As Europe witnesses&nbsp;a surge in coronavirus cases, the World Health Organization&nbsp;(WHO) said today that Euro 2020 football matches need to be better monitored with several thousand spectators attending the games.

"We need to look much beyond just the stadia themselves," WHO's Catherine Smallwood said emphasising that authorities need to closely look at spectators when they arrive and leave the stadium.&nbsp;

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/7-eu-nations-include-covishield-in-green-pass-list-395113/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in London and Saint Petersburg in Russia which are both high profile venues of Euro 2020.

London's Wembley Stadium is due to host the semi-finals and final of the tournament next week with St Petersberg set to host Switzerland vs Spain quarterfinal clash on Friday.

Russia has been experiencing a surge in virus cases with Saint Petersburg hit hard with the virus.

Saint Petersburg recorded 115 deaths in the last 24 hours as Russia reported 672 coronavirus deaths.

WHO's regional director for Europe Hans Kluge did not exclude the Euro 202O as a superspreader event, saying: "I hope not... but this can't be excluded."

"What we need to look at is around the stadia. How are people getting there? Are they travelling in large crowded convoys of buses? Are they taking individual measures when they are doing that?," Catherine Smallwood said.

Hans Kluge informed that that virus cases in Europe were on the rise once again after declining for two months as the continent battles the Delta variant.

Kluge added that the Delta variant has become the dominant strain in Europe while expressing&nbsp;doubts over the pace of vaccine rollout.&nbsp;

WHO's regional director said vaccines need to cover at least 80 per cent of the population however just 24 per cent of the region has been covered so far with the elderly and health workers still largely unprotected even as the virus spreads.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As Europe witnesses a surge in coronavirus cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today that Euro 2020 football matches need to be better monitored with several thousand spectators attending the games.

As Europe witnesses a surge in coronavirus cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today that Euro 2020 football matches need to be better monitored with several thousand spectators attending the games. "We need to look much beyond just the stadia themselves," WHO's Catherine Smallwood said emphasising that authorities need to closely look at spectators when they arrive and leave the stadium. Watch: COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in London and Saint Petersburg in Russia which are both high profile venues of Euro 2020. London's Wembley Stadium is due to host the semi-finals and final of the tournament next week with St Petersberg set to host Switzerland vs Spain quarterfinal clash on Friday. Russia has been experiencing a surge in virus cases with Saint Petersburg hit hard with the virus. Saint Petersburg recorded 115 deaths in the last 24 hours as Russia reported 672 coronavirus deaths. WHO's regional director for Europe Hans Kluge did not exclude the Euro 202O as a superspreader event, saying: "I hope not... but this can't be excluded." "What we need to look at is around the stadia. How are people getting there? Are they travelling in large crowded convoys of buses? Are they taking individual measures when they are doing that?," Catherine Smallwood said. Hans Kluge informed that that virus cases in Europe were on the rise once again after declining for two months as the continent battles the Delta variant. Kluge added that the Delta variant has become the dominant strain in Europe while expressing doubts over the pace of vaccine rollout. WHO's regional director said vaccines need to cover at least 80 per cent of the population however just 24 per cent of the region has been covered so far with the elderly and health workers still largely unprotected even as the virus spreads. (With inputs from Agencies)

WHO raises Euro 2020 monitoring issue amid virus surge in Europe

The World Health Organization on Thursday said that over two months of declining Covid cases in Europe had come to an end, warning a new wave would come "unless we remain disciplined."

WHO's regional director for Europe Hans Kluge, in a press conference, said, "Last week, the number of cases rose by 10 per cent, driven by increased mixing, travel, gatherings and easing of social restrictions".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🎥🔴 Watch LIVE as <a href="https://twitter.com/hans_kluge?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hans_kluge</a> and experts from WHO/Europe provide a situation update on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> in the European Region before answering questions from journalists <a href="https://t.co/3hBj0dn5Mj">https://t.co/3hBj0dn5Mj</a>
— WHO/Europe (@WHO_Europe) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO_Europe/status/1410522364656250882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Kluge further said that if people decide to travel and gather, they should assess the risks carefully and do it safely, keeping all life-saving reflexes of masks and self-protections especially indoor and in crowd.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scientists-urge-uk-to-expand-official-list-of-symptoms-for-covid-19-395089">Also Read |&nbsp;Scientists urge UK to expand official list of symptoms for Covid-19</a>

"We see many countries doing well, but the truth is that the average vaccine coverage in the region is 24% only, and more serious, half of our elders and 40% of our health care workers are still unprotected", Kluge said.

He further highlighted that the vaccine is 'effective' against the Delta variant. Urging people to get vaccinated, he said that a delay may cost lives and the economy.

Meanwhile, scientists have urged the UK to expand its official list of Covid symptoms to reduce the number of missed cases.

This will also help in people knowing if they should self-isolate.&nbsp;

Prof Calum Semple, a member of the government’s Sage committee of experts argues that the 'narrow' clinical definition of covid in the UK leads to delays in identifying people with the disease.&nbsp;

Semple, of the University of Liverpool, along with Dr Alex Crozier at UCL and others describe how Covid patients do not always experience the official UK symptoms of a high fever, a new continuous cough, or a loss of sense of smell or taste early on, or at any time in the course of the disease.

The World Health Organization on Thursday said that over two months of declining Covid cases in Europe had come to an end, warning a new wave would come "unless we remain disciplined.

The World Health Organization on Thursday said that over two months of declining Covid cases in Europe had come to an end, warning a new wave would come "unless we remain disciplined." WHO's regional director for Europe Hans Kluge, in a press conference, said, "Last week, the number of cases rose by 10 per cent, driven by increased mixing, travel, gatherings and easing of social restrictions". 🎥🔴 Watch LIVE as @hans_kluge and experts from WHO/Europe provide a situation update on #COVID19 in the European Region before answering questions from journalists https://t.co/3hBj0dn5Mj — WHO/Europe (@WHO_Europe) July 1, 2021 × Kluge further said that if people decide to travel and gather, they should assess the risks carefully and do it safely, keeping all life-saving reflexes of masks and self-protections especially indoor and in crowd. Also Read | Scientists urge UK to expand official list of symptoms for Covid-19 "We see many countries doing well, but the truth is that the average vaccine coverage in the region is 24% only, and more serious, half of our elders and 40% of our health care workers are still unprotected", Kluge said. He further highlighted that the vaccine is 'effective' against the Delta variant. Urging people to get vaccinated, he said that a delay may cost lives and the economy. Meanwhile, scientists have urged the UK to expand its official list of Covid symptoms to reduce the number of missed cases. This will also help in people knowing if they should self-isolate. Prof Calum Semple, a member of the government’s Sage committee of experts argues that the 'narrow' clinical definition of covid in the UK leads to delays in identifying people with the disease. Semple, of the University of Liverpool, along with Dr Alex Crozier at UCL and others describe how Covid patients do not always experience the official UK symptoms of a high fever, a new continuous cough, or a loss of sense of smell or taste early on, or at any time in the course of the disease.

Covid cases in Europe up again after 10 weeks of decline, says WHO

In the United States, current guidelines concerning masks allow fully vaccinated people to be out in public without one. But on Friday the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that vaccinated people should wear face masks.

WHO's latest mask guidance goes against US CDC's

European Union's envoy to India Ugo Astuto has said that each EU member state can have WHO-approved vaccines on the national list for travel, days after it emerged that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) did not list India-made Covishield vaccine.

'WHO approved vaccines can be on national list for travel': Ugo Astuto

European Union's envoy to India&nbsp;Ugo Astuto has said that each EU member state can have WHO-approved vaccines on the national list for travel, days after it emerged that the&nbsp;European Medicines Agency (EMA)&nbsp;did&nbsp;not list India-made Covishield vaccine.&nbsp;

Speaking to our&nbsp;Principal Diplomatic Correspondent, Sidhant Sibal,&nbsp;Astuto said, "individual member states will also have the option to accept the vaccination that has been authorised by the World Health Organization."

Covishield, while on WHO's authorised list, is not listed by the&nbsp;European Medicines Agency. EMA supervises medicinal products for marketing authorisation in the bloc. The EU green pass that comes into effect from July 1 and eases travel movement in the bloc&nbsp;uses the EMA list.&nbsp;

WION: What is the EU stance over the absence of Covishield vaccine&nbsp;when it comes to EU green pass?

Ugo Astuto: The EU digital Covid certificate is meant to facilitate safe movement during the pandemic within the European Union. It will serve as proof that the person was vaccinated against the virus&nbsp;or received a negative result or recovered from COVID-19.

The aim of the digital certificate is to facilitate free movement inside the European Union but it is not a pre-condition to travel. Persons for instance who have not been vaccinated will continue to travel&nbsp;based on the current restrictions and limitations which are familiar by now, quarantine, testing.

For the purpose of the digital Covid certificate, individual member states will also have the option to accept the vaccination that has been authorized by the WHO.

Besides the list of the vaccination authorised by EMA, individual member states can take the decision to include in own national list, other vaccination authorized by WHO, and I understand Covishield is in the situation.

As far as EMA authorisation is concerned, I have read a statement and as of yesterday, they have not received the request for approval of Covishield. I am sure, EMA will examine any such request based on its procedures.&nbsp;EMA does not investigate new drugs on its own and needs to receive a request from the relevant countries.

WION:&nbsp;What is the way forward to ease travel for Indian nationals? What is the basis of using the EMA list for the EU green pass? Has there been&nbsp;any inter-EU conversation on it?

Ugo Astuto: The council has adopted recently&nbsp;a revised recommendation updating approach to travel from outside the European Union.

Council recommendation aims to ease the current temporary restrictions on non-essential travelling to the EU taking into account the progress of vaccination campaigns, the development in the pandemic worldwide. The situation is constantly being reviewed, the experience will also serve as a test to explore how best to adapt to the easing of temporary restrictions from countries and develop appropriate modalities.

But this is a work in progress. When it comes to India, we have temporary restrictions in place on non-essential travel due to the situation of the pandemic&nbsp;as the viruses of interest and viruses of concern have been detected. The situation is fluid and it is regularly reviewed, lets hope for the best.

European Union's envoy to India Ugo Astuto has said that each EU member state can have WHO-approved vaccines on the national list for travel, days after it emerged that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) did not list India-made Covishield vaccine. Speaking to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent, Sidhant Sibal, Astuto said, "individual member states will also have the option to accept the vaccination that has been authorised by the World Health Organization." Covishield, while on WHO's authorised list, is not listed by the European Medicines Agency. EMA supervises medicinal products for marketing authorisation in the bloc. The EU green pass that comes into effect from July 1 and eases travel movement in the bloc uses the EMA list. WION: What is the EU stance over the absence of Covishield vaccine when it comes to EU green pass? Ugo Astuto: The EU digital Covid certificate is meant to facilitate safe movement during the pandemic within the European Union. It will serve as proof that the person was vaccinated against the virus or received a negative result or recovered from COVID-19. The aim of the digital certificate is to facilitate free movement inside the European Union but it is not a pre-condition to travel. Persons for instance who have not been vaccinated will continue to travel based on the current restrictions and limitations which are familiar by now, quarantine, testing. For the purpose of the digital Covid certificate, individual member states will also have the option to accept the vaccination that has been authorized by the WHO. Besides the list of the vaccination authorised by EMA, individual member states can take the decision to include in own national list, other vaccination authorized by WHO, and I understand Covishield is in the situation. As far as EMA authorisation is concerned, I have read a statement and as of yesterday, they have not received the request for approval of Covishield. I am sure, EMA will examine any such request based on its procedures. EMA does not investigate new drugs on its own and needs to receive a request from the relevant countries. WION: What is the way forward to ease travel for Indian nationals? What is the basis of using the EMA list for the EU green pass? Has there been any inter-EU conversation on it? Ugo Astuto: The council has adopted recently a revised recommendation updating approach to travel from outside the European Union. Council recommendation aims to ease the current temporary restrictions on non-essential travelling to the EU taking into account the progress of vaccination campaigns, the development in the pandemic worldwide. The situation is constantly being reviewed, the experience will also serve as a test to explore how best to adapt to the easing of temporary restrictions from countries and develop appropriate modalities. But this is a work in progress. When it comes to India, we have temporary restrictions in place on non-essential travel due to the situation of the pandemic as the viruses of interest and viruses of concern have been detected. The situation is fluid and it is regularly reviewed, lets hope for the best.

WHO-approved vaccines can be on national list for travel, says EU envoy

Rich countries are opening up societies and vaccinating young people, who are not at great risk from COVID-19, while the poorest countries cruelly lack doses, the World Health Organization said on Friday, condemning a global failure. 
 
The situation in Africa, where new infections and deaths jumped by nearly 40% last week compared to the previous week, is 'so dangerous' as the Delta variant spreads globally, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. 
 
"Our world is failing, as the global community, we are failing," he told a news conference. 
 
Tedros, who is Ethiopian, chastised unnamed countries for reluctance to share doses with low-income countries. He compared it to the HIV/AIDS crisis, when some argued that African nations were unable to use complicated treatments. 
 
"I mean that attitude has to be a thing of the past," Tedros said. "The problem now is a supply problem, just give us the vaccines." 
 
"The difference is between the haves and the have nots,&nbsp;which is now completely exposing the unfairness of our world - the injustice, the inequality, let's face it," he said. 
 
Many developing countries are much better than industrialised countries in carrying out mass vaccination of their populations against infectious diseases from cholera to polio, WHO's top emergency expert Mike Ryan said. 
 
"The level of paternalism, the level of colonial mindset that say 'we can't give you something because we're afraid you won't use it'. I mean seriously, in the middle of a pandemic?" 
 
COVAX, run jointly by the GAVI vaccine alliance and the WHO, has delivered 90 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to 132 countries since February, but has faced major supply issues since India suspended vaccine exports. 
 
"We have through COVAX this month zero doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, zero doses of SII vaccines (Serum Institute of India), zero doses of J &amp; J (Johnson &amp; Johnson) vaccine," said Bruce Aylward, WHO senior adviser. 
 
"The situation right now is dire." 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Rich countries are opening up societies and vaccinating young people, who are not at great risk from COVID-19, while the poorest countries cruelly lack doses, the World Health Organization said on Friday, condemning a global failure.

Rich countries are opening up societies and vaccinating young people, who are not at great risk from COVID-19, while the poorest countries cruelly lack doses, the World Health Organization said on Friday, condemning a global failure. The situation in Africa, where new infections and deaths jumped by nearly 40% last week compared to the previous week, is 'so dangerous' as the Delta variant spreads globally, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "Our world is failing, as the global community, we are failing," he told a news conference. Tedros, who is Ethiopian, chastised unnamed countries for reluctance to share doses with low-income countries. He compared it to the HIV/AIDS crisis, when some argued that African nations were unable to use complicated treatments. "I mean that attitude has to be a thing of the past," Tedros said. "The problem now is a supply problem, just give us the vaccines." "The difference is between the haves and the have nots, which is now completely exposing the unfairness of our world - the injustice, the inequality, let's face it," he said. Many developing countries are much better than industrialised countries in carrying out mass vaccination of their populations against infectious diseases from cholera to polio, WHO's top emergency expert Mike Ryan said. "The level of paternalism, the level of colonial mindset that say 'we can't give you something because we're afraid you won't use it'. I mean seriously, in the middle of a pandemic?" COVAX, run jointly by the GAVI vaccine alliance and the WHO, has delivered 90 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to 132 countries since February, but has faced major supply issues since India suspended vaccine exports. "We have through COVAX this month zero doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, zero doses of SII vaccines (Serum Institute of India), zero doses of J & J (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine," said Bruce Aylward, WHO senior adviser. "The situation right now is dire." (With inputs from agencies)

Just give us the vaccines, WHO pleads, as poor countries go wanting

As Israel deals with a surge in cases caused by the Delta variant, health officials have suggested that up to half of new cases could be among the vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated people who come into contact with the Delta variant will be quarantined, according to Chezy Levy, the director-general of Israel's health ministry. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-eases-coronavirus-restrictions-amid-nationwide-vaccination-388778">Also read | Israel eases coronavirus restrictions amid nationwide vaccination</a> 
 
"Even though the numbers are low, the fact that this is reaching vaccinated people means ... that we are still checking how many vaccinated people have also been infected," Levy said, according to Haaretz.

On June 23, Israel gave health officials the authority to quarantine anyone who has been exposed to an extremely infectious variant of Covid-19, even if they have been vaccinated or have recovered from the sickness with supposed immunity.&nbsp;

The decision came after Prime Minister Naftali Bennett issued a warning on Tuesday about fresh Delta-related outbreaks, with daily infections rising following weeks of low levels because to Israel's unprecedented mass vaccination campaign.

If authorities feel they may have been in "close contact with a carrier of a severe virus strain," authorities can force vaccinated or previously infected people to self-isolate for up to 14 days under the amended health ministry regulations.&nbsp;

The number of new cases recorded every day in Israel has risen to above 100, the highest level since May.

According to Levy, the Delta variety is responsible for almost 70% of the cases.

As daily cases remained in the single digits, Israel began to relax its viral restrictions, terminating indoor masking last week.

As Israel deals with a surge in cases caused by the Delta variant, health officials have suggested that up to half of new cases could be among the vaccinated. Fully vaccinated people who come into contact with the Delta variant will be quarantined, according to Chezy Levy, the director-general of Israel's health ministry.

As Israel deals with a surge in cases caused by the Delta variant, health officials have suggested that up to half of new cases could be among the vaccinated. Fully vaccinated people who come into contact with the Delta variant will be quarantined, according to Chezy Levy, the director-general of Israel's health ministry. Also read | Israel eases coronavirus restrictions amid nationwide vaccination "Even though the numbers are low, the fact that this is reaching vaccinated people means ... that we are still checking how many vaccinated people have also been infected," Levy said, according to Haaretz. On June 23, Israel gave health officials the authority to quarantine anyone who has been exposed to an extremely infectious variant of Covid-19, even if they have been vaccinated or have recovered from the sickness with supposed immunity. The decision came after Prime Minister Naftali Bennett issued a warning on Tuesday about fresh Delta-related outbreaks, with daily infections rising following weeks of low levels because to Israel's unprecedented mass vaccination campaign. If authorities feel they may have been in "close contact with a carrier of a severe virus strain," authorities can force vaccinated or previously infected people to self-isolate for up to 14 days under the amended health ministry regulations. The number of new cases recorded every day in Israel has risen to above 100, the highest level since May. According to Levy, the Delta variety is responsible for almost 70% of the cases. As daily cases remained in the single digits, Israel began to relax its viral restrictions, terminating indoor masking last week.

COVID-19: Delta variant is infecting vaccinated people, says Israel

World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus accused on Friday that Ethiopian authorities blocked ambulances from reaching victims of an airstrike this week. This was a rare statement that Dr Tedros made about conflict in his homeland.

Tedros is an ethnic Tigrayan and former Ethiopian Cabinet minister.

The airstrike hit a crowded market in his native region. &nbsp;

"Ambulances were blocked for more than a day from attending the scene and evacuating the wounded for medical care," Tedros said.

"WHO is currently providing life-saving trauma and surgical supplies to a hospital that is treating survivors who were able to reach care," Tedros said. "Attacks on civilians anywhere are completely unacceptable and so is denying them access to immediate care, because we lose lives."

Tedros has occasionally tweeted about the conflict in Tigray, but has rarely mentioned it while speaking publicly in his official capacity as head of the WHO.

Ethiopia's government has accused him in the past of supporting its opponents in the Tigray conflict, the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front, which he previously represented as Ethiopia's health minister and foreign minister.

Ethiopia's military has denied that any civilians were among those killed in the airstrike on the town of Togoga near the regional capital Mekelle. A military spokesman said on Thursday that all those struck were combatants, wearing civilian clothes.

Residents and doctors, however, have said that women and children were among the dead and wounded. A health official working on the response to the airstrike said on Friday the death toll had risen to 64 killed, with 180 other people wounded.

The incident was one of the deadliest in months in a conflict in which the government had said major fighting largely ended last year.

(With inputs from agencies)

World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus accused on Friday that Ethiopian authorities blocked ambulances from reaching victims of an airstrike this week.

World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus accused on Friday that Ethiopian authorities blocked ambulances from reaching victims of an airstrike this week. This was a rare statement that Dr Tedros made about conflict in his homeland. Tedros is an ethnic Tigrayan and former Ethiopian Cabinet minister. The airstrike hit a crowded market in his native region. "Ambulances were blocked for more than a day from attending the scene and evacuating the wounded for medical care," Tedros said. "WHO is currently providing life-saving trauma and surgical supplies to a hospital that is treating survivors who were able to reach care," Tedros said. "Attacks on civilians anywhere are completely unacceptable and so is denying them access to immediate care, because we lose lives." Tedros has occasionally tweeted about the conflict in Tigray, but has rarely mentioned it while speaking publicly in his official capacity as head of the WHO. Ethiopia's government has accused him in the past of supporting its opponents in the Tigray conflict, the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front, which he previously represented as Ethiopia's health minister and foreign minister. Ethiopia's military has denied that any civilians were among those killed in the airstrike on the town of Togoga near the regional capital Mekelle. A military spokesman said on Thursday that all those struck were combatants, wearing civilian clothes. Residents and doctors, however, have said that women and children were among the dead and wounded. A health official working on the response to the airstrike said on Friday the death toll had risen to 64 killed, with 180 other people wounded. The incident was one of the deadliest in months in a conflict in which the government had said major fighting largely ended last year. (With inputs from agencies)

WHO chief says victims of Ethiopia airstrike denied access to care

Failure to renew a cross-border aid operation into Syria which expires next month could result in a new "humanitarian disaster" for the country`s rebel-held region in the northwest, a World Health Organization spokesman said on Friday. 
 
Christian Lindmeier told a Geneva news briefing that a failure of the UN&nbsp;Security Council to renew the mandate for another year on July 10 would make it impossible to deliver vaccines to the region, including COVID-19 vaccines.

Failure to renew a cross-border aid operation into Syria which expires next month could result in a new "humanitarian disaster" for the country`s rebel-held region in the northwest, a World Health Organization spokesman said on Friday.

Failure to renew a cross-border aid operation into Syria which expires next month could result in a new "humanitarian disaster" for the country`s rebel-held region in the northwest, a World Health Organization spokesman said on Friday. Christian Lindmeier told a Geneva news briefing that a failure of the UN Security Council to renew the mandate for another year on July 10 would make it impossible to deliver vaccines to the region, including COVID-19 vaccines.

WHO warns of 'humanitarian disaster' in Syria if cross-border aid not renewed

Looking at the current trends, it is expected that the Delta variant will become the dominant lineage, warns the World Health Organization. As per the COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update released on June 22 by the WHO, the variant Alpha has been reported in 170 countries, territories or areas, Beta in 119 countries, Gamma in 71 countries and Delta in 85 countries.

Looking at the current trends, it is expected that the Delta variant will become the dominant lineage, warns the World Health Organization. As per the COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update released on June 22 by the WHO, the variant Alpha has been reported in 170 countries, territories or areas, Beta in 119 countries, Gamma in 71 countries and Delta in 85 countries. The Delta variant continues to be reported in new countries across all WHO Regions, 11 of which were newly reported in the past two weeks. The WHO said the four current ‘Variants of Concern’ being monitored closely Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta – are widespread and have been detected in all WHO regions. As per the update, India reported the highest numbers of new COVID19 cases, 441,976 over the past week. However, there was a decrease of 30 per cent as compared with the previous week. Also Read | Hong Kong citizens snap up final edition of Apple Daily, Taiwan edition to continue operations The South-East Asia Region reported over 600,000 new cases and over 19,000 new deaths. There was a 21 per cent and a 26 per cent decrease respectively compared to the previous week. The WHO claims that since the last detailed update on June 8, new evidence has been published on the phenotypic characteristics of the Delta variant. A study from Singapore revealed that infection with Delta variant was associated with higher odds of oxygen requirement, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, or death. Another study in Japan “estimating the relative instantaneous reproductive number (a measure of transmission at a specific point in time) showed that the Delta variant was associated with greater transmissibility" when compared to the Alpha variant. Delta has the potential "to be more fatal because it's more efficient in the way it transmits between humans," according to Dr Mike Ryan, the executive director of WHO's health-emergencies programme, who spoke at a Monday news conference. He said the Delta variant "will eventually find those vulnerable individuals who will become severely ill, have to be hospitalised, and potentially die." World leaders and public health professionals, Ryan said, can help protect the most vulnerable by donating and disseminating Covid vaccinations.

Delta variant reported in 85 countries globally, expected to become dominant lineage, warns WHO

More than 19 million balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and Union territories, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

Two crore vaccine doses have been administered in the first 72 hours of the implementation of the newly revised guidelines of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, the ministry said.

More than 300 million (30,33,27,440) vaccine doses have been provided by the Centre to states/UTs so far, through the Government of India (free of cost channel) and direct state procurement category.

Of this, the total consumption, including wastages, is 28,43,40,936 doses (according to the data available at 8 am on Thursday), the ministry said.

"More than 19 million (1, 89,86,504) balance and unutilised Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered.

"Furthermore, more than 21, 05,010 vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by them within the next three days," the ministry said.

The Union government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country.

The new phase of universalisation of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on June 21.

The vaccination drive has been ramped up through the availability of more vaccines, advanced visibility of vaccine availability to states/UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain, the ministry said.

Under the nationwide vaccination drive, the Centre has been supporting the states/UTs by providing them Covid vaccines free of cost.

In the new phase of the universalisation of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the Union government will procure and supply (free of cost) 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by vaccine manufacturers in the country to states/UTs, it added.

More than 19 million balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and Union territories, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

More than 19 million balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and Union territories, the Union health ministry said on Thursday. Two crore vaccine doses have been administered in the first 72 hours of the implementation of the newly revised guidelines of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, the ministry said. More than 300 million (30,33,27,440) vaccine doses have been provided by the Centre to states/UTs so far, through the Government of India (free of cost channel) and direct state procurement category. Of this, the total consumption, including wastages, is 28,43,40,936 doses (according to the data available at 8 am on Thursday), the ministry said. "More than 19 million (1, 89,86,504) balance and unutilised Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered. "Furthermore, more than 21, 05,010 vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by them within the next three days," the ministry said. The Union government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The new phase of universalisation of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on June 21. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through the availability of more vaccines, advanced visibility of vaccine availability to states/UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain, the ministry said. Under the nationwide vaccination drive, the Centre has been supporting the states/UTs by providing them Covid vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalisation of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the Union government will procure and supply (free of cost) 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by vaccine manufacturers in the country to states/UTs, it added.

More than 19 million unutilised Covid vaccine doses available with states, UTs: Union Health Ministry

Five persons have so far been found infected with the 'Delta Plus' variant of coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh and one of them has died, state Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang said on Thursday.

The other four persons, who were vaccinated against COVID-19, are fine, he said.

"One person from Ujjain, who died, was not inoculated, he said.

'Delta Plus' has been declared a variant of concern by the Centre.

So far, three persons from Bhopal and two from Ujjain have been found infected with the 'Delta Plus' variant in MP, the minister said.

A genome sequencing machine will soon be installed in Bhopal and the state would then not have to send samples to Delhi, he added.

Ujjain Collector Ashish Singh confirmed that a 59-year-old woman, who died of COVID-19 on May 23, was infected with the 'Delta Plus' variant.

She tested positive for coronavirus on May 17. Later, her sample was sent for genome sequencing.

On Tuesday, it was found that she was infected by the 'Delta Plus' variant, the official said.

Earlier, the sample of a 65-year-old woman from Bhopal was sent to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on May 23 and it came out positive for the 'Delta Plus' variant on June 16, officials said.

The woman, who had received both doses of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine, recovered in home isolation, they said.

The new 'Delta Plus' variant has been formed due to a mutation in the Delta or B.1.617.

2 variant, first identified in India and one of the drivers of the deadly second wave.

Though there is no indication yet of the severity of the disease due to the new variant, 'Delta Plus' is resistant to the monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment for COVID-19 recently authorised in India On Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh recorded 84 new cases of coronavirus and 21 fatalities, raising the tally of infections in the state to 7,89,499 and the death toll to 8,827, as per official data.

Five persons have so far been found infected with the 'Delta Plus' variant of coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh and one of them has died, state Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang said on Thursday.

Five persons have so far been found infected with the 'Delta Plus' variant of coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh and one of them has died, state Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang said on Thursday. The other four persons, who were vaccinated against COVID-19, are fine, he said. "One person from Ujjain, who died, was not inoculated, he said. 'Delta Plus' has been declared a variant of concern by the Centre. So far, three persons from Bhopal and two from Ujjain have been found infected with the 'Delta Plus' variant in MP, the minister said. A genome sequencing machine will soon be installed in Bhopal and the state would then not have to send samples to Delhi, he added. Ujjain Collector Ashish Singh confirmed that a 59-year-old woman, who died of COVID-19 on May 23, was infected with the 'Delta Plus' variant. She tested positive for coronavirus on May 17. Later, her sample was sent for genome sequencing. On Tuesday, it was found that she was infected by the 'Delta Plus' variant, the official said. Earlier, the sample of a 65-year-old woman from Bhopal was sent to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on May 23 and it came out positive for the 'Delta Plus' variant on June 16, officials said. The woman, who had received both doses of the anti-COVID-19 vaccine, recovered in home isolation, they said. The new 'Delta Plus' variant has been formed due to a mutation in the Delta or B.1.617. 2 variant, first identified in India and one of the drivers of the deadly second wave. Though there is no indication yet of the severity of the disease due to the new variant, 'Delta Plus' is resistant to the monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment for COVID-19 recently authorised in India On Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh recorded 84 new cases of coronavirus and 21 fatalities, raising the tally of infections in the state to 7,89,499 and the death toll to 8,827, as per official data.

Five cases of COVID-19 'Delta Plus' variant in Madhya Pradesh; 1 dead

North Korea has told the World Health Organization that it tested more than 30,000 people for the coronavirus through June 10, but has yet to find a single infection.

The WHO said in a monitoring report on Tuesday that North Korea's testing figures included 733 people, who were tested during June 4-10, of which 149 were with influenza-like illnesses or severe respiratory infections.

Experts widely doubt North Korea's claim that it has not had a single case of the virus, given its poor health infrastructure and porous border with China, its major ally and economic lifeline.

Describing its anti-virus efforts as a 'matter of national existence',&nbsp;the North has banned tourists, jetted out diplomats and severely restricted cross-border traffic and trade. The self-imposed lockdown has caused further strain on an economy already battered by decades of mismanagement and crippling US-led sanctions over the country's nuclear weapons programme.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a political conference last week called for officials to brace for prolonged COVID-19 restrictions, indicating that the country isn't ready to open its borders anytime soon.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

North Korea has told the World Health Organization that it tested more than 30,000 people for the coronavirus through June 10, but has yet to find a single infection.

North Korea has told the World Health Organization that it tested more than 30,000 people for the coronavirus through June 10, but has yet to find a single infection. The WHO said in a monitoring report on Tuesday that North Korea's testing figures included 733 people, who were tested during June 4-10, of which 149 were with influenza-like illnesses or severe respiratory infections. Experts widely doubt North Korea's claim that it has not had a single case of the virus, given its poor health infrastructure and porous border with China, its major ally and economic lifeline. Describing its anti-virus efforts as a 'matter of national existence', the North has banned tourists, jetted out diplomats and severely restricted cross-border traffic and trade. The self-imposed lockdown has caused further strain on an economy already battered by decades of mismanagement and crippling US-led sanctions over the country's nuclear weapons programme. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a political conference last week called for officials to brace for prolonged COVID-19 restrictions, indicating that the country isn't ready to open its borders anytime soon. (With inputs from agencies)

North Korea tells WHO it has detected no virus cases

The WHO is in talks to create the first-ever technology transfer hub for coronavirus vaccines in South Africa.

COVID: Vaccine technology transfer center to open in SA

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced that WHO is set to establish its first Covid mRNA vaccine&nbsp;'technology transfer hub’ in the country.&nbsp;

The World Health&nbsp;Organization, French President Emmanuel Macron and President Ramaphosa jointly held a media briefing on Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the full extent of the vaccine gap between developed and developing economies, and how that gap can severely undermine global health security. This landmark initiative is a major advancement in the international effort to develop vaccines and manufacturing capacity that will put Africa on a path to&nbsp;self-determination,” Ramaphosa said.&nbsp;

“South Africa welcomes the opportunity to host a vaccine technology transfer hub and to build on the capacity and expertise that already exists on the continent to contribute to this effort,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The technology transfer hub will be located in South Africa and this initiative will not just benefit South Africa, but working together with the Africa CDC and the WHO,&nbsp;we will make sure that it benefits the entire African continent," Ramaphosa said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron,&nbsp;who visited South Africa&nbsp;in&nbsp;May&nbsp;end,&nbsp;had also committed supporting efforts in Africa to scale up local manufacturing capacity.&nbsp;

“Today is a great day for Africa. It is also a great day for all those who work towards a more equitable access to health products. I am proud of Biovac&nbsp;and our South African partners to have been selected by WHO&nbsp;as France has been supporting them for years,” French President Emmanuel Macron said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This announcement comes at a time when&nbsp;South Africa and India have&nbsp;been at the forefront of a campaign at the World Trade&nbsp;Organisation&nbsp;to waive intellectual property rights for vaccine manufacturing.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that relying on a few companies to supply global public goods is limiting&nbsp;and&nbsp;dangerous. To boost manufacturing, WHO has continued to call for the sharing of know-how, technology &amp; licenses, &amp; the waiving of intellectual property rights,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-General of the WHO said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Currently, South Africa is seeing a huge surge in COVID-19 cases as the country is battling third wave. So far, the country has only vaccinated 1% of its population.&nbsp;

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced that WHO is set to establish its first Covid mRNA vaccine 'technology transfer hub’ in the country. The World Health Organization, French President Emmanuel Macron and President Ramaphosa jointly held a media briefing on Monday.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced that WHO is set to establish its first Covid mRNA vaccine 'technology transfer hub’ in the country. The World Health Organization, French President Emmanuel Macron and President Ramaphosa jointly held a media briefing on Monday. “The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the full extent of the vaccine gap between developed and developing economies, and how that gap can severely undermine global health security. This landmark initiative is a major advancement in the international effort to develop vaccines and manufacturing capacity that will put Africa on a path to self-determination,” Ramaphosa said. “South Africa welcomes the opportunity to host a vaccine technology transfer hub and to build on the capacity and expertise that already exists on the continent to contribute to this effort,” he added. "The technology transfer hub will be located in South Africa and this initiative will not just benefit South Africa, but working together with the Africa CDC and the WHO, we will make sure that it benefits the entire African continent," Ramaphosa said. French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited South Africa in May end, had also committed supporting efforts in Africa to scale up local manufacturing capacity. “Today is a great day for Africa. It is also a great day for all those who work towards a more equitable access to health products. I am proud of Biovac and our South African partners to have been selected by WHO as France has been supporting them for years,” French President Emmanuel Macron said. This announcement comes at a time when South Africa and India have been at the forefront of a campaign at the World Trade Organisation to waive intellectual property rights for vaccine manufacturing. "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that relying on a few companies to supply global public goods is limiting and dangerous. To boost manufacturing, WHO has continued to call for the sharing of know-how, technology & licenses, & the waiving of intellectual property rights,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-General of the WHO said. Currently, South Africa is seeing a huge surge in COVID-19 cases as the country is battling third wave. So far, the country has only vaccinated 1% of its population.

WHO to set up vaccine tech transfer hub in South Africa  

The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting a South African consortium in establishing the first COVID-19 mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub. President Cyril Ramaphosa joined the WHO and French President Emmanuel Macron in announcing the new hub for Messenger RNA coronavirus vaccine technology.

WHO supports South African consortium to establish first mRNA vaccine tech transfer hub

When the COVID-19 pandemic exploded around the globe, scientists warned of dire consequences if the chain of transmission wasn’t disrupted on time. We were warned that more dangerous variants would emerge and that vaccines may lose efficacy in the face of such mutations.

Now, a World Health Organization (WHO) official claims that COVID-19 vaccines are signalling reduced efficacy against the Delta variant of coronavirus.

Related video:&nbsp;Cases of Delta variant of Coronavirus rising in the UK

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cases-of-delta-variant-of-coronavirus-rising-in-the-uk-391821/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Even though the current vaccines are able to offer great protection against severe illnesses and significantly cut death rates, it is a worrying trend which could leave the vaccines completely ineffective against potential highly mutated variants. Highlighting the dangers posed by a “constellation of mutations”, Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) technical lead for Covid&nbsp;warned against giving the virus any chance to mutate further, media reports said.

Recently, the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) mutated further to create the Delta Plus variant, cases of which are being reported in India, where the original Delta variant was also first identified.&nbsp;

Why we should we wary

The Delta variant is highly transmissible and is listed as a “variant of concern” by WHO. Dangers of another wave continue to lurk in the shadows. India was able to bring down its caseload only recently, and cases in the United Kingdom have also shot up to 10,000 again.

And the more the virus is allowed to spread, the higher number of mutations we can expect. In the face of this, vaccines may or not be able to keep up, which is why breaking the chain of transmission is pertinent.

Transmission can be stopped by strict compliance with precautionary measures like masks, hand hygiene and social distancing. If a majority of the world’s population is vaccinated against coronavirus, herd immunity could be reached. But with inequality in terms of access to jabs, universal vaccination seems unlikely in the near future unless developed countries dispatch life-saving jabs to developing countries on war footing.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/taiwan-wants-german-vaccines-china-may-be-standing-in-its-way-392037" hreflang="en">Taiwan wants German vaccines. China may be standing in its way.</a>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/uk-opens-vaccines-for-21-22-year-olds-fearing-rise-of-delta-variant-391906" hreflang="en">UK opens vaccines for 21-22 year olds, fearing rise of Delta variant</a>

When the COVID-19 pandemic exploded around the globe, scientists warned of dire consequences if the chain of transmission wasn’t disrupted on time. We were warned that more dangerous variants would emerge and that vaccines may lose efficacy in the face of such mutations.

When the COVID-19 pandemic exploded around the globe, scientists warned of dire consequences if the chain of transmission wasn’t disrupted on time. We were warned that more dangerous variants would emerge and that vaccines may lose efficacy in the face of such mutations. Now, a World Health Organization (WHO) official claims that COVID-19 vaccines are signalling reduced efficacy against the Delta variant of coronavirus. Related video: Cases of Delta variant of Coronavirus rising in the UK Even though the current vaccines are able to offer great protection against severe illnesses and significantly cut death rates, it is a worrying trend which could leave the vaccines completely ineffective against potential highly mutated variants. Highlighting the dangers posed by a “constellation of mutations”, Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) technical lead for Covid warned against giving the virus any chance to mutate further, media reports said. Recently, the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) mutated further to create the Delta Plus variant, cases of which are being reported in India, where the original Delta variant was also first identified. Why we should we wary The Delta variant is highly transmissible and is listed as a “variant of concern” by WHO. Dangers of another wave continue to lurk in the shadows. India was able to bring down its caseload only recently, and cases in the United Kingdom have also shot up to 10,000 again. And the more the virus is allowed to spread, the higher number of mutations we can expect. In the face of this, vaccines may or not be able to keep up, which is why breaking the chain of transmission is pertinent. Transmission can be stopped by strict compliance with precautionary measures like masks, hand hygiene and social distancing. If a majority of the world’s population is vaccinated against coronavirus, herd immunity could be reached. But with inequality in terms of access to jabs, universal vaccination seems unlikely in the near future unless developed countries dispatch life-saving jabs to developing countries on war footing. Also read: Taiwan wants German vaccines. China may be standing in its way. Also read: UK opens vaccines for 21-22 year olds, fearing rise of Delta variant

Covid vaccines are losing efficacy against Delta variant, warns WHO epidemiologist

World Health Organisation (WHO) officially announced the end of Guinea's second Ebola outbreak. The outbreak was declared on February 14.

"I have the honour of declaring the end of Ebola" in Guinea, WHO official Alfred Ki-Zerbo said at a ceremony in the southeastern Nzerekore region where the disease surfaced at the end of January.

"In the name of the head of state (President Alpha Conde) I wish to declare the end of resurgence of Ebola in Guinea," Health Minister Remy Lamah added:&nbsp;

Latest outbreak saw seven probable infections and 16 confirmed cases, said WHO. It added that 12 of these cases were fatal.

It was second outbreak in Guinea, a poor country of 13 million people since the Ebola epidemic of 2013-2016. The epidemic left 11,300 dead in Guinea Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Ebola causes severe fever and, in the worst cases, unstoppable bleeding.&nbsp;

It is transmitted through close contact with bodily fluids, and people who live with or care for patients are most at risk.&nbsp;

Guinea reacted quickly to this year's outbreak, however, building on its previous experience of fighting the disease.&nbsp;

Among other measures, the country launched an Ebola vaccination campaign this year with the help of the WHO.

(With inputs from agencies)

World Health Organisation (WHO) officially announced the end of Guinea's second Ebola outbreak. The outbreak was declared on February 14. "I have the honour of declaring the end of Ebola" in Guinea, WHO official Alfred Ki-Zerbo said at a ceremony in the southeastern Nzerekore region where the disease surfaced at the end of January.

World Health Organisation (WHO) officially announced the end of Guinea's second Ebola outbreak. The outbreak was declared on February 14. "I have the honour of declaring the end of Ebola" in Guinea, WHO official Alfred Ki-Zerbo said at a ceremony in the southeastern Nzerekore region where the disease surfaced at the end of January. "In the name of the head of state (President Alpha Conde) I wish to declare the end of resurgence of Ebola in Guinea," Health Minister Remy Lamah added: Latest outbreak saw seven probable infections and 16 confirmed cases, said WHO. It added that 12 of these cases were fatal. It was second outbreak in Guinea, a poor country of 13 million people since the Ebola epidemic of 2013-2016. The epidemic left 11,300 dead in Guinea Liberia and Sierra Leone. Ebola causes severe fever and, in the worst cases, unstoppable bleeding. It is transmitted through close contact with bodily fluids, and people who live with or care for patients are most at risk. Guinea reacted quickly to this year's outbreak, however, building on its previous experience of fighting the disease. Among other measures, the country launched an Ebola vaccination campaign this year with the help of the WHO. (With inputs from agencies)

WHO officially declares end to second Ebola outbreak in Guinea

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, the third possible wave of the coronavirus pandemic is unlikely to hit children more than the adult population.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-has-suffered-a-lot-due-to-covid-says-donald-trump-demands-china-to-pay-10-trillion-392316">Also read | India has suffered a lot due to Covid says Donald Trump; demands China to pay $10 trillion</a>

The study indicated significant seroprevalence among youngsters, which could protect them from the third wave. It was conducted across five locations in four states.

Delhi Urban Resettlement Colony, Delhi Rural (villages in Faridabad district of Haryana under Delhi-NCR), Bhubaneswar Rural, Gorakhpur Rural, and Agartala Rural are the five sites chosen. &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lambda-new-variant-of-covid-19-that-is-affecting-29-countries-392308">Also read | Lambda: New variant of COVID-19 that is affecting 29 countries</a>

“SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity rate among children was high and were comparable to the adult population. Hence, it is unlikely that any future third wave by prevailing COVID19 variant would disproportionately affect children two years or older," the survey stated. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-vaccination-has-no-effect-on-male-fertility-sperm-count-not-harmed-study-392287">Also read | COVID-19 vaccination has no effect on male fertility, sperm count not harmed: Study</a>

The study found a seroprevalence of 55.7 per cent in those aged less than 18 (two to 17 years) age group and 63.5 per cent in the 18 years and above age group.

The present findings are based on a midterm analysis of data acquired from 4,509 participants in four states between 15 March 2021 and 10 June 2021, a timeframe that essentially includes the second wave of COVID-19, according to the study, which was published on pre-print server medRxiv.&nbsp;

The study found that while female individuals had somewhat higher seroprevalence than male participants (58.6 per cent versus 53.0 per cent), there was no statistically significant difference in seropositivity between male and female participants.&nbsp;

Among the five locations that were studied as part of the survey, the Agartala Rural site had the least seroprevalence of 51.9 per cent, probably because it also included some tribal population which generally have lower mobility resulting in lower vulnerability to COVID19 infection, ANI reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, the third possible wave of the coronavirus pandemic is unlikely to hit children more than the adult population.

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, the third possible wave of the coronavirus pandemic is unlikely to hit children more than the adult population. Also read | India has suffered a lot due to Covid says Donald Trump; demands China to pay $10 trillion The study indicated significant seroprevalence among youngsters, which could protect them from the third wave. It was conducted across five locations in four states. Delhi Urban Resettlement Colony, Delhi Rural (villages in Faridabad district of Haryana under Delhi-NCR), Bhubaneswar Rural, Gorakhpur Rural, and Agartala Rural are the five sites chosen. Also read | Lambda: New variant of COVID-19 that is affecting 29 countries “SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity rate among children was high and were comparable to the adult population. Hence, it is unlikely that any future third wave by prevailing COVID19 variant would disproportionately affect children two years or older," the survey stated. Also read | COVID-19 vaccination has no effect on male fertility, sperm count not harmed: Study The study found a seroprevalence of 55.7 per cent in those aged less than 18 (two to 17 years) age group and 63.5 per cent in the 18 years and above age group. The present findings are based on a midterm analysis of data acquired from 4,509 participants in four states between 15 March 2021 and 10 June 2021, a timeframe that essentially includes the second wave of COVID-19, according to the study, which was published on pre-print server medRxiv. The study found that while female individuals had somewhat higher seroprevalence than male participants (58.6 per cent versus 53.0 per cent), there was no statistically significant difference in seropositivity between male and female participants. Among the five locations that were studied as part of the survey, the Agartala Rural site had the least seroprevalence of 51.9 per cent, probably because it also included some tribal population which generally have lower mobility resulting in lower vulnerability to COVID19 infection, ANI reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Third COVID-19 wave unlikely to affect kids: WHO-AIIMS survey  

The World Health Organization (WHO) was criticised for its remarks over draft global alcohol action plan. 'The Women of childbearing age shouldn't drink', says WHO. Women from around the world slammed the organisation as “sexist” and the advice as “absurd”.

'Women of childbearing age shouldn't drink': WHO

The World Health Organization has been accused of being “sexist and paternalistic” after advising women of childbearing age not to drink alcohol. The guidance is part of the WHO's draft global alcohol action plan 2022-2030.

WHO says women of childbearing age shouldn't drink

The World Health Organisation has said that UK's decision to cut aid will make millions of people susceptible to dying from "neglected tropical diseases". The UK has reduced foreign aid budget from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent of its national income. This will result in cut of 4 billion Pounds.

The WHO has joined many other agencies to warn about the impact of UK's decision. It mentioned that the "neglected tropical disease" included Trachoma, Elecphantiasis and Guinea Worm. These diseases are among 20 disease groups which mostly affect poorest countries. These disease are preventable but the WHO said the disease could "kill, blind, disfigure and maim"

WHO also said that without UK's aid, about 277 million tablets will expire and will have to be destroyed.

"No obvious alternative source of funding exists to fill the funding gaps that will be left by the exit of Ascend," the WHO added.

The World Health Organisation has said that UK's decision to cut aid will make millions of people susceptible to dying from "neglected tropical diseases". The UK has reduced foreign aid budget from 0.

The World Health Organisation has said that UK's decision to cut aid will make millions of people susceptible to dying from "neglected tropical diseases". The UK has reduced foreign aid budget from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent of its national income. This will result in cut of 4 billion Pounds. The WHO has joined many other agencies to warn about the impact of UK's decision. It mentioned that the "neglected tropical disease" included Trachoma, Elecphantiasis and Guinea Worm. These diseases are among 20 disease groups which mostly affect poorest countries. These disease are preventable but the WHO said the disease could "kill, blind, disfigure and maim" WHO also said that without UK's aid, about 277 million tablets will expire and will have to be destroyed. "No obvious alternative source of funding exists to fill the funding gaps that will be left by the exit of Ascend," the WHO added.

UK's foreign aid cut may put millions at risk: WHO

Bringing the Indian Covid vaccine Covaxin&nbsp;a step closer to World Health Organization's approval, the pre-submission meeting will be taking place on&nbsp;June 23. WHO documents show the Expression of Interest (EOI) has been accepted by the Geneva-based body.

Hyderabad-based&nbsp;Bharat Biotech, which manufactures the vaccine, had submitted its Expression of Interest (EOI) on April 19. Once the dossier is accepted for review and the status of assessment finalised, a decision will be taken.

Covaxin&nbsp;is the second made-in-India vaccine to apply at the global body for Emergency Use Listing (EUL). Covishield, made by the Serum Institute of India,&nbsp; got WHO EUL on 15th February.

WHO listing will allow Covaxin to get global approval for use, something that has other benefits like the easy movement of Indians who have been vaccinated by it.

May saw an important meeting of Bharat Biotech officials and senior officers of the Ministry of Health, Department of Biotechnology, and Ministry of External Affairs to chalk out a strategy for early approval of the vaccine.

Covaxin has received emergency use authorisation from 14 countries, with more than 50 other countries in the pipeline. When it comes to the US, Bharat Biotech's US partner Ocugen has been asked by FDA to pursue Biologics License Applications (BLA) path for Covaxin's full approval.

So far, eight vaccines globally have been approved by WHO for EUL, including those made by Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Moderna, Sinovac and Sinopharm.

Russia's Sputnik vaccine is expected to get approval soon "once all the data is submitted", said WHO documents. A total of 22 vaccines have applied for WHO approval globally, with 14 in various stages of negotiations.

Bringing the Indian Covid vaccine Covaxin a step closer to World Health Organization's approval, the pre-submission meeting will be taking place on June 23. WHO documents show the Expression of Interest (EOI) has been accepted by the Geneva-based body.

Bringing the Indian Covid vaccine Covaxin a step closer to World Health Organization's approval, the pre-submission meeting will be taking place on June 23. WHO documents show the Expression of Interest (EOI) has been accepted by the Geneva-based body. Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, which manufactures the vaccine, had submitted its Expression of Interest (EOI) on April 19. Once the dossier is accepted for review and the status of assessment finalised, a decision will be taken. Covaxin is the second made-in-India vaccine to apply at the global body for Emergency Use Listing (EUL). Covishield, made by the Serum Institute of India, got WHO EUL on 15th February. WHO listing will allow Covaxin to get global approval for use, something that has other benefits like the easy movement of Indians who have been vaccinated by it. May saw an important meeting of Bharat Biotech officials and senior officers of the Ministry of Health, Department of Biotechnology, and Ministry of External Affairs to chalk out a strategy for early approval of the vaccine. Covaxin has received emergency use authorisation from 14 countries, with more than 50 other countries in the pipeline. When it comes to the US, Bharat Biotech's US partner Ocugen has been asked by FDA to pursue Biologics License Applications (BLA) path for Covaxin's full approval. So far, eight vaccines globally have been approved by WHO for EUL, including those made by Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Moderna, Sinovac and Sinopharm. Russia's Sputnik vaccine is expected to get approval soon "once all the data is submitted", said WHO documents. A total of 22 vaccines have applied for WHO approval globally, with 14 in various stages of negotiations.

COVID-19: Bharat Biotech's pre-submission meeting for Covaxin's WHO approval on June 23

World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday welcomed the pledge made by G7 nations to donate 870 million vaccine doses. However, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus underlined that more help was needed.

"I welcome the support expressed by the G7 for WHO...This is a big help, but we need more and we need them faster," said Dr Ghebreyesus.

Faced with outrage over disparities in jab access, the Group of Seven industrialised powers pledged during a weekend summit in Britain to take their total dose donations to more than one billion, up from 130 million promised in February.

While people in many wealthy nations are enjoying a return to a sense of normalcy thanks to high vaccination rates, the shots remain scarce in less well-off parts of the world.

In terms of doses administered, the imbalance between the G7 and low-income countries, as defined by the World Bank, is 73 to one.

Many of the donated G7 doses will be filtered through Covax, a global body charged with ensuring equitable vaccine distribution.

Run by the WHO, the Gavi vaccine alliance and CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, it has to date shipped more than 87 million vaccine doses to 131 countries -- far fewer than anticipated.

70% target

The WHO wants at least 70 percent of the world's population vaccinated by the next G7 meeting in Germany next year.

"To do that, we need 11 billion doses. The G7 and G20 can make this happen," said Tedros. 
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders questioned how sincere the G7 was in pursuing vaccine equity.

"We need to see more clarity around the actual number of doses donated, and exactly how long it's going to take to translate their pledges into real impact and access," the medical charity's Hu Yuanqiong told AFP.

(With inputs from agencies)

World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday welcomed the pledge made by G7 nations to donate 870 million vaccine doses. However, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus underlined that more help was needed.

World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday welcomed the pledge made by G7 nations to donate 870 million vaccine doses. However, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus underlined that more help was needed. "I welcome the support expressed by the G7 for WHO...This is a big help, but we need more and we need them faster," said Dr Ghebreyesus. Faced with outrage over disparities in jab access, the Group of Seven industrialised powers pledged during a weekend summit in Britain to take their total dose donations to more than one billion, up from 130 million promised in February. While people in many wealthy nations are enjoying a return to a sense of normalcy thanks to high vaccination rates, the shots remain scarce in less well-off parts of the world. In terms of doses administered, the imbalance between the G7 and low-income countries, as defined by the World Bank, is 73 to one. Many of the donated G7 doses will be filtered through Covax, a global body charged with ensuring equitable vaccine distribution. Run by the WHO, the Gavi vaccine alliance and CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, it has to date shipped more than 87 million vaccine doses to 131 countries -- far fewer than anticipated. 70% target The WHO wants at least 70 percent of the world's population vaccinated by the next G7 meeting in Germany next year. "To do that, we need 11 billion doses. The G7 and G20 can make this happen," said Tedros. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders questioned how sincere the G7 was in pursuing vaccine equity. "We need to see more clarity around the actual number of doses donated, and exactly how long it's going to take to translate their pledges into real impact and access," the medical charity's Hu Yuanqiong told AFP. (With inputs from agencies)

G7 vaccine pledge is 'big help' but 'more' is needed: WHO

Covaxin has been denied emergency use authorisation in the US. The vaccine is yet to be listed on the WHO's list of approved vaccines. The lack of global approvals has put a question mark on travel, work & study plans of millions of Indians.

India: No American approval for Covaxin

As several European nations reopen and allow tourists, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Hans Kluge, regional director for Europe, said that Europe is "by no means out of danger".

"With increasing social gatherings, greater population mobility and large festivals and sports tournaments taking place in the coming days and weeks, WHO Europe calls for caution," the UN health body's top official said.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/eu-parliament-approves-digital-covid-19-certificates-390511/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Kluge was referring to sports tournaments, namely the French Open which is underway in Paris currently and the mega European football championships set to begin on Saturday which attracts people from across the continent with top teams taking part. The Wimbledon tennis tournament is also set to take place in London next month.

"In six months, more than 400 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the region. This summer, vaccination needs to happen at a much faster pace," Klunge asserted.

WHO's top official said that Europe still hasn't achieved sufficient protection against a possible COVID-19 resurgence since at least 80 per cent vaccination coverage of the adult population was&nbsp;required.

Kluge said that 30 per cent people in Europe have received at least one vaccine dose and just 17 per cent have completed both doses of the vaccine while cautioning that "we have not come far enough."

European nations began their reopening process last month and further allowed tourists with Greece and Spain set to open their borders for tourists who have been&nbsp;vaccinated.&nbsp;

France on Wednesday allowed outdoor dining as coronavirus cases showed marked decline and pushed back the nighttime curfew while aiming to end curfews altogether by June 30.

Kluge acknowledged that there was an overall decline in new COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths for the past two months in Europe but urged countries not to repeat "mistakes".

"Over the course of last summer, cases gradually rose in younger age groups and then moved into older age groups, contributing to a devastating resurgence, lockdowns and loss of life, in the autumn and winter of 2020," WHO's regional director reminded officials in Europe.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As several European nations reopen and allow tourists, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Hans Kluge, regional director for Europe, said that Europe is "by no means out of danger".

As several European nations reopen and allow tourists, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Hans Kluge, regional director for Europe, said that Europe is "by no means out of danger". "With increasing social gatherings, greater population mobility and large festivals and sports tournaments taking place in the coming days and weeks, WHO Europe calls for caution," the UN health body's top official said. Watch: Kluge was referring to sports tournaments, namely the French Open which is underway in Paris currently and the mega European football championships set to begin on Saturday which attracts people from across the continent with top teams taking part. The Wimbledon tennis tournament is also set to take place in London next month. "In six months, more than 400 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the region. This summer, vaccination needs to happen at a much faster pace," Klunge asserted. WHO's top official said that Europe still hasn't achieved sufficient protection against a possible COVID-19 resurgence since at least 80 per cent vaccination coverage of the adult population was required. Kluge said that 30 per cent people in Europe have received at least one vaccine dose and just 17 per cent have completed both doses of the vaccine while cautioning that "we have not come far enough." European nations began their reopening process last month and further allowed tourists with Greece and Spain set to open their borders for tourists who have been vaccinated. France on Wednesday allowed outdoor dining as coronavirus cases showed marked decline and pushed back the nighttime curfew while aiming to end curfews altogether by June 30. Kluge acknowledged that there was an overall decline in new COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths for the past two months in Europe but urged countries not to repeat "mistakes". "Over the course of last summer, cases gradually rose in younger age groups and then moved into older age groups, contributing to a devastating resurgence, lockdowns and loss of life, in the autumn and winter of 2020," WHO's regional director reminded officials in Europe. (With inputs from Agencies)

We are by no means out of danger, WHO alerts Europe on virus resurgence

As the countries rush to vaccinate their citizens, some of the poorer countries are struggling to get access to doses of these <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccines</a> to fight the deadly <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a>.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has, therefore, urged all vaccine manufacturers to donate half of their doses to the Covax vaccine programme — which is a worldwide initiative to give proper access to vaccines to poorer countries.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/impact-of-coronavirus-four-times-worse-than-2008-financial-crisis-un-390013" hreflang="en">Impact of coronavirus four times worse than 2008 financial crisis: UN</a>

WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the global vaccine manufacturers are not helping the poor countries, which has resulted in several countries struggling to even immunise their health workers against this deadly virus.

He also pointed out the discrimination the third-world countries have faced by drawing examples between countries that have failed to vaccinate health workers against those nations that are now prepping to vaccinate small children.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moderna-awaiting-approval-of-coronavirus-vaccine-for-teens-in-eu-canada-389997" hreflang="en">Moderna awaiting approval of coronavirus vaccine for teens in EU, Canada</a>

Tedros asked countries to set and achieve a target of vaccinating at least 10 per cent of the population by September and 30 per cent by the end of 2021. To achieve this target, nearly 100 million doses will be needed in June and July and at least 250 million doses will be required by the end of September.

To make sure his target can be met, he has urged pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Moderna, SII and others to either give Covax the first refusal on new doses or commit a minimum 50 per cent of their total production to the Covax programme.

"I also call on all manufacturers to give Covax first right of refusal on new volume of COVID-19 vaccines, or to commit 50 percent of their volumes to Covax this year," Tedros said.

He also called on the G7 nations to discuss these targets in their annual summit which is scheduled to take place this weekend.

"I am calling on the G7 not just to commit to sharing doses, but to commit to sharing them in June and July," he said.

As the countries rush to vaccinate their citizens, some of the poorer countries are struggling to get access to doses of these vaccines to fight the deadly coronavirus.

As the countries rush to vaccinate their citizens, some of the poorer countries are struggling to get access to doses of these vaccines to fight the deadly coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has, therefore, urged all vaccine manufacturers to donate half of their doses to the Covax vaccine programme — which is a worldwide initiative to give proper access to vaccines to poorer countries. Also read | Impact of coronavirus four times worse than 2008 financial crisis: UN WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the global vaccine manufacturers are not helping the poor countries, which has resulted in several countries struggling to even immunise their health workers against this deadly virus. He also pointed out the discrimination the third-world countries have faced by drawing examples between countries that have failed to vaccinate health workers against those nations that are now prepping to vaccinate small children. Also read | Moderna awaiting approval of coronavirus vaccine for teens in EU, Canada Tedros asked countries to set and achieve a target of vaccinating at least 10 per cent of the population by September and 30 per cent by the end of 2021. To achieve this target, nearly 100 million doses will be needed in June and July and at least 250 million doses will be required by the end of September. To make sure his target can be met, he has urged pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Moderna, SII and others to either give Covax the first refusal on new doses or commit a minimum 50 per cent of their total production to the Covax programme. "I also call on all manufacturers to give Covax first right of refusal on new volume of COVID-19 vaccines, or to commit 50 percent of their volumes to Covax this year," Tedros said. He also called on the G7 nations to discuss these targets in their annual summit which is scheduled to take place this weekend. "I am calling on the G7 not just to commit to sharing doses, but to commit to sharing them in June and July," he said.

Give at least 50% of vaccine doses to Covax programme: WHO

Milloni Doshi, a 25-year-old student from India who is supposed to start her master’s degree this fall at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, has a problem.

Although Doshi has been vaccinated against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a>, she received two doses of Covaxin, which is made by an Indian manufacturer and is not currently approved by the World Health Organization, as required by the university in New York.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/give-us-priority-covid-19-vaccination-foreign-bound-students-to-tamil-nadu-govt-388954">Give us priority COVID-19 vaccination: Foreign-bound students to Tamil Nadu govt</a>&nbsp;

Columbia has told her she will need to be revaccinated with a different <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccine</a> once she arrives on campus, but no one can say for sure if it is safe to do so.

“I am just concerned about taking two different vaccines,” she wrote via a messaging app. “They said the application process would be the toughest part of the cycle, but it’s really been all of this that has been uncertain and anxiety-inducing.”

Since March, more than 400 colleges and universities in the United States have announced vaccine mandates, requiring students to be immunized against the coronavirus. But the rules have been designed primarily with domestic students in mind, leaving international students scrambling, particularly those in India and Russia.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-distribute-80-million-vaccine-doses-through-covax-india-included-in-list-white-house-389263">US to distribute 80 million vaccine doses through Covax; India included in list: White House</a>

Neither Covaxin nor the Sputnik V vaccine, which is manufactured in Russia, has been approved by the WHO. American students, however, have access to the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccines, three of the eight authorized by the health agency, according to a WHO spokesperson.

The disparity could hinder colleges that have made it a major priority to retain international students, who brought in close to $39 billion in tuition dollars in the year before the pandemic, according to one analysis.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worldwide-coronavirus-cases-cross-171-million-death-toll-at-3557281-388897">Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 171 million, death toll at 3,557,281</a>

“Universities want to enroll international students because they add diversity to the campus community, and they bring money,” said Terry Hartle, senior vice president at the American Council on Education. “It’s why this has been a subject of intense discussion.”

The situation is particularly challenging for students in India, which sends approximately 200,000 international students to US&nbsp;colleges every year, the second most after China. The subcontinent is emerging from the grips of one of the most severe waves of the pandemic, when burial grounds were running out of space and funeral pyres were nearly constantly burning. Vaccine shortages are so acute that only 3 per cent&nbsp;of the population is fully immunized, and getting an appointment is a taxing affair.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-virus-surge-singapore-set-to-vaccinate-students-from-june-3-388595">Amid virus surge, Singapore set to vaccinate students from June 3</a>

In some parts of India, students planning on attending US&nbsp;universities have turned to the black market, paying hundreds of dollars to be vaccinated. Others have hired people to spend up to 12 hours online trying to line up a vaccination slot.

It is hard enough just to get an appointment, but even more so to secure one for a vaccine that will be accepted by US&nbsp;campuses.

“Every day, we get 10 to 15 messages and inquiries, saying, ‘What does this mean? How does this impact me?’” said Sudhanshu Kaushik, 26, who dropped out of his MBA program at New York University last year to run the North American Association of Indian Students, which is working to help fellow students.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fauci-says-us-teens-should-get-vaccinated-by-autumn-younger-children-next-year-368711">Fauci says US teens should get vaccinated by autumn, younger children next year</a>

Among the questions flooding Kaushik’s inbox: What happens if I cannot get my vaccine in time? Will I still be allowed to matriculate in the fall? What should I do if the vaccine I can get locally is not approved by my college?

At Indiana University, which announced its vaccine requirement less than two weeks ago, administrators are working overtime to answer the roughly 200 phone calls and 300 emails that are pouring in every day from the university’s roughly 6,000 students overseas, said its vice president for international affairs, Hannah Buxbaum.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thanksgiving-will-soon-empty-campuses-will-students-bring-coronavirus-home-342124">Thanksgiving will soon empty campuses. Will students bring coronavirus home?</a>

“Ringing off the hook doesn’t begin to describe,” said Buxbaum of the volume of calls from overseas students who are trying to navigate the vaccine bureaucracy in their home countries as well as a host of other virus-related problems, from flight bans to shuttered consulates.

“There is no question that there is anxiety and concern among our international students,” she said.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/students-sue-top-us-universities-over-switch-to-online-courses-297080">Students sue top US universities over switch to online courses</a>

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tried to provide guidance. The agency considers people fully vaccinated several weeks after they have received the requisite doses of any of the vaccines authorized by the WHO, said a spokesperson, Kristen Nordlund.

Besides the three vaccines currently available in the United States under emergency authorization by the FDA, the world body has, according to its website, also approved three versions of the AstraZeneca vaccine, including one made in England and one made in India; the Sinopharm vaccine, which is manufactured in China; and, as of this week, the Sinovac vaccine, also made in China.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/375-million-dollars-from-foreign-countries-to-ivy-league-schools-us-department-of-education-investigates-280716">375 million dollars from foreign countries to Ivy League schools, US Department of Education investigates</a>

Many universities appear to be following these guidelines: “If a student has had a WHO-approved vaccine,” said Clayton Rose, president of Bowdoin College, “then the student will be considered to be vaccinated.”

At Columbia, where one-third of the student body is from overseas, international students will be asked to present either their WHO booklet or a letter from a physician confirming they have received the requisite doses of one of the vaccines vetted by the world body, said Donna Lynne, chief operating officer of the university’s medical center, who heads the campus’s COVID-19 response.

But that leaves two categories of students that will face a more complicated, and potentially problematic&nbsp;process.

There are those who will not succeed in securing a vaccine before the start of the fall semester. Bowdoin and many other universities say they plan to have clinics on campus that will offer one of the three FDA-authorized vaccines.

The trick is that two of those, Pfizer and Moderna, require the first and second dose to be spaced three weeks apart; because someone is only considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the last dose, the process lasts a minimum of five weeks. During that time, will students be required to quarantine while the rest of campus goes back to normal? Will they need to undergo routine testing?

Campuses are proposing different measures, with some saying that those students will need to self-isolate in their dorm and attend classes remotely. Others are saying the students will be expected to wear a mask and undergo testing.

The more complicated scenario is if students received a vaccine that has not been approved by the WHO, like Sputnik or Covaxin. Many colleges are proposing that those student will need to be revaccinated, which presents both medical and logistical conundrums.

No data exists on whether combining vaccines from different companies is safe.

“Since COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable, the safety and effectiveness of receiving two different COVID-19 vaccines have not been studied,” Nordlund, the CDC spokesperson, wrote in an email.

She added that the CDC was recommending that people who were vaccinated outside the United States with a vaccine that was not authorized by the WHO should wait a minimum of 28 days before taking the first dose of one of the FDA-sanctioned vaccines.

Many universities were vague on how they plan to deal with the logistical complexity of spacing out these unrelated vaccines, beyond saying that they planned to accommodate students undergoing this process.

While much remains in flux, at least one major university system is planning on deviating from the CDC guidelines.

California State, the largest public university system in the country with 23 campuses enrolling nearly a half-million students, plans to accept any vaccine a student received if it was authorized by the regulatory agency in their country of origin, said Chancellor Joseph Castro.

“They will be able to satisfy the requirement,” he said, “as long as the vaccine they receive is approved by something similar to an entity like the FDA.”

Facing mounting pressure from confused and anxious students, at least six regional governments in India have announced emergency clinics in the past week to vaccinate students heading to US&nbsp;universities.

One of them is in Maharashtra, the state that includes Mumbai and is where Doshi lives, although the move came too late for her since she is already vaccinated with an injection Columbia does not accept. Instead of concentrating on her future course of study, she is fretting over whether the vaccine she will need to get upon arriving at Columbia will cause an adverse reaction.

“Truthfully, it was easier to get admitted than to handle the post-admissions process,” she said.

Milloni Doshi, a 25-year-old student from India who is supposed to start her master’s degree this fall at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, has a problem.

Milloni Doshi, a 25-year-old student from India who is supposed to start her master’s degree this fall at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, has a problem. Although Doshi has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, she received two doses of Covaxin, which is made by an Indian manufacturer and is not currently approved by the World Health Organization, as required by the university in New York. Also Read | Give us priority COVID-19 vaccination: Foreign-bound students to Tamil Nadu govt Columbia has told her she will need to be revaccinated with a different vaccine once she arrives on campus, but no one can say for sure if it is safe to do so. “I am just concerned about taking two different vaccines,” she wrote via a messaging app. “They said the application process would be the toughest part of the cycle, but it’s really been all of this that has been uncertain and anxiety-inducing.” Since March, more than 400 colleges and universities in the United States have announced vaccine mandates, requiring students to be immunized against the coronavirus. But the rules have been designed primarily with domestic students in mind, leaving international students scrambling, particularly those in India and Russia. Also Read | US to distribute 80 million vaccine doses through Covax; India included in list: White House Neither Covaxin nor the Sputnik V vaccine, which is manufactured in Russia, has been approved by the WHO. American students, however, have access to the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, three of the eight authorized by the health agency, according to a WHO spokesperson. The disparity could hinder colleges that have made it a major priority to retain international students, who brought in close to $39 billion in tuition dollars in the year before the pandemic, according to one analysis. Also Read | Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 171 million, death toll at 3,557,281 “Universities want to enroll international students because they add diversity to the campus community, and they bring money,” said Terry Hartle, senior vice president at the American Council on Education. “It’s why this has been a subject of intense discussion.” The situation is particularly challenging for students in India, which sends approximately 200,000 international students to US colleges every year, the second most after China. The subcontinent is emerging from the grips of one of the most severe waves of the pandemic, when burial grounds were running out of space and funeral pyres were nearly constantly burning. Vaccine shortages are so acute that only 3 per cent of the population is fully immunized, and getting an appointment is a taxing affair. Also Read | Amid virus surge, Singapore set to vaccinate students from June 3 In some parts of India, students planning on attending US universities have turned to the black market, paying hundreds of dollars to be vaccinated. Others have hired people to spend up to 12 hours online trying to line up a vaccination slot. It is hard enough just to get an appointment, but even more so to secure one for a vaccine that will be accepted by US campuses. “Every day, we get 10 to 15 messages and inquiries, saying, ‘What does this mean? How does this impact me?’” said Sudhanshu Kaushik, 26, who dropped out of his MBA program at New York University last year to run the North American Association of Indian Students, which is working to help fellow students. Also Read | Fauci says US teens should get vaccinated by autumn, younger children next year Among the questions flooding Kaushik’s inbox: What happens if I cannot get my vaccine in time? Will I still be allowed to matriculate in the fall? What should I do if the vaccine I can get locally is not approved by my college? At Indiana University, which announced its vaccine requirement less than two weeks ago, administrators are working overtime to answer the roughly 200 phone calls and 300 emails that are pouring in every day from the university’s roughly 6,000 students overseas, said its vice president for international affairs, Hannah Buxbaum. Also Read | Thanksgiving will soon empty campuses. Will students bring coronavirus home? “Ringing off the hook doesn’t begin to describe,” said Buxbaum of the volume of calls from overseas students who are trying to navigate the vaccine bureaucracy in their home countries as well as a host of other virus-related problems, from flight bans to shuttered consulates. “There is no question that there is anxiety and concern among our international students,” she said. Also Read | Students sue top US universities over switch to online courses The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tried to provide guidance. The agency considers people fully vaccinated several weeks after they have received the requisite doses of any of the vaccines authorized by the WHO, said a spokesperson, Kristen Nordlund. Besides the three vaccines currently available in the United States under emergency authorization by the FDA, the world body has, according to its website, also approved three versions of the AstraZeneca vaccine, including one made in England and one made in India; the Sinopharm vaccine, which is manufactured in China; and, as of this week, the Sinovac vaccine, also made in China. Also Read | 375 million dollars from foreign countries to Ivy League schools, US Department of Education investigates Many universities appear to be following these guidelines: “If a student has had a WHO-approved vaccine,” said Clayton Rose, president of Bowdoin College, “then the student will be considered to be vaccinated.” At Columbia, where one-third of the student body is from overseas, international students will be asked to present either their WHO booklet or a letter from a physician confirming they have received the requisite doses of one of the vaccines vetted by the world body, said Donna Lynne, chief operating officer of the university’s medical center, who heads the campus’s COVID-19 response. But that leaves two categories of students that will face a more complicated, and potentially problematic process. There are those who will not succeed in securing a vaccine before the start of the fall semester. Bowdoin and many other universities say they plan to have clinics on campus that will offer one of the three FDA-authorized vaccines. The trick is that two of those, Pfizer and Moderna, require the first and second dose to be spaced three weeks apart; because someone is only considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the last dose, the process lasts a minimum of five weeks. During that time, will students be required to quarantine while the rest of campus goes back to normal? Will they need to undergo routine testing? Campuses are proposing different measures, with some saying that those students will need to self-isolate in their dorm and attend classes remotely. Others are saying the students will be expected to wear a mask and undergo testing. The more complicated scenario is if students received a vaccine that has not been approved by the WHO, like Sputnik or Covaxin. Many colleges are proposing that those student will need to be revaccinated, which presents both medical and logistical conundrums. No data exists on whether combining vaccines from different companies is safe. “Since COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable, the safety and effectiveness of receiving two different COVID-19 vaccines have not been studied,” Nordlund, the CDC spokesperson, wrote in an email. She added that the CDC was recommending that people who were vaccinated outside the United States with a vaccine that was not authorized by the WHO should wait a minimum of 28 days before taking the first dose of one of the FDA-sanctioned vaccines. Many universities were vague on how they plan to deal with the logistical complexity of spacing out these unrelated vaccines, beyond saying that they planned to accommodate students undergoing this process. While much remains in flux, at least one major university system is planning on deviating from the CDC guidelines. California State, the largest public university system in the country with 23 campuses enrolling nearly a half-million students, plans to accept any vaccine a student received if it was authorized by the regulatory agency in their country of origin, said Chancellor Joseph Castro. “They will be able to satisfy the requirement,” he said, “as long as the vaccine they receive is approved by something similar to an entity like the FDA.” Facing mounting pressure from confused and anxious students, at least six regional governments in India have announced emergency clinics in the past week to vaccinate students heading to US universities. One of them is in Maharashtra, the state that includes Mumbai and is where Doshi lives, although the move came too late for her since she is already vaccinated with an injection Columbia does not accept. Instead of concentrating on her future course of study, she is fretting over whether the vaccine she will need to get upon arriving at Columbia will cause an adverse reaction. “Truthfully, it was easier to get admitted than to handle the post-admissions process,” she said.

Colleges say students must get a Covid vaccine. But no, not that one.

Wealthy countries need to give more COVID-19 vaccines and follow the United States in making doses available immediately to cover a 200 million dose gap caused by Indian supply disruptions and manufacturing delays, a&nbsp;World&nbsp;Health&nbsp;Organization&nbsp;(WHO) senior adviser&nbsp;said on Friday.

Warning of a "two-track recovery," the WHO is urging wealthy countries to donate their surplus doses to poorer countries instead of giving them to less vulnerable groups, such as children. They have so far donated 150 million doses via the COVAX sharing scheme.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/reconsider-vaccinating-children-donate-to-covax-says-who-chief-as-he-warns-against-deadliest-year-385082">'Reconsider vaccinating children, donate to Covax,' says WHO chief as he warns against 'deadliest year'</a>

However, Bruce Aylward said on Friday that only a small portion of those doses will be available in the short-term in June, July and August when they can make a difference in slowing the pace of infections in the global pandemic.

"We are going to need twice that much and it's got to be brought forward," he said, referring to the size of wealthy country donations so far as G7&nbsp;health&nbsp;ministers meet in Oxford.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-chief-urges-covid-19-vaccine-makers-to-advance-doses-for-covax-385692">WHO chief urges COVID-19 vaccine makers to advance doses for COVAX</a>

"We don't have enough confirmed doses from enough countries early enough to get the&nbsp;world&nbsp;on track to get out of this," he said. "We are setting up for failure if we don't get early doses."

He praised a US&nbsp;plan announced on Thursday (June 3) to quickly share 25 million doses and encouraged other wealthy countries to follow suit.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-distribute-80-million-vaccine-doses-through-covax-india-included-in-list-white-house-389263">US to distribute 80 million vaccine doses through Covax; India included in list: White House</a>

Aylward estimated that Indian vaccine export disruptions and delays in getting other vaccines online meant that the COVAX sharing scheme had a gap of around 200 million doses.

India's Serum Institute has diverted AstraZeneca supplies to the domestic market amid a devastating second wave in India and is expected to lift those restrictions in the fourth quarter when other products earmarked for COVAX are also due online.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tedros-denounces-vaccine-inequity-as-covax-sharing-scheme-marks-first-year-379526">Tedros denounces vaccine inequity as COVAX sharing scheme marks first year</a>

Even after a summit this week that secured an additional $2.4 billion in pledges, a nearly $17 billion funding gap for the WHO's "ACT Accelerator" to back COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and diagnostics remain, he said.

Wealthy countries need to give more COVID-19 vaccines and follow the United States in making doses available immediately to cover a 200 million dose gap caused by Indian supply disruptions and manufacturing delays, a World Health Organization (WHO) senior adviser said on Friday.

Wealthy countries need to give more COVID-19 vaccines and follow the United States in making doses available immediately to cover a 200 million dose gap caused by Indian supply disruptions and manufacturing delays, a World Health Organization (WHO) senior adviser said on Friday. Warning of a "two-track recovery," the WHO is urging wealthy countries to donate their surplus doses to poorer countries instead of giving them to less vulnerable groups, such as children. They have so far donated 150 million doses via the COVAX sharing scheme. Also Read | 'Reconsider vaccinating children, donate to Covax,' says WHO chief as he warns against 'deadliest year' However, Bruce Aylward said on Friday that only a small portion of those doses will be available in the short-term in June, July and August when they can make a difference in slowing the pace of infections in the global pandemic. "We are going to need twice that much and it's got to be brought forward," he said, referring to the size of wealthy country donations so far as G7 health ministers meet in Oxford. Also Read | WHO chief urges COVID-19 vaccine makers to advance doses for COVAX "We don't have enough confirmed doses from enough countries early enough to get the world on track to get out of this," he said. "We are setting up for failure if we don't get early doses." He praised a US plan announced on Thursday (June 3) to quickly share 25 million doses and encouraged other wealthy countries to follow suit. Also Read | US to distribute 80 million vaccine doses through Covax; India included in list: White House Aylward estimated that Indian vaccine export disruptions and delays in getting other vaccines online meant that the COVAX sharing scheme had a gap of around 200 million doses. India's Serum Institute has diverted AstraZeneca supplies to the domestic market amid a devastating second wave in India and is expected to lift those restrictions in the fourth quarter when other products earmarked for COVAX are also due online. Also Read | Tedros denounces vaccine inequity as COVAX sharing scheme marks first year Even after a summit this week that secured an additional $2.4 billion in pledges, a nearly $17 billion funding gap for the WHO's "ACT Accelerator" to back COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and diagnostics remain, he said.

WHO warns of 'failure' unless rich countries speed up vaccine sharing

The Delta variant of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>, or the B1.617.2 highly transmissible <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kappa-delta-who-releases-greek-nomenclature-for-covid-variants-including-ones-found-in-india-388657">variant of concern (VOC)</a> first identified in India, has now become the dominant VOC in the UK as infections rose by 5,472 in a week to hit a total of 12,431, health officials in Britain said on Thursday.

Public Health England (PHE), which monitors all COVID variants in the country, said that experts now believe that Delta has now overtaken Alpha;&nbsp;the VOC first detected in the Kent region of England.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-agrees-to-add-japan-to-safe-travel-list-holds-off-on-britain-over-concerns-of-delta-variant-389198">EU agrees to add Japan to safe travel list, holds off on Britain over concerns of Delta variant</a>

PHE also said that early evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of hospitalisation with Delta compared to Alpha, although more data is needed to have a more definitive view on that.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/united-kingdom-pm-boris-johnson-cautious-about-lifting-lockdown-389211/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"With this variant now dominant across the UK, it remains vital that we all continue to exercise as much caution as possible," said Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive, UK Health Security Agency.

"The way to tackle variants is to tackle the transmission of COVID-19 as a whole. Work from home where you can, and practice 'hands, face, space, fresh air' at all times. If you are eligible and have not already done so, please come forward to be <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccinated</a> and make sure you get your second jab. It will save lives," she said.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/signs-of-an-early-wave-uk-grapples-with-unlock-measures-amid-third-wave-fears-388604">'Signs of an early wave': UK grapples with unlock measures amid third wave fears</a>

According to the breakdown of official figures, this week 278 people with the Delta variant attended hospital in an emergency.&nbsp;Last week, 201 people attended the hospital.

"Once again, the majority of these had not been vaccinated," PHE said.

The areas most affected by the Delta variant remain in the northwest of England with Bolton, where cases have risen by 795 to 2149, and Blackburn with Darwen which has seen 368 new cases, bringing it to 724 in total.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-seeks-extra-astrazeneca-shots-to-combat-beta-covid-19-variant-389061">Britain seeks extra AstraZeneca shots to combat Beta COVID-19 variant</a>

PHE said there are 'encouraging signs' that the transmission rate in Bolton has begun to fall and that the actions taken by residents and local authority teams have been successful in reducing spread.

Experts continue to urge people to, remain cautious,&nbsp;as the country approaches the next stage of the roadmap, with June 21 scheduled as a date for an end of all lockdown restrictions.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-coronavirus-variants-are-coming-warn-scientists-behind-modernas-covid-vaccine-388394">'New coronavirus variants are coming', warn scientists behind Moderna's Covid vaccine</a>

"Variant cases are on the increase in several areas and it is absolutely crucial that everyone plays their part in preventing their spread," PHE said.

In Bolton, local teams have gone door to door in targeted areas on consecutive weekends to distribute test kits, share vital safety messages and encourage people to get the vaccine at a local drop-in centre.

Take up of both testing and the vaccine was described as "positive".

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-vaccine-passport-plans-to-be-scrapped-the-telegraph-388486">UK vaccine passport plans to be scrapped: The Telegraph</a>

Blackburn with Darwen has also seen local teams making door-to-door visits, and over 10,000 additional PCR tests have been given out.

Mobile testing units have been deployed to the area and wastewater sampling continues, in order to track the spread of the variant.

PHE said its health protection teams continue to work with local authorities and schools to carry out surveillance of COVID-19 cases in schools to understand and reduce transmission in these settings.&nbsp;

The Delta variant of COVID-19, or the B1.617.2 highly transmissible variant of concern (VOC) first identified in India, has now become the dominant VOC in the UK as infections rose by 5,472 in a week to hit a total of 12,431, health officials in Britain said on Thursday.

The Delta variant of COVID-19, or the B1.617.2 highly transmissible variant of concern (VOC) first identified in India, has now become the dominant VOC in the UK as infections rose by 5,472 in a week to hit a total of 12,431, health officials in Britain said on Thursday. Public Health England (PHE), which monitors all COVID variants in the country, said that experts now believe that Delta has now overtaken Alpha; the VOC first detected in the Kent region of England. Also Read | EU agrees to add Japan to safe travel list, holds off on Britain over concerns of Delta variant PHE also said that early evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of hospitalisation with Delta compared to Alpha, although more data is needed to have a more definitive view on that. "With this variant now dominant across the UK, it remains vital that we all continue to exercise as much caution as possible," said Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive, UK Health Security Agency. "The way to tackle variants is to tackle the transmission of COVID-19 as a whole. Work from home where you can, and practice 'hands, face, space, fresh air' at all times. If you are eligible and have not already done so, please come forward to be vaccinated and make sure you get your second jab. It will save lives," she said. Also Read | 'Signs of an early wave': UK grapples with unlock measures amid third wave fears According to the breakdown of official figures, this week 278 people with the Delta variant attended hospital in an emergency. Last week, 201 people attended the hospital. "Once again, the majority of these had not been vaccinated," PHE said. The areas most affected by the Delta variant remain in the northwest of England with Bolton, where cases have risen by 795 to 2149, and Blackburn with Darwen which has seen 368 new cases, bringing it to 724 in total. Also Read | Britain seeks extra AstraZeneca shots to combat Beta COVID-19 variant PHE said there are 'encouraging signs' that the transmission rate in Bolton has begun to fall and that the actions taken by residents and local authority teams have been successful in reducing spread. Experts continue to urge people to, remain cautious, as the country approaches the next stage of the roadmap, with June 21 scheduled as a date for an end of all lockdown restrictions. Also Read | 'New coronavirus variants are coming', warn scientists behind Moderna's Covid vaccine "Variant cases are on the increase in several areas and it is absolutely crucial that everyone plays their part in preventing their spread," PHE said. In Bolton, local teams have gone door to door in targeted areas on consecutive weekends to distribute test kits, share vital safety messages and encourage people to get the vaccine at a local drop-in centre. Take up of both testing and the vaccine was described as "positive". Also Read | UK vaccine passport plans to be scrapped: The Telegraph Blackburn with Darwen has also seen local teams making door-to-door visits, and over 10,000 additional PCR tests have been given out. Mobile testing units have been deployed to the area and wastewater sampling continues, in order to track the spread of the variant. PHE said its health protection teams continue to work with local authorities and schools to carry out surveillance of COVID-19 cases in schools to understand and reduce transmission in these settings.

Covid-19 Delta variant now dominant in UK as cases rise by 5,472 in a week

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said only B.1.617.2, one of the three strains of the B.1.617 COVID-19 variant first detected in India, is a 'variant of concern' now and noted that lower rates of transmission have been observed for the other two lineages.

The B.1.617 variant was first detected in India and was divided in three lineages - B.1.617.1, B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3. In the COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update published on Tuesday, WHO said available findings for lineages B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2 were initially used to designate B.1.617 a global Variant of Concern (VOC) on May 11 this year.

"Since then, it has become evident that greater public health risks are currently associated with B.1.617.2, while lower rates of transmission of other lineages have been observed," WHO said.

The UN health agency said that in order to reflect this updated information, B.1.617 has been 'delineated'. 'B.1.617.2 remains a VOC and labelled variant Delta' we continue to observe significantly increased transmissibility and a growing number of countries reporting outbreaks associated with this variant.

Further studies into the impact of this variant remain a high priority for WHO.&nbsp;The Delta variant has now been reported in 62 countries around the world as of June 1, the update said.

It added that the B.1.617.1 strain has been reclassified to a Variant of Interest (VOI) and labelled variant 'Kappa'. While Kappa is also demonstrating increased transmissibility (in specified locations), 'global prevalence appears to be declining. This variant will continue to be monitored and reassessed regularly'.

The B.1.617.3 lineage is 'no longer classified as either a VOI or VOC' relatively few reports of this variant have been submitted to date.&nbsp;

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said only B.1.617.2, one of the three strains of the B.1.617 COVID-19 variant first detected in India, is a 'variant of concern' now and noted that lower rates of transmission have been observed for the other two lineages.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said only B.1.617.2, one of the three strains of the B.1.617 COVID-19 variant first detected in India, is a 'variant of concern' now and noted that lower rates of transmission have been observed for the other two lineages. The B.1.617 variant was first detected in India and was divided in three lineages - B.1.617.1, B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.3. In the COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update published on Tuesday, WHO said available findings for lineages B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2 were initially used to designate B.1.617 a global Variant of Concern (VOC) on May 11 this year. "Since then, it has become evident that greater public health risks are currently associated with B.1.617.2, while lower rates of transmission of other lineages have been observed," WHO said. The UN health agency said that in order to reflect this updated information, B.1.617 has been 'delineated'. 'B.1.617.2 remains a VOC and labelled variant Delta' we continue to observe significantly increased transmissibility and a growing number of countries reporting outbreaks associated with this variant. Further studies into the impact of this variant remain a high priority for WHO. The Delta variant has now been reported in 62 countries around the world as of June 1, the update said. It added that the B.1.617.1 strain has been reclassified to a Variant of Interest (VOI) and labelled variant 'Kappa'. While Kappa is also demonstrating increased transmissibility (in specified locations), 'global prevalence appears to be declining. This variant will continue to be monitored and reassessed regularly'. The B.1.617.3 lineage is 'no longer classified as either a VOI or VOC' relatively few reports of this variant have been submitted to date.

Only one of three strains of B.1.617 variant now a 'variant of concern': WHO

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