5th Nov 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=533 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

The Wall Street Journal Many employers will have to ensure by Jan. 4 that their workers are vaccinated or tested weekly for Covid19 under a set of new vaccine requirements. by the Biden administration that will cover more than 80 million employees. The requirements released Thursday by the Labor Department implement a vaccine directive that President Biden announced in September. They apply to employers with 100 or more employees. While the administration has said the requirements are necessary to curb the Covid19 pandemic they have drawn opposition from many Republicans. https://www.wsj.com/articles/employer-covid-19-vaccine-and-testing-rules-unveiled-by-biden-administration-11636029900 4th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

The Wall Street Journal Last year President John Magufuli declared the virus a satanic myth propagated by imperialist powers. While his neighbors sealed borders and locked down his country of 58 million stayed open. His government barred doctors from registering coronavirus as the cause of death and labeled those who wore masks unpatriotic. Seeking to keep the economy open and rally nationalist sentiment ahead of elections he blocked foreign journalists from entering the country rejected vaccines and refused to provide data to the World Health Organization. News organizations reporting on Covid19 were shut down for scaremongering and reporters threatened with jail. By this spring the president was dead along with six other senior politicians and several of the countrys generals. The official cause of Mr. Magufulis death was heart failure. The details remain secret. Diplomats analysts and opposition leaders say he had Covid19. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-coronavirus-coverup-tanzania-11636042309 4th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg The Philippines will ease coronavirus restrictions in the Manila capital region from Friday until Nov. 21 as infections eased. The Southeast Asian nations virus task force decided to place the capital which accounts for a third of economic output under Alert Level 2 where businesses can operate at higher capacities presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement late Thursday. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-04/philippines-eases-virus-restrictions-in-manila-capital-region 4th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Bloomberg The World Health Organization warned that a surge of coronavirus cases in Europe and Central Asia has pushed the region back as the epicenter of the pandemic. There are now 78 million cases in the European region which is more than infections reported in Southeast Asia the Eastern Mediterranean the Western Pacific and Africa combined according to the WHO. Last week Europe and Central Asia accounted for almost half of the worlds reported deaths from Covid19. The outbreak has accelerating in Europe over the last four weeks as colder temperatures lead to more socializing indoors while many countries have eased restrictions. The WHO has repeatedly said that the pandemic is not yet over and that governments should keep publichealth measures such as maskwearing along with vaccinations. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-04/europe-is-covid-epicenter-once-again-amid-case-surge-who-says 4th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters New York Citys publicsector employee union District Council 37 and the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday reached an agreement on a COVID19 vaccine mandate for over 55000 city workers. District Council 37 members who have not provided proof of at least one dose of the vaccine will have the option to resign or take a leave of absence and in both cases employees will maintain their health benefits the union said in a statement. Employees without proof of vaccination who have either not submitted an application for an exemption or who have been denied an exemption may be placed on unpaid leave beginning Nov. 1 through Nov. 30 the union said. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-york-city-union-reaches-agreement-vaccine-mandate-with-nyc-administration-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Chiles presidential candidates had to host news conferences from home and cancel travel plans on Thursday as five out of seven candidates were forced to isolate for a week after leftwing hopeful Gabriel Boric tested positive for COVID19. In addition to Boric four candidates had all been in close contact with him recently and have since tested negative for the virus they said on social media. But Chiles regulations mandate that any close contacts isolate for at least seven days regardless of test result. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chiles-campaign-trail-goes-virtual-all-two-candidates-forced-into-covid-lockdown-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Coronavirus infections are hitting record levels in many countries across Europe as winter takes hold prompting a call for action from the World Health Organization which described the new wave as a grave concern. Soaring numbers of cases especially in Eastern Europe have prompted debate on whether to reintroduce curbs on movement before the Christmas holiday season and on how to persuade more people to get vaccinated. That conversation comes as some countries in Asia with the notable exception of China reopen their tourism sectors to the rest of the world https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/covid-cases-break-records-across-europe-winter-takes-hold-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

STAT News Moderna cut its fullyear sales forecast for its Covid19 vaccine to between 15 billion and 18 billion from 20 billion estimated previously as the vaccine maker struggles with the production of its twodose inoculation Reuters notes. The company is now expecting deliveries of between 700 million and 800 million doses this year down from its prior expectations of between 800 million and 1 billion doses. The Covid19 vaccine is now expected to generate between 15 billion and 18 billion in sales this year. That estimate was lowered because fewer doses are now set to be delivered this year. https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2021/11/04/covid19-vaccine-moderna-merck-roche-novartis/ 4th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

The New York Times When Tyson one of the worlds largest meatpacking companies announced in early August that all of its 120000 workers would need to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or lose their jobs Diana Eike was angry. Ms. Eike an administrative coordinator at the company had resisted the vaccine and not for religious or political reasons like many others here in her home state. It was just something personal she said. Now Ms. Eike is fully vaccinated and she is relieved that Tyson made the decision for her. The company she said took the burden off of me making the choice. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/business/tyson-vaccine-mandate.html 4th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

The Washington Post Hugs with friends. Birthday parties indoors. Pillow fights. Kids who got their first coronavirus shots Wednesday said these are the pleasures they look forward to as the United States enters a major new phase in fighting the pandemic. Health officials hailed shots for kids ages 5 to 11 as a major breakthrough after more than 18 months of illness hospitalizations deaths and disrupted education. Kidsize doses of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine cleared two final hurdles Tuesday a recommendation from CDC advisers followed by a green light from Rochelle Walensky director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/kids-get-coronavirus-vaccine/2021/11/04/ac65ea26-3d25-11ec-a493-51b0252dea0c_story.html 4th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters As soon as Anna Weber Kneitel learned San Francisco Bay Area pharmacies had opened appointments for COVID19 vaccines for young children she booked the closest one she could find for her 7yearold son. But across the country in Michigan Rachael LaPlante said she was planning to hold off on getting the shots for her 7yearold son despite being fully vaccinated against COVID19 herself. After months of anticipation the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday gave the green light for health professionals to start administering the Pfizer Inc BioNTech SE shot to children ages 5 to 11. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/some-parents-eager-others-unsure-covid-19-shot-approved-kids-2021-11-03/ 4th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Turkey will begin administering boosters to people who have received two shots of the Pfizer IncBioNTech coronavirus vaccine Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Wednesday. Turkey has already administered a third dose to more than 11.2 million people who received two doses of the vaccine developed by Chinas Sinovac whose efficacy rate officials believe falls faster. In a statement after meeting with his science council Koca said the booster shots for PfizerBioNTech recipients would begin on Thursday with the elderly those with chronic illnesses health workers and those in other highrisk jobs. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-start-booster-shots-pfizer-covid-vaccine-recipients-minister-2021-11-03/ 4th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters A new U.S. workplace rule that requires tens of millions of Americans to get vaccinated for COVID19 or submit to weekly testing will exclude employees who work exclusively outdoors according to regulatory filing by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. An estimated 2.4 million healthcare workers will need to be vaccinated or replaced under a related rule issued by Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-us-covid-testingvaccine-rule-excludes-outdoor-workers-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters The City of Vienna said on Thursday it is banning people not vaccinated against COVID19 from cafes restaurants and events with more than 25 people preempting measures that are likely to be introduced across Austria soon as infections are surging. Roughly 64 of Austrias population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. That matches the European Union average but is also among the lowest rates in western Europe. Many Austrians are sceptical about vaccines a view encouraged by the farright Freedom Party the third biggest in parliament. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/austrian-coronavirus-cases-surge-lockdown-vaccine-holdouts-looms-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

The Associated Press Tens of millions of Americans who work at companies with 100 or more employees will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID19 by Jan. 4 or get tested for the virus weekly under government rules issued Thursday. The new requirements are the Biden administrations boldest move yet to persuade reluctant Americans to finally get a vaccine that has been widely available for months or face financial consequences. If successful administration officials believe it will go a long way toward ending a pandemic that has killed more than 750000 Americans. First previewed by President Joe Biden in September the requirements will apply to about 84 million workers at medium and large businesses although it is not clear how many of those employees are unvaccinated. https://apnews.com/article/covid-employer-mandates-us-29c2262c336bcfc38da2d14b251daf51 4th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

CIDRAP Today during a White House press briefing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Director Rochelle Walensky MD MPH said now that she has authorized the use of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 American schoolchildren have the chance to experience school as we once one knew it and as it should be. Walensky and Jeff Zients the White House COVID19 response coordinator both called today a monumental day in the nations fight against the COVID19 pandemic and assured American parents that the use of vaccines in kids ages 5 to 11 would be safe free and convenient. We have been planning for this and we are fully prepared said Zients who said the pediatric campaign will begin officially on Nov 8 but said some clinics and pharmacies have already begun to offer inoculations to kids. I want to speak directly to parents Walensky said. Please know we have conducted a thorough review of the safety data before recommending this vaccine for your child. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/11/feds-tout-covid-19-pediatric-vaccines-way-back-normal 4th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

STAT News The White House is delaying its mandate for contractors to get vaccinated against Covid19 until Jan. 4 the administration announced Thursday as it rolled out more details about its sweeping vaccination mandates. Contractors previously had until Dec. 8 to get vaccinated per a September executive order from the White House. They now have until Jan. 4 as do health workers at hospitals and facilities that participate in Medicare and Medicaid. Under a separate policy companies with 100 or more employees will also have until Jan. 4 to mandate full vaccinations for their workers or offer a plan for weekly testing. But by Dec. 5 they must require unvaccinated workers to wear masks and undergo weekly testing. https://www.statnews.com/2021/11/04/white-house-delays-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-for-federal-employees-contractors/ 4th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

The Wall Street Journal Jaime Francis is avoiding all medication during her pregnancy including Covid19 vaccines. Her obstetrician advised her not to take some common painkillers including ibuprofen she said and she didnt fill a prescription she was given for nausea. With the Covid19 vaccine the 22yearold delivery driver from Sparta Township N.J. said she fears potential longterm developmental effects of the vaccine that might not be known yet. Doctors and researchers say the shots are safe effective and crucial for pregnant women who face higher risks of severe Covid19 than the rest of the population. https://www.wsj.com/articles/pregnant-women-who-doubt-covid-19-vaccine-safety-worry-doctors-11636018201 4th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

Bloomberg Senate Republicans plan to force a vote to block President Joe Bidens new vaccine mandates for workers an effort that is all but certain to fail in the Democraticcontrolled Congress. The mandate fight however could soon head to the courts and potentially be an issue in the 2022 midterm elections. Under the Congressional Review Act a Senate minority can force votes to block regulations like the new vaccine mandates scheduled to take effect Jan. 4 but it would take Democratic defections to send such a bill to Bidens desk and a twothirds majority to override a veto. Action isnt likely to take place until December. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-04/senate-republicans-to-force-vote-on-blocking-vaccine-mandate 4th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

Bloomberg OSHA has issued a federal rule mandating Covid19 vaccinations or at least weekly testing for workers at U.S. companies with 100 or more employees. The OSHA rules are a key pillar of President Joe Bidens push to use employer mandates to drive up vaccination totals nationally. Biden already has expanded the rules for federal workers and contractors which will take effect over the next five weeks requiring vaccination and offering no alternative for regular testing. The OSHA rules while less strenuous essentially extend that push widely into the private sector. Bidenelected in part on a pledge to quell the pandemicviews vaccination as the fastest path to reopening society and the economy including employer mandates booster shots and vaccines for kids aged 5 to 11 that began this week. About 80 of U.S. adults have received at least one dose. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-04/workplace-vaccination-rule-released-as-red-states-prepare-to-sue 4th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

The Guardian Even if children have avoided antivaccine misinformation on social media they may have come across it at the school gate. There have been demonstrations outside schools across the UK some protesters have loudhailers and give alarming leaflets to children or point them in the direction of websites with misinformation. At least one school was targeted by protesters showing images of what appeared to be dead children falsely claiming they had been killed by the vaccine which unsurprisingly distressed children. The Association of School and College Leaders union found nearly 80 of British schools had been targeted in some way mainly emails threatening legal action and 13 had reported seeing antivax demonstrators directly outside the school gates 18 schools said protesters had actually got inside. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/nov/04/he-was-adamant-he-didnt-want-it-the-pro-vax-parents-with-vaccine-hesitant-kids 4th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

The Guardian The Lesotho governments plans to implement a Covid passport system this week are being undermined by widespread fraud involving certificates being sold to unvaccinated people. Covid19 vaccination certificates are being sold for less than 20 by unscrupulous health workers to the largely vaccineaverse population in Lesotho where there has been little positive campaigning around the jabs. The prime minister Moeketsi Majoro announced in October that from this week restaurants bars nightclubs gyms and sporting facilities would only admit people who had a Covid19 vaccination certificate. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/nov/04/vaccine-certificates-for-sale-scam-undermines-lesothos-covid-effort 4th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

Daily Mail Customer Service staff face increase of abuse amid Covid compliance checks National Retail Association NRA received 89k reports of abuse in last 6 months Aggressive violent behaviour mainly occurred where Covid rules are in place NRA says shoppers need to remember staff are not responsible for Covid laws https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10163221/Australian-customer-service-workers-subjected-violence-abuse-Covid-19-compliance-checks.html 4th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

The Guardian Aaron Rodgers may be a lot of things but stupid he is not. A noted bookworm and fillin Jeopardy host Rodgers of all people is keenly aware that words matter. In hindsight this explains why back in August when he was asked about his vaccination status by a reporter he replied with a cryptic Ive been immunized. If youre like me you thought Rodgers response was him being him eccentric with maybe a touch of arrogance but you assumed immunized equaled vaccinated. Sigh. Well now its looking likely that Rodgers misled us all along. On Wednesday the news broke that Rodgers tested positive for Covid19 and will miss Sundays game against the Kansas City Chiefs because he is indeed not immunized with an actual Covid vaccine. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/nov/04/aaron-rodgers-covid-vaccine-leadership 4th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters UK Inside the British hospital that saved Prime Minister Boris Johnson from COVID19 intensive care nurse Dave Carr just wants out. We are dead on our feet physically. We are dead on our feet mentally he said. I dont know how to get out of this mess. I cant walk away because of the guilt of leaving my colleagues. Britain its hospitals and its COVID19 strategy are under the microscope as the country enters the dangerous winter period while accounting for almost a tenth of the worlds recorded new infections. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/johnsons-covid-19-gambit-steers-britain-into-uncharted-winter-waters-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg The U.K. was the first country to approve a Covid19 vaccine it has now become the first to approve an athome treatment for Covid. On Thursday the medicines regulator MHRA greenlit the antiviral drug molnupiravir produced by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Merck Co. and shown in trials to halve the risk of hospitalization or death in those with mild to moderate disease. Health Secretary Sajid Javid called it a historic day for our country. For once that might not be an overstatement. Beyond Britain the new drug should be a reminder of the importance of antivirals in the fight against this and future pandemics. The molnupiravir approval couldnt be timelier. Britain has had a stubbornly high Covid infection rate. Although the most recent wave has not led to a marked increase in deaths from the virus hospitals face a gargantuan backlog of delayed procedures Covid wards are fuller than is comfortable and there are worries that a bad flu season could tip an overstretched health service into deeper crisis. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-11-04/u-k-approves-merck-covid-drug-molnupiravir-to-fill-in-where-vaccines-can-t 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Bloomberg Scientists identified a specific gene that doubles the risk of respiratory failure from Covid19 and may go some way to explaining why some ethnic groups are more susceptible to severe disease than others. Researchers from the University of Oxford found that a higherrisk version of the gene most likely prevents the cells lining airways and the lungs from responding to the virus properly. About 60 of people with South Asian ancestry carry this version of the gene compared with 15 of people with European heritage according to the study published Thursday. The findings help explain why higher rates of hospitalization and death may have been seen in certain communities and on the Indian subcontinent. The authors cautioned that the gene cannot be used as a sole explanation as many other factors such as socioeconomic conditions play a role. Despite a significant impact from the virus to people with AfroCaribbean ancestry only 2 carry the higherrisk genotype. People with the gene known as LZTFL1 would particularly benefit from vaccination which remains the best method of protection the authors said. The findings raise the possibility of research into treatments specific to patients with this gene though no tailored drugs are currently available. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-04/scientists-find-gene-that-doubles-risk-of-dying-from-covid-19 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Britain on Thursday became the first country in the world to approve a potentially gamechanging COVID19 antiviral oral pill jointly developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics in a boost to the fight against the pandemic. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/britain-approves-mercks-oral-covid-19-pill-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

ABC News AstraZeneca said Thursday that it is withdrawing its application for approval of its COVID19 vaccine in Switzerland because the countrys medical regulator wanted to restrict its use to people over age 50. Switzerland has cleared the BioNTechPfizer Moderna and Johnson Johnson vaccines for use. However national medical regulator Swissmedic hadnt yet granted marketing authorization for the AstraZeneca vaccine. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/astrazeneca-pulls-request-swiss-approval-covid-shot-80969817 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN The World Health Organization WHO said on Wednesday that it has granted approval for Indian drugmaker Bharat Biotechs homegrown Covid19 vaccine for emergency use listing paving the way for it to be accepted as a valid vaccine in many poor countries. The WHO tweeted that its technical advisory group had ruled that benefits of the shot known as Covaxin significantly outweighed the risks and that it met WHO standards for protection against Covid19. The decision had been delayed as the advisory group sought additional clarifications from Bharat Biotech before conducting a final riskbenefit assessment for the vaccines global use. WHOs Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization also recommended Covaxins use in two doses with an interval of four weeks in age groups 18 and above. These recommendations are in line with the companys guidance. https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/03/asia/india-covaxin-who-approval-intl-hnk/index.html 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News More than 28 million extra years of life have been lost during the coronavirus pandemic a new study has found. By comparing the lives cut short by COVID19 and the estimated normal life spans of those who died researchers led by a team at Oxford University calculated that millions of years of life have been lost from premature deaths. The findings also follow a significant fall in life expectancy around the globe. The new research assessed the toll of the pandemic on 37 countries including England and Wales. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-millions-of-years-lost-and-life-expectancy-cut-short-around-the-world-12458998 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters People can get inoculated against COVID19 and the seasonal influenza at the same time without compromising the vaccines effectiveness a World Health Organization official said on Thursday. Anybody can get both the vaccines together there is no decrease in effectiveness of either of the vaccines when given together at one point of time Siddhartha Datta the WHO Europes regional adviser for vaccines told a news briefing. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/no-decrease-effectiveness-if-covid-19-jab-flu-vaccine-is-taken-together-who-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The European Unions drug regulator said on Thursday it was in discussions with AstraZeneca AZN.L over possible authorisation of booster doses of the drugmakers COVID19 vaccine after it already gave the green light to mRNA booster shots. AstraZeneca is submitting data to us. Actually today they submitted a new package of data that could support an extension to use the booster the European Medicines Agencys head of vaccines strategy Marco Cavaleri said at a briefing. We will be discussing with them whether this data could be sufficient for authorisation or whether we need more evidence Cavaleri added. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/eu-regulator-reviewing-data-astrazeneca-covid-19-booster-shots-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters While the drugs approval in the United States is still pending Britain on Thursday became the first country in the world to approve the pill. Last week the company reached a deal with the United Nationsbacked Medicines Patent Pool that will allow more companies to manufacture generic versions of the pill with a royaltyfree licence applying to 105 low and middleincome countries. So far Merck has agreed to license the drug to several Indiabased generic drugmakers. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/countries-rush-buy-merck-experimental-covid-19-pill-2021-11-03/ 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters European countries must work harder to prevent the coronavirus spreading further as deaths and new cases surge the World Health Organizations Europe head said on Thursday. Current transmission rates in 53 European countries are of grave concern and new cases are nearing record levels exacerbated by the more transmissible Delta variant of the virus the WHOs Hans Kluge told a media briefing. We must change our tactics from reacting to surges of COVID19 to preventing them from happening in the first place https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/covid-19-transmission-rates-europe-grave-concern-who-europe-head-says-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Britain on Thursday became the first country in the world to approve a potentially gamechanging COVID19 antiviral pill jointly developed by U.S.based Merck Co Inc and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics in a boost to the fight against the pandemic. Britains Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA recommended the drug molnupiravir for use in people with mild to moderate COVID19 and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness such as obesity older age diabetes and heart disease. It will be administered as soon as possible following a positive COVID19 test and within five days of the onset of symptoms the regulator said citing clinical data https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/britain-approves-mercks-oral-covid-19-pill-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Associated Press Britain granted conditional authorization on Thursday to the first pill shown to successfully treat COVID19 so far. It also is the first country to OK the treatment from drugmaker Merck although it wasnt immediately clear how quickly the pill would be available. The pill was licensed for adults 18 and older who have tested positive for COVID19 and have at least one risk factor for developing severe disease such as obesity or heart disease. Patients with mildtomoderate COVID19 would take four pills of the drug known molnupiravir twice a day for five days. An antiviral pill that reduces symptoms and speeds recovery could prove groundbreaking easing caseloads on hospitals and helping to curb outbreaks in poorer countries with fragile health systems. It would also bolster the twopronged approach to the pandemic treatment by way of medication and prevention primarily through vaccinations. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-europe-health-pandemics-17905e9505a5ff50f2436b2bcb22f59f 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Associated Press Are COVID19 boosters the same as the original vaccines Yes COVID19 boosters use the same recipe as the original shots despite the emergence of the more contagious delta variant. The vaccines werent tweaked to better match delta because theyre still working well. The vaccines work by training your body to recognize and fight the spike protein that coats the coronavirus and helps it invade the bodys cells. Deltas mutations fortunately werent different enough to escape detection. The increased protection you might get from a booster adjusted to better match the delta or other variants would be marginal says Dr. Paul Goepfert director of the Alabama Vaccine Research Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-alabama-coronavirus-vaccine-507492229abfbc9b42d21d6de605e841 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CIDRAP The Johnson Johnson JJ adenovirusbased COVID19 vaccine is 74 effective in preventing SARSCoV2 infection even amid phases of high Alpha B117 and Delta B1617.2 variant circulation according to the preliminary findings of a realworld US study yesterday in JAMA Network Open. The comparativeeffectiveness study led by researchers from nference a Massachusetts software company affiliated with Janssen maker of the JJ vaccine involved mining the Mayo Clinic electronic health records EHRs of 8889 vaccinated and 88898 matched unvaccinated adults living in 1 of 15 states from Feb 27 to Jul 22 2021. The EHRs were from the multistate Mayo Clinic Health System. Men made up roughly half of both groups of patients with a mean age of 52.4 years in the vaccinated group and 51.7 in the unvaccinated group. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/11/real-world-study-shows-jj-covid-19-vaccine-74-effective 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma Moderna has been biotechs biggest growth story in 2021 but the companys rate of expansion slowed considerably in recent months as shipping delays and a supply chain scaleup took a toll. In the third quarter the mRNA biotech delivered 208 million COVID19 vaccine doses worldwide a figure Chief Financial Officer David Meline called a relatively modest increase from the 199 million doses it delivered in the second quarter. Whats behind the slowdown Moderna shipped more doses internationally in the third quarter than in prior periods. Those shipments required longer delivery lead times than its earlier doses the company said leading to export delays. Our supply chain became more complex with increased deliveries to various countries around the world CEO Stphane Bancel said on a conference call Thursday. Moderna has been charging lower prices to many of the recently added countries Bancel added. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/shipping-delays-supply-chain-expansion-ding-moderna-s-covid-19-vaccine-business 4th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma Since the start of the pandemic even as vaccines and monoclonal antibodies made their way onto the market an authorized oral antiviral therapy evaded the global response. Not anymore. Merck Co. and Ridgeback Therapeutics molnupiravir has scored its first authorization in the world. U.K. Regulators signed off on the oral antiviral for adults whove had a positive COVID19 test and who have at least one risk factor. The countrys Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency greenlit the drug based on an interim analysis from the phase 3 MoveOut trial. The study showed the med given at 800 mg twice daily reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by about 50 in adult patients who were not hospitalized or vaccinated. For the study the mildtomoderate patients had symptom onset within five days of randomization and they also had at least one risk factor. Ahead of the authorization the U.K. government inked a deal to purchase 480000 courses from Merck. In the U.K. the drug will be marketed as Lagevrio. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/merck-and-ridgeback-s-covid-19-antiviral-molnupiravir-joins-pandemic-response-u-k-nod 4th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Daily Mail WHO Europe director Hans Kluge warned Europe is now back at the centre of the pandemic. Kluge said the rising number of cases could mean another half a million people will die from Covid in the next three months. Kluge blamed the caseload of Europes insufficient vaccination coverage It comes as Germany recorded record number of cases with health minister warning a massive pandemic of the unvaccinated https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10165063/Europes-insufficient-vaccine-coverage-blamed-surge-Covid-cases.html 4th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

BBC News Twelve more Covid19related deaths have been reported in Northern Ireland on Thursday. Deaths are measured by recording those who died within 28 days of receiving a positive result in a test for coronavirus. The total number of deaths linked to Covid19 in Northern Ireland since the start of the pandemic is 2737. Another 1481 cases of coronavirus were reported up from 995 cases recorded on Wednesday. That includes cases confirmed from samples taken in recent days not necessarily just in the latest 24hour reporting period. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-59162601 4th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Russias daily COVID19 death toll reached a record high of 1195 on Thursday amid a surge in cases that has forced officials to impose a nationwide workplace shutdown. The government coronavirus task force also reported 40217 new infections in the past 24 hours including 6305 in Moscow. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-daily-covid-19-death-toll-hits-record-high-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters COVID19 prevalence in England rose to its highest level on record in October Imperial College London said on Thursday led by a high numbers of cases in children and a surge in the southwest of the country. Nearly 6 of schoolaged children had COVID19 the researchers found although there was a drop in prevalence towards the end of the studys period coinciding with the closure of schools for halfterm holiday. Despite that dip researchers said rates had doubled in older groups compared to September a concerning sign as the government races to give booster shots to the most vulnerable. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/england-sees-record-covid-prevalence-october-imperial-study-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Croatia reported on Thursday 6310 infections of COVID19 which is the highest daily number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic the national health authorities said. At the moment there are 25628 active COVID19 cases in a country of around 4 million people while 1680 patients require hospital treatment. In Croatia a bit over 50 of population is fully vaccinated and experts largely blame such a low vaccination rate for the increase in infections in recent weeks. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/croatia-slovenia-hit-highest-number-daily-covid-19-infections-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Germany reported 33949 new COVID19 infections the highest daily increase since the start of the pandemic last year ahead of a twoday meeting of state health ministers starting on Thursday. Countries across Europe have been reporting rises in coronavirus infections prompting debate over whether to reintroduce restrictions and how to persuade more people to get vaccinated. The daily number of cases was likely inflated by a public holiday in parts of Germany on Monday that led to a delay in datagathering. The previous record was on Dec. 18 with 33777 cases. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/german-covid-19-cases-hit-daily-record-health-ministers-meet-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters on MSN.com Having taken a handsoff approach to restrictions last summer the conservativeled government has since outlined a plan under which the unvaccinated population will be placed under lockdown with restrictions on their daily movements once 600 intensivecare beds are filled with COVID19 patients. Under that incremental plan the unvaccinated not including those who have recovered from a coronavirus infection will be barred from cafes and restaurants once 500 intensivecare beds are occupied by COVID19 patients. The number of those beds currently in use is 352 and rising by more than 10 a day. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/austrian-coronavirus-cases-surge-as-lockdown-for-vaccine-holdouts-looms/ar-AAQjRqX 4th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Belgium on Thursday reported a jump in COVID19 infections and hospitalisations rose back to levels that had forced a lockdown in October 2020 as the United States advised against travelling to the host of EU and NATO headquarters. Data from Belgiums Sciensano health institute showed 6728 daily new cases on average in the last 14 days up 36 from the previous week. An average of 164 patients with COVID19 were admitted to hospitals daily in the last seven days a 31 increase and 343 coronavirus patients were in intensive care. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belgian-covid-19-hospitalisations-rise-back-oct-2020-levels-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021

New Lockdown

Reuters China is on high alert at its international ports of entry to reduce the risk of COVID19 cases entering from abroad and it has stepped up restrictions within the country amid a growing outbreak less than 100 days before the Beijing Winter Olympics. The National Immigration Administration NIA said on Thursday it would continue to guide citizens not to go abroad for nonurgent and nonessential reasons. The dramatic drop in Chinese travellers since early last year has left a 255 billion annual spending hole in the global tourism market https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/china-keeps-close-vigil-ports-entry-cut-covid-19-risks-2021-11-04/ 4th Nov 2021