Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said on Monday that the government had “no plans” to roll out an ID that could be used to determine if someone had received a coronavirus jab, and added there was no discussion about imposing penalties on those who choose not to be inoculated. “I think …
Read More »New Covid-19 strain found in UK spreads FASTER, is already in nearly 60 local authority areas – health secretary
The new variant has been located in southeastern England, Matt Hancock revealed on Monday, saying that scientists at Porton Down, the country’s secretive military and public health research facility, had been analysing the new form of the virus. “Initial analysis suggests that this variant is growing faster than the existing …
Read More »Phase III trial reveals 91.4% efficacy for Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine, with jab ‘100% effective’ against severe cases
In a statement, Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute and Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which funded the vaccine’s development, cited data received from volunteers 21 days after they were inoculated with the first dose of the jab. The results confirmed a 91.4 percent efficacy rate overall and showed that it is “100 …
Read More »Germany’s CureVac starts pivotal global trial for Covid-19 vaccine, enrolls 1st participant
The randomized and placebo-controlled trial called Herald may include more than 35,000 participants in Europe and Latin America, the Tübingen-based company announced. It added that the first participant has been enrolled in the pivotal study of a mRNA vaccine candidate, CvnCoV. “With the start of the pivotal Phase 2b/3 study, …
Read More »Trump says he is ‘not scheduled’ to take Covid-19 vaccine yet & White House staff will be vaccinated ‘somewhat later’
The first wave of Pfizer vaccine inoculations across the US is supposed to be limited to frontline health care specialists and people in high-risk categories, such as the elderly, but the New York Times reported on Sunday that White House staff working close to Trump will cut in line. According …
Read More »CDC director approves Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to be given to US citizens
Redfield’s decision follows the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommending the vaccine be given to people 16 years and older. On Friday, the US Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization for the vaccine, and the first batch of shots began shipping on Sunday from a plant in …
Read More »10 years in jail for stealing sweets? Thanks to Covid-19, it’s a possibility in Slovakia, and people are puzzled
The disturbing story of the man from northwestern Slovakia was reported this week by local media. His sister said she wrote to President Zuzana Caputova asking her to intervene on her brother’s behalf. “A ten-year sentence for a couple of chocolates is unconceivable. The situation today is so difficult and …
Read More »Russian health watchdog says Covid-19 triggers process of ‘natural selection’ as deaths among elderly and infirm peak
Maxim Starodubtsev, head of the ‘Health Care’ public protection watchdog, told journalists on Saturday that the healthcare system was struggling to deal with the rise in cases. “In such a situation, natural selection is turned on. That is, patients die – the elderly, those who, in principle, are susceptible to …
Read More »Austrian lawmaker tests cola for Covid and claims POSITIVE result returned shows testing is ‘worthless’
Michael Schnedlitz, a member of Austria’s National Council and the general secretary of the right-wing Freedom Party, railed against the government’s screening program and other coronavirus measures while addressing his colleagues in parliament on Thursday. During his speech, Schnedlitz administered a rapid Covid-19 test on a glass of cola, showing …
Read More »‘Medical miracle’: Trump praises ‘safe & effective’ Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine as FDA grants emergency use authorization
Created alongside German firm BioNTech, the vaccine received emergency use authorization from the FDA on Friday, after an agency meeting earlier this week recommended it be cleared for use by those 16 and older. President Trump hailed the move in a video statement moments after the jab was approved. “Today …
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