20th Aug 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=457 lockdown_exit

Record delta wave hits kids, raises fear as US schools open

The Associated Press Very high infection rates in the community are really causing our childrens hospitals to feel the squeeze said Dr. Buddy Creech a Vanderbilt University infectious disease specialist who is a helping lead research on Modernas vaccine for children under 12. Creech said those shots probably wont be available for several months. Im really worried said Dr. Sonja Rasmussen a pediatrician and public health expert at the University of Florida. Its just so disappointing to see those numbers back up again. While pediatric COVID19 hospitalization rates are lower than those for adults they have surged in recent weeks reaching 0.41 per 100000 children ages 0 to 17 compared with 0.31 per 100000 the previous high set in midJanuary according to an Aug. 13 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Francis Collins head of the National Institutes of Health calls the spike in cases among children very worrisome. https://apnews.com/article/business-health-education-coronavirus-pandemic-71e1690faa4f260edfd29451b1ccf4a5 19th Aug 2021

Israel extends Covid restrictions to three-year-olds as cases surge

BBC News Israel is now requiring anyone over the age of three to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid19 test before entering many indoor spaces as it tackles a sharp rise in infections. Restaurants cafes museums libraries gyms and pools are among the venues covered by the Green Pass system. However proof of immunity is not needed to go into shops or malls. The countrys Covid19 tsar said it was at war with the virus despite its worldleading vaccination programme. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-58245285?at_campaign=64&ampat_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D&ampat_custom4=4F1C5AA4-00B6-11EC-8653-BA11BECD475E&ampat_custom3=BBC+News&ampat_custom2=facebook_page&ampat_medium=custom7 18th Aug 2021

'Our worst nightmare realized:' Investors, WHO slam J&J for exporting COVID shots produced in Africa

FiercePharma As Africas COVID19 vaccinations lagged behind the rest of the world Aspen Pharmacares manufacturing facility in South Africa scored a deal to help boost production of Johnson Johnsons singleshot jab for the region. But it turns out that most of the JJ shots bottled and packaged at Aspens site are going to Europe not Africa The New York Times reported earlier this week. The news has since swiftly drawn the ire of health advocates and one outspoken investor group which warned that JJs reputation and its social license to operate are now at risk. WHO DirectorGeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Wednesday that he was stunned by the revelation urging JJ to prioritize shipments to Africa instead. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/our-worst-nightmare-realized-shareholders-slam-j-j-for-reportedly-exporting-covid-shots 19th Aug 2021

WHO Africa: COVID-19 booster shots make 'mockery' of equity

The Independent The Africa director for the World Health Organization says rich countries decisions to roll out COVID19 booster shots threaten the promise of a brighter tomorrow for Africa and she warns that as some richer countries hoard vaccines they make a mockery of vaccine equity. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/africa-world-health-organization-nairobi-kenya-united-states-b1905202.html 19th Aug 2021

To vaccinate more Americans, lean into outbreaks

STAT News As the Delta variant surges across almost all states in the U.S. causing local outbreaks getting more people vaccinated against the virus that causes Covid19 should be the countrys key goal. Even though 72 of Americans age 18 and older have received at least one dose of a Covid19 vaccine one of the highest vaccination rates in the world it isnt enough. Mass vaccination campaigns peaked in April and the number of doses administered daily have slowed considerably in all 50 states. To get more Americans vaccinated its time to harness the concern generated by outbreaks and focus vaccination resources on people being exposed to the virus. Its time to really integrate vaccination efforts into systems for testing and contact tracing. https://www.statnews.com/2021/08/19/lean-into-outbreaks-to-vaccinate-more-americans/ 19th Aug 2021

Asian airlines report high vaccination uptake among crew

Reuters Singapore Airlines Malaysia Airlines among those with mandates. Voluntary takeup is high at carriers in Philippines. AsiaPacific international travel down 95 from preCOVID levels https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/singapore-airlines-malaysia-airlines-require-covid-19-vaccines-crew-2021-08-19/ 19th Aug 2021

Britain records 36572 new COVID cases, 113 deaths

Reuters Britain reported 36572 new cases of COVID19 government data showed on Thursday and a further 113 people were reported as having died within 28 days of a positive test for the novel coronavirus. The data compared with 33904 new cases on Wednesday and 111 deaths. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britain-records-36572-new-covid-cases-113-deaths-2021-08-19/ 19th Aug 2021

Biden, first lady to get COVID-19 booster vaccine

Reuters U.S. President Joe Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden would receive a third dose of the COVID19 vaccine to boost their immunity as his administration announced booster shots would be offered to Americans in September. We will get the booster shots Biden told ABC News in a television interview that aired on Thursday. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-says-he-first-lady-will-get-covid-19-booster-shot-interview-2021-08-19/ 19th Aug 2021

WHO urges action as Indonesia mobility returns to pre-pandemic levels

Reuters The World Health Organization has urged Indonesia to take action to stem transmission of the coronavirus following new data showing that mobility for retail and recreation has reached prepandemic levels in some key regions. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/who-urges-action-indonesia-mobility-returns-pre-pandemic-levels-2021-08-19/ 19th Aug 2021

Covid-19 vaccine: decline in protection against Delta variant strengthens calls for booster campaign

iNews Two doses of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine seems to provide better protection initially against the Delta variant of Covid19 when compared to the OxfordAstraZeneca jab but its efficacy declines faster early research suggests. Scientists from Oxford University have said that after four to five months the level of protection offered by both vaccines is similar with the AstraZeneca jab maintaining its effectiveness throughout the duration. Independent experts said the findings which have not yet been peerreviewed support the case for third booster jabs for vulnerable individuals. https://inews.co.uk/news/health/covid-19-vaccine-decline-protection-delta-variant-booster-campaign-pfizer-astrazeneca-1157114 19th Aug 2021

South Africa to open up COVID-19 vaccinations to 18-35 year olds from Friday

Reuters South Africa will open up COVID19 vaccinations to those aged between 18 and 35 years old from Friday the government said in a statement as it tries to ramp up its immunisation drive. The country has recorded the most coronavirus infections and deaths on the African continent but it has so far only fully vaccinated less than 8 of its population of 60 million. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-open-up-covid-19-vaccinations-18-35-year-olds-friday-2021-08-19/ 19th Aug 2021

Australians aged 16-39 can get Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine from August 30, Prime Minister announces

Daily Mail All Australians will be able to get the Pfizer vaccine from August 30 PM said. The move has raise fears that many will cancel AstraZeneca appointments. Scott Morrison urged young Australians to get any vaccine they can right now. As of Thursday 28.2 per cent of Australians over 16 have been fully vaccinated https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9907511/Australians-aged-16-39-Covid-19-Pfizer-vaccine-August-30-Prime-Minister-announces.html 19th Aug 2021

Over 120,000 in 12-15 age group sign up for vaccine

RTE.ie Health Service Executive CEO Paul Reid has said its never too late to register to receive a Covid19 vaccine as he urged those who have not yet received a vaccine to come forward. Speaking at todays HSE briefing Mr Reid that uptake of vaccines has been extraordinary to date and said that the vaccination programme gives us a gateway to reopen society. However the briefing also heard that there may have been incidents where unvaccinated healthcare workers have introduced Covid19 to nursing homes and other healthcare settings. https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0819/1241669-coronavirus-ireland/ 19th Aug 2021

Sydney rushes to vaccinate as Delta variant tears through suburbs

AlJazeera Australian authorities have begun handing out emergency supplies of COVID19 vaccines in the Sydney suburbs worst hit by an outbreak of the fastmoving Delta variant as New South Wales state reported another record rise in daily cases. State Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the acceleration in inoculations on Thursday in Australias biggest city was providing some hope as the city battles its worst outbreak since the coronavirus pandemic began. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/19/sydney-rushes-to-vaccinate-as-delta-variant-tears-through-suburbs 19th Aug 2021

Biden calls for schools to be allowed COVID mask mandates

CIDRAP US President Joe Biden continues to be at odds with governors who are outlawing school mask mandates as the countrys Delta B1617.2 surge continues ordering the Department of Education to support schools seeking such mandates. COVID19 hospitalizations for children meanwhile have hit a new record up 30 from the nations previous peak. Overall the United States reported 137815 new COVID19 cases and 1145 deaths yesterday according to the Johns Hopkins COVID19 tracker. This brings the countrys total cases to 37198723 including 624567 deaths. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/08/biden-calls-schools-be-allowed-covid-mask-mandates 19th Aug 2021

Fox host Maria Bartiromo goads Trump into bashing coronavirus vaccine boosters

The Washington Post Its also the day in which a Fox Business Network host tried hard to goad former president Donald Trump into questioning that effort and succeeded. Trump who has on a few occasions urged vaccinations but has generally avoided lifting a finger to really convince skeptical Republicans on Wednesday pitched the booster effort as essentially a moneygrab by Big Pharma. That sounds to me like the moneymaking operation for Pfizer okay Trump said. Think of the money involved. The whole thing is just crazy. It doesnt you wouldnt think you would need a booster. You know when these first came out they were good for life. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/18/trump-went-fox-promoted-vaccines-then-host-goaded-him-into-bashing-boosters/ 19th Aug 2021

Op-Ed: As a doctor in a COVID unit, I’m running out of compassion for the unvaccinated. Get the shot

Los Angeles Times My patient sat at the edge of his bed gasping for air while he tried to tell me his story pausing to catch his breath after each word. The plastic tubes delivering oxygen through his nose hardly seemed adequate to stop his chest from heaving. He looked exhausted. He had tested positive for the coronavirus 10 days ago. He was under 50 mildly hypertensive but otherwise in good health. Eight days earlier he started coughing and having severe fatigue. His doctor started him on antibiotics. It did not work. Fearing his symptoms were worsening he started taking some hydroxychloroquine he had found on the internet. It did not work. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-08-17/vaccinated-covid-doctor-shot 17th Aug 2021

White House decision over Johnson & Johnson's booster shots will likely take weeks

CBS News It will be weeks before the Biden administration is expected to have enough data to guide its planning on booster doses for Americans who received Johnson Johnsons COVID19 vaccine say multiple people familiar with the administrations deliberations. Top federal health officials are waiting for results from studies run by the drug maker and a governmentbacked trial. The White House said Wednesday that Americans who received Pfizer and Moderna shots should get booster shots eight months after their second dose and at the same time advised that Johnson Johnson vaccine recipients would eventually also need an additional shot. Some 13.8 million Americans have received the drug makers singleshot vaccine. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/johnson-johnson-booster-shots-decision-white-house/ 19th Aug 2021

British study shows COVID-19 vaccine efficacy wanes under Delta

Reuters A British public health study has found that protection from either of the two most commonly used COVID19 vaccines against the now prevalent Delta variant of the coronavirus weakens within three months. It also found that those who get infected after receiving two shots of either the PfizerBioNTechor the AstraZeneca vaccine may be of greater risk to others than under previous variants of the coronavirus. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/british-study-shows-covid-19-vaccine-efficacy-wanes-under-delta-2021-08-18/ 19th Aug 2021

A synthetic pandemic could be far, far worse than Covid-19

STAT News The Covid19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the U.S.s public health preparedness infrastructure when faced with a moderately deadly and moderately transmissible respiratory pathogen. We cannot begin to imagine the devastation possibly even a threat to civilization if the country had to face a synthetic pandemic from a virus that had been intentionally engineered to spread as effectively as measles and had the virulence of filoviruses such as Ebola or Marburg. https://www.statnews.com/2021/08/19/natural-pandemic-terrible-synthetic-one-even-worse/ 19th Aug 2021

Covid-19 antibody treatments work, but they're 'not the path out of this pandemic'

CNN Monoclonal antibodies such as those made by Regeneron and GlaxoSmithKline wont work for every Covid19 patient mAbs as they are known are only available for people age 12 and older and who arent hospitalized or severely ill. Regenerons therapy can also be used for some people who know they were exposed to the virus but dont yet have a positive test. That protection doesnt last long though and its not a replacement for the vaccine. https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/18/health/covid-19-antibody-treatments-wellness/index.html 19th Aug 2021

If you live in a state with a low vaccination rate, you're 4 times more likely to be hospitalized and more than 5 times more likely to die

CNN A vast majority of US residents live in an area with high Covid19 transmission but hospitalization and death rates are significantly higher in states with the lowest vaccination rates. In the 10 states with the lowest vaccination rates fewer than 41 of their residents have been fully vaccinated. In the 10 states with the highest vaccination rates more than 58 of their residents have been inoculated against coronavirus. Hospitalization rates in those bottom 10 states are nearly four times higher and death rates are more than 5.5 times higher than in the top 10 states according to a CNN analysis of federal data. https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/18/health/us-coronavirus-wednesday/index.html 19th Aug 2021

UK vaccine watchdog expert sceptical about booster jabs for all adults

The Guardian Prof Adam Finn a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation confirmed the group would be discussing the issue on Thursday morning. Speaking to BBC Radio 4s Today programme Finn said We will be imminently deciding that there will be some people who will need a third dose particularly people who we know are very unlikely to be well protected by those first two doses. But he was sceptical about a general rollout of booster jabs. We do need more evidence before we can make a firm decision on a much broader booster programme he said. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/aug/19/uk-vaccine-watchdog-expert-sceptical-about-booster-jabs-for-all-adults 19th Aug 2021

Thailand to explore injecting coronavirus vaccines under skin

Reuters Thailand is studying the possibility of injecting coronavirus vaccines under the skin to try to stretch its limited supply a health official said on Thursday as the country races to inoculate the public faster amid a worsening epidemic. Our previous experience shows that intradermal injections uses 25 of a muscular injection but triggers the same level of immunity head of the medical science department Supakit Sirilak told reporters. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-explore-injecting-coronavirus-vaccines-under-skin-2021-08-19/ 19th Aug 2021

Chinese Covid vaccine linked to temporary facial paralysis

The Times Thailand is studying the possibility of injecting coronavirus vaccines under the skin to try to stretch its limited supply a health official said on Thursday as the country races to inoculate the public faster amid a worsening epidemic. Our previous experience shows that intradermal injections uses 25 of a muscular injection but triggers the same level of immunity head of the medical science department Supakit Sirilak told reporters. Thailand has been reporting record deaths in recent weeks among nearly 1 million cases overall. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chinese-covid-vaccine-linked-temporary-facial-paralysis-rc25khfwn 19th Aug 2021

Vaccines show declining effectiveness against infection overall but strong protection against hospitalization amid delta variant

The Washington Post Three studies published Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that protection against the coronavirus given by vaccines declined in the midsummer months when the more contagious delta variant rose to dominance in the United States. At the same time protection against hospitalization was strong for weeks after vaccination indicating the shots will generate immune fighters that stave off the worst effects of the virus and its current variations. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/08/18/covid-vaccine-effectiveness/ 19th Aug 2021

Pfizer vaccine effectiveness declines quicker than AstraZeneca, says study

Reuters The PfizerBioNTech vaccine is initially more effective against the Delta coronavirus variant than the OxfordAstraZeneca jab but this protection then declines at a quicker rate new research has shown. Scientists from the University of Oxford have confirmed that the general performance of the two jabs is diminished by Delta compared to the previously dominant Alpha variant with vaccinated people likely to pass the virus on to others. However two doses of either jab still provides at least the same level of protection acquired through natural infection and there is not yet clear evidence to suggest that the vaccines are failing to keep people infected with Delta out of hospital. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/covid-vaccine-delta-pfizer-astrazeneca-b1904782.html 19th Aug 2021

Covid Vaccines Are Less Effective Against Delta, Large Study Finds

Bloomberg Covid19 vaccines are less effective against the delta variant according to results in the U.K. from one of the largest realworld studies into the efficacy of the shots. Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SEs messenger RNA vaccine lost effectiveness in the first 90 days after full vaccination though that shot and the one made by AstraZeneca Plc still staved off a majority of Covid infections. When vaccinated people did get infected with delta they were shown to have similar levels of virus in their bodies as those who hadnt had shots. This suggests that vaccinating large portions of a population might not protect those who dont get inoculated casting doubt on the idea of achieving herd immunity. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-18/covid-vaccines-are-less-effective-against-delta-in-u-k-study 18th Aug 2021

Oregon hospitals near breaking point as COVID-19 surges

The Independent Just 41 intensive care unit beds were available in Oregon on Wednesday as COVID19 cases continue to climb and hospitals near capacity in a state that was once viewed as a pandemic success story. Oregon which earlier had among the lowest cases per capita is now shattering its COVID19 hospitalization records day after day. Oregon like Florida Arkansas and Louisiana has had more people in the hospital with COVID19 than at any other point in the pandemic. As of Wednesday 850 coronavirus patients were hospitalized in Oregon surpassing the states record which was set the previous day. Before this month the hospitalization record was 622 in November during a winter surge and when vaccines were not yet available https://www.independent.co.uk/news/oregon-kate-brown-icu-portland-florida-b1904994.html 19th Aug 2021

S.Korea COVID-19 count ticks up as authorities consider tougher distancing

Reuters South Korea reported more than 2000 new coronavirus cases for the second time on Thursday as it struggles to subdue a wave of outbreaks during the summer holidays driven by the more contagious Delta variant. South Korea has managed to tackle outbreaks since its epidemic began early last year thanks to intensive testing and tracing but it is now facing persistent spikes in infections and vaccine shortages. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-covid-19-count-ticks-up-authorities-consider-tougher-distancing-2021-08-19/ 19th Aug 2021

Texas health officials warn of full ICUs as state grapples with worsening Covid-19 surge

CNN The latest surge in Covid19 hospitalizations this summer is having a deepening effect in Texas a state that has seen its leadership rebuke steps such as mandatory mask wearing yet now faces hospitals stretched to capacity with sick patients. And amid both the crises at health care facilities as well as court battles raging over the legality of safety measures in schools recent news of Gov. Greg Abbotts positive test for Covid19 has punctuated messaging from health officials that Texans need to remain vigilant during the pandemic. The states Department of State Health Services said Texas is in one of its worst fights it has faced with Covid19 and mortuary trailers were requested this month as a preparatory maneuver. https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/19/us/texas-covid-icu-beds-mask-mandate/index.html 19th Aug 2021

New Zealand says it has solved Covid outbreak 'puzzle'

RTE.ie New Zealand has reported a breakthrough in tracing the source of a Covid19 outbreak that plunged the nation into lockdown with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying it should help stamp out the virus. Health officials have been trying to determine how an Auckland man contracted the coronavirus this week ending a sixmonth run of no community cases in New Zealand. Tests showed the man had a version of the Delta strain found in Australia and Ms Ardern said investigations narrowed down the origin to a person who arrived from Sydney on 7 August. https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0819/1241622-new-zealand/ 19th Aug 2021

Gulf Coast’s beloved ‘Redneck Riviera’ now a virus hotspot

The Associated Press Tourists and servers alike dance atop tables and in the aisles at one restaurant on the Redneck Riviera a beloved stretch of towns along the northern Gulf Coast where beaches bars and stores are packed. Yet just a few miles away a hospital is running out of critical care beds its rooms full of unvaccinated people fighting for their lives. On maps that show virus hot spots in red this part of the U.S. coast is glowing like a bad sunburn. And a summer of booming tourism that followed the lockdowns and travel restrictions of 2020 is making the turn toward fall with only a few signs of slowing down. https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-health-coronavirus-pandemic-c341a0e0ab5e9ecc3b3eedc855f33513 19th Aug 2021

Ethnic health care systems strained in Myanmar amid pandemic

The Associated Press When Februarys military takeover of Myanmar led to the collapse of the central health care system independent ethnic organizations that had operated for decades on the Southeast Asian countrys borders stepped in. They provided basic medical services treated COVID19patients and occasionally even tended to injuries from armed skirmishes. But a fierce new wave of coronavirus cases and myriad other challenges closed borders shrinking support from international donors and a crackdown on aid by the military which has been accused of hoarding medical supplies for its own use are stretching their abilities to the limit. https://apnews.com/article/business-science-health-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-f1d039c5bba8a33ba9f4330072e5381e 19th Aug 2021

First COVID case reported in Tokyo 2020 Paralympic village

AlJazeera A first coronavirus case has been detected in the Paralympics village days before the Games open organisers say as Japan battles a record wave of infections. The case discovered on Thursday involves a Gamesrelated member of staff who is not resident in Japan according to organisers who did not give further details. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/19/first-covid-case-tokyo-2020-paralympics-japan 19th Aug 2021

Covid-19: How Kerala kept itself above water in India's devastating second wave

The BMJ India is one of the worst hit countries in the pandemic but one state has fared comparatively well. Kamala Thiagarajan asks what Kerala did differently. Indias first confirmed case of covid19 was detected in the southern state of Kerala on 27 January 2020. Despite being one of the worst affected stateswith over three million recorded cases a quarter of infections in IndiaKerala has the lowest covid death rate in the country at 0.4 less than a third of the national average of 1.3. As of 8 August Kerala had 17 654 recorded deaths. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2005 19th Aug 2021