Declining vaccine immunity and increased infections caused by the Delta variant have prompted wealthy nations to rethink the definition of “fully vaccinated” – which usually means two Covid-19 shots.
Other European countries are moving towards missions for booster drills. On December 15, anyone over 65 will need a third dose to reconfirm their immunization card in France, President Emmanuel Macron announced last week. In Austria, the full immunization status expires nine months after the second dose, hence the mandatory effect of booster doses. In Israel, unless you received a second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine within the past six months, you now need a third dose to qualify for a green card, allowing access to gyms, restaurants and other locations.
“It doesn’t make sense to give booster shots to healthy adults or vaccinate children, when healthcare workers, the elderly and other high-risk groups around the world are at risk,” he warned last Friday. The world is still waiting for their first dose.
Dr David Nabarro, the WHO’s special envoy on Covid-19, told British lawmakers it was also a gamble for rich nations. “It’s never been done before and it’s really an inappropriate public health strategy,” he said. With so much yet to be learned about the virus, Nabarro warned, using vaccines as the main weapon against Covid-19 could lead to new variants.
What needs to be done is a “combined approach” between masks and other health interventions, “i.e. doing everything we can to empower people to avoid infection,” he said.
YOU ASKED. WE HAVE ANSWERED.
Q: When will the Pfizer Covid-19 booster vaccine be available to all adults in the US?
ONE: On Tuesday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed its vaccine advisers will not be convened to review the request for an amendment to the emergency use authorization of the booster drug. strong – means a decision can be made at any time.
“While the FDA cannot predict how long it will take to evaluate the data and information, the agency will review the request as quickly as possible,” FDA spokesman Alison Hunt told CNN.
A CDC spokesperson told CNN on Tuesday that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet on Friday to discuss expanding the capacity of the CDC. eligibility for Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine. CDC vaccine advisors usually only meet when a vaccine has been approved by the FDA.
READING OF THE WEEK
The killing of a corgi shows how government power has grown in China in the name of stopping Covid
The killing of the dog, which sparked a wave of outcry on Chinese social media, is the latest example of extreme measures taken by local authorities in China to tackle zero-Covid in a single year. new Delta variant outbreak.
Amidst shock and anger, the dog’s death has sparked heated debate about animal rights, as well as a reflection on how government powers can be expanded during a pandemic that must be avoided. at the expense of individual rights.
Biden administration orders Pfizer’s experimental antiviral drug
The administration originally planned to buy about 5 million doses of the drug, but after looking at Pfizer’s data, President Joe Biden wanted to double the order, the source told CNN Tuesday.
The company says the pill will be used in combination with an older antiviral drug called ritonavir and is used to treat mild to moderate Covid-19 in patients at risk of hospitalization or higher mortality. Pfizer is seeking emergency use authorization from the FDA for the pill and said Tuesday that it has signed a licensing agreement to allow wider global access.
Austria imposes door lock on unvaccinated people as Europe tightens them
The new rules reflect growing exasperation across the European Union over people who continue to refuse vaccinations. Germany, which has the lowest vaccination rates in Western Europe, could become the next country to impose stricter regulations.
The proposed measures would require Germans to provide proof of vaccinations or test negative in order to ride a bus or board a train, during the expansion of the country’s “3G” system requiring the person or the other must enter certain places and contexts.
TOP TIPS
Get vaccinated if you want to enjoy New Year’s Eve in Times Square
New York City will once again welcome thousands of people to Times Square for the famous New Year’s Eve tradition, as long as they can demonstrate vaccination against Covid-19, the the official said on Tuesday.
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