Vaccine hesitancy

As India nears the 200-crore COVID-19 vaccination mark, Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Covishield accounts for 80 per cent (154 crore) of the jabs, while Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin accounts for 16.75 per cent (32 crore) jabs. Of the 191 crore jabs administered till now, the remaining three vaccines used — Gamelaya’s Sputnik –V, Biological E’s Corbevax and Novovax-SII’s Covovax — account only for 3.25 per cent (6.25 crore) altogether. As of date, India has granted emergency usage authorisation (EUA) to nine COVID-19 vaccine candidates in total – Covishield, Covaxin, Covovax, Corbevax, Zydus Cadila’s ZyCoV-D, Moderna’s Spikevax, Sputnik-V, Sputnik Light, and Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) Ad26.COV2.S. However, only five vaccines are in use and all are indigenously produced. Vaccines in use in India | Photo Credit: - The four COVID-19 vaccines approved but not in use in India ZyCoV-D: Produced by Ahmedabad-based Zydus Cadila in collaboration with the Centre’s … [Read more...] about India’s ‘other’ COVID vaccines: The status of under-trial, approved and unused jabs

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac has explained that he rejected the pressure to get vaccinated for the coronavirus. Appearing at the ReAwaken America Tour in Myrtle Beach, Isaac decried the constant attacks he suffered at the hands of pro-vaxers. “Viewing it, it seemed forced. It seemed that there was so much pressure in doing it,” Isaac said , per EuroHoops. “I don’t see the wisdom in putting something into my body that’s not going to stop me from getting the virus or transmitting it. That is why I decided to be the only player on my team to not get vaccinated.” Orlando Magic player Jonathan Isaac on why he didn’t get the covid vaccine: “I don’t see the wisdom in putting something into my body that’s not going to stop me from getting the virus.” pic.twitter.com/IuwsdLUBbB — PatriotTakes (@patriottakes) May 14, 2022 This is not the first time Isaac has addressed the issue of being forced into the vaccine. In Sept. of last year, Isaac said he was “demeaned” for … [Read more...] about Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac Says He Rejected Being ‘Forced’ to Vaccinate

Hong Kong adults aged under 60 could get a fourth vaccine dose if they are at risk of higher exposure to the coronavirus, government medical advisers have proposed. The joint scientific committee under the Centre for Health Protection published its latest recommendations on Friday, saying uninfected adults aged between 18 and 59 might choose to receive a fourth jab six months from the third after considering individual risk and benefit. “A fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine in younger populations may provide transient additional protection against infection and symptomatic diseases,” the committee stated after discussing the matter in an online meeting on Thursday. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge , our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Famed Hong Kong nightlife district buzzing again as Covid curbs are … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: Hong Kong adults aged under 60 could get fourth vaccine dose if at risk of higher exposure to Covid-19

Even though Anthony Fauci, the White House’s chief medical adviser, backed off his statement that the United States is “out of the pandemic phase,” elected officials and much of the public seem to think that he had it right the first time. But if the end of the COVID-19 emergency is at hand, the United States is reaching it with lower vaccination and higher per capita death rates than other wealthy nations. The conventional wisdom is that the American political system failed at public health—by prioritizing individual rights over collective safety; sowing doubt about the benefits of vaccines, masks, and other protective measures; and most important, failing to implement universal health care, paid sick leave, and other safety-net programs. I agree with the conventional wisdom. But there’s plenty of blame to go around. Public health also failed America. The two most important federal public-health agencies, the CDC and the FDA , have been uniformly criticized for muddled … [Read more...] about How Public Health Failed America

The COVID-19 pandemic is “most certainly not over,” the head of the World Health Organization warned Sunday, despite a decline in reported cases since the peak of the omicron wave. He told governments that “we lower our guard at our peril.” The U.N. health agency's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , told officials gathered in Geneva for opening of the WHO 's annual meeting that “declining testing and sequencing means we are blinding ourselves to the evolution of the virus.” He also noted that almost 1 billion people in lower-income countries still haven't been vaccinated. In a weekly report Thursday on the global situation, WHO said the number of new COVID-19 cases appears to have stabilized after weeks of decline since late March, while the overall number of weekly deaths dropped. While there has been progress, with 60% of the world's population vaccinated, “it’s not over anywhere until it’s over everywhere,” Tedros said. “Reported cases are … [Read more...] about WHO chief: The COVID pandemic is ‘most certainly not over’

The Covid-19 pandemic is most certainly not over, the head of the World Health Organisation warned Sunday, despite a decline in reported cases since the peak of the omicron wave. He told governments that we lower our guard at our peril. The UN health agency’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told officials gathered in Geneva for the opening of the WHO’s annual meeting that declining testing and sequencing means we are blinding ourselves to the evolution of the virus. He also noted that almost 1 billion people in lower-income countries still haven’t been vaccinated. In a weekly report Thursday on the global situation, WHO said the number of new COVID-19 cases appears to have stabilised after weeks of decline since late March, while the overall number of weekly deaths dropped. While there has been progress, with 60 per cent of the world’s population vaccinated, it’s not over anywhere until it’s over everywhere, Tedros said. Reported cases are increasing in almost 70 … [Read more...] about WHO Chief: The Covid Pandemic is ‘Most Certainly Not Over’

The Quad leaders on Tuesday committed to getting ahead of the virus by strengthening the global health architecture, including by enhancing finance and bolstering ongoing science and technology cooperation. On March 21 last year, the Quad countries announced 'the Quad vaccine partnership' at the first summit of the four-nation grouping. The Quad countries have led and will continue to lead global efforts for Covid-19 response, with a view to building better health security and strengthening health systems, according to a joint statement issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Australia's newly-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. "We commit to adapt our collective approaches to get ahead of the virus with a focus on preparing for new variants, and getting vaccines, tests, treatments, and other medical products to those at highest risk," it said. To date, the Quad partners have collectively pledged approximately … [Read more...] about Quad Pledges to Strengthen Global Health Architecture and Get Ahead of Virus

Ceto came to our home after losing her human family in the second wave of COVID-19. She was our pandemic dog. And what a dog! A tall, long-limbed black Labrador, slightly deaf, with red-brown eyes, drooping jowls, and a silvery muzzle. Ceto, it turned out, was the Greek name for a primordial sea goddess in charge of all the dangers of the ocean. In mythology, Ceto was the mother of Echidna, the Gorgons, the Nemean lion, and the Sphinx; Wikipedia said the name could also mean ‘sea monster’. This was definitely some sort of other-worldly creature. The day we brought her home, she seated herself on the living room ‘dhurrie’ like a friendly seal, and gazed around at her new family. She was no frisky pup; she was eight years old, which is canine middle age. Our younger son, who had been lonely during the pandemic, sat down beside her. From that moment, she became his dog, and he, her person. It was as if this had been her home all her life. Taking a toll in three waves That month, … [Read more...] about Opinion | Make a habit of caring — a pandemic reflection

Trevelyan travelled to India to hold talks with Goyal and said they are aiming at a future-facing deal that will accelerate the business the two sides do together. The first round of negotiations will begin on January 17. Future rounds of negotiations will take place approximately every five weeks. The Indian negotiating team will be led by Nidhi Mani Tripathi, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, and the UK negotiating team will be led by Harjinder Kang, Director for India Negotiations at the Department for International Trade. The two sides are aiming at diversifying and strengthening supply chains under a comprehensive FTA. They are hopeful that it can unlock economic benefits for both India and UK across a range of sectors, including our research partnership which is already worth 400 million pounds. The example of the partnership between Serum Institute of India and AstraZeneca in producing Covid-19 vaccines in record time is being cited as a template for the partnership … [Read more...] about The World Outside: Post Brexit, UK Looks to Seal Free Trade Agreement With India

As my virtual junior year of high school came to an end this past June, my Fremont, California, district announced its plan to fully reopen schools in person for the coming academic year. My senior year will be filled with uncertainty, but there’s one thing I’m sure about: I’m eager to get back to the classroom. Before COVID-19, I dreaded waking up at seven in the morning to drag myself into school every day. Now, 17 months and a million Zoom classes later, I have a newfound appreciation for learning in person, no matter how early I have to be there. But as the first day of school approaches, I can’t help being a little hesitant—and not because of the coronavirus. Before the pandemic, school shootings occurred at an alarming rate ; a 2019 CNN investigation found that 180 schools had experienced a school shooting in the previous decade alone. There were fewer high-profile shootings while cities around the country were shut down, yes, but gun violence continued to plague the … [Read more...] about I’m Not Afraid of COVID-19. I’m Afraid of School Shootings.