. But these rare conflicts in the military have never centered on vaccine mandates, which have existed for decades. The standoff, while so far limited in scope, demonstrates the headaches Biden faces as he pushes the Jan. 4 deadline for large companies to mandate coronavirus vaccinations or start weekly testing of their workers. The new rule, applying to companies with 100 or more employees, would cover roughly 84 million workers, and is already meeting fierce resistance. Stitt is one of several Republican state officials who have been resisting Biden’s vaccine mandates covering federal employees and contractors. Some governors who have been more resistant to mandates have so far declined to join Stitt. “I took an oath, and I intend to do what I promised the country I would do,” Gen. Thomas Carden, the head of the Georgia National Guard, told a local reporter last week. “It’s cut and dry for us.” Spokesmen for the Guards in North Dakota and Florida — two other states whose governors oppose vaccine mandates — said they were following the Pentagon order, while Texas officials were more vague. “The decision whether or not to receive a vaccination is a personal matter each Soldier and Airman must weigh. The Texas National Guard provides the resources necessary for each Service member to make informed decisions,” an unidentified spokesperson said in response to an email query. While the vast majority of active duty troops have been vaccinated, the percentage of those in the Guard has dragged below the averages for the civilian population. In Oklahoma, 89% of airmen in the Guard have been vaccinated, while only 40% of Army guardsmen have had shots. Mancino issued his memo a day after Stitt dismissed his predecessor, Maj. Gen. Michael C. Thompson, a proponent for vaccines.

Oklahoma governor and Pentagon standoff over vaccines intensifies

Scientists in UK believe that they are on the cusp of “treating or preventing ” Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers at the University of Leicester said they have come up with a “transformative” treatment — a vaccine that would cost only 15 euros (around US $6) per dose.

Experts said the new vaccine could enter clinical trials in humans within two years.

According to the scientists, the “groundbreaking” therapy works by preventing the formation of harmful deposits of protein in the brain linked to memory loss.

Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells.

One of the proteins involved is called amyloid, deposits of which form plaques around brain cells. The other protein is called tau, deposits of which form tangles within brain cells.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-suggests-that-alzheimers-and-covid-19-share-genetic-risk-factor-419232">Study suggests that Alzheimer's and COVID-19 share genetic risk factor</a>

The scientists have identified an antibody – called TAP01-04 – which binds to the shortened toxic form of amyloid beta, preventing the molecules clumping together to form plaques.

This antibody forms the basis of the promising new therapy. Trials on mice with Alzheimer's disease found the antibody helped to restore the function of brain cells as fewer plaques were formed, improving memory.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/viral-infections-could-promote-alzheimers-and-parkinsons-disease-report-422249">Viral infections could promote Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease: Report</a>

The scientists are working on a vaccine which triggers the body to generate TAP01-04 antibodies and could soon be offered to people at high risk of Alzheimer's.

The team said its revolutionary approach shows Alzheimer’s could be prevented rather than just treating plaques which have already formed.&nbsp;

Professor Mark Carr, from the University of Leicester, told Daily Mail, “While the science is currently still at an early stage, if these results were to be replicated in human clinical trials, then it could be transformative.”

“It opens up the possibility to not only treat Alzheimer's once symptoms are detected, but also to potentially vaccinate against the disease before symptoms appear,” he added.&nbsp;

Around 55 million people worldwide have dementia, with over 60% living in low- and middle-income countries, according to World Health Organisation.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists in UK believe that they are on the cusp of “treating or preventing ” Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the University of Leicester said they have come up with a “transformative” treatment — a vaccine that would cost only 15 euros (around US $6) per dose.

Scientists in UK believe that they are on the cusp of “treating or preventing ” Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the University of Leicester said they have come up with a “transformative” treatment — a vaccine that would cost only 15 euros (around US $6) per dose. Experts said the new vaccine could enter clinical trials in humans within two years. According to the scientists, the “groundbreaking” therapy works by preventing the formation of harmful deposits of protein in the brain linked to memory loss. Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells. One of the proteins involved is called amyloid, deposits of which form plaques around brain cells. The other protein is called tau, deposits of which form tangles within brain cells. Also read | Study suggests that Alzheimer's and COVID-19 share genetic risk factor The scientists have identified an antibody – called TAP01-04 – which binds to the shortened toxic form of amyloid beta, preventing the molecules clumping together to form plaques. This antibody forms the basis of the promising new therapy. Trials on mice with Alzheimer's disease found the antibody helped to restore the function of brain cells as fewer plaques were formed, improving memory. Also read | Viral infections could promote Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease: Report The scientists are working on a vaccine which triggers the body to generate TAP01-04 antibodies and could soon be offered to people at high risk of Alzheimer's. The team said its revolutionary approach shows Alzheimer’s could be prevented rather than just treating plaques which have already formed. Professor Mark Carr, from the University of Leicester, told Daily Mail, “While the science is currently still at an early stage, if these results were to be replicated in human clinical trials, then it could be transformative.” “It opens up the possibility to not only treat Alzheimer's once symptoms are detected, but also to potentially vaccinate against the disease before symptoms appear,” he added. Around 55 million people worldwide have dementia, with over 60% living in low- and middle-income countries, according to World Health Organisation. (With inputs from agencies)

'Groundbreaking': UK scientists come up with vaccine therapy that could prevent Alzheimer’s disease

Israel has approved cpvid-19 vaccines for children from the age of 5, the country's 9.4 million population is relatively young. Watch this report for more.

Covid Vaccine update: Israel approves covid-19 shots for kids

As Covid cases in Austria hit record highs, Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said on Friday that he wanted to introduce nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated. In Austria, only about 65 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated. Schallenberg described the rate as 'shamefully low'

Salzburg and Upper Austria states have seen some of the worst case rates. These states are already introducing lockdown for the unvaccinated starting Monday.

The unvaccinated will not be able to leave the house except for reasons such as

buying essential supplies, exercise or seeking medical care.

"The aim is clear: we want on Sunday to give the green light for a nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated," Schallenberg told a press conference.

He said lockdowns across the country would be enforced with "random" spot checks.

The measure will have to be signed off by parliament and a meeting of the heads of regional governments over the weekend before it can be rolled out across the country.

Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein announced on Friday he would order compulsory vaccination for health workers but did not specify when this would enter into force.

Mueckstein said that availability in intensive care units in the hardest-hit areas was becoming "ever scarcer". 
Schallenberg said the government had been reluctant to consider the latest measure but justified it by saying: "The majority of the population, who have done the right thing, who have protected themselves -- now we have to protect them too."

"I don't accept that the solidarity of the protected majority with the unprotected minority should go as far as a lockdown," he said.

He called again on those who have not yet been vaccinated to get the jab.

(With inputs from agencies)

As Covid cases in Austria hit record highs, Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said on Friday that he wanted to introduce nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated.

As Covid cases in Austria hit record highs, Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said on Friday that he wanted to introduce nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated. In Austria, only about 65 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated. Schallenberg described the rate as 'shamefully low' Salzburg and Upper Austria states have seen some of the worst case rates. These states are already introducing lockdown for the unvaccinated starting Monday. The unvaccinated will not be able to leave the house except for reasons such as buying essential supplies, exercise or seeking medical care. "The aim is clear: we want on Sunday to give the green light for a nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated," Schallenberg told a press conference. He said lockdowns across the country would be enforced with "random" spot checks. The measure will have to be signed off by parliament and a meeting of the heads of regional governments over the weekend before it can be rolled out across the country. Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein announced on Friday he would order compulsory vaccination for health workers but did not specify when this would enter into force. Mueckstein said that availability in intensive care units in the hardest-hit areas was becoming "ever scarcer". Schallenberg said the government had been reluctant to consider the latest measure but justified it by saying: "The majority of the population, who have done the right thing, who have protected themselves -- now we have to protect them too." "I don't accept that the solidarity of the protected majority with the unprotected minority should go as far as a lockdown," he said. He called again on those who have not yet been vaccinated to get the jab. (With inputs from agencies)

Austria to introduce lockdown for the unvaccinated

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