Israel has started administering doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine tailored to fight the highly infectious omicron variant.

Scientists estimate that nearly 20 million lives were saved worldwide by COVID-19 vaccines during their first year.

Germany’s health ministry says the country may have to discard 3 million doses of expired COVID-19 vaccine by the end of June.

Police in Italy have arrested a nurse on charges he faked giving coronavirus vaccinations to at least 45 people so they could get a health pass without actually getting the shot.

We might not be able to claim that 2021 was *the* wildest year in recent history (2020 will likely get that credit for quite some time), but it might be a close second.

Public health authorities in Greece have stepped up a campaign to deliver booster shots to seniors and people with mobility difficulties at home, with some agencies using taxi companies to take healthcare workers to where the vaccinations are needed.

The European Union drugs regulator has authorized Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine for use on children aged from 5 to 11 years.

Israel has begun administering the coronavirus vaccine to children age 5 to 11.

Austrian media are reporting that young children in Vienna can start getting coronavirus vaccinations next week as part of a pilot project.

Austria is implementing a lockdown for unvaccinated people in two hard-hit regions next week and looks poised to move forward with similar measures nationwide.

German pharmaceutical company BioNTech says its earnings grew again in the third quarter.

Senegal and Rwanda have signed an agreement with German company BioNTech for the construction of its first start-to-finish factories to make messenger RNA vaccines in Africa.

U.S. health officials are setting the stage for a national COVID-19 vaccination campaign for younger children, inviting state officials to pre-order doses starting next week.

Pfizer has submitted research to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine in children but the shots may not be available until November.

Pfizer has submitted research to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine in children as it moves closer to seeking approval for expanded use of the shots.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is urging countries to ramp up their primary coronavirus vaccine programs and playing down the need for booster shots among the general public.

Taiwan has received its first Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines after a prolonged purchasing process that gave rise to a political blame game with China.

Asian shares are gaining, boosted by a near-record rise on Wall Street.

Israel’s government on Wednesday advanced a raft of new coronavirus restrictions, including sweeping implementation of a digital vaccine passport and tighter restrictions on mass gatherings, as the country struggles with skyrocketing new infections.

Seminole County is working with the school district to offer mobile vaccine clinics throughout the first week of school.

The agency is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach in order to complete the review of Pfizer's application, a spokesperson said Friday.

U.S. health officials say people who are fully vaccinated should get tested if they've been around someone who has COVID-19.

Strong sales of its COVID-19 vaccine and other medicines helped Pfizer nearly double its second-quarter revenue and boost its profit an impressive 59%, beating Wall Street expectations.

The Orlando Police Department’s headquarters will be a site for a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic Friday morning.

COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be administered at the Orlando International Airport, according to a social media post from officials.

Pfizer is one step closer to getting full approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its COVID-19 vaccine.

New COVID-19 cases are declining across most of the country, even in some states with vaccine-hesitant populations.

The husband and wife team who helped develop the first COVID-19 vaccine are contributing to a book.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will use the Group of Seven wealthy democracies’ summit this week to urge world leaders to commit to vaccinating the global population by the end of 2022.

AdventHealth pediatrician Dr. Emeline Ramos says it’s a myth that children can’t get COVID-19.

The head of German pharmaceutical company BioNTech said Monday that there is no need to waive patents on coronavirus vaccines because manufacturers will be able to produce enough shots to supply the world over the coming year.

Central Florida health officials are expecting a decision from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week that would expand eligibility of the Pfizer vaccine to those as young as 12 years old.

Pfizer and BioNTech are seeking full approval for its COVID-19 vaccine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Pfizer has become the first pharmaceutical company to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for full approval of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Pfizer and BioNTech have submitted a request to the European drug regulator for the approval of their coronavirus vaccine to be extended to include children aged 12 to 15 years old, in a move that could offer younger and less at-risk populations in Europe access to the shot for the first time.

South Korea has begun administering fast-track COVID-19 vaccines to athletes, coaches and others expected to attend the Tokyo Olympics.

A U.S. health panel says it’s time to resume use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, despite a very rare risk of blood clots.

For the first time in a year, Mexican school children have returned to classrooms — at least in the southern state of Campeche.

As vaccination efforts continue, many counties are relying on state data to determine how to get more vaccines to areas in need.

European countries are diverging on whether to push ahead with giving residents Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine after reports of very rare blood clots in a handful of recipients in the United States.

A leading international rights group says Lebanon’s vaccination campaign has been slow and risks leaving behind some of the country’s most vulnerable people.

Pfizer says its vaccine continues to be effective against COVID-19 up to six months later.

— Wyoming’s governor is rejecting a call by President Joe Biden for states to reimpose mask orders in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Coronavirus cases nationwide are on the rise, but infections in Wyoming have fallen off sharply since December. Tribal health officials said that the United Kingdom strain was confirmed in a sample obtained in the western part of the reservation. State health officials on Monday announced more than 1 million people in the state, about 17% of Wisconsin’s population, have completed their vaccination cycles. AdThe COVID-related hospitalizations dropped to 549 on Monday, far below the pandemic record of 5,082 on Jan. 11, according to the state’s pandemic dashboard.

(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)BEIRUT – The government of war-torn Syria said Wednesday it will send emergency oxygen supplies to neighboring Lebanon, which has experienced shortages amid a surge of coronavirus infections in both countries. Lebanon Health Minister Hamad Hassan told Lebanon’s al-Manar TV the oxygen was a “direct gift” from Syrian President Bashar Assad, who responded to Lebanon's humanitarian request for the oxygen. The amount going to Lebanon, reported to be 75 tons by Syrian media, won't impact needs in Syria, he said. A vaccination campaign began in Lebanon last month, with over 970,000 people registered to be vaccinated and some 156,000 doses already administered. Syria said it has received some vaccines but it has yet to launch a national vaccination campaign.

People queue up outside a vaccination center for BioNTech in Hong Kong Wednesday, March 24, 2021. Hong Kong suspended vaccinations using Pfizer shots - known as BioNTech shots in the city - on Wednesday after they were informed by its distributor Fosun that one batch had defective bottle lids. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)HONG KONG – Hong Kong suspended use of the Pfizer vaccine Wednesday after its Chinese distributor informed the city that one batch had defective bottle lids. The semi-autonomous territory of Macao also said Wednesday that its residents will not receive the Pfizer shots from the same batch. The two vaccines are the only ones that were offered to residents in Hong Kong.

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)BERLIN – The scientist who won the race to deliver the first widely used coronavirus vaccine says people can rest assured the shots are safe, and the technology behind it will soon be used to fight another global scourge — cancer. AdAmid a scare in Europe this week over the coronavirus shot made by British-Swedish rival AstraZeneca, Tureci dismissed the idea that any corners were cut by those racing to develop a vaccine. “There is a very rigid process in place and the process does not stop after a vaccine has been approved,” she said. “We have several different cancer vaccines based on mRNA," said Tureci, who is BioNTech's chief medical officer. “You began with a drug to treat cancer in a single individual,” Steinmeier told the couple.

(Jerome Favre/Pool Photo via AP)HONG KONG – South Korea’s Disease Control and Prevention Agency has allowed health workers to squeeze extra doses from vials of coronavirus vaccines developed by AstraZeneca and Pfizer. However, she said the KDCA isn’t allowing health workers from combining vaccines left in different bottles to create more doses. South Korea, which launched its public vaccination campaign on Friday, is administering the AstraZeneca shots to residents and workers at long-term care facilities and the Pfizer ones to front-line medical workers. Registration details for those wishing to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech shots haven't been announced yet. Sri Lankan began its inoculation drive in January starting with health workers.

(Malaysia Health Ministry via AP)Many nations in the Asia-Pacific region are rolling out the first shots for COVID-19 this week. AUSTRALIATwo elderly people have been administered with higher-than-prescribed doses of the Pfizer vaccine, Australia’s health minister said Wednesday. Thai officials have said they had secured an additional deal with AstraZeneca for a total of 61 million doses. More than half a million health care and front-line workers will be given priority in the first phase. CHINAChinese regulators are looking at two more potential COVID-19 vaccines, one from state-owned company Sinopharm and another from a private company, CanSino.

(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)BEIRUT – The World Bank threatened Tuesday to suspend financing for coronavirus vaccines in Lebanon as it investigated suspected favoritism amid accusations that lawmakers were inoculated in parliament without prior approval. The World Bank is a major financier of Lebanon’s coronavirus campaign and has approved $34 million to pay for vaccines for 2 million people. The vaccination campaign began Feb. 14 and Lebanon has so far received nearly 60,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The World Bank and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have signed an agreement for independent monitoring of the coronavirus vaccination campaign in Lebanon. The World Bank “may suspend financing for vaccines and support for COVID19 response across Lebanon!

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to clobber the aviation industry, Emirates Airlines, the Middle Easts biggest airline is seeking to play a vital role in the global vaccine delivery effort. The arrival was part of an effort by the Middle East's biggest airline to pivot from shuttling people to shipping cargo — and grabbing a central role in the global vaccine delivery race. The key transit hub, previously used for the global shipment of pharmaceuticals, is now at the center of a growing vaccine supply network based in the United Arab Emirates. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, reported as being 95% effective, must be preserved at the frigid temperature of negative 70 Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit). On the one hand, the federation of seven emirates is accelerating efforts to import vaccines despite supply lags.

Now with 416 documented cases, the Sunshine State has twice as many U.K. variant cases as California, which has 186 as of Wednesday, according to the CDC database. Colorado has 67 cases, Texas has 60 and Connecticut has 42 whereas most other states have only a few reported cases. Florida has tripled the number of U.K. variants in under a month. Three weeks ago, Florida had reported 125 UK variant cases. Florida reported 37 new cases between Sunday and Wednesday.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Osceola County held a registration assistance event on Wednesday to help seniors in need of a vaccine appointment. They went from car to car with tablets in hand to help seniors pre-register through the state’s website in both English and Spanish. “What the pre-registration does is that it allows them a place in line and once vaccines are available in our community then they are contacted for an appointment,” Jeremy Lanier said with FDOH Osceola County. The FDOH in Osceola County is set to hold another pre-registration event for seniors on Saturday at St. James AME Zion Church on 719 North John Young Parkway in Kissimmee from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. AdTo pre-register for a vaccine appointment in Osceola County, click here.

The news came only hours after Pfizer and BioNTech said they had signed a deal to deliver an additional 200 million vaccine doses to the bloc. Von der Leyen also unveiled EU plans to better detect virus variants and to speed up the approval of adapted vaccines capable of countering them. Authorities in Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, expressed concerns that some people appeared less willing to take the AstraZeneca vaccine than those made by Moderna or Pfizer. Ad“The authorized AstraZeneca vaccine isn't a second-class vaccine,” the state's health ministry said. Pfizer and German partner BioNTech confirmed that they, too, have finalized an agreement to supply the EU with another 200 million vaccine doses.

Fauci won a $1 million award from the Israeli Dan David Foundation for courageously defending science during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool, File)TEL AVIV, Israel — Dr. Anthony Fauci has won the $1 million Dan David Prize for “defending science” and advocating for vaccines now being administered worldwide to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The shots were supplied by Pfizer, which has a contract to sell 10 million vaccines to Colombia. The U.K.’s rapid rollout of coronavirus vaccines to the most at-risk groups has also helped. The good news: Many of the new COVID-19 vaccines are made with new, flexible technology that’s easy to upgrade.

Coronavirus cases are continuing to decline in the U.S. after a winter surge. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University say the seven-day average of new coronavirus cases in the country dropped below 100,000 on Friday, Feb. 12 for the first time since November 4. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)ATLANTA – Average daily new coronavirus cases in the United States dipped below 100,000 in recent days for the first time in months, but experts cautioned Sunday that infections remain high and precautions to slow the pandemic must remain in place. That average dropped below 100,000 on Friday for the first time since Nov. 4. “We are still at about 100,000 cases a day.

Japan on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, formally approved its first COVID-19 vaccine and said it would start nationwide inoculations within days, but months behind the U.S. and many other countries. Japans health ministry said it had approved the vaccine co-developed and supplied by Pfizer Inc. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)TOKYO – Japan on Sunday formally approved its first COVID-19 vaccine and said it would start nationwide inoculations within days, but months behind the U.S. and many other countries. Japan’s health ministry said it had approved the vaccine co-developed and supplied by Pfizer Inc. Many countries began vaccinating their citizens late last year, and Pfizer's vaccine has been used elsewhere since December. In a country where many people are skeptical about vaccines, Japan sought additional tests to address safety concerns.

Leaders with AdventHealth are addressing health disparities facing Black and Hispanic populations during the pandemic. At a weekly briefing on Thursday, Dr. Alric Simmonds discussed how minority communities are generally at a higher risk of complications from COVID-19. Simmonds said AdventHealth is working to increase minority access to health care. Simmonds said AdventHealth is working to gain trust in minority communities with a goal of vaccinating as many people as possible. Ad“The only way we’re going to move forward as a society and get past COVID is to have herd immunity established and the only way we’re going to do that is have much of the population vaccinated,” Simmonds said.

(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 504 new coronavirus cases for the latest 24-hour period. Although coronavirus cases stayed relatively low in Japan last year compared to the United States and Europe, infections have been climbing recently. Kate Brown says outdoor contact sports, including high school football, can resume this week amid a decline in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. On Wednesday, Germany’s Robert Koch Institute reported 8,072 new virus cases and 813 deaths in 24 hours. ___MADRID — Spain’s official 14-day rate of coronavirus cases has fallen to 584, from a peak of 900 two weeks ago.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020 file photo, a medical worker prepares a shot of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in Moscow, Russia. [READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: As Florida celebrates Super Bowl win state reports 5,600 new COVID-19 cases]Below is a breakdown of Florida COVID-19 data reported by the state on Feb. 9. CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 7,041 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the state’s overall total to 1,790,743 cases since the coronavirus pandemic began in March. HospitalizationsAs of Tuesday afternoon, there were currently 5,307 people with the virus hospitalized in Florida, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County reports 308 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine went to waste in the county. [TRENDING: How to get a vaccine in Fla. | Wanted: Man accused of shooting at detective | Cops: Fla. man decapitated hamster]Ad“These doses were not wasted by the county health department, but by community partners,” a DOH spokesperson said in a statement. “We continue to work with all partners to ensure no additional doses are wasted.”This comes as Palm Beach County is currently undergoing an audit from the state after more than 1,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were reported damaged last week. Ron DeSantis said health officials wanted to inquire after receiving reports of doses that were spoiled because they were improperly stored. Following the audit’s announcement, News 6 reached out to every DOH office in Central Florida about the number of doses, if any, that have gone to waste.

(Pfizer Media Relations via AP)NEW YORK – Pfizer, the first company to get U.S. emergency use authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine, swung to a small profit in the fourth quarter as it started shipping vaccines globally. Excluding one-time items, adjusted earnings came to 42 cents per share, or 4 cents shy of Wall Street projections. Initial COVID-19 vaccine sales late in the year came to $154 million. AdPfizer also posted revenue of $1.5 billion from its business making sterile injectable drugs, and $1.4 billion in revenue from partnerships. For all of 2020, Pfizer reported net income of $9.6 billion, or $1.71 per share, on revenue of $41.9 billion.

Vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine rest in cold storage at UC Davis Health on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, Pool)The Federal Emergency Management Agency has obligated $245 million to Florida for its COVID-19 vaccine plans. The award provides expedited federal funding to reimburse 100% of costs related to Florida’s vaccination program for a 90-day period. Ron DeSantis continues to call on the federal government to provide more vaccines, saying Florida has the infrastructure to get out shots. “With more than 300 sites statewide, Florida has the throughput to continue pushing out vaccine supplies for the federal government and put our seniors first,” he said. For COVID-19, FEMA has adjusted the public assistance application and reimbursement process to get funds to applicants faster, according to the agency.

(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)BRUSSELS – The European Union on Monday defended its flagging coronavirus vaccine program, which has come under criticism from the World Health Organization, EU states and recently departed member Britain. Britain’s media had a feast, depicting the EU as untrustworthy, though the U.K. government kept a low profile on the issue. Ad“These are things which happen when you are working at full speed to deal with a developing situation,” European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said. Gallina said the bloc expects to have received 400 million doses by the end of June. Still, critics have said that the European Commission should have started clinching contracts much earlier.

Israel Defense Minister Benny Gantzs office said Sundya, Jan. 31, 2021, that Israel has agreed to transfer 5,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine to the Palestinians to immunize front-line medical workers. It is the first time that Israel has confirmed the transfer of vaccines to the Palestinians. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File)JERUSALEM – Israel has agreed to transfer 5,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine to the Palestinians to immunize front-line medical workers, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz's office announced Sunday. It was the first time that Israel has confirmed the transfer of vaccines to the Palestinians, who lag far behind Israel's aggressive vaccination campaign and have not yet received any vaccines. The campaign includes Israel's Arab citizens and Palestinians living in annexed east Jerusalem.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared a state of emergency Thursday for Tokyo and three other prefectures to ramp up defenses against the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)How many variants of the coronavirus are there? One of the three main variants experts are watching was discovered in the United Kingdom late last year and has been detected in dozens of countries since. Data so far suggests current vaccines should still protect against these variants, though there’s some concern their effectiveness may be slightly diminished. The emergence of variants is linked to ongoing surges since infections give viruses the chance to mutate and spread.

A nurse administers the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to a resident at DomusVi nursing home in Alcala Henares, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)GENEVA – National tensions are erupting over slow coronavirus vaccine rollouts and production delay issues are real, but “no one is safe until everyone is safe,” the European chief for the World Health Organization said Thursday. The cautionary note comes as the EU has accused pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca of failing to deliver the coronavirus vaccine doses that it promised to the 27-nation bloc despite getting EU funding to ramp up vaccine production. The company says the production issues at EU plants are slowing the amount of vaccines available, and it can't give what it does not have. Fellow vaccine maker Pfizer has had supply issues too, due to a production upgrade at a plant in Belgium.

Ron DeSantis plans to bring a “vaccine pod” to Central Florida, targeting a retirement community in Polk County. “We’re almost (at) 23%.”The vaccine pod announcement comes as Central Florida continues to see high demand for the vaccine. They tell me vaccine site at Amazon facility Groveland will be open M-F until further notice. [READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: Florida sees another 9,480 COVID-19 cases as president ups vaccine goal ]Below is a breakdown of Florida COVID-19 data reported by the state on Jan. 27CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 8,281 new cases on Wednesday bringing the state’s overall total to 1,676,171 cases since the coronavirus pandemic began in March. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2021, file photo, Robert Owens, 90, stands in line with other residents to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at John Knox Village in Pompano Beach, Fla. Florida Gov. President Joe Biden Biden has set a goal of 100 million COVID-19 shots given out in his first 100 days in office. [READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: 8,607 new COVID-19 cases reported as Central Florida counties begin giving second doses of vaccine]Below is a breakdown of Florida COVID-19 data reported by the state on Jan. 25. CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 9,480 new cases on Tuesday bringing the state’s overall total to 1,667,763 cases since the coronavirus pandemic began in March. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.

An increasing number of COVID-19 vaccination sites around the U.S. are canceling appointments because of vaccine shortages in a rollout so rife with confusion and unexplained bottlenecks. Ron DeSantis says the flow of COVID-19 vaccines has been stagnant and the state needs more to meet the increasing demand from residents. But there can be a lag in the federal data, as health care providers report doses up to 72 hours after they have been administered. “The sole focus for the federal government should be increasing the number of doses available for the states,” he said. On Monday morning, there were 6,874 coronavirus patients in the state, according to an online bed census run by the state government.

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Florida reported an additional 12,311 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, as well as more than 150 new deaths from the virus. As of Saturday, Florida has had more than 1.6 million virus cases and 25,561 deaths, according to the Florida Department of Health. Florida had a positivity rate of 11.1% on Saturday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Around Florida, residents 65 years or older continued have difficulties scheduling appointments for vaccines, either by phone or online. In Pinellas County, home to St. Petersburg, a vaccine registration portal was delayed from opening due to vendor issues, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

People sit and relax after receiving their Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination at Salisbury Cathedral in Salisbury, England, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Salisbury Cathedral opened its doors for the second time as a venue for the Sarum South Primary Care Network COVID-19 Local Vaccination Service. Almost 5.9 million doses of vaccine had been administered by Saturday. It is giving them at doctors’ offices, hospitals, pharmacies and vaccination centers set up in conference halls, sports stadiums and other large venues. The U.K. has recorded 97,329 deaths among people who tested positive, including 1,348 new deaths reported Saturday.

Those appointments will be to schedule vaccinations Jan. 28 and Jan. 29. However, additional doses instead will be sent to the Publix locations that also are offering the vaccine in Volusia County. The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County will return to this location in 28 days to offer the second dose to those who are due. Vaccine event location:Volusia County Fairgrounds (entrance off Prevatt Avenue)3150 E. New York Ave., DeLandVaccination dates:Thursday, Jan. 28 and Friday, Jan. 29Those eligible:Florida residents 65 years and older. For questions specific to the Fairgrounds vaccination event, including information on upcoming appointments, call 866-345-0345 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

LONDON – A major British doctors' group is says the U.K. government should “urgently review” it's decision to give people a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine up to 12 weeks after the first, rather than the shorter gap recommended by the manufacturer and the World Health Organization. The U.K., which has Europe’s deadliest coronavirus outbreak, adopted the policy in order to give as many people as possible a first dose of vaccine quickly. AstraZeneca has said it believes a first dose of its vaccine offers protection after 12 weeks, but Pfizer says it has not tested the efficacy of its jab after such a long gap. Britain has recorded 95,981 deaths among people who tested positive, the highest confirmed virus toll in Europe. Pubs, restaurants, gyms, entertainment venues and many shops are closed, and people are required to stay largely at home.

[TRENDING: Navy to continue bombing in Florida | SpaceX readies for 2nd launch this week | Luxurious Florida home used as brothel]In a tweet Thursday, Broward County health officials unwittingly announced the “new state appointment system” ahead of state health officials. Appointments for DOH-Broward COVID-19 #vaccination sites can be scheduled using the new State appointment system starting immediately. State officials said a phone system was more suited for seniors, who might be less accustomed to web-based technology and might need more assistance. “The state is actively collaborating with counties and local officials to launch a system that will include a streamlined vaccination appointment process,” Mahon said. Earlier this week, Florida vaccine sites also began requiring proof of part of full-time residency to get the shots here.

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2020 file photo, Boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are prepared to be shipped at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant in Portage, Mich. Pfizer has committed to supply up to 40 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine this year to a World Health Organization-backed effort to get affordable vaccines to 92 poor and middle-income countries. The deal announced Friday, Jan. 22, 2021 will supply the shots to the program known as COVAX. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool, File)Pfizer on Friday committed to supply up to 40 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine this year to a World Health Organization-backed effort to get affordable shots to poor and middle-income countries. New York-based Pfizer Inc. had not previously committed to providing its COVID-19 vaccine to poor countries without making a profit during the pandemic, as a couple rivals have. Many public health officials have expressed skepticism that the Pfizer vaccine could be successfully kept so cold across the globe.

(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Can COVID-19 vaccines be mixed and matched? The COVID-19 vaccines rolling out in the United States, the United Kingdom and other parts of the world so far require two shots given a few weeks apart. In the U.S. where Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being distributed, health officials say the vaccines are not interchangeable. But without any studies, vaccine doses should not be mixed, said Naor Bar-Zeev, a vaccine expert at Johns Hopkins University. Read previous Viral Questions:Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I’ve had the virus?

(AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – UPDATE:Lake County officials said the latest round of COVID-19 vaccine appointments, which became available Wednesday morning, were completely booked within four minutes. ORIGINAL STORY:People in Lake County can sign up for a coronavirus vaccination Wednesday. The Florida Department of Health in Lake County is offering doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older and healthcare workers with direct patient contact. Lake County says it will also continue its first come, first serve vaccination sites, but do not have any scheduled at this time. Text COVIDUPDATE to 888777 or visit www.lakecountyfl.gov/COVID-19 to receive the latest emergency updates regarding COVID-19 and Lake County immunization site information.

People recieve their Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination inside Salisbury Cathedral in Salisbury, England, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)BRUSSELS – Frustration is mounting from Europe to North America over reduced shipments of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine while the U.S. pharmaceutical company increases production capacity at its Belgian plant. Overall, the EU is slated to get up to 600 million doses from Pfizer. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first vaccine authorized for use in the U.K. the EU and the United States. “I would not stop until we get these vaccines.”The European Union is likely to pursue Pfizer with a different weapon but equal fervor.

[TRENDING: How to get vaccine in Florida | Could $600 checks grow into $2,000 payments? Ron DeSantis has been asked about seasonal Florida residents and weighed in on the matter. After some conflicting answers, a press secretary from the Florida Division of Emergency Management said this applies to seasonal residents from out of the country as well. Marion County“People receiving the vaccine are not required to be full-time Florida residents. The Florida Department of Health indicated to our Emergency Management Director that they are sharing this guidance with the local health departments this afternoon.”Volusia County“There is no residency requirement.”

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. – All of Florida’s 67 counties now have at least one site offering a coronavirus vaccine. This will be the first large county where Publix pharmacies will be rolling out its vaccination program since partnering with the state. The governor spoke again in Brevard County on Tuesday afternoon, announcing that 22 Publix pharmacies there would also be administering shots starting on Thursday. With the inclusion of Brevard County, the governor said 242 Publix pharmacies statewide would now be providing the vaccine to people 65 and older. With plans to gain access to the next vaccine approved for use, DeSantis said, for now, Florida will stay the course and increase access to the vaccine as best as possible.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Lake County Schools is teaming up with the Florida Department of Health and Lake County Board of County Commissioners to offer free COVID-19 vaccines to select district employees, according to a news release. Free vaccines will be offered next week to district employees age 65 and older, all school and district nurses and any unlicensed assistive personnel, the medication-trained employees who cover school clinics when nurses are not available. [WATCH: Lake County Schools offering free COVID-19 vaccines to teachers, nurses, others]“I don’t stay at home all the time, I wear my mask but I think I’ll feel better once the second one is done and we are reassured but I’m just grateful,” she said. Meantime, the Orange County school board petitioned Gov. Ron DeSantis again after their request to prioritize school employees in the state vaccination rollout wasn’t granted.

Uncertainty over the pace of federal COVID-19 vaccine allotments triggered anger and confusion Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, in some states where officials worried that expected shipments would not be forthcoming. On Monday, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the testing site at the Orange County Convention Center had little to no wait. You can wait more than 28 days, you can wait 30 days,” Dr. Raul Pino from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County said. [READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: Florida reports 10,000 new COVID-19 cases, over 7,000 people currently hospitalized]CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 7,884 new cases on Monday, bringing the state’s overall total to 1,579,281 cases since the coronavirus pandemic began in March. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.

A Chinese province grappling with a spike in coronavirus cases is reinstating tight restrictions on weddings, funerals and other family gatherings, threatening violators with criminal charges. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)BEIJING — China is now dealing with coronavirus outbreaks across its frigid northeast, prompting additional lockdowns and travel bans. ___WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming White House press secretary says his administration does not intend to lift coronavirus travel restrictions for Europe, the U.K., Ireland and Brazil. ___MADRID — Spain’s Health Ministry has confirmed 84,287 new known coronavirus cases since Friday amid a post-Christmas virus surge. He said 21 people had died from the virus in the past three days, bringing the colony's total virus deaths to 45 since the start of the pandemic.

Israel has struck a deal with Pfizer, promising to share vast troves of medical data with the drugmaker in exchange for the continued flow of its COVID-19 vaccine. Neither Israel nor Pfizer would say how much Israel has paid for the vaccines, though Edelstein called it a “classical win-win” for both sides. Israel had already announced the acquisition of millions of vaccine doses before the Pfizer deal was announced. But the Palestinians and major human rights groups say Israel remains an occupying power and is responsible for providing them vaccines. With tens of thousands of West Bank Palestinians working in Israel and its West Bank settlements, experts say Israel should share vaccines on ethical and practical grounds.

Ron DeSantis said stories of the rich flying to Florida, getting vaccinated and returning home are overblown. State records show of the nearly 850,000 people who have received at least one shot, more than 40,000 are overdue for their booster shot. [READ YESTERDAY’S REPORT: Florida reports 13,000 new COVID-19 cases, 222 deaths]Below is a breakdown of Florida COVID-19 data reported by the state on Jan. 15:CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 16,589 new cases on Friday, bringing the state’s overall total to 1,548,067 cases since the coronavirus pandemic began in March. Since March, 67,463 people have been hospitalized in Florida after complications from COVID-19. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.

One dose seems to provide some protection, but the 95% efficiency has only been shown to be attained by taking the booster shot. This means that while the manner of distribution may change, the necessity of the booster shot will not. Speaking outside of a Naples Publix on Wednesday, he explained how the booster shots have been handled in recent weeks. “So, so far what they’ve done if we got 100,000 Pfizer, that means they’re holding 100,000 Pfizer for the booster shot. Of those, 79,552 have completed the series and 40,661 are overdue for their booster shot.

MELBOURNE, Fla. – For seniors and employees at The Fountains on Stack Boulevard, the COVID-19 vaccine came to them Wednesday. From 11-5, CVS pharmacists vaccinated 320 people on-site of the senior-living community. The Fountains said none of its residents have caught COVID-19 since the beginning of the Pandemic. Most will get their second vaccine that day, including employee Tony Anthony who received his first shot Wednesday. “I didn’t have to wait in line, didn’t have to make an appointment that may not be there so this is great,” Anthony said.

A nurse prepares the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for residents at DomusVi nursing home in Leganes, Spain, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Spain's rate of infection has shot up to 435 cases per 100,000 residents in the past two weeks, prompting new restrictions as authorities try to bring vaccination up to speed. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)(Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Ron DeSantis announced expanded vaccine locations at Publix supermarkets in Florida, including in Volusia and Flagler counties. HospitalizationsAs of Wednesday afternoon, there were currently 7,758 people with the virus hospitalized in Florida, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration. Since March, 66,634 people have been hospitalized in Florida after complications from COVID-19. That number includes the 430 new patients who have been recently hospitalized due to the virus, according to the health department’s daily report released on Wednesday. VaccinationsThe Florida Department of Health recently began releasing a daily report on COVID-19 vaccines administered throughout the state.

When it comes to mental and emotional health, older adults in the United States are showing resilience and persevering despite struggles with loneliness and isolation, the latest self-reported results in an ongoing study suggest. About half as many older adults now report they are very happy or extremely happy, and an increasing number report occasional feelings of depression or isolation. Other interesting findings from the responses:—About one-fifth of older adults in the study said they’d had no in-person contact with family and friends outside their own households during the pandemic. —At the same time, at least half of older adults “have not reduced their frequency of in-person contact with friends and family not living with them" since the pandemic began. “There’s a lot we don’t appreciate about how well people do cope with age,” said Hawkley, who specializes in researching loneliness and social isolation in older adults.

But the decision perplexed some county officials who say they don’t even have enough doses right now to vaccinate those who were already eligible. California has received more than 2.4 million vaccine doses as of Monday, but only a third of them have been used. This is about life and death,” Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez said. So can you send us 4 million doses?”About 375 miles (600 kilometers) to the north, Santa Clara County officials made their pitch to Gov. Santa Clara County wants at least 85% of its eligible residents vaccinated by Aug. 1.

ORLANDO, Fla. – A survey conducted by the nonprofit COVID Collaborative indicated 34% of Latinos do not trust the vaccine and 40% are skeptical about its effectiveness. “Safety concerns like a lot of people have with any other vaccine. Like if it’s going to hurt, is it going to give me fever? The survey also showed Latinos would be less likely to get the vaccine if it were approved on an emergency-use basis without the usual review process by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Traditionally diseases that are controlled by vaccination, you need to vaccinate 90% plus of the population to get the infection under control,” Octaviani said.

"Almost everybody will understand that there was no other choice because numbers are not falling fast enough and we are now also have to face the threat of the British corona variant,” Rutte said, as he said the lockdown will last until Feb. 9. Under the lockdown, all schools and nonessential shops are closed, along with public venues such as cinemas, museums and libraries. Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said that the variant now makes up 2-5% of Dutch infections. Confirmed new COVID-19 infections over the last week fell 12% to 49,398, the institute said, while hospital admissions for people with the coronavirus fell 18% and new COVID-19 patients in intensive care units declined by 12%. The overall Dutch death toll from COVID-19 now stands at more than 12,500.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, file photo, a healthcare worker receives a second Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shot at Beaumont Health in Southfield, Mich. New research suggests that Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine can protect against a mutation found in two contagious variants of the coronavirus that erupted in Britain and South Africa. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I’ve had the virus? “Your immune system is able to identify the virus, and protect itself,” said Dr. Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease expert at George Mason University. How quickly do I need a second COVID-19 vaccine shot? Can I stop wearing a mask after getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

Albanian prime minister Edi Rama receives the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. Rama was among the first to take the COVID-19 vaccine which the country has received from an undisclosed European Union member country. The Prime Minister said he was "not authorized" to say which EU country had provided 975 vaccines. Prime Minister Edi Rama said he was “not authorized” to say which EU country had provided 975 doses to the Balkan nation. The vaccinations Albania gave Monday are sure to spark some envy in other Balkan countries.

(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nevada is making changes to its distribution plan for coronavirus vaccines in an effort to get shots into residents’ arms more quickly. Public health officials announced plans Monday to replace the state’s distribution plan and direct providers to concurrently vaccinate high-risk groups. State health officials report more than 13,000 coronavirus patients currently in hospitals statewide, and nearly 30,000 deaths since the pandemic started. ___ATLANTA — Georgia’s plan to expand access to the coronavirus vaccine for people over 65 is off to a rocky start. ___AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan has received its first shipment of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine before its vaccination drive kicks off this week.

(Thomas Samson/Pool Photo via AP)ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lake Nona will host a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Saturday for veterans 75 and older who receive care at the VA. The event is open to veterans 75 years and older who receive care from the VA and have not received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine clinic will be on the fourth floor auditorium. Veterans also must be able to return to the Orlando VA for a second dose in 21 days. According to a news release, the Orlando VA Medical Center will notify additional groups of veterans about vaccine events as more supplies arrive.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Brevard County is gearing up to begin administering COVID-19 vaccinations to people ages 65 and older, as well as health care workers who provide direct patient care. We are appreciative of @GovRonDeSantis and @FLSERT Director Jared Moskowitz, for their efforts to provide us with nearly 2,000 Pfizer vaccines. — Health First (@Health_First) January 8, 2021“Health First is honored to be able to continue to protect our community from COVID-19,” Health First Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Jeffrey Stalnaker said. Healthcare workers who sign up to receive a vaccine must bring a photo ID or healthcare badge for proof of identity. They should also include COVID-19 vaccine as the reason for their visit and fill in all of the required fields.

An employee of the Municipal Health Service GGD administers a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to a health care worker at a coronavirus vaccination facility in Houten, central Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)GENEVA – World Health Organization experts on Friday issued recommendations that the interval between administration of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the coronavirus can be extended to up to six weeks. It said an interval of 21 to 28 days between the doses is recommended. The agency also said it also does not recommend COVID-19 vaccination of travelers unless they face high risks or qualify as priority cases. It also cited a lack of evidence about whether vaccination reduces the risk of transmission of the virus to other people.

Syringes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine sit in a tray in a vaccination room at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)New research suggests Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine can protect against a mutation found in the two more-contagious variants of the coronavirus that have erupted in Britain and South Africa. Bushman, who wasn't involved with the Pfizer study, cautioned that it tested just one vaccine against one worrisome mutation. Pfizer and researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston conducted laboratory tests to see if that mutation could thwart the vaccine. The Pfizer study found that the vaccine appeared to work against 15 additional possible mutations, but E484K wasn’t among those tested.