Covid-19 News: Booster invitations will be sent to over 50s in England

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By Michael Le Page , Clare Wilson , Jessica Hamzelou , Sam Wong , Graham Lawton , Adam Vaughan , Conrad Quilty-Harper and Layal Liverpool

Latest coronavirus quality arsenic of 4pm connected 20 September

Around 1.5 cardinal radical successful England volition beryllium invited to publication a booster changeable this week

Text messages and letters volition beryllium sent to around 1.5 cardinal radical successful England this week, inviting them to publication a covid-19 booster vaccine jab. Those eligible see radical aged 50 and over, frontline wellness and attraction workers, and radical surviving successful attraction homes.

“Booster doses are an important mode of keeping the microorganism nether power for the agelong presumption and volition support the astir susceptible done the wintertime months,” said UK wellness curate Sajid Javid.

Speaking to reporters connected his mode to the UN General Assembly successful New York, premier curate Boris Johnson said that the booster programme must beryllium the UK’s priority, implicit donating much coronavirus vaccine doses to little affluent nations.

Vaccinations began for 12-to-15-year-olds successful England today. Meanwhile, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been recovered to beryllium harmless and effective in 5-to-11-year-olds, according to interior Pfizer information that volition request to beryllium reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration earlier the vaccine tin beryllium fixed to under-12s. The Guardian reports that this property radical is connected way to person 2 doses of the vaccine successful the US by the extremity of October.

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Previous updates

17 September

A caller investigation suggests that agelong covid affects 6 per cent of radical who acquisition symptoms

Long covid appears to impact betwixt 3 to 11.7 per cent of radical infected by the coronavirus, according to an investigation by the UK Office for National Statistics that utilized respective antithetic approaches to gauge the prevalence of the chronic condition. According to the analysis, arsenic galore arsenic 17.7 per cent of radical who had symptomatic covid-19 infections self-report arsenic experiencing agelong covid 12 weeks later, but the proportionality of symptomatic cases who acquisition astatine slightest 1 ONS-defined agelong covid symptoms continuously for 12 weeks oregon much is lower, astatine 6.7 per cent.

In April, the ONS published a study suggesting that 13.7 per cent of radical who trial affirmative for covid spell connected to acquisition immoderate symptoms for 12 weeks oregon longer. Now, the ONS has utilized respective approaches to get a much elaborate look astatine however communal agelong covid is.

The caller survey recovered that, erstwhile looking crossed radical who trial affirmative for covid-19 – careless of whether they had symptoms oregon not during their archetypal corruption – agelong covid appears to beryllium little communal than antecedently thought. Among those successful the survey who tested affirmative for covid-19, 5 per cent reported 1 oregon much of 12 communal symptoms 12 to 16 weeks aft infection. However, 3.4 per cent of radical successful the power radical besides reported specified symptoms, suggesting that the coronavirus whitethorn not beryllium to blasted successful the bulk of cases.

The prevalence of agelong covid seemed to driblet adjacent further – to 3 per cent – erstwhile the investigation focussed connected radical who’d tested affirmative who past experienced symptoms continuously for astatine slightest 12 weeks. This compares to 0.5 per cent successful the power group. But the investigation estimates that 11.7 per cent of radical who’d tested affirmative would picture themselves arsenic experiencing agelong covid 12 weeks aft infection, and that 7.5 per cent of radical would accidental that agelong covid is limiting their day-to-day activities.

However, the ONS estimates suggest that agelong covid is much communal among radical who acquisition symptoms during their archetypal covid infection. When asymptomatic cases were removed from the analysis, the prevalence of agelong covid went up. The survey recovered that 6.7 per cent of radical who had symptomatic infections went connected to acquisition 1 oregon much of 12 communal symptoms continuously for astatine slightest 12 weeks. As for self-reported agelong covid, 17.7 per cent of radical who’d had symptomatic infections described themselves arsenic experiencing agelong covid 12 weeks aft infection, and 11.8 per cent said that this was limiting their day-to-day activities.

The investigation besides confirmed that agelong covid is astir communal successful women, adults aged 50 to 69, and successful radical with different wellness conditions. Those who amusement signs of a precocious viral load during their archetypal corruption are besides much apt to acquisition agelong covid.

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Around 3000 healthcare workers who haven’t been vaccinated for covid-19 have been suspended successful France. A caller regularisation came into unit connected 15 September that makes vaccination mandatory for 2.7 cardinal frontline staff.

Italy is readying to marque it mandatory for astir nationalist and backstage workers to person a “green pass” that indicates that a idiosyncratic has been afloat vaccinated, precocious recovered from the coronavirus, oregon precocious tested antagonistic for it. Since August, a greenish walk has been indispensable for accessing astir leisure activities successful the country.

The service whitethorn beryllium called upon to assistance Scotland’s ambulance service, which is nether “acute pressure”, archetypal curate Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday.

Use our covid-19 dashboard to enactment up to day with deaths, cases, and vaccination rates astir the world.

16 September

More than 30,000 reported cases of menstrual changes aft vaccination successful the UK

A imaginable nexus betwixt covid-19 vaccines and menstrual changes is plausible and should beryllium investigated, according to a reproductive immunology specialist. Writing successful the BMJ, Victoria Male astatine Imperial College London notes that changes to periods and unexpected vaginal bleeding aren’t presently listed arsenic covid-19 vaccination broadside effects by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. However, much than 30,000 reports of specified changes person been made to the MHRA done its yellowish paper broadside effects reporting scheme.

Because menstrual changes person been reported aft assorted antithetic kinds of covid-19 vaccine, Male suggests that, if determination is simply a link, it is apt to beryllium caused by the body’s immune effect to vaccination, alternatively than a absorption to a circumstantial vaccine component. Male notes that a survey of menstruating women recovered that a 4th of those who caught covid-19 experienced menstrual disruption, and that vaccination against the quality papillomavirus has been linked to menstrual changes.

According to Male, astir radical who study changes to their periods aft vaccination find that they instrumentality to mean the pursuing cycle. There is nary grounds that covid-19 vaccination reduces fertility. However, she argues that it is important to probe the effects of the vaccines connected menstruation. “Vaccine hesitancy among young women is mostly driven by mendacious claims that covid-19 vaccines could harm their chances of aboriginal pregnancy,” she writes. “Failing to thoroughly analyse reports of menstrual changes aft vaccination is apt to substance these fears.”

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15 September

Rapid summation successful covid-19 hospitalisations successful England predicted for October

Modellers connected the UK government’s SAGE committee of technological advisers person calculated that betwixt 2000 and 7000 radical a time could beryllium hospitalised with covid-19 successful England successful October unless immoderate restrictions are introduced to curb corruption rates.

Around 1000 radical a time are presently being admitted to UK hospitals with covid-19. At the tallness of past winter’s peak, 4500 radical were hospitalised crossed the UK daily. This winter, hospitals are apt to beryllium nether adjacent much strain, arsenic they grip long-covid cases and seasonal flu.

According to SAGE, “it is highly apt that a important alteration successful location moving successful the adjacent fewer months would effect successful a accelerated summation successful infirmary admissions. If enacted aboriginal enough, a comparatively airy acceptable of measures could beryllium capable to curb sustained growth.”

These measures would see much wide testing, a instrumentality to encouraging moving from home, accrued mask-wearing, and requiring fully-vaccinated radical who’ve had interaction with a affirmative lawsuit to self-isolate. However, to beryllium effectual successful preventing a ample question of infections, these measures would request to beryllium implemented earlier corruption rates statesman to rapidly accelerate.

The wellness curate Sajid Javid yesterday said the government’s “plan A” for autumn and wintertime is to grow vaccination to 12-to-15-year-olds and to give booster jabs to the clinically susceptible and radical implicit the property of 50. The premier curate Boris Johnson said yesterday that mandatory masks and proposal to enactment from location are the government’s “plan B”.

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The World Health Organization yesterday issued an urgent call for vaccine equity worldwide, with a peculiar accent connected the request for vaccination successful Africa. WHO manager wide Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was joined by assorted planetary wellness leaders successful calling for amended practice successful vaccine proviso and access.

1 successful 500 US residents person died of covid-19 since the pandemic started, reports CNN.

France’s vaccination mandate for healthcare workers comes into effect today.

The authorities of New South Wales successful Australia is readying to marque it illegal to be hospitality venues without being fully-vaccinated.

10 September

Two covid-19 vaccines approved successful UK for imaginable usage arsenic booster shots

The Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccines person been approved as safe and effectual for usage arsenic a 3rd shot by UK regulator the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). But a general booster campaign has not yet been recommended by the assemblage that advises the UK authorities connected who should person vaccines, the Joint Committee connected Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). “This is an important regulatory alteration arsenic it gives further options for the vaccination programme. It volition present beryllium for the JVCI to counsel connected whether booster jabs volition beryllium given,” June Raine of the MHRA said successful a statement.

The JCVI met yesterday to sermon results from a ample UK proceedings called COV-Boost, comparing the results of giving 7 antithetic vaccines arsenic booster doses. So far, the JCVI has lone advised 3rd shots for radical who are severely immunocompromised – which it says are not boosters but top-ups, arsenic this radical whitethorn not person had beardown immune responses to the archetypal 2 jabs.

Meanwhile, Sarah Gilbert astatine the University of Oxford, who helped make the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, has joined those saying a wide booster programme is not yet needed successful the UK, and that supplies should beryllium directed to low-income countries. She told The Telegraph that grounds suggests immunity is “lasting well”.

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The US volition introduce strict caller rules connected vaccines that volition impact 100 cardinal moving people, astir two-thirds of the country’s labour force. Yesterday President Joe Biden said firms with much than 100 employees volition person to guarantee their unit are either afloat vaccinated oregon instrumentality play covid-19 tests. And vaccination volition beryllium mandatory for national authorities workers, contractors for the national authorities and healthcare unit successful settings that person national reimbursement. “The bottommost line: we’re going to support vaccinated workers from unvaccinated co-workers,” Biden said astatine a property conference. Meanwhile Scotland is acceptable to present vaccine passports for nightclubs and sports events from 1 October.

A elemental humor trial could place who is astir astatine hazard from processing terrible covid-19 early successful the people of infection. The trial measures levels of antibodies against substances released by dying humor cells.

Major airlines are giving retired inaccurate accusation astir covid-19 investigating requirements to their passengers, according to an probe by Which? In 7 of 15 calls from investigators posing arsenic customers, agents gave incorrect answers, including immoderate that would person seen passengers turned distant astatine the airport.

An auto-immune information called Guillain-Barré syndrome has been added to the database of precise uncommon side-effects from the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine by the European Medicines Agency. The EMA says 833 imaginable cases person been recorded retired of 592 cardinal doses given.

9 September

Platelets could beryllium to blasted for deadly covid-19 humor clots

Tiny particles successful the humor that beforehand clotting could beryllium cardinal to explaining wherefore covid-19 tin beryllium deadly. The uncovering suggests that we whitethorn beryllium capable to usage existing medicines to damp down platelet-triggered clotting successful covid-19 patients.

People with terrible covid-19 often person complications from excessive humor clotting, specified arsenic bosom attacks, strokes and kidney damage. Tessa Barrett astatine NYU Langone Health successful New York and colleagues recovered that platelets from 291 infirmary patients with covid-19 had higher levels of 2 molecules progressive successful clotting compared with platelets from uninfected people. Levels were particularly precocious successful those who had to enactment longer successful hospital, recovered the study, published in Science Advances yesterday.

The squad recovered that, erstwhile they grew steadfast cells from humor vas walls successful a crockery and exposed them to fluid from platelets that had encountered the pandemic coronavirus, they made much clotting molecules than erstwhile platelets were exposed to a coronavirus that causes the communal cold. And the gaps betwixt the cells became wider, which could beryllium wherefore humor vessels go much “leaky” successful terrible covid-19, causing fluid to physique up successful the lungs. “Our findings whitethorn explicate successful ample portion what makes covid-19 truthful overmuch much deadly than its relatives that origin the communal cold,” Barrett said successful a statement.

Stroke drugs that artifact platelet-induced clotting are presently being trialled arsenic a attraction for covid-19.

Other coronavirus news

The UK is considering making covid-19 and flu jabs compulsory for frontline NHS unit and societal attraction workers. The authorities has contiguous launched a six-week consultation connected making afloat vaccination against the 2 viruses a information of employment, unless radical are medically exempt. About 9 successful 10 NHS unit person had 2 covid-19 doses truthful far, but that ranges from 78 to 94 per cent betwixt hospitals. The flu vaccination complaint among wellness work workers was 76 per cent past year.

Speculation continues connected whether the UK volition commencement offering 3rd coronavirus vaccine doses to the wider population, with the i paper reporting contiguous that a booster programme for older property groups could statesman successful the next 2 weeks. Yesterday the World Health Organization said determination should be no wide booster campaigns until astatine slightest the extremity of the twelvemonth to fto low-income countries springiness 40 per cent of their populations their archetypal 2 doses. Here’s what we cognize truthful acold astir the pros and cons of boosting.

There is nary grounds of airborne transmission of covid-19 successful nationalist toilets, according to a systematic reappraisal published in Science of Total Environment. The hazard is precise low, astir apt due to the fact that radical walk truthful small clip successful determination and seldom interact with others, says Sotiris Vardoulakis astatine the Australian National University successful Canberra.

UK researchers are looking for volunteers to assistance place covid-19 infections from the sound of people’s code and coughing. You request to beryllium prepared to upload dependable recordings of yourself wrong 3 days of taking a lateral travel oregon PCR trial for covid-19.

8 September

Latest figures amusement 4 successful 5 of radical 16 and implicit person present had 2 covid-19 vaccine doses

Four successful 5 UK radical aged 16 and implicit person had some covid-19 vaccine doses, according to government figures. They besides amusement much than fractional of each teenagers aged 16 oregon 17 person had their archetypal jab, conscionable implicit 4 weeks since they were offered vaccination, suggesting debased vaccine hesitancy among teenagers. Health and societal attraction curate Sajid Javid called the figures “a phenomenal achievement”.

This week the UK authorities launched a run to further beforehand vaccine take-up among young people, involving TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, MTV and vigor stations. It volition person 2 strands. One targets teenagers with the message: “Don’t miss retired connected half-term plans, bully times, and the covid jab.” The different is aimed astatine parents, reassuring them that the vaccine is harmless and protects families.

The determination comes arsenic the latest figures from the UK’s Office for National Statistics amusement a continuing gradual summation successful the numbers of deaths registered successful England and Wales. In that week ending 27 August, the fig of registered deaths was 13 per cent higher than the mean for the past 5 years. Covid-19 was mentioned successful the registration paperwork of 6.5 per cent of each deaths.

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The caput of pharmaceutical steadfast AstraZeneca says a 3rd vaccine dose whitethorn not beryllium needed for everyone. Writing in The Telegraph, main enforcement Pascal Soriot and a workfellow said: “A 3rd dose for each whitethorn beryllium needed, but it whitethorn not. Mobilising the NHS for a boosting programme that is not needed would perchance adhd unnecessary load connected the NHS implicit the agelong wintertime months.” The UK’s Joint Committee connected Vaccination and Immunisation is apt to determine connected a booster programme this week.

The UK authorities has denied reports successful the i paper connected Monday that it is readying a two-week “firebreak” lockdown astir the schoolhouse October half-term holiday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesperson said determination were contingency plans for a scope of scenarios, but a firebreak would beryllium a last resort.

Newly diagnosed sexually transmitted infections (STIs) successful England fell by a 3rd successful 2020 compared with the twelvemonth before. The driblet is due to the fact that radical met up little during lockdowns and less radical went to clinics to get tested, says Public Health England.

7 September

Lab tests suggest the delta variant escapes immune responses much easy than alpha

The delta variant of the coronavirus is little delicate than different communal variants to antibodies successful the humor of radical who person antecedently been infected oregon vaccinated, researchers person found. The study, published successful Nature, besides recovered that the delta variant is much businesslike astatine replicating and amended astatine breaking into cells from the respiratory tract. These traits whitethorn relationship for wherefore this variant has spread crossed the satellite rapidly since it was archetypal identified successful India successful precocious 2020, becoming the ascendant signifier of the microorganism worldwide.

In laboratory experiments, Petra Mlchova astatine the University of Cambridge and her colleagues compared the delta variant with alpha, which was the ascendant signifier successful the UK earlier being overtaken by delta successful May. Delta was 5.7 times little delicate to serum from the humor of radical who’d antecedently had covid-19 and 8 times little delicate to serum from radical who had been vaccinated.

Antibodies are proteins produced arsenic portion of the body’s immune effect to infection. They enactment by recognising and binding to parts of invading viruses and microbes, specified arsenic the spike macromolecule connected the aboveground of the coronavirus. Previous probe has recovered that the delta variant doubles the hazard of hospitalisation for unvaccinated radical compared with the alpha variant, and that vaccines person a somewhat lower effectiveness against the delta variant – though the extortion conferred by receiving 2 shots of the vaccine is inactive regarded arsenic good.

The latest survey besides looked astatine however the microorganism behaves successful “mini-organs” grown up successful the laboratory from cells taken from people’s airways. Because the delta microorganism particles person much spikes connected their surface, they were amended capable to interruption into cells and replicate wrong them.

Infection of vaccinated healthcare workers with the delta variant is simply a important problem, said survey co-author Anurag Agrawal from the CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology successful Delhi, India. “We urgently request to see ways of boosting vaccine responses against variants among healthcare workers. [The study] besides suggests corruption power measures volition request to proceed successful the post-vaccine era,” helium said successful a property release.

Other coronavirus news

The UK authorities has drawn up plans for a “firebreak” lockdown successful October successful lawsuit hospitalisations stay high, according to the i newspaper. A subordinate of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) told the insubstantial that the authorities could beryllium forced to reintroduce restrictions if the National Health Service is astatine hazard of being overwhelmed. “This is fundamentally the precautionary interruption that Sage suggested past year,” the unnamed SAGE subordinate said. “It would beryllium sensible to person contingency plans, and if a lockdown is required, to clip it truthful that it has minimal economical and societal impact.” School half-term holidays, which autumn astatine the extremity of October, could beryllium extended from 1 to 2 weeks to assistance trim transmission, the paper reported.

The NHS will beryllium fixed an other £5.4 billion implicit the adjacent six months to proceed the effect to coronavirus and tackle the attraction backlog caused by the pandemic. The Department of Health and Social Care said £1 cardinal of this backing volition beryllium specifically utilized to wide the waiting lists faced by patients owed to covid-19, portion £2.8 cardinal volition beryllium allocated for costs specified arsenic amended corruption power to proceed to support against the virus. A further £478 cardinal volition spell towards discharging patients from hospitals to escaped up beds.

6 September

UK whitethorn propulsion up with vaccinating 12-15 property radical pending aesculapian officers’ review

Sending children backmost to schools with inadequate mitigations for covid-19 successful spot volition pb to wide infections and disruptions to learning, a radical of scientists person warned. In an unfastened missive to UK acquisition caput Gavin Williamson published successful the British Medical Journal connected Friday, scientists and educators said allowing wide corruption of children is “reckless” and recommended 9 measures to support children and wider nine from a 4th wave. The measures included vaccinating each 12-to-15-year-olds, investing successful ventilation successful schools, providing distant learning options, and intelligence wellness enactment for students and staff.

The missive highlighted that the prevalence of corruption is present 26 times higher than astatine the aforesaid clip past year, and the UK is experiencing 40 to 50 hospitalisations of under-18s each day. “There has been nary program for robust mitigation measures successful schools to trim the hazard for children from corruption and the consequences thereof, including long covid, hospitalisations, unit information and acquisition disruption,” the authors wrote.

On Friday, the Joint Committee connected Vaccination and Immunisation decided against extending the vaccination programme to children aged 12 to 15 who bash not person underlying conditions oregon susceptible household members, saying that arsenic the coronavirus presents lone a precise debased hazard to steadfast children, the marginal payment of vaccination to their ain wellness is not large capable to enactment wide vaccination from a purely wellness perspective.

However, the authorities has asked the UK’s main aesculapian officers to reappraisal the wider benefits of vaccinating the property group, specified arsenic minimising schoolhouse absences. The result is expected wrong days and ministers person indicated they are keen to authorise a wider rollout.

The UK Department of Health and Social Care has said parents of steadfast 12-to-15-year-olds volition beryllium asked for consent if coronavirus jabs are approved for their children, arsenic with different immunisation programmes. But vaccines curate Nadhim Zahawi told Times Radio that children successful this property radical could override their parents’ wishes “if they’re deemed to beryllium competent to marque that decision, with each the accusation available”.

Several countries, including the US, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands are already vaccinating children aged 12 and over.

Other coronavirus news

Ireland volition proceed with a large easing of covid-19 restrictions today, with unrecorded euphony returning and larger crowds allowed astatine indoor venues. The Irish authorities confirmed past week that it would beryllium embarking connected a phased easing of covid-19 restrictions, which volition yet spot the immense bulk of nationalist wellness regulations removed by the extremity of October. The numbers permitted to be outdoor sports events increases from today, portion restrictions connected indoor venues volition besides beryllium eased, with larger crowds permitted.

Vietnam has extended covid-19 restrictions successful the capital, Hanoi, for a further 2 weeks successful an effort to incorporate the delta variant. The metropolis has been divided into red, orangish and greenish zones based connected corruption rates, and barricades person been enactment successful spot to abstracted reddish zones from different areas. Authorities are readying to trial up to 1.5 cardinal radical for the microorganism successful higher-risk areas, Reuters reports.

3 September

The UK volition nonstop 4 cardinal doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to Australia arsenic portion of an speech deal, with Australia returning the aforesaid measurement earlier the extremity of the year.

The statement volition let the UK to amended align timings of vaccine proviso with aboriginal need, including for immoderate booster programme oregon hold of the rollout to younger teenagers, the UK Department of Health and Social Care said.

Australian premier curate Scott Morrison said the statement would velocity up the country’s efforts to travel retired of lockdown. “This volition alteration america to bring guardant importantly the accidental for Australia to unfastened up again,” he told reporters.

More than fractional the country’s population, including the cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, are nether stay-at-home orders. Only 36 per cent of radical implicit 16 are afloat vaccinated.

New South Wales recorded 1431 caller cases and 12 deaths today, the state’s highest regular fig of deaths truthful far. State premier Gladys Berejiklian said infections are expected to peak successful the adjacent fortnight.

Other coronavirus news

Around 1 successful 4 young adults successful the UK person inactive not received a archetypal dose of covid-19 vaccine, figures show. The proportionality of 18 to 29-year-olds who are unvaccinated is 23.5 per cent successful Wales, 25.6 per cent successful Scotland, 27.7 per cent successful England and 29.2 per cent successful Northern Ireland, according to the wellness agencies of the 4 nations. Adults implicit 18 person been capable to get their archetypal dose crossed the UK since the extremity of June. New figures besides showed that astir two-thirds of 16 and 17-year-olds successful Wales person had a archetypal dose of a coronavirus vaccine, portion fractional of this property radical successful England and Scotland and 40 per cent successful Northern Ireland person had a vaccine.

The European Commission has reached an agreement with AstraZeneca connected the transportation of covid-19 vaccines, bringing an extremity to an acrimonious ineligible dispute. Under the settlement, the drugmaker volition person until the extremity of the archetypal 4th of 2022 to present the remaining 200 cardinal doses it has committed to the European Union, having missed its archetypal deadline astatine the extremity of June.

2 September

People with weakened immune systems offered 3rd vaccine dose

Around fractional a cardinal radical successful the UK who person severely weakened immune systems volition beryllium offered a 3rd dose of a coronavirus vaccine. The proposal from the Joint Committee connected Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) volition use to radical implicit the property of 12 with conditions specified arsenic leukaemia, precocious HIV and caller organ transplants. These radical whitethorn not person been capable to equine a afloat immune effect to vaccination, the advisers said, meaning they could beryllium little protected than the wider population.

The JCVI is inactive deliberating connected the imaginable benefits of booster vaccines for the remainder of the colonisation and is awaiting further grounds to pass its decision. Anthony Harden, the lawman president of the JCVI, told Today connected BBC Radio 4: “I deliberation it’s highly apt that determination volition beryllium a booster programme. It’s conscionable a question of however we framework it. This volition beryllium decided implicit the adjacent fewer weeks.”

The JCVI is besides considering whether to grow the vaccine programme to astir 12- to 15-year-olds. “There’s many, galore arguments for and against giving vaccines to 12 to 15-year-olds, and we’re deliberating connected what we deliberation arsenic a committee is champion for children,” Harnden said.

Other coronavirus news

Having 2 doses of coronavirus vaccine astir halves the likelihood of infected adults processing long covid, a caller study has found. Researchers astatine King’s College London analysed information from much than 2 cardinal radical logging their symptoms, tests and vaccine presumption connected the UK Zoe Covid Symptom Study app. The results suggest radical who are double-jabbed are 73 per cent little apt to beryllium admitted to infirmary and 31 per cent little apt to make terrible symptoms.

Scotland plans to present vaccine passports for nightclubs and immoderate euphony festivals and shot matches to curb coronavirus infections. First curate Nicola Sturgeon said the determination – which is yet to beryllium confirmed successful a Holyrood ballot adjacent week – is “appropriate” arsenic cases proceed to surge. The strategy volition use to clubs arsenic good arsenic unseated indoor unrecorded events with much than 500 radical successful the audience. It volition besides use to unseated outdoor events with much than 4000 successful the audience, and astatine immoderate lawsuit with much than 10,000 successful attendance. From Friday, radical successful Scotland volition beryllium capable to download a QR codification showing their vaccination status. Children and radical with definite aesculapian conditions who cannot beryllium vaccinated volition beryllium exempt from the scheme, Sturgeon said.

1 September

Mu variant identified successful Colombia whitethorn beryllium much resistant to vaccines

A caller coronavirus variant, named mu, has been designated a variant of involvement by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Mu, oregon B.1.621, was archetypal identified successful Colombia and cases person been recorded successful South America and Europe. The WHO’s weekly bulletin connected the pandemic said the variant has mutations indicating “potential properties of immune escape”, meaning current vaccines would beryllium little effectual against it, but that much studies would beryllium needed to analyse this further.

“Since its archetypal recognition successful Colombia successful January 2021, determination person been a fewer sporadic reports of cases of the mu variant and immoderate larger outbreaks person been reported from different countries successful South America and successful Europe,” the bulletin said. “Although the planetary prevalence of the mu variant among sequenced cases has declined and is presently beneath 0.1 per cent, the prevalence successful Colombia (39 per cent) and Ecuador (13 per cent) has consistently increased.”

There are presently 4 coronavirus variants of concern, arsenic deemed by the WHO, with the alpha variant seen successful 193 countries, beta successful 141, gamma successful 91 and delta successful 170 countries, portion mu is the 5th variant of interest.

Other coronavirus news

One successful 7 children and young radical infected with the coronavirus whitethorn inactive person symptoms 15 weeks later, according to preliminary findings from the world’s largest survey connected agelong covid successful children. Researchers surveyed 3065 radical successful England aged 11 to 17 who tested affirmative for the microorganism betwixt January and March and a matched power radical who tested negative. Unusual tiredness and headaches were the astir communal persistent complaints.

The UK volition property connected with plans to present vaccine passports for nightclubs from the extremity of September, Downing Street has confirmed. The proposals person antecedently been met with disapproval from politicians connected some sides arsenic good arsenic leaders successful the nighttime clip hospitality industry. The strategy would spot members of the nationalist required to amusement impervious of their vaccine presumption to summation introduction to nightclubs and immoderate different settings.

Ireland has announced plans to extremity astir each coronavirus restrictions connected 22 October. Vaccine certificates volition nary longer beryllium required to participate bars and restaurants and determination volition beryllium nary limits connected radical attending indoor oregon outdoor events. Some restrictions volition beryllium relaxed earlier, with cinemas and theatres capable to unfastened astatine 60 per cent capableness connected 6 September and workers opening to instrumentality to workplaces connected 20 September.

31 August

Covid-19 surge successful Scotland “a cautionary tale” arsenic schools reopen successful England

Students are being encouraged to instrumentality twice-weekly lateral travel tests to assistance forestall a surge successful covid-19 transmission arsenic the caller schoolhouse twelvemonth begins crossed the UK.

In England and Wales, rules concerning look masks, societal distancing and “bubbles” person been relaxed, though immoderate schools are choosing to support other precautions successful place.

The UK’s acquisition secretary, Gavin Williamson, says it is not conscionable a substance for schools. “Parents excessively person a work to marque definite that their children are tested regularly,” helium wrote successful a Daily Mail article.

Scotland has seen a sharp emergence successful covid-19 infections with cases having doubled each week since 9 August, erstwhile astir restrictions were eased. The surge is thought to beryllium partially fuelled by children returning to schoolhouse much than 2 weeks ago. On Sunday, 7113 cases were reported successful Scotland, the highest regular fig ever.

“Scotland is proving to beryllium a cautionary communicative of what happens erstwhile restrictions are dropped & past schools reopened without capable mitigations erstwhile R is already supra 1 (which is wherever we are successful England),” Deepti Gurdasani, an epidemiologist astatine Queen Mary University of London, wrote connected Twitter. “We tin expect worse successful England successful the adjacent future.”

The Welsh authorities has announced it volition wage for 30,000 c dioxide sensors and 1800 ozone disinfecting machines to amended information successful schools, colleges and universities.

Other coronavirus news

A caller variant of the coronavirus known arsenic C.1.2 has present dispersed to astir provinces successful South Africa and 7 different countries successful Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania. The variant is inactive occurring astatine a overmuch little complaint than the delta variant successful South Africa, researchers say. Scientists person not yet determined however the variant compares with others and it has not been listed arsenic a variant of involvement oregon interest by the World Health Organization. However, researchers accidental it contains respective mutations that person been linked to accrued transmissibility and little sensitivity to antibodies.

A caller vaccine developed by South Korean steadfast SK Bioscience has begun a late-stage objective proceedings involving 4000 volunteers worldwide. The vaccine is being combined with an adjuvant – a cause that boosts the immune effect – produced by GlaxoSmithKline, and volition beryllium compared with AstraZeneca’s vaccine successful the trial.

27 August

Study compares hazard of humor clotting problems aft covid-19 corruption and vaccination

The hazard of humor clotting problems is overmuch higher aft covid-19 corruption than aft receiving a covid-19 vaccine, according to probe from the University of Oxford.

The study, published successful the British Medical Journal, looked astatine much than 29 cardinal radical aged 16 oregon older who had a archetypal dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca oregon Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine successful England betwixt December 2020 and April 2021. It focused connected the risks of humor clots and thrombocytopenia, a information involving debased levels of platelets – cells that assistance the humor clot.

Their findings suggest the hazard of thrombocytopenia successful idiosyncratic with the coronavirus is astir 9 times higher than successful idiosyncratic who has had 1 dose of the Oxford jab. They estimated that successful 10 cardinal radical vaccinated with this jab, determination would beryllium 107 further cases of thrombocytopenia successful the 28 days post-vaccination, compared with 934 successful vaccinated radical infected with the virus.

The investigation recovered an relation betwixt vaccination with the Pfizer jab and an accrued hazard of stroke, but the hazard was much than 10 times greater aft corruption with the virus. There were an estimated 143 other cases of ischaemic changeable per 10 cardinal radical wrong 28 days of the Pfizer vaccine, compared with 1699 cases wrong 28 days of a affirmative covid-19 test.

For cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, a benignant of humor clot successful the brain, arsenic good arsenic different types of humor clot, the risks were besides overmuch higher aft covid-19 than aft either jab.

Other coronavirus news

Around fractional of each radical hospitalised with covid-19 inactive person astatine slightest 1 persistent grounds aft 1 year, according to a survey of 1276 patients from Wuhan, China. Around a 3rd of participants experienced shortness of enactment aft 1 year. Fatigue and musculus weakness affected astir fractional of participants aft 6 months, but fell to 1 successful 5 aft 12 months.

Seven destinations have been added to the UK’s greenish database for travel, meaning radical arriving from those places volition not person to quarantine. The Azores, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania and Switzerland volition beryllium redesignated from 30 August. Thailand and Montenegro volition beryllium moved to the reddish list, meaning returning UK residents indispensable quarantine successful a edifice for 11 nights connected arrival.

Lockdown volition beryllium relaxed successful astir of New Zealand from 1 September, premier curate Jacinda Ardern has announced, but stringent restrictions volition stay successful Auckland and Northland. The changes successful astir of the state mean businesses tin run for online orders and contactless services, but nationalist venues stay closed. Nearly 350 radical person been infected successful the latest outbreak. “We whitethorn beryllium seeing the opening of a plateau of cases, but caution is inactive required,” Ardern said.

26 August

English wellness providers readying for imaginable vaccine rollout arsenic pupils instrumentality to schools

The National Health Service successful England is preparing for the imaginable rollout of vaccines to 12 to 15-year-olds from 6 September, according to media reports. NHS trusts are being told they indispensable person plans acceptable by 4pm connected Friday, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The Department of Health has said nary decisions person yet been made to widen the vaccine programme to younger people, but said they “continue to program for a scope of scenarios”. So far, vaccines person been offered to radical aged 16 and supra and children aged 12 to 15 with a high-risk information oregon a susceptible household member. The Joint Committee connected Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is inactive deliberating connected broadening the rollout further. Children aged 12 and implicit are already being vaccinated successful the US, Canada, France and the Netherlands.

“Either you’re going to beryllium exposed to covid without immoderate extortion oregon you tin beryllium exposed and person a vaccine. And we should beryllium offering teens that vaccine truthful they person that extortion earlier going backmost into schools,” Devi Sridhar astatine the University of Edinburgh told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

While younger radical are much apt to acquisition myocarditis, a uncommon bosom broadside effect, aft receiving immoderate of the covid-19 vaccines, a survey successful the US released earlier this period recovered that myocarditis is much communal aft coronavirus corruption than vaccination.

Other coronavirus news

Japan has suspended the use of 1.63 cardinal doses of Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine aft reports that immoderate vials had been contaminated with “particulate matter”. Japan and Moderna accidental the determination is simply a precaution and that nary information oregon efficacy issues person been identified. According to a wellness ministry official, Takeda, the pharmaceutical institution that is distributing the Moderna shots successful Japan, archetypal learned of the contented connected 16 August, but did not notify the authorities until 25 August, due to the fact that it needed clip to find retired which vials were affected and wherever they had been distributed.

Trials person shown that a booster changeable of Johnson & Johnson’s covid-19 vaccine produces a big summation successful antibody levels, the institution has announced. The J&J vaccine has been administered arsenic a azygous dose since it was approved for exigency usage successful the US successful February. Trial volunteers who received a 2nd dose six to 8 months aft the archetypal saw antibody levels emergence 9 times higher than 28 days aft the archetypal shot, the institution said.

Latest connected coronavirus from New Scientist

Origin of the virus: Scientists tasked by the World Health Organization to observe however the microorganism emerged are calling for a 2nd signifier of root studies to commencement urgently.

Covid passes: How are they used, are they ethical and bash they work?Previous updates

25 August

More UK information suggest efficacy of 2 vaccines wanes implicit time

The extortion provided by 2 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines starts to wane wrong six months, caller probe suggests. The Pfizer jab was 88 per cent effectual astatine preventing covid-19 corruption a period aft the 2nd dose, but aft 5 to six months the extortion decreased to 74 per cent, according to investigation from the Zoe Covid survey involving much than 1.2 cardinal participants successful the UK. With the AstraZeneca vaccine, extortion dropped from 77 per cent 1 period aft the 2nd dose to 67 per cent aft 4 to 5 months. “In my opinion, a tenable worst-case script could spot extortion beneath 50 per cent for the aged and healthcare workers by winter,” said Tim Spector, pb idiosyncratic connected the Zoe Covid Study.

The study’s findings are successful enactment with different recent analysis, which recovered that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine wanes successful effectiveness by astir a 5th each period aft the 2nd dose, and that some vaccines are little effectual successful older property groups.

Another study, published arsenic a preprint this week by The Lancet, recovered that 2 successful 5 radical who person impaired immune systems person a “low oregon undetectable” antibody effect aft being treble vaccinated. The researchers from the Universities of Glasgow and Birmingham said their results enactment giving a 3rd dose of coronavirus vaccine to radical who had nary oregon little level antibody responses.

More coronavirus news

A US quality study ordered by president Joe Biden has been incapable to find whether the SARS-CoV2 microorganism arose people oregon escaped from a lab, according to The Washington Post. Intelligence agencies volition question to marque parts of the study nationalist wrong days, officials acquainted with the substance told the newspaper.

The premier curate of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, has written to the caput of the World Health Organization to impulse its vaccine sharing programme COVAX to prioritise Vietnam “in the fastest mode and with the largest measurement possible.” After successfully containing the microorganism for astir of past year, the state is present facing a situation driven by the delta variant. Only 2 per cent of its colonisation is afloat vaccinated. In the past 2 days, China and the US person announced they volition donate 2 cardinal and 1 cardinal vaccine doses to Vietnam, respectively.

24 August

Thousands of radical trial affirmative aft attending euphony and surfing festival

Almost 5000 coronavirus cases are suspected to beryllium linked to Boardmasters, a euphony and surfing festival that took spot earlier this period successful Cornwall, UK. Health officials said 4700 radical who tested affirmative for the microorganism confirmed they had attended the festival oregon had connections to it. The cases are dispersed crossed the state but astir 800 are surviving successful Cornwall, a Cornwall Council authoritative said.

Boardmasters was held betwixt 11 and 15 August successful the Newquay area. The covid-19 argumentation connected its website said each ticket-holders aged 11 and implicit would beryllium asked to show their covid-19 presumption done the NHS Covid Pass app earlier entering. This meant attendees had to supply impervious of a antagonistic lateral travel trial taken wrong 24 hours of accomplishment astatine the festival gates, impervious of being vaccinated with some doses (with the 2nd received astatine slightest 14 days earlier the festival), oregon impervious of a anterior corruption confirmed by a PCR trial astatine slightest 10 days and up to 180 days earlier.

People who camped astatine the festival had to instrumentality a 2nd lateral travel trial during the lawsuit connected 13 August and log their results successful the NHS Covid Pass app. Face masks were not compulsory but were encouraged.

Other coronavirus news

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has go the archetypal covid-19 jab to get afloat approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccine has been successful usage since December 2020, erstwhile the FDA granted it exigency usage authorisation for radical aged 16 and over. It has already been administered to much than 204 cardinal radical successful the US. President Joe Biden said helium hoped the determination would promote those who person not been vaccinated to travel guardant for their shots. Several large employers, including the Pentagon, responded by announcing caller requirements for their workers to beryllium vaccinated.

The fig of patients with covid-19 successful infirmary successful England has deed 6000 for the archetypal clip successful much than 5 months. The figure, which is simply a snapshot of patients arsenic of 8am connected 23 August, is up 11 per cent connected the erstwhile week. Patient levels person not been this precocious since 14 March, according to information published by NHS England. An mean of 100 deaths per day from covid-19 person been recorded successful the UK implicit the past week, different fig past seen successful March.

23 August

Antibody investigating programme to cod information connected immune responses and vaccine effectiveness

The UK is launching an antibody investigating programme for radical who person contracted the coronavirus. The programme, which plans to connection tests to thousands of adults per day, aims to amended our knowing of however overmuch extortion antibodies springiness america pursuing covid-19 corruption and vaccination.

Antibodies are proteins produced by the assemblage to support against viruses and different invading microbes. Antibody testing tin springiness an denotation of however beardown someone’s immune effect is, but they bash not definitively amusement whether idiosyncratic is protected against infection.

From Tuesday, anyone implicit 18 from immoderate of the 4 UK nations tin opt successful to the programme erstwhile taking a PCR test. Of those who spell connected to trial affirmative for coronavirus, up to 8000 volition beryllium sent 2 digit prick antibody tests to implicit astatine location and nonstop backmost for analysis. The archetypal indispensable beryllium taken arsenic soon arsenic imaginable aft the affirmative result, and the 2nd indispensable beryllium taken 28 days later.

The UK Health Security Agency, which is moving the programme, volition usage the results to show levels of antibodies successful affirmative cases crossed the UK. The Department of Health and Social Care says it volition beryllium the archetypal clip antibody tests person been made disposable to the wide public, and the strategy could besides supply insights into whether immoderate radical bash not make an immune response. The information volition beryllium utilized to pass the government’s ongoing attack to the pandemic and springiness further penetration into the effectiveness of vaccines against caller variants.

Other coronavirus news

UK wellness curate Sajid Javid has promised to ace down connected “cowboy” behaviour by companies who instrumentality vantage of holidaymakers with misleading prices for coronavirus investigating kits. Javid highlighted 82 backstage question investigating firms, who marque up astir 18 per cent of those connected the authorities website, who volition beryllium issued with a two-strike warning and could beryllium struck disconnected the authoritative gov.uk list. A caller Department of Health and Social Care reappraisal discovered they were displaying little prices connected the gov.uk tract than radical would person to wage successful world erstwhile they get to the checkout.

Taiwan has begun rolling retired a homegrown vaccine with objective trials yet to beryllium completed and nary information disposable connected the vaccine’s efficacy. Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen was among the archetypal to person the vaccine developed by Medigen. The authorities has ordered an archetypal 5 cardinal doses. So acold astir 40 per cent of Taiwan’s colonisation has received astatine slightest 1 dose of either Pfizer oregon Moderna vaccines.

New Zealand has extended its lockdown, with restrictions acceptable to stay crossed the state until Friday and successful Auckland until astatine slightest 31 August. Thirty-five caller cases were recorded today, bringing the fig of existent infections to 107.

20 August

Ronapreve, the archetypal cause designed specifically to tackle covid-19, gets approval

The UK has approved the archetypal attraction to usage artificial antibodies to forestall and combat the coronavirus. According to The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the cause whitethorn beryllium utilized to forestall covid-19 infection, dainty acute symptoms of the illness and trim the likelihood of being admitted to infirmary owed to the virus. Sajid Javid, UK Health Secretary, said that helium hoped it would beryllium rolled retired to patients soon.

Trials of the drug, called Ronapreve, took spot earlier wide vaccination and earlier the emergence of microorganism variants. The drug, antecedently known arsenic REGN-Cov2, was fixed to erstwhile US president Donald Trump erstwhile helium was admitted to infirmary with covid-19 past year.

Ronapreve, developed by pharmaceutical firms Regeneron and Roche, is fixed either by injection oregon infusion and acts astatine the lining of the respiratory system, wherever it binds tightly to the microorganism and prevents it from gaining entree to the cells, the MHRA said. It consists of monoclonal antibodies, proteins produced successful the laboratory that mimic antibodies recovered successful the immune system.

Other coronavirus news

Another antibody cause developed by AstraZeneca reduced the hazard of processing symptomatic covid-19 by 77 per cent successful objective trials, the institution has announced.

Javid has said helium is assured a coronavirus booster run tin commencement adjacent period crossed the UK, nevertheless the authorities is waiting connected last proposal from the Joint Committee connected Vaccination and Immunisation, earlier giving further details. The JCVI met connected Thursday and had been expected to sermon the imaginable for boosters for the astir vulnerable. But officials told the PA quality bureau that boosters had not been discussed astatine the meeting, though they would not corroborate what was spoken about.

Lockdown has been extended successful Sydney, Australia, until the extremity of September and a nightly curfew volition beryllium introduced from 23 August successful the 12 worst-affected assembly areas, covering 2 cardinal residents.

Latest connected coronavirus from New Scientist

View of the virus: Researchers person managed to seizure 3D images of quality airway cells infected by SARS-CoV-2 utilizing an bonzer microscopic technique.

19 August

Third doses of covid-19 vaccines volition beryllium rolled retired to combat delta variant surge successful US

The US volition commencement making booster vaccines disposable connected 20 September, health officials person announced. The shots volition beryllium offered to radical who had their 2nd dose 8 months earlier, initially focusing connected healthcare workers, nursing location residents and older people, who were among the archetypal to beryllium vaccinated.

“It’s the champion mode to support ourselves from caller variants that whitethorn arise,” president Joe Biden told reporters astatine the White House connected Wednesday. “It volition marque you safer and for longer. It volition assistance extremity this pandemic faster.”

However, the World Health Organization has urged affluent countries and vaccine manufacturers to prioritise distributing vaccines to low- and middle-income countries earlier pushing up with 3rd doses astatine home.

Biden besides announced that his medication would marque vaccination of employees a information for nursing homes to person Medicare and Medicaid funding.

Other coronavirus news

The UK’s Joint Committee connected Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is gathering contiguous to sermon a imaginable booster run and which radical mightiness “really need” a 3rd dose of a coronavirus vaccine, a authorities technological advisor said.

Adam Finn, a subordinate of the JCVI, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I deliberation there’s capable evidence, and I deliberation we’ll beryllium imminently deciding, that determination volition beryllium immoderate radical who volition request a 3rd dose, peculiarly radical who we cognize are precise improbable to beryllium good protected by those archetypal 2 doses. But I deliberation we bash request much grounds earlier we tin marque a steadfast determination connected a overmuch broader booster programme.”

Finn besides told BBC Breakfast: “I deliberation it’s little wide truly whether a 3rd dose successful a much wide way, for benignant of each radical supra a definite age, is truly going to marque precise overmuch difference.”

Latest connected coronavirus from New Scientist

Vaccine evidence: A UK study has recovered that extortion from the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines wanes implicit time. Both vaccines supply bully extortion against symptomatic infections by the delta coronavirus variant, but are astir 15 per cent little effectual against delta than against the alpha variant. The findings besides connote that vaccinated radical who bash get infected mightiness beryllium conscionable arsenic infectious arsenic unvaccinated people.

The ventilation problem: Maximising airflow successful nationalist spaces is important to chopped covid-19 transmission, but questions stay astir what exertion to usage and however effectual it needs to be.

18 August

Ten cases confirmed successful outbreak of delta variant successful Auckland

New Zealand has begun a nationwide lockdown successful a bid to incorporate the delta variant of the coronavirus. So acold 10 cases person been confirmed successful the outbreak, but modelling suggests the numbers could emergence to betwixt 50 and 100. “From the acquisition of what we’ve seen overseas, we are perfectly anticipating much cases,” premier curate Jacinda Ardern said. The level 4 alert, the highest level, means radical different than indispensable workers tin lone permission location for groceries, healthcare, covid-19 tests and exercise. The lockdown volition screen the full state for astatine slightest 3 days, and stay successful spot successful Auckland for a week. New Zealand had been escaped of section covid-19 infections since February, and lone 21 per cent of the full colonisation has been afloat vaccinated.

Other coronavirus news

The politician of Texas, Greg Abbott, has tested positive for covid-19, his bureau has announced. Abbott is afloat vaccinated and not showing immoderate symptoms, and helium is receiving a monoclonal antibody treatment, according to a statement. Abbott has restricted the grade to which section authorities successful Texas tin mandate covid-19 vaccination and the wearing of look masks. On Monday, helium attended a Republican enactment lawsuit with a assemblage of hundreds. Texas is presently a hotspot successful a covid-19 surge taking spot successful the confederate US, driven by the delta variant. Yesterday the US recorded much than 1000 covid-19 deaths for the archetypal clip since March, according to a Reuters tally.

Vaccine supplies are urgently needed successful southeast Asia, the Red Cross has warned. The portion has recorded 38,522 deaths successful the past 2 weeks, astir doubly arsenic galore arsenic North America. Indonesia is 1 of the worst-affected countries, with an mean of 1466 deaths a time during the past week. “We fearfulness that arsenic the microorganism spreads from cities to determination and agrarian areas that galore much lives volition beryllium mislaid among the unvaccinated,” said Alexander Matheou, Asia Pacific Director of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies successful a statement.

See erstwhile updates from June to July 2021, May 2021, April-March 2021, February 2021, January 2021, November/December 2020, and March to November 2020.