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Tag: vaccine

  • Coronavirus vaccine: WHO chief scientist thinks mid-2021 is possible

    Coronavirus vaccine: WHO chief scientist thinks mid-2021 is possible

    Widespread coronavirus vaccination could begin in the middle of next year, the chief scientist of the World Health Organisation, Soumya Swaminathan said.

    She expressed cautious optimism about the state of the research and development process in an interview with dpa.

    “We have now over 20 candidates in clinical studies.

    “So we are hopeful that a couple of them will work. It would be very unlucky if all of them fail,” Swaminathan added.

    “So if we are very practical, then we are looking at the middle of 2021 when we will have a vaccine that can be widely deployed,” she said, adding: “Of course it’s impossible to predict.”

    Swaminathan said the global race to develop a vaccine had been “the fastest timeline we have ever seen,” noting that there were only three months between the time the virus’ genetic sequence was published in January and the time the first trial began.

    The novel coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China, late last year.

    It has since spread to almost every corner of the globe, killing more than 600,000 people and infecting more than 14 million.

    The U.S. leads the world in confirmed cases.

    The pandemic’s epicentre has shifted from China to Europe, to the Americas, leading to lockdowns and tough restrictions on public life and travel.

    Some places where the virus was brought under control are seeing an uptick in cases, fanning fears of a second wave of infections and a new round of restrictions.

  • BREAKING: Nigerian scientists discover breakthrough COVID-19 vaccine

    BREAKING: Nigerian scientists discover breakthrough COVID-19 vaccine

    Nigerian Universities’ Scientists, under the aegis of COVID-19 Research Group, on Friday announced the discovery of a vaccine for the prevention of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    Addressing a news conference on Friday at Adeleke University, Ede, in Osun, Dr Oladipo Kolawole, Leader of the team, said the vaccine was being developed locally in Africa for Africans.

    Kolawole, a Specialist in Medical Virology, Immunology and Bioinformatics, at Adeleke University, Ede, however, said the vaccine would also work for other continent when unveiled.

    He said the study, which led to the discovery of the vaccine, had enjoyed initial funding by the Trinity Immunodeficient Laboratory and Helix Biogen Consult, Ogbomosho, to the tune of about N7.8 million.

    Kolawole said the group had been working extensively by exploring the SARS-CoV-2 genome from African countries to select the best possible potential vaccine candidates.

    He said after trying out some selected processes of vaccine development, the researchers had been able to choose the best potential vaccine candidates for the SARS-CoV-2 and had made the possible latent vaccine constructs.

    On how soon the unnamed vaccine would be unveiled to the public, Kolawole said that it would take a minimum of 18 months.

    According to him, this is because a lot of analysis and studies as well as approvals by medical authorities were still required.

    Also, Prof. Solomon Adebola, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, said the university was poised to assist in the funding of the research with a view to bringing the vaccine to limelight.

    “We are glad that a vaccine that will provide solution to a global problem like Coronavirus pandemic is coming from the garden.

    “It is our passion to be a solution provider to such a global pandemic, and we are ready to throw our weights behind the team and make the vaccine a reality,” Adebola said.

    Commenting, Prof. Julius Oloke, the Head, Coordinating Unit of the Research Group and Vice-Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, said the vaccine was real.

    He said, “It’s a pleasure that we have come together to produce a vaccine at a time that the world is in need of solution to a ravaging pandemic.

    “It’s a proof that we are working and not folding our hands or looking away from the problem.

    “The vaccine is real. We have validated it severally. It is targeted at Africans, but will also work for other races.

    “It will work. It cannot be faked. This is a result of determination. It took a lot of scientific efforts.

    “The population of those that need vaccines is more than those that need drugs. That is why the research focussed on vaccine.”

  • CORONA WATCH 21: ‘We Want To Breathe And Live Again… ‘ – Catherine Onyemize

    CORONA WATCH 21: ‘We Want To Breathe And Live Again… ‘ – Catherine Onyemize

    Catherine Onyemize, Maryland, U.S.A

    I see COVID-19, the sudden whirlwind that stormed our world as a plague. Sadly, the world can never be the same. Unfortunately, many leaders have turned this to politics: making up numbers of victims, survivors and deaths. So life-threatening is this plague that the mere sound of its name or a slight symptom in the body can mentally put one to death by itself.

    Activities are in full lockdown: no church gatherings, no schools and no social interactions. To avoid further spread, the need to maintain social distance by keeping 6 feet apart between yourself and anyone else, staying home as much as possible, avoiding groups, wearing the complete PPE (personal protective equipment), regular washing and sanitizing of hands have become the “New-Normal”. These have actually yielded positive results and very soon we can all take our foot off the brake, breathe again and live again. Hopefully.

    Being made to forcefully stay home thereby has left many traumatized and demoralized. For the most part, Medical Frontliners have been made to put their lives at risk, some paying the ultimate price with their lives.

    USA as a case study: looking at the entire states in the US, 25% of New York is plagued with the virus. It also has the highest death rate. The public health authorities have been focusing on the most vulnerable communities with some good and bad news.

    As a matter of fact, the United States has recorded a huge number of deaths of medical practitioners. This has led to a recall of retired or even hitherto laid-off staff to get back to work in other to help curb the spread of the virus.

    The leaders should put-in plans to provide economic relief to everyone. And small businesses that are struggling financially while maintaining strict adherence to health and safety procedures need robust support. Is “Free testing” of all residents and staff of the medical facilities particularly the front liners impossible?

    Looking forward, I hope this virus disappears just as it came so the entire world can be resuscitated and back to normal. I am hoping there will be a scientific breakthrough that gets the right vaccine for proper treatment.

    After the pandemic, the global economy will live with FEAR. However, I believe our world will return stronger, but we all need to work together.

    In my opinion, activities will not function at a 100% for a long time to come. We will likely see resurgence in COVID-19 in certain areas/sectors of the US most likely until a vaccine or medicine advances allow for tools to adequately address the health crisis.
    In the life of kids/students, the world of education is grappling with the fear of returning to the traditional classroom setting or moving to a new path focused on student well-being and reducing the deep inequalities of global learning.

    For small businesses and public gatherings such as churches: recovery will obviously be a challenge for both large and small. This rebound won’t happen overnight.

    The workforce will create jobs for those who lost their jobs to COVID-19 for steady income. As an opportunity, they will likely find stronger staff with experience. The pandemic gave rise to curbside services, this will be a staple in the labor market to prevent too many people at the same time in the stores, malls, plants etc. In this way, more jobs will be created, or rather newer job variations that never existed or were minimal before the pandemic will come into being.

    Yet, we will have to live with the gnawing trepidation around predictions around a second and third waves, and even a return of the virus in 10 years (2030). Hence, the need to be guarded and guided at every given time. Right now, we just want to breathe and live again.

  • Italian firm Takis develops world’s first coronavirus vaccine

    An Italian medical firm, Takis said it has developed the world’s first vaccine that neutralises the coronavirus in human cells.

    According to tests carried out at Rome’s infectious-disease Spallanzani Hospital, a single shot of the vaccine generates antibodies in mice.

    Italian news agency ANSA reported that the antibodies can block the virus from infecting human cells.

    Luigi Aurisicchio, CEO of Takis, told ANSA that the Covid-19 candidate vaccine had neutralised the virus in human cells, for the first time.

    “According to Spallanzani Hospital, we are the first in the world so far to have demonstrated a neutralisation of the coronavirus by a vaccine.

    “We expect this to happen in humans too,” Aurisicchio told ANSA.

    After observing that five candidate vaccines generated a large number of antibodies, researchers selected the two with the best results.

    All of the candidate vaccines currently being developed are based on the material genetic of DNA protein “spike”. They are injected with “electroporation” technique, which consists of an intramuscular injection followed by a brief electrical impulse, helping the vaccine enter the cells.

    Researchers at Takis believe that this makes their vaccine particularly effective for generating antibodies in the lung cells, the most vulnerable to coronavirus.

    Another Italian company ReiThera has said its coronavirus vaccine had shown a “strong immune response” in animals.

    “The antibodies are able to prevent the infection and the T cells eliminate the virus that has already entered the organism,” it told news agency ANSA.

    On Tuesday, Israel’s Defence Minister Naftali Bennett claimed the country’s main biological research institute IIBR has developed an antibody to the coronavirus that can attack the virus and neutralise it within the bodies of those who contract it.

    The statement, however, did not clarify whether human trials for the vaccine were conducted.

    The IIBR has conducted some clinical trials.

    The researchers have identified the protein that is efficient in killing the virus in a patient’s body, and the institute would be publishing a paper soon about the findings.

    So far, at least 254,532 people have died from Covid-19 since the outbreak first emerged in China last December.

    More than 3,629,160 cases have been confirmed in 195 countries and territories.

  • NAFDAC clears air on discovery, approval of COVID-19 drugs, vaccines in Nigeria

    NAFDAC clears air on discovery, approval of COVID-19 drugs, vaccines in Nigeria

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has not approved any drug or vaccine for the treatment of COVID-19.

    The Director General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said in a statement on Saturday that NAFDAC had not granted approval for any vaccine for the treatment and cure of COVID-19.

    “To put the record straight, no drugs or vaccines have been given approval in the country for cure of COVID-19.

    “While the medical researchers globally, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Health Organisation (WHO), are working tirelessly on the discovery of vaccines and drugs to cure COVID-19, the agency urges the public to desist from making unsubstantial claims.

    “NAFDAC is the only authority in the country to grant approval to such drugs and vaccines,” Adeyeye said.

    She said that NAFDAC would continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to safeguard the health of Nigerians and that in the event of any approved drug or vaccine for the cure of COVID-19, the agency would not hesitate to inform the public.

    Adeyeye, however, advised Nigerians to comply strictly with measures issued by NCDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19, adding that these include the use of face covering masks, social distancing, washing of hands and use of alcohol based sanitisers.

  • Nigerians must learn to live with COVID-19 till vaccine is found – NCDC DG

    Nigerians must learn to live with COVID-19 till vaccine is found – NCDC DG

    The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, on Friday said that Nigerians will have to learn to live with the coronavirus (COVID-19) until a vaccine is found.

    He made this declaration while addressing the issue of stigmatization towards those that have been infected with the virus, following a complaint by a member of the staff of DAAR Communications PLC at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 that the staff and people related to the founder of the organisation, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who tested positive for COVID-19, were being stigmatised.

    Ihekweazu said: “Concerning stigmatization for persons who are infected with COVID-19, and maintaining the balance between social distancing and stigmatization, it is really unfortunate.

    “Imagine what will be happening in the other parts of the country if this is really happening in Abuja, in homes or communities where individuals have been affected.

    “We are in the beginning of a journey and the most likely scenario is that until we have a vaccine, we will have to learn to live with COVID-19 in our country.

    “So if we start stigmatizing one another, I don’t know when it will stop because the same people that are stigmatising one group will end up being infected tomorrow. “

  • Gov Ayade boasts, gives scientific formula to stopping Coronavirus immediately [Video]

    Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade has faulted the Federal Government’s approach to fighting the novel coronavirus [COVID-19] disease in Nigeria while also offering a detailed scientific explanation on how to produce effective vaccines that can cure and help contain further spread of the deadly virus in the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Ayade, a Professor of Microbiology whose Doctoral Dissertation in Environmental Microbiology was awarded the best at the University of Ibadan (UI) as far back as 1994 is not new to science.

    The governor who spoke passionately in a recent interview with reporters in Calabar said Nigeria is blessed with thousands of renowned virology scholars whose professional ingenuity can help provide a lasting cure to the raging pandemic that has brought the strongest of global economies on their knees. He noted with concern how the renowned scholars were ‘wasting away’ in the universities as the nation continually underuses them.

    Jobs, Healthy lifestyles before vaccines

    To begin with Ayade advocated the creation of jobs for the people and conscious enlightenment of adoption of a healthy living lifestyle. He explained that it was not enough for the world to focus its attention on getting a vaccine when the people are daily living in abject poverty. He said with good jobs and daily healthy lifestyles, diseases will disappear.

    “African should come to the realisation that it is not vaccines, it is healthy living, give people jobs. South Africa’s former President, Thebo Mbeki once told the world don’t tell us about giving us drugs for HIV in South Africa, give us money, let us improve our Agriculture. Let everybody have a job and embrace living healthy. HIV virus will disappear. The same thing with Coronavirus. It will sound very controversial but they should know that I am talking from a very sound intellectual and scientific background,” Ayade explained.

    PCR vaccine test method not reliable

    Meanwhile, the governor also faulted Nigeria’s testing model. According to him, the method (Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR) adopted by Nigeria and other nations is unreliable and not meant for diagnostic purposes. In his words: “The PCR test method is an unreliable method and was never meant to be used for diagnostic purposes but for genomic sequences (research purpose). But PCR is being used, test kits are being produced and the manufacturers are making cool money. If I test you and you are coronavirus positive, what do I do?

    Scientific analysis, processes of making effective COVID-19 vaccine

    The governor while explaining the best approach to formulate an effective vaccine which is either at conception or testing stage all over the world said samples of recovered COVID-19 patients is key to producing effective vaccines.
    There’s no vaccine today nor is there any established approved international treatment protocol. However, in Nigeria and other countries, announcements of recovered and discharged patients are made daily. To produce an efficient vaccine we must take the serum of those who recovered completely from the virus. This is because they (recovered COVID-19 patients) will naturally develop antibodies against the virus upon recovery. Do a synthesis of their serum based on the electrophoresis and synthesize and mass produce the vaccine.

    Federal Government should fund research, production of vaccines

    Having highlighted the steps to producing an effective vaccine, Governor Ayade charged the Federal Government to fund the research and mass production of the vaccines.

    The federal government should start putting money on the research of the production of COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. We have intelligent professors of virology in Nigeria laying waste in the universities. With the money you have now you can set up a first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art vaccine production plant in Nigeria. I teach immunology in the university so I can explain how these things work. Amongst the number of people that you say are now recovered from the virus and discharged, you can extract their serum, take it through the laboratory process to discover which responded to the virus, then synthesize it and mass produce it and that becomes your vaccine.

    WHO warns: ‘recovered COVID-19 patients not immune to reinfection’

    Since the governor’s approach to producing an effective vaccine is centred around the use of the antibodies of recovered and discharged COVID-19 patients, however, TNG reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) last week cautioned that there was no evidence yet that recovered COVID-19 patients are immune from reinfection.

    In a “Scientific Brief” released from its headquarters in Geneva on Saturday and posted on its website, WHO warned against propagating the idea of COVID-19 ‘immunity passport’.

    “Some governments have suggested that the detection of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could serve as the basis for an ‘immunity passport’.
    “They have suggested that it could serve as an ‘immunity passport’ or ‘risk-free certificate’ that would enable individuals to travel or return to work, assuming they are protected against re-infection.
    “There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.
    “The development of immunity to a pathogen through natural infection is a multi-step process that typically takes place over one to two weeks,’’ WHO said.

    Governor openly flouts state’s ban on large gathering

    Despite reeling out unambiguous scientific approach to producing an effective vaccine, TNG observed with concern the thousands of people gathered in clusters (with obvious disrespect to the social distancing rule) in anticipation of the governor’s address in the video.

    TNG reports that Ayade like his colleague governors had placed a ban on mass gatherings of people including placing a ban on religious and social gatherings. TNG recalls that the governor also recently ordered the arrest of some religious leaders who held secret services in the state after the ban was imposed. While it is true that Cross River is yet to record any COVID-19 case, however the gross disrespect for ban on public gatherings and the global social distancing rule by the governor himself might lead to severe and easy spread of the deadly virus in the coming days if adequate preventive measures outside the use of face masks are not put in place.

    TNG reports that the governor while addressing residents of the state earlier this month said social distancing was not needed as long as the mask was on.

    “I’m a professor of science and I know how this virus moves; I know its etiology, I know it transmissibility, I know its antigenicity; because I do, I know that once you put on this mask, you have already been protected.

    “You don’t need social distancing when you are properly protected because your mucal glands that secretes the mucus and the musins already forms a network of coats to attack the virus,” Ayade announced to a cheering audience.

    TNG recalls that the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu recently said the deadly virus will in a matter of time spread to all the 36 states in Nigeria.

    “The virus will grow to every state in Nigeria, there is no reason why it won’t – it is a respiratory virus,” Ihekweazu said recently on a monitored television programme.

    TNG reports that as at 11:20pm, Monday, 27th April – 1337 confirmed cases of #COVID19 was reported in Nigeria with 255 discharged and 40 deaths. The virus which is now in its communal infection stage has successfully penetrated 33 out of the 36 states including FCT, Abuja.

    TNG reports that the three standing states are Cross River, Kogi and Yobe States. However only time can tell how long these states will continue to be COVID-19 free.

  • Bill Gates calls for funding from G-20 members to develop vaccine against coronavirus

    In order for the world to better contain the spread of the coronavirus, leaders of the Group of 20 (G-20) major economies should provide more funding to develop a vaccine, Bill Gates said.
    In an opinion piece provided in South Korea exclusively to Yonhap News Agency on Sunday, Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, noted that COVID-19 had not yet affected many low- and middle-income countries, and said world leaders, particularly G-20 members, should step up efforts to keep it that way because it is “likely only a matter of time before one part of the planet reinfects another.”
    Through his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the business magnate has been an active philanthropist and has waged fights against diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and polio.

    Gates laid down three steps for global leaders: ensuring proper distribution of resources such as masks and diagnostic tests, offering research and development (R&D) funding for a vaccine, and then manufacturing and delivering the vaccine.

    Addressing protective equipment, Gates said, “Eventually, we hope there will be enough for everyone,” but he added some hard choices should be made in smart ways, so that resources reach the right people rather than simply “the highest bidder.”
    “The private sector has an important role to play, but if our strategy for fighting COVID-19 devolves into a bidding war among countries, this disease will kill many more people than it has to,” Gates said. “We need to deploy resources based on public health and medical need.”
    Gates said veterans of the Ebola and HIV epidemics could help develop guidelines for that, and that world leaders should work with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to put them on paper to hold all participating countries accountable.
    Gates then called on leaders to commit R&D funding to develop a vaccine.
    He said Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), launched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust and various governments, was developing “at least eight potential vaccines” for COVID-19, with expectations that at least one would be ready within 18 months.
    Gates said it would be “the fastest humans have ever gone from seeing a brand new pathogen to developing a vaccine against it,” but the timeline will depend on funding.

    According to him, many nations have contributed to CEPI within the past two weeks, but the Coalition needs at least U.S.$2 billion for their work.

    “That’s only a rough number — innovation is an unpredictable business — but the G-20 leaders should make meaningful pledges now,” he added.
    He stated that funding should not stop there because the price tag does not include the cost of manufacturing and delivering the vaccine.
    “We aren’t sure which vaccines will be the most effective yet, and each requires unique technology to make.

    “That means nations need to invest in many different kinds of manufacturing facilities now, knowing that some will never be used.

    “Otherwise, we’ll waste months after the lab develops an immunization, waiting for the right manufacturer to scale up,” he said.
    Gates said any COVID-19 vaccine must be classified as a “global public good” and remain affordable and accessible to all.
    He cited the example of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, an organization that has worked with the WHO and the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to introduce 13 new vaccines to the world’s 73 poorest countries. Gavi, set up by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 1999, will need “$7.4 billion over the next five years” just to maintain its current immunization effort. Delivering a COVID-19 vaccine will be more costly.
    “These multibillion-dollar price tags may seem like a lot of money, especially at a time when entire economies are slowing to a halt,” Gates said.

    “But they’re nothing compared to the cost of a botched immunisation effort and a longer outbreak.

    “Pandemics remind us that helping others isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s also the smart thing to do,” he added.

  • WHO describes suggestion to test Covid-19 in Africa as racist remark

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) chief, Tedros Ghebreyesus has dismissed as “racist” a suggestion by some scientists that the coronavirus vaccine be tested in Africa.

    Ghebreyesus at a press briefing on Monday said Africa is not a testing ground for any vaccine and described such suggestions as a hangover from the “colonial mentality.”

    “On the vaccines issue, there was a comment from some couple of scientists who said the testing ground for the new vaccine should be Africa.

    To be honest, I was so appalled. When we need solidarity, these kinds of racist remarks will not help.

    “Africa cannot and will not be a testing ground for any vaccine. We will follow all the rules to test any vaccine or therapeutics all over the world using exactly the same rule, whether it is in Europe, Africa or wherever, we will use the same protocol,”

    Ghebreyesus said in the video from the press briefing which was shared on his official Twitter handle.

    Comments by two French doctors sparked a comeback after a Television debate in which they suggested trials of vaccine in Africa to see if a tuberculosis vaccine would prove effective against coronavirus.

    Jean-Paul Mira, head of intensive care at Cochin hospital in Paris, then said: “If I can be provocative, shouldn’t we be doing this study in Africa, where there are no masks, no treatments, no resuscitation?”

    Camille Locht then replied: “You are right. We are currently thinking similarly about a study in Africa regarding the BCG vaccine. There is a proposal that has gone out — or will. We will seriously consider it.”

    Their statement sparked backlash on social media, with celebrities including top footballers Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o describing it as unbelievably shocking and provocative.

    See Tweet Below:

  • JUST IN: Vaccine for Coronavirus treatment ready soon -Iwu

    JUST IN: Vaccine for Coronavirus treatment ready soon -Iwu

    The drug for the treatment of the dreaded coronavirus will be ready soon if the testing of the vaccine is completed.

    The assurance was given by the Chairman of the Imo State Taskforce on COVID-19, Prof. Maurice Iwu in Owerri on Wednesday.

    The professor of Pharmacognosy from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), had presented a plant-based patented treatment for COVID-19 to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu which is now been tested in United States.

    While briefing newsmen in Owerri shortly after Seplat Petroleum and Waltersmith Oil Ltd donated COVID-19 preventive material to the state government, Prof. Iwu disclosed that there is a positive sign that it would soon be ready.

    “The work on the drug we are developing is still going on. We are encouraged by the result we are getting. We are getting very positive signs.”

    He disclosed further “luckily the drug is a safe one. It is drug already in use. We are repurposing it for this particular purpose. So when we finished the studying and testing we are doing, I think the drug will come up in line very very soon. ”

    Most importantly, he added “if the pandemic escalates, the NAFDAC will know what to do, like they did in USA to fast track the use of chloroquine.

    “If we have a need NAFDAC will know what to do. Right now the product is in human use, what we are doing is to repurpose it for this particular event, ” he stated.

    He said that the state government is doing everything humanly possible to prevent the virus from getting hold in the state.

    “We have a vertical integration with the Federal Government whereby our ministry of health is working assiduously with the National Centre for Disease Control. We have equipment centre that is ready and we have configured isolation centres.b”
    According to him “there is no confirmed incident in the state, but that does not mean the fear is not there.”