Covid live: Novavax applies for WHO emergency use approval; UK reports 36,710 new cases | World news

U.S. vp Kamala Harris has welcomed India’s announcement that it’s going to resume Covid-19 vaccine exports.

India introduced this week that it resume exports of vaccines later this yr.

India, the world’s largest maker of vaccines, stopped exports of jabs in April to give attention to inoculating its personal inhabitants as infections soared, Reuters stories.

Biotech billionaire Patrick Quickly-Shiong mentioned he’ll start transferring know-how to make Covid-19 and most cancers vaccines in South Africa.

The US-based physician, supplied particulars of the plan that can see coronavirus vaccine manufacturing beginning subsequent yr in a web-based press convention with president Cyril Ramaphosa, AFP stories.

Quickly-Shiong’s firm NantWorks will switch the know-how throughout the subsequent three months and vaccine manufacturing is anticipated to start in 2022.

Along with the vaccines, the NantWorks initiative will work on cell-based immunotherapies that might result in new most cancers remedies.

The California-based doctor Quickly-Shiong, who was born in South Africa, mentioned: “We at the moment are set with the data, know-how to fabricate vaccines in Africa.

“It’s my purpose and hope that Africa will profit from this know-how.”

Delta Air Strains desires different U.S. airways to share lists of passengers who’ve been banned throughout the Covid-19 pandemic for disruptive habits to assist deter the rising variety of incidents, based on a memo seen on Thursday by Reuters.
Delta mentioned because the Covid-19 pandemic it has put greater than 1,600 individuals on its “no fly” checklist. “We’ve additionally requested different airways to share their ‘no fly’ checklist to additional defend airline workers throughout the trade,” the memo seen by Reuters mentioned. “An inventory of banned prospects doesn’t work as nicely if that buyer can fly with one other airline.”

Life expectancy for males within the UK has fallen for the primary time since present information started 40 years in the past due to the impression of the coronavirus pandemic, figures present.

A boy born between 2018 and 2020 is anticipated to reside till he’s 79 years previous, down from 79.2 for the interval of 2015-17, based on the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

It’s the first time there was a decline when evaluating non-overlapping time durations because the analysis started within the early Nineteen Eighties.

Pamela Cobb, of the ONS centre for ageing and demography, mentioned: “Life expectancy has elevated within the UK over the past 40 years, albeit at a slower tempo within the final decade. Nevertheless, the coronavirus pandemic led to a larger variety of deaths than regular in 2020.”

Right here’s a spherical up of the most recent key developments:

• Coronavirus has precipitated male life expectancy within the UK to drop for the primary time since information started. A boy born between 2018 and 2020 is anticipated to reside till he’s 79 years previous – a drop from 79.2 years for 2015-2017, the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) mentioned.
• The variety of individuals testing constructive for Covid-19 in England has dropped to its lowest stage because the finish of June.
• Novavax has introduced that it has utilized to the World Well being Group for an emergency-use itemizing of its Covid-19 vaccine. The itemizing is a prerequisite for export to a number of international locations taking part within the Covax vaccine-sharing facility
• Covid-19 might resemble the widespread chilly by spring subsequent yr as individuals’s immunity to the virus is boosted by vaccines and publicity, a number one British knowledgeable has mentioned. Prof Sir John Bell, regius professor of drugs on the College of Oxford, mentioned the UK was “over the worst”.
• Portugal will carry nearly all remaining Covid-19 restrictions, permitting full occupancy in eating places and cultural venues from 1 October, the prime minister, Antonio Costa, mentioned on Thursday.
• Thailand is contemplating cutting hotel isolation necessities for vaccinated vacationers in half to at least one week in a bid to draw overseas guests once more. It comes amid delays to plans to waive quarantine and reopen Bangkok and different vacationer locations from subsequent month after the pandemic precipitated a collapse within the nation’s tourism trade
• Covid deaths in Russia, the place 820 individuals died from the virus within the final 24 hours, matched the all-time one-day high reached in August. For the reason that begin of the pandemic, Russia has recorded 7,354,995 coronavirus circumstances.
• The US Meals and Drug Administration on Wednesday licensed a booster dose of the Pfizer and BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for these ages 65 and older and a few high-risk People, paving the best way for a fast rollout of the pictures, Reuters stories.
• Within the UK, record numbers of kids and younger individuals are looking for entry to NHS psychological well being providers, figures present, because the devastating toll of the pandemic is revealed in a brand new evaluation. In simply three months, practically 200,000 younger individuals have been referred to psychological well being providers – nearly double pre-pandemic ranges, based on the report by the Royal School of Psychiatrists.
• Greater than 100 countries face cuts to public spending on well being, schooling and social safety because the Covid-19 pandemic compounds already excessive ranges of debt, a brand new report says. The Worldwide Financial Fund believes that 35 to 40 international locations are “debt distressed” – outlined as when a rustic is experiencing difficulties in servicing its debt, similar to when there are arrears or debt restructuring.
• A choose within the Netherlands has dominated {that a} 12-year-old boy will be administered a Covid vaccine towards the needs of his father. The unnamed boy within the metropolis of Groningen had argued that he wanted a vaccine to securely go to his dying grandmother.
• AstraZeneca has announced a deal with a startup based by an Imperial School London vaccinologist to develop and promote medication primarily based on its self-amplifying RNA know-how platform in different illness areas.

That’s it from me. I’m handing over to my colleague Nadeem Badshah now. Thanks a lot for becoming a member of me right now.

The US Meals and Drug Administration on Wednesday licensed a booster dose of the Pfizer and BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for these ages 65 and older and a few high-risk People, paving the best way for a fast rollout of the pictures, Reuters stories.

The booster dose is to be administered at the least six months after completion of the second dose, and the authorization would come with individuals most inclined to extreme illness and people in jobs that left them in danger, the FDA mentioned.

These individuals embrace “healthcare employees, lecturers and daycare employees, grocery employees and people in homeless shelters or prisons, amongst others,” mentioned Janet Woodcock, performing commissioner of the FDA.

This pandemic is dynamic and evolving, with new knowledge about vaccine security and effectiveness changing into accessible every single day.

Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Middle for Biologics Analysis and Analysis, mentioned the company will “proceed to research knowledge submitted to the FDA pertaining to using booster doses of Covid-19 vaccines and we’ll make additional choices as applicable primarily based on the info”.

A US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel might vote on Thursday on using a 3rd shot of the vaccine, an company official mentioned at a public assembly of the panel on Wednesday. The CDC must approve any booster shot earlier than it may be given.

Joe Biden introduced in August the federal government’s intention to roll out booster pictures for individuals ages 16 and older this week, pending approval by the FDA and CDC.

Learn extra right here:

Portugal will carry nearly all remaining Covid-19 restrictions, permitting full occupancy in eating places and cultural venues from 1 October, the prime minister, Antonio Costa, mentioned on Thursday.

Costa advised a information convention:

As a lot of the restrictions imposed by legislation disappear, we’re going to enter a part that’s primarily based on the duty of everybody.

We should not neglect that the pandemic just isn’t over.

Among the many few measures that stay in place, mask-wearing is obligatory in public transport, at massive occasions, in nursing houses, hospitals, purchasing malls and hypermarkets. Masks ceased being obligatory outdoor final week, Reuters stories.

As Portugal has now totally vaccinated greater than 8.5 million individuals – or 83.4% of its inhabitants – nightclubs and bars will probably be allowed to reopen, after having been shut since March 2020, Costa mentioned.

Nevertheless, prospects must present a digital vaccination certificates or a unfavorable Covid-19 take a look at.

Portugal reported 885 new coronavirus circumstances on Thursday and 5 deaths. That brings the overall tally of circumstances to 1,064,876 – or round one in 10 Portuguese – and 17,938 deaths.

Italy reported 63 extra coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday, based on the most recent figures.

On Wednesday, the determine was 67, the well being ministry mentioned.

The every day tally of recent infections rose to 4,061 from 3,970.

Italy has registered 130,551 deaths linked to Covid-19 since its outbreak emerged in February final yr.

The nation has reported 4.65 million circumstances of the virus thus far.

The British authorities mentioned an extra 182 individuals had died inside 28 days of testing constructive for Covid-19 as of Thursday, bringing the UK whole to 135,803.

In the meantime, separate figures present that 158,664 deaths have been registered within the UK the place Covid-19 was talked about on the loss of life certificates.

As of 9am on Thursday, there had been an extra 36,710 lab-confirmed Covid-19 circumstances within the UK, the federal government mentioned. That’s a rise of 9,799 on final Wednesday.

There have been 231,241 confirmed circumstances within the final seven days, which is a 9.4% rise on the earlier week.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in New York as a part of a push to induce leaders to undertake a vaccine fairness coverage to assist finish the Covid-19 pandemic.

The couple will participate in a worldwide occasion on Saturday to lift consciousness of the significance of fairness in vaccine distribution.

They’re becoming a member of the 24-hour broadcast World Citizen Dwell, which is being staged in New York’s Central Park and around the globe.

It’s a part of various reveals being held in cities from London to Lagos by the organisation World Citizen, with artists together with Ed Sheeran, Sir Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Metallica and Coldplay scheduled to carry out.

As a part of their go to, the duke and duchess had been proven round One World Commerce Middle, constructed on the location of the dual towers destroyed within the 11 September 2001 assaults.

The couple had been dressed sombrely for the event, which comes two weeks after the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist atrocity.

A choose within the Netherlands has dominated {that a} 12-year-old boy will be administered a Covid vaccine towards the needs of his father. The unnamed boy within the metropolis of Groningen had argued that he wanted a vaccine to securely go to his dying grandmother.

Kids aged 12 to 17 within the Netherlands can select to be vaccinated however want permission from each dad and mom. On this case, the boy’s dad and mom had been divorced and solely his mom agreed. Dutch legislation says judges could make choices in the perfect pursuits of kids if their dad and mom can’t agree.

The French information company AFP reported that court docket papers from the case mentioned the boy’s father was vital of the Covid vaccine and testing for coronavirus. The court docket papers mentioned:

The boy wished to be vaccinated as a result of he didn’t need to get contaminated and wished to restrict the prospect of infecting others.

On prime of this, his grandmother is affected by metastatic lung most cancers and is within the closing levels of her life.

The minor desires to spend as a lot time as attainable along with her, however he’s not vaccinated. He’s afraid that he might infect his granny and is satisfied that if he did it might be life-threatening.

His father argued that vaccines “had been nonetheless in a take a look at part” and mentioned it was attainable there could be “nice dangers for the reproductive organs in the long run”. However Choose Bart Tromp, of Groningen district court docket, mentioned there seemed to be no scientific foundation for such issues. He ordered that the boy be administered the vaccine “shortly” as a result of his pursuits had been extra necessary than any attainable attraction by the daddy’s legal professionals.

Covid vaccine scepticism is rising within the Netherlands, with the chief of 1 far-right celebration espousing anti-vaccine views in parliament. Protests are additionally anticipated this weekend when the federal government introduces a Covid move to enter eating places and bars.

Greater than 123,000 deaths have been prevented in England by Covid vaccinations, based on figures calculated by Public Well being England and Cambridge College.

About 23.9 million infections have additionally been prevented by the vaccine rollout, together with 230,800 hospital admissions amongst individuals aged 45 and over, based on the calculations, which cowl the interval as much as 17 September.

Greater than 89% of all individuals aged 16 and over in England have now obtained one dose of vaccine. Almost 82% have obtained two doses. Third doses are being made accessible for some individuals who had their second dose six or extra months in the past.

Vaccine take-up continued to be decrease amongst youthful age teams. An estimated 83% of 30- to 39-year-olds in England have had one jab, together with just below 74% of individuals aged 18 to 29, the PA information company reported.

Novavax has introduced that it has utilized to the World Well being Group for an emergency-use itemizing of its Covid-19 vaccine. The itemizing is a prerequisite for export to a number of international locations taking part within the Covax vaccine-sharing facility, the UN-led initiative to get vaccines to poorer international locations.

The corporate has already signed an settlement to supply 1.1bn doses to Covax. They are going to be manufactured by Serum Institute, the world’s largest vaccine producer. It additionally has manufacturing agreements in Britain, which has ordered 60m doses, and the place some scientific trials had been carried out.

The protein-based Novavax vaccine has proven 90.4% efficacy general, based on scientific trials.

On 14 September, the World Well being Group (WHO) introduced “the primary substantial decline in weekly [Covid] circumstances in additional than two months” after new infections throughout the week of 6 September totalled 4 million.

That quantity fell once more the next week to three.6 million as did the variety of deaths, to “just below 60,000”, the WHO mentioned in its most up-to-date replace this week.

Nevertheless it’s far too quickly to declare victory, say consultants, who warn that unequal vaccine entry might nonetheless result in the emergence of recent and extra lethal variants of the virus.

The virologist Julian Tang advised AFP that statements about how the pandemic is progressing “need to be very country- or region-specific”.

I feel it’s too early to say simply but for everybody, although within the extremely vaccinated components of the world, this will probably be extra true.

There at the moment are clear inequalities when it comes to vaccination protection internationally.

Lower than 2% of the world’s poorest populations have obtained even a primary dose of vaccine, Antoine Flahault, the director of the College of Geneva’s Institute of World Well being, mentioned.

In sure locations – jap and central Europe, Africa, Asia, Israel, Canada, El Salvador, Belize – circumstances are growing exponentially, so we will’t say the pandemic is behind us.

Even in wealthy, well-vaccinated international locations displaying a downward development, issues might reverse, consultants warning. Because the northern hemisphere approaches winter, individuals will as soon as once more gravitate towards massive, indoor gatherings that increase circulation of the virus.

Flahault mentioned:

What we find out about this pandemic is that it’s unpredictable.

Nobody foresaw the looks of the Delta variant in India final spring, although we feared that form of factor would possibly occur.

If a mutation of the Delta variant made it extra proof against current vaccines, it might reverse the advance we’re at the moment seeing.

Since an enormous proportion of the inhabitants of poor international locations just isn’t vaccinated, it’s seemingly that main spikes in infections might trigger new variants to emerge, he added.

“So long as the virus is circulating at a excessive fee someplace on this planet, we gained’t be protected from new waves,” Flahault mentioned.

“Proper now for world security we should vaccinate as many individuals on Earth as attainable.”