5th May 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=306 lockdown_exit

White House aims to give 70% of American adults at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose by July 4

STAT News The Biden administration on Tuesday set a new goal for the ongoing U.S. Covid19 vaccination campaign giving at least one shot to 70 of the adult population by July 4. To reach that goal Bidens team said he will expand walkup vaccinations at pharmacies and vaccination sites open additional mobile vaccination units and accelerate a publicrelations campaign aimed at boosting vaccine confidence. The announcement comes as the pace of the U.S. vaccination effort has nosedived. As of midApril the country was administering just under 3.4 million vaccine doses each day. As of Tuesday the rate had dropped to just under 2.3 million. https://www.statnews.com/2021/05/04/biden-goal-70-percent-adults-at-least-one-dose/ 4th May 2021

Unexpected places now offering COVID-19 vaccines

ABC News Seventy one fans got vaccinated during the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets basketball game Sunday marking the latest effort by health departments to make COVID19 vaccines convenient and even fun. The Bucks game vaccination popup a partnership with the Milwaukee Public Health Department was open to fans at least 16 years of age and is part of a series of mobile vaccination popups the health department has hosted at community centers churches businesses and neighborhood events according to Emily Tau a health department spokesperson. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/creative-places-vaccinated-popping-country/story?id=77461117 4th May 2021

Unexpected places now offering COVID-19 vaccines

CNBC Dr. Peter Hotez said Tuesday that the optics of having to incentivize the Covid vaccine do not put the U.S. in a positive light to the rest of the world. When people are clamoring for vaccines in India and in Brazil it just makes us look like a nation of sulky adolescentsso if its absolutely necessary sure although its tough to swallow Hotez said. A recent survey from UCLA showed that roughly onethird of unvaccinated people said a 100 cash payment would make them more likely to get a shot. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/04/covid-vaccine-incentives-make-us-look-bad-doctor-says.html 4th May 2021

Weird and wonderful incentives encouraging people to get vaccinated

ITV News Scientists typically estimate that an inoculation rate of at least 70 is needed for herd immunity where entire populations are protected against a disease. Some bodies and community groups have turned to a weird and wonderful range of incentives in order to get people jabbed. For instance New Jersey has launched Shot and a Beer a scheme offering a free beer to those who get their first dose in May. To claim a drink all they have to do is turn up to a participating brewery with their vaccination card. https://www.itv.com/news/2021-05-04/covid-vaccine-the-weird-and-wonderful-incentives-encouraging-people-to-get-the-coronavirus-jab 4th May 2021

$100 as an Incentive to Get a Shot? Experiment Suggests It Can Pay Off.

New York Times Whats the best way to persuade the millions of Americans who are still unvaccinated against Covid19 to get their shots Reassuring public service announcements about the vaccines safety and effectiveness have proliferated. But increasingly people are realizing that it will take more than just information to sway the hesitant. In recent randomized survey experiments by the U.C.L.A. Covid19 Health and Politics Project two seemingly strong incentives have emerged. Roughly a third of the unvaccinated population said a cash payment would make them more likely to get a shot. Similarly large increases in willingness to take vaccines emerged for those who were asked about getting a vaccine if doing so meant they wouldnt need to wear a mask or socialdistance in public compared with a group that was told it would still have to do those things. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/04/upshot/vaccine-incentive-experiment.html?referringSource=articleShare 4th May 2021

The Indian Crisis

The Associated Press COVID19 infections and deaths are mounting with alarming speed in India with no end in sight to the crisis and a top expert warning that the coming weeks in the country of nearly 1.4 billion people will be horrible. Indias official count of coronavirus cases surpassed 20 million Tuesday nearly doubling in the past three months while deaths officially have passed 220000. Staggering as those numbers are the true figures are believed to be far higher the undercount an apparent reflection of the troubles in the health care system. The country has witnessed scenes of people dying outside overwhelmed hospitals and funeral pyres lighting up the night sky. Infections have surged in India since February in a disastrous turn blamed on more contagious variants of the virus as well as government decisions to allow massive crowds to gather for Hindu religious festivals and political rallies before state elections. https://apnews.com/article/india-coronavirus-health-41a6a064b0d22b0ed4d2d1753e4ff31c 4th May 2021

The Indian Crisis

Forbes The Indian Premier League IPL the most popular and highprofile sporting event in the country was suspended indefinitely on Tuesday after several players and support staff from at least three different teams tested positive for Covid19a development that comes after the cricket league had drawn criticism for operating in a bubble and diverting resources while the rest of the country was struggling with the pandemic. https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/05/04/indias-biggest-sporting-league-mired-in-controversy-is-suspended-as-covid-19-batters-the-nation/ 4th May 2021

The Indian Crisis

AlJazeera India is witnessing the worst phase of the pandemic while the WHO says a highly infectious Indian variant of the virus has already spread to 17 countries. India has reported 357229 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours the 13th straight day of more than 300000 infections taking its overall tally to more than 20 million. Deaths rose 3449 for a toll of 222408 health ministry data showed on Tuesday. However medical experts say the real numbers across the country of 1.35 billion may be five to 10 times higher than the official tally. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/4/what-are-the-global-implications-of-indias-second-covid-wave 4th May 2021

The Indian Crisis

Bloomberg Its not just India. Fierce new Covid19 waves are enveloping other developing countries across the world placing severe strain on their healthcare systems and prompting appeals for help. Nations ranging from Laos to Thailand in Southeast Asia and those bordering India such as Bhutan and Nepal have been reporting significant surges in infections in the past few weeks. The increase is mainly because of more contagious virus variants though complacency and lack of resources to contain the spread have also been cited as reasons. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-03/it-s-not-just-india-new-virus-waves-deluge-developing-countries?sref=4ZGeBqkb&amputm_medium=social&amputm_campaign=socialflow-organic&ampcmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&amputm_source=twitter&amputm_content=business 3rd May 2021

The Indian Crisis

BBC News A charismatic antivaccination campaigner has gained popularity by claiming that medical sciences approach to the pandemic is entirely wrong. But critics say Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury is endangering lives by falsely claiming he can cure Covid19 through diet alone report Ed Main and Reha Kansara. Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury is not one to hold back. According to me most deaths are not because of coronavirus itself but because of its treatment he says in one video on his website. The Indian social media star or former social media star now that hes banned on several platforms asserts that conventional medicine is a conspiracy designed to line the pockets of doctors and big business. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-56845610 4th May 2021

India’s Biggest Sporting League, Mired In Controversy, Is Suspended As Covid-19 Batters The Nation

Forbes The Indian Premier League IPL the most popular and highprofile sporting event in the country was suspended indefinitely on Tuesday after several players and support staff from at least three different teams tested positive for Covid19a development that comes after the cricket league had drawn criticism for operating in a bubble and diverting resources while the rest of the country was struggling with the pandemic. https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/05/04/indias-biggest-sporting-league-mired-in-controversy-is-suspended-as-covid-19-batters-the-nation/ 4th May 2021

India’s Biggest Sporting League, Mired In Controversy, Is Suspended As Covid-19 Batters The Nation

Reuters India halted its hugely popular cricket league on Tuesday as COVID19 infections surged past 20 million in the worlds secondmost populous country and the opposition leader said a nationwide lockdown was now the only way out. Cricket officials suspended the moneyspinning Indian Premier League IPL as the pandemic spirals out of control with the country adding 10 million cases in just over four months after taking more than 10 months to reach the first 10 million. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indias-tally-coronavirus-infections-crosses-20-million-2021-05-04/ 4th May 2021

Did India get its COVID vaccine strategy wrong?

AlJazeera India on Saturday announced it will vaccinate everyone above the age of 18 covering about 600 million people as it struggles to cope with a catastrophic second wave of coronavirus sweeping the worlds secondmost populous nation. But there are few vaccines available to inoculate people with experts criticising the government for a lack of preparedness in the fight against the virus that has killed nearly 40000 people in April alone. More than 20 million Indians have now been infected as daily infection rates continue to break records. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/4/worlds-largest-covid-vaccine-drive-in-disarray 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Being Eased

BBC News Care home residents in England can now go on lowrisk trips such as to relatives gardens or a local park without having to selfisolate for 14 days when they return. It comes after some families say they have felt powerless because of restrictive visits. One woman said her mother had not been outdoors for more than 12 months and it would be amazing to take her outside. Campaigners now want the rule change to become law rather than just guidance. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56977779 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Being Eased

The Associated Press When Angeleno Wine Co. reopened its tasting room coowner Amy Luftig Viste teared up seeing old friends reunited for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic had shuttered so many businesses that it left major cities looking like ghost towns. Even with limited capacity animated conversations flowed from the tables set among barrels of aging wine and echoed off the brick walls of the winery hidden in an industrial section on the outskirts of downtown Los Angeles. It felt like the winery had come alive again Luftig Viste said Sunday the day after it reopened after being closed all but two weeks over the past 13 months. The din in the small space is destined to get louder when capacity is allowed to double to 50 as Los Angeles and San Francisco lead the way toward a broader reopening of California businesses. https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-travel-lifestyle-coronavirus-government-and-politics-b4b4799960fb6151bf0516fee72ce84c 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Being Eased

AlJazeera Its really liberating said Samuel Calvente a Gibraltar hotel worker when asked how it feels to be maskfree outdoors. Having that mask on all the time was claustrophobic and stressful particularly because this is a hot humid place in summer. Wearing a face mask in 40degree heat when youre sweating away is extremely unpleasant. Weeks ago Fabian Picardo the chief minister of the tiny British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar announced that with a hugely advanced vaccination programme for the first time in nine months there were zero active COVID19 cases among Gibraltars resident population as continues to be the case and that some of the most stringent public health measures such as wearing face masks outside could finally be lifted. A worldleading total of 85 percent of Gibraltars population is now vaccinated against COVID19 as well as all of its 15000 foreign workers. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/4/in-europe-gibraltar-offers-glimpse-of-post-pandemic-life 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Being Eased

Reuters Greece allowed restaurants and bars to open from Monday as it took a further step towards easing coronavirus restrictions ahead of the planned start of the tourist season on May 15. Six months after the government reimposed lockdown measures in the face of a second wave of the pandemic the chance to return to bars and tavernas was like a small step towards normality for many enjoying warm Easter weather. When they brought me the glass of water I thought its like old times again. Its great said Grigoris Kirlidis as he sat at a cafe in Athens. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/like-old-times-again-greece-re-opens-bars-restaurants-2021-05-03/ 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Being Eased

Sky News Ministers are reportedly considering a handful of countries people from the UK will be able to travel to initially in the coming weeks. Reports suggest the green list could include about a dozen countries although some papers say it could be fewer than 10. Several named Malta Gibraltar Portugal and Israel as likely destinations while the Daily Telegraph said Spain Greece and France could be added by the end of June. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-british-holidaymakers-could-be-allowed-to-travel-to-europe-within-weeks-12294535 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Being Eased

City A.M. The likelihood of a major third wave of coronavirus infections in the UK is diminishing alongside Britains rapid vaccine rollout one of the UKs most senior scientists said today. Professor Neil Ferguson member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies Sage said he still expects cases and to some extent deaths to see a slight increase in the late summer as restrictions lift but at a much lower level than in the second wave. Ferguson whose modelling on Covid infections last Spring was crucial to the Prime Ministers decision to enforce Englands first national lockdown said we dont see any prospect of the NHS being overwhelmed unless a new variant takes hold. https://www.cityam.com/coronavirus-third-wave-fears-diminishing-amid-uks-rapid-vaccine-rollout/ 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Being Eased

Reuters Denmark announced plans to reopen schools and allow a range of indoor activities this week but a cap on gatherings led to the cancellation of several summer music festivals including the renowned Roskilde Festival. The Nordic country has avoided a third wave of COVID19 with broad lockdown measures introduced in late December which drove down daily infections from several thousand to between 500 and 800 in recent months. Denmark needs to get back to normal as fast as possible and it has to happen responsibly Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said on Tuesday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-denmark/denmark-to-allow-schools-and-indoor-facilities-to-reopen-idUSKBN2CL0GZ 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Tightening

Reuters People travelling to Poland from Brazil India and South Africa will have to quarantine the Polish health minister said on Tuesday as he announced cases of a COVID19 variant first detected in India in the Warsaw and Katowice areas. The outbreaks poses a fresh risk to Poland just as it starts to emerge from a highly damaging third wave of the pandemic. In the case of Brazil India and South Africa people travelling from these locations will automatically have to quarantine without the possibility of getting an exception due to a test Health Minister Adam Niedzielski told a news conference. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/poland-tightens-quarantine-rules-after-cases-indian-covid-19-variant-2021-05-04/ 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Tightening

Reuters Trinidad and Tobago said on Monday it was tightening lockdown restrictions for three weeks starting at midnight as the number of new COVID19 cases hits record highs and the Caribbean twinisland nation faces a potential shortage of hospital beds. Prime Minister Keith Rowley said that under the new restrictions only businesses deemed essential services such as supermarkets pharmacies and financial services would remain open for reduced hours in addition to the key energy and manufacturing sectors. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trinidad-tobago-tightens-lockdown-covid-19-cases-surge-2021-05-03/ 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Tightening

Reuters Singapore announced on Tuesday tighter curbs on social gatherings and stricter border measures after recording locally acquired cases of coronavirus variants including a more contagious strain first detected in India. After reporting very few local infections for months numbers have increased in the Asian trade and financial hub over the last week mainly linked to an outbreak at a hospital. On Tuesday it confirmed five new locally acquired cases. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/singapore-tightens-covid-19-curbs-overseas-virus-variants-detected-2021-05-04/ 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Tightening

Reuters The Canadian province of Alberta will increase restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of COVID19 as a third wave of the pandemic threatens to overwhelm the hospital system within weeks Premier Jason Kenney said on Tuesday. Stricter measures include confining schools to online learning ordering workplaces with COVID19 outbreaks to close for 10 days closing salons allowing restaurants to offer takeout service only and reducing the number of people allowed at funerals and religious services. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-works-vaccinations-safe-tourism-designation-minister-2021-05-04/ 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Tightening

Reuters Tanzania announced new anticoronavirus measures saying it wanted to prevent the importation of new variants highlighting new President Samia Suluhu Hassans more active efforts to contain the pandemic. Among the new measures travellers both foreigners and Tanzanians will be required to present negative COVID19 tests at border points. Her approach to tackling COVID19 contrasts sharply with her late predecessor John Magufuli who dismissed fears of the infection and promoted remedies such as steam inhalation and herbal concoctions as a cure. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/tanzania-once-sceptical-covid-19-announces-measures-curb-new-variants-2021-05-03/ 4th May 2021

COVID Restrictions Tightening

Reuters A rise in coronavirus infections on the Greek island of Kalymnos prompted authorities to place it under lockdown on Tuesday a day after restrictions were eased across the country. Restaurants and bars reopened in Greece after six months on Monday as it took a further step towards easing restrictions ahead of the official opening of the tourism season on May 15. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/greece-imposes-coronavirus-lockdown-kalymnos-island-2021-05-04/ 4th May 2021

'Hospitals are full' as Argentina COVID-19 cases hit 3 million

Reuters Argentina coronavirus cases hit 3 million on Sunday since the pandemic began as medical workers said hospitals were full to capacity despite toughened government measures to bring down the spread of infections. The countrys health ministry said there were 11394 new cases over the last 24hour period bringing up the grim new milestone with 156 new deaths taking fatalities to 64252. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/hospitals-are-full-argentina-covid-19-cases-hit-3-million-2021-05-02/ 4th May 2021

Nepal appeals for COVID-19 vaccines as cases rise

Reuters Nepal urgently needs at least 1.6 million AstraZenecas COVID19 vaccine doses to administer second shots as the Himalayan country is recording a surge in new coronavirus cases. People who have already got the first dose will be in difficulty if they dont receive their second dose within the stipulated time said Samir Adhikari a senior official of the Ministry of Health and Population in capital Kathmandu. On Monday Prime Minister K.P.Sharma Oli urged foreign donors to supply vaccines and critical care medicines to prevent a collapse of the small countrys creaky health infrastructure. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nepal-appeals-covid-19-vaccines-cases-rise-2021-05-04/ 4th May 2021

Melinda Gates urges wealthy nations to stop ‘hoarding’ Covid vaccines

Financial Times Melinda Gates has called on wealthy nations to stop hoarding coronavirus vaccines saying it was disappointing how little was being done to prevent the pandemic from ravaging the developing world. The US philanthropist told the Financial Times that developed countries should vaccinate their populations only up to a point before they donate supplies to those in greater need. You dont need to vaccinate all the way down say to your teen population...before you send out vaccine doses Gates said in a prerecorded interview with editor Roula Khalaf for the FTs threeday Global Boardroom event. https://www.ft.com/content/43904928-1b93-44f3-b39b-6dffb9e2bfd4 4th May 2021

Should pharmaceutical companies be compelled to waive their coronavirus vaccine patents?

The Independent The campaign to compel pharmaceutical companies to temporarily lift their coronavirus vaccine patents is gathering pace and apparently making some progress. The momentum behind the campaign to remove intellectual property restrictions on Covid vaccines is growing. But would such a move really help defeat the pandemic more quickly https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/news-analysis/vaccine-patents-waive-coronavirus-intellectual-property-b1840405.html 4th May 2021

Vaccine Delivery and Manufacture

The Independent The European Union started delivering EUfunded coronavirus vaccines Tuesday to the Balkans a region that wants to join the 27nation bloc but where China and Russia have already been making political gains by supplying the muchneeded shots. The European Commission last month announced that 651000 PfizerBioNTech doses will be delivered to Serbia Bosnia North Macedonia Montenegro Albania and Kosovo in weekly instalments from May to August. The vaccines are funded from a 70 million euro package 85 million adopted by the Commission in December. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/eu-delivers-vaccine-jabs-to-balkans-after-china-and-russia-russia-western-balkans-serbia-china-montenegro-b1841886.html 4th May 2021

Vaccine Delivery and Manufacture

Sky News The UK has reported one COVID death in its daily figures while more than 50 million vaccine doses have now been delivered. The last time coronavirusrelated deaths increased by one was on 30 August. The UK has now administered 34588600 first vaccine doses and 15500949 second doses a total of 50089549. Some 1649 COVID cases were recorded in the latest 24hour period. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-uk-reports-one-further-coronavirus-death-as-50-million-vaccine-jabs-now-delivered-12294161 4th May 2021

Vaccine Delivery and Manufacture

Reuters Novavax NVAX.O has told the European Union it plans to begin delivering its COVID19 vaccine to the bloc towards the end of this year new guidance that could lead to a formal contract being signed as early as this week an EU official told Reuters. A deal would see Novavax supply a total of up to 200 million doses of the vaccine providing the EU with booster shots to help contain the coronavirus and potentially guard against new variants according to the official who has direct knowledge of the discussions. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/exclusive-novavax-plans-ship-covid-19-vaccines-europe-late-2021-eu-source-2021-05-03/ 4th May 2021

Vaccine Delivery and Manufacture

FiercePharma With plans to boost COVID19 vaccine production into the billions of doses next year Moderna is making major renovations at its Massachusetts manufacturing site that will more than double its size. The mRNA developer on Tuesday said it plans to renovate its manufacturing site in Norwood Massachusetts from a production and lab space to an industrial technology center. That means expanding the facility from 300000 square feet to roughly 650000 square feet through the acquisition of another building located on the same campus. The expansion will boost Modernas COVID19 vaccine production capacity at the facility by 50. That increased output is expected to come into play in late 2021 and early 2022 Moderna said. The latest renovations are part of the reasoning why Moderna recently accelerated its vaccine supply forecasts. The biotech announced late last week that it now expects to produce 800 million to 1 billion doses of its mRNA vaccine this year with plans to grow production to 3 billion doses by 2022. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/moderna-plans-major-expansion-at-massachusetts-based-manufacturing-site-to-help-grow-covid 4th May 2021

Vaccine Delivery and Manufacture

FiercePharma Novavax and Europe appear to be close to finalizing a COVID19 vaccine supply deal. The Gaithersburg Marylandbased biotech has told the bloc that it plans to begin sending doses to Europe before the end of the year Reuters reports. The two came to a tentative agreement in December for a supply of up to 200 million doses of the proteinbased vaccine. But in late March a EU official told Reuters the company was delaying negotiations because it was having difficulty securing raw materials to produce the shot. Three weeks ago Novavax CEO Stanley Erck told The Observer that a shortage of 2000liter bags was a threat to the global supply of vaccines. As that report emerged Novavax warned that its goal of supplying 150 million doses per month globally had been pushed from the end of the second quarter to the third. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/supply-timelines-more-certain-novavax-closing-covid-19-vaccine-deal-europe 3rd May 2021

Vaccine Delivery and Manufacture

FiercePharma With up to 3 billion COVID19 vaccine doses in its sights for 2022 Moderna has locked up a deal to spread its shot far and wide starting late this year. Moderna inked a supply pact to provide up to 500 million doses of its pandemic vaccine to COVAX the global shot distribution initiative coled by Gavi the World Health Organization WHO and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. Moderna will sell an initial 34 million doses for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2021 with the option to sell another 466 million doses next year the company said in a release. The shots will go out to the 92 COVAX countries covered by an Advance Market Commitment which helps fund purchase agreements for low and middleincome nations. Moderna says its in talks to set aside doses for selffinancing participants in the future https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/moderna-eyeing-3b-supply-for-2022-pledges-500m-covid-19-vaccine-doses-to-covax 3rd May 2021

Pfizer Will Seek Approval to Give Covid Vaccine to Children

The New York Times Pfizer expects to apply to the Food and Drug Administration in September for emergency authorization to administer its coronavirus vaccine to children between the ages of 2 and 11 the company told Wall Street analysts and reporters on Tuesday during its quarterly earnings call. The company said it also plans to apply this month for full approval of the vaccine for use in people from ages 16 to 85. And it said it expected to have clinical trial data on the safety of its vaccine in pregnant women by early August. By early next week the F.D.A. is expected to issue an emergency use authorization allowing the vaccine to be used in children 12 to 15 years old a major step ahead in the U.S. fight against Covid. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/04/health/pfizer-vaccine-children-approval.html 4th May 2021

Pfizer Will Seek Approval to Give Covid Vaccine to Children

The Associated Press The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizers COVID19 vaccine for youngsters ages 12 to 15 by next week according to a federal official and a person familiar with the process setting up shots for many before the beginning of the next school year. The announcement is set to come a month after the company found that its shot which is already authorized for those age 16 and older also provided protection for the younger group. The federal official speaking on the condition of anonymity to preview the FDAs action said the agency was expected to expand its emergency use authorization for Pfizers twodose vaccine by early next week and perhaps even sooner. The person familiar with the process who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters confirmed the timeline and added that it is expected that the FDA will approve Pfizers use by even younger children sometime this fall. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-business-coronavirus-vaccine-health-government-and-politics-cf218f1f24fdccd4e06c024b0a869d20 4th May 2021

Pfizer Will Seek Approval to Give Covid Vaccine to Children

AlJazeera The United Statess regulator is expected to authorise PfizerBioNTechs COVID19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 15 by next week according to a federal official and a person familiar with the process setting up shots for many before the beginning of the next school year. The announcement by the US Food and Drug Administration FDA is set to come a month after the company found that its shot which is already authorised for those age 16 and older also provided protection for the younger group. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/4/us-expected-to-authorise-pfizer-covid-jabs-for-12-to-15-year-olds 4th May 2021

Antibody drug neutralizes virus variants in lab study; COVID-19 antibodies detectable 12 months after infection

Reuters An experimental monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID19 being developed by Eli Lilly and Co LLY.N and AbCellera Biologics Inc ABCL.O can potently neutralize numerous coronavirus variants including those first identified in the UK Brazil South Africa California and New York scientists have found in test tube experiments. The antibody known as LYCoV1404 or LY3853113 works by attaching itself to a place on the virus that has shown few signs of mutating which means the drug is likely to retain its effectiveness over time the researchers said in a report posted on Friday on bioRxiv ahead of peer review. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/antibody-drug-neutralizes-virus-variants-lab-study-covid-19-antibodies-2021-05-03/ 4th May 2021

Do people who have had COVID-19 need a second vaccine shot?

Medical News Today A new study suggests that there is a strong boost to the immunity of everyone who receives the first dose of an mRNA vaccine including those who have previously had a SARSCoV2 infection. However only people who have never had a SARSCoV2 infection appeared to benefit from the second dose. The scientists tracked not only antibody responses to vaccination but also the creation of memory B cells which provide longer lasting immunity against infection. People who experienced particularly negative side effects from the vaccine such as fever headache and muscle pain had stronger immune responses. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/people-who-have-had-covid-19-may-only-need-first-mrna-shot 4th May 2021

Income inequality tied to more COVID-19 cases, deaths

CIDRAP A study yesterday in JAMA Network Open identifies an association between US countylevel income inequality and higher rates of COVID19 infection and death in summer 2020. The ecological cohort study by Stanford University researchers analyzed coronavirus case and death data from Johns Hopkins University on 3220 counties in 50 states Puerto Rico and Washington DC from Mar 1 2020 to Feb 28 2021. County income data obtained mostly from the 2014 through 2018 American Community Survey were used to estimate the Gini coefficient which measures unequal income. Coefficient scores range from 0 to 1 with 0 representing perfect income equality and 1 representing perfect income inequality in which one person earns all the income. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/05/income-inequality-tied-more-covid-19-cases-deaths 4th May 2021