Doctors accuse ministers botching covid 19 vaccine strategy second doses

Ghana on Wednesday became the first country to receive vaccines through the COVAX initiative with a delivery of 600,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab. The shipment is part of a first wave of free deliveries headed to dozens of low- and middle-income countries under COVAX, a UN-backed scheme that aims to ensure fair access to COVID-19 vaccines . Immunization campaign to start next week The shots, which were produced by the Serum Institute of India, will be used by Ghana to launch a vaccination drive on March 2. "The first segment of the population that will receive the 600,000 doses will be health workers, adults 60 years and over, people with underlying health conditions," the government said. The West African country of 30 million people has recorded more than 80,700 coronavirus cases and 584 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to the local health authority. Watch video 02:46 Share COVAX vaccine program struggles Send … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: Ghana becomes first country to receive COVAX vaccines

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine effectively prevents severe coronavirus cases , the United States' top drug regulator said on Wednesday. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement paves the way for an emergency use authorization for the single-shot vaccine, which an independent committee is set to discuss. "The vaccine was effective in preventing COVID-19 using a less restrictive definition of the disease and for more severe disease, including COVID-19 requiring medical intervention, considering all cases starting 14 days after vaccination," the FDA document said. J&J said last month that its vaccine was 66% effective in preventing COVID-19 moderate to severe infections, including the variants detected in South Africa and Brazil. The one-shot jab could become the third vaccine the FDA approves as the US battles the pandemic that killed more than 500,000 of its residents. Watch video 03:18 COVID-19 death toll: What did the US get so wrong? … [Read more...] about Coronavirus digest: J&J vaccine prevents COVID – US regulator

The European Commission adopted a recommendation for effective vaccine strategies and deployment back in October 2020. In it, refugees are cited as a priority group. There is no mention of undocumented migrants. Individual nations, however, are each responsible for developing their own vaccine strategies as well as defining and prioritizing groups for vaccination. Refugees and migrants a priority Refugees and undocumented migrants are some of the most marginalized people in Europe. They belong to categories defined by legal status. When asylum-seekers are applying for or are granted asylum on the grounds that they are fleeing war or persecution in their home countries, they have temporary residency rights as official refugees. Undocumented migrants, on the other hand — even those born in Europe who have inherited their status from their parents — are not recognized by the current asylum framework. One of the main reasons both these groups need to be prioritized in … [Read more...] about Refugees and undocumented migrants must be vaccinated, NGOs warn

James Argent has received his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. The former TOWIE star, 33, was labelled a high-risk individual by doctors due to being overweight and asthmatic. The TV star, who recently admitted that he’s hoping to get a gastric band to help him lose weight, had said he would be in serious trouble if he caught the deadly virus. In pictures obtained by Mail Online , James arrived at his GP surgery in Essex on Tuesday to receive his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. The reality TV star, who is currently on a health and fitness regime to help him shed some weight, drove to the appointment on his blue Vespa. Sporting a black tracksuit set and some matching trainers, James looked comfortable as he made his way into the surgery to get the jab. James recently opened up about his health worries during an appearance on Loose Women. The concerned star admitted that he’s waiting on a gastric band surgery which he hopes will help him finally stop … [Read more...] about High-risk James Argent gets first dose of Covid vaccine as he reaches 26-stone

THE CORONAVIRUS vaccine rollout is in full swing and so far over 6.5 million people have received a jab. Some of the most vulnerable people in society have now had vaccines from either Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the target is to give the first dose of the vaccine to 15 million people in the four-key groups by mid-February. Health Secretary Matt Hancock last night said that over 70 per cent of the over 80s had now been vaccinated - meaning that the country is a step closer to protecting those who are most vulnerable to infection. Mass vaccination centres across the country have opened and GP surgeries along with pharmacies will also be giving out the jab. It is hoped more than 700 GP surgeries across the UK could be delivering the Oxford jab , which can be stored at fridge temperatures. How will I be contacted to get the Covid vaccine? All Covid vaccines are being given in order of greatest priority, … [Read more...] about How will I be contacted about the Covid vaccine?