The World Health Organization warned Monday against a widening gap between numbers of coronavirus vaccines in wealthy countries and those distributed to poorer nations through the global Covax initiative. “The gap between the number of vaccines administered in rich countries, and the number of vaccines administered through Covax is growing every single day,” UN health […]

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday offered “oil for vaccines” as his country, which is under economic sanctions affecting the oil sector in particular, faces a second wave of coronavirus. “Venezuela has the oil tankers, it has customers ready to buy oil from us. It would devote part of its production to obtain the vaccines […]

England enters the second phase of its lockdown easing on Monday thanks to a successful vaccination drive, but the government is urging vigilance as another wave of coronavirus sweeps Europe. After schools reopened on March 8, England’s stay-at-home order will be relaxed to enable outdoor gatherings of up to six people, or two households, in […]

No fewer than 7,300 residents of Enugu State have so far received their first jabs of Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine on the eight-day of the ongoing vaccination in the state. Dr George Ugwu, Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in […]

Three days after testing positive for Covid-19, “everything tasted like cardboard,” recalls 38-year-old Elizabeth Medina, who lost her sense of taste and smell at the start of the pandemic. A year later, she fears she will never get them back. Medina consulted ear, nose and throat doctors and neurologists, tried various nasal sprays, and is […]

…as PTF confirms testing of 140,000 persons in a week By Davies Iheamnachor Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike has confirmed taking the COVID-19 vaccination, dispelling the rumour that he refused to take the vaccine. This was as the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 confirmed that 140,000 persons have been tested for the dreaded coronavirus […]

Brazil set a new daily Covid-19 death toll record of 3,650 on Friday, the health ministry said, as the pandemic spins out of control in Latin America’s largest economy. Since February, Brazil has seen record after record in fatalities and new cases of infection as the country second hardest hit anywhere in the world, after […]

Some 180 of the 193 UN members have committed to ensuring equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines, the United Nations said Friday. “We are deeply concerned that despite international agreements, initiatives, and general declarations, distribution of Covid-19 vaccines is still uneven worldwide, both among and within countries,” said the political declaration, initiated by Lebanon. Noting that […]

The race to produce the first Covid-19 vaccine that is “100 percent Brazilian” was launched on Friday with more than a hint of political posturing. Sao Paulo’s Butantan biomedical institute announced in the morning it is developing a vaccine and expects to start using it in July. Several hours later a minister said President Jair […]

The former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes the coronavirus escaped from a laboratory in China, according to an interview that aired Friday. Robert Redfield, who served in the top public health role under former president Donald Trump, told CNN: “If I was to guess, this virus started transmitting somewhere […]

As Covid-19 vaccination drives get into gear across the United States, some businesses are offering transportation, paid time off and bonuses of up to $500 to encourage workers to get the jab. Labor-intensive industries like slaughterhouses, supermarkets, and farms, whose workers are at higher risk of contracting the virus, have taken the lead, with several […]

Sao Paulo’s Butantan biomedical institute announced on Friday it is developing a “100 percent Brazilian” vaccine against Covid-19 and expects to start using it in July. Butantan is the largest vaccine producer in Brazil and makes the CoronaVac shot produced by Chinese firm Sinovac — the most widely used against the pandemic in the South […]

Norway said on Friday it would extend its suspension of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine until April 15 to allow more time to investigate a potential link to severe blood clotting. The EU’s drugs regulator said last week the vaccine was “safe and effective” and not linked to a higher risk of blood clots, but could not […]

People flying to Germany must undergo coronavirus testing in a regulation that enters force at midnight (2300 GMT) on Sunday, the German Health Ministry says. The announcement was made so that airlines and passengers have time to prepare themselves for the new requirement, the ministry says. Germany is attempting to contain a severe third wave of […]

As COVID-19 vaccination continues all over the world, a new study released on Thursday has shown that patients waiting for elective surgery should get COVID-19 vaccines ahead of the general population to avoid thousands of post-operative deaths linked to the virus.