Promising Spain brings back the 'tiki-taka' at the World Cup
King Felipe VI was among those congratulating Spain after its 7-0 rout of Costa Rica in the World Cup opener as โLa Rojaโ put on a masterclass of ball possession and efficient attacking to get off to a good start in its quest to win a second world title.
UN program inks Moderna deal on 500M doses, starting in Q4
Moderna and vaccine promoter Gavi have announced a deal by which the pharmaceutical company will provide up to 500 million coronavirus vaccines doses for the U.N.-backed program to ship to needy people in low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2022.
UN-backed vaccine delivery program warns of supply delays
(AP Photo/Brian Inganga)GENEVA โ The U.N.-backed program to ship COVID-19 vaccines worldwide has announced supply delays involving a key Indian manufacturer, a major setback for the ambitious rollout aimed at helping low- and middle-income countries vaccinate their populations and fight the pandemic. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and its partners said Thursday that the Serum Institute of India, a pivotal vaccine maker behind the COVAX program, will face increasing domestic demands as coronavirus infections surge. โDelays in securing supplies of SII-produced COVID-19 vaccine doses are due to the increased demand for COVID-19 vaccines in India,โ Gavi said. The program had been aiming to deliver some 237 million AstraZeneca vaccines through the end of May. AdThe Serum Institute of India, also known as SII, is the world's largest maker of vaccines.
The Latest: Gov. hopes to up number of Texans getting shots
Brian Kemp said all Georgians 16 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Greg Abbott said Thursday that heโs hoping to increase the number of Texans getting COVID-19 vaccines after seeing a drop in people showing up for the shot. Thatโs a big jump from the roughly 1.8 million doses a week the state is currently getting. ___PHOENIX โ Arizona on Thursday reported 138 confirmed coronavirus cases, the smallest daily increase reported in more than six months. The U.K. says its vaccination program has given at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to more than half the adult population.
Unwilling to wait, poorer countries seek their own vaccines
India has gifted neighbors, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, with more than 5 million doses. Thatโs on top of a previously negotiated African Union deal for 270 million doses from several pharmaceutical companies and in addition to the 600 million doses Africa expects to receive from COVAX. Kate Elder, senior vaccines policy adviser at Doctors Without Borders, said developing countries should not be criticized for securing private vaccine deals since that is precisely what rich countries did last year. โIf countries are getting vaccines on their own, then how are WHO and GAVI delivering for them?โ she asked. In the meantime, India has already gifted neighbors, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, with more than 5 million doses.
Poor countries face long wait for vaccines despite promises
It has agreements for another 500 million vaccines, but those are not legally binding. Poonawalla also noted that his companyโs first priority would be making shots for India, which has suggested it wants at least 300 million vaccines. Canada, for example, bought nearly 200 million vaccines โ enough to cover its population of 38 million about five times over. Amid fears COVAX can't deliver, some developing countries are pulling out entirely or seeking their own private deals. But many rich countries are reluctant to do that.
Global vaccine plan may allow rich countries to buy more
Politicians and public health leaders have publicly committed to equitably sharing any coronavirus vaccine that works, but the top global initiative to make it happen may allow rich countries to reinforce their own stockpiles while making fewer doses available for poor ones. Activists warn that without stronger attempts to hold political, pharmaceutical and health leaders accountable, vaccines will be hoarded by rich countries in an unseemly race to inoculate their populations first. That means rich countries can sign deals on their own with drugmakers and then also get no-strings-attached allocations from Gavi. By giving rich countries this backup plan, theyre getting their cake and eating it too, said Anna Marriott of Oxfam International. Right now theres no vaccine for anyone, he said, and were trying to solve that problem.Berkley said Gavi needed to make investing in a global vaccine initiative attractive for rich countries.