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  • WHO certifies Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine safe to use

    WHO certifies Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine safe to use

    The Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 is safe to use, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared in Geneva on Wednesday.

    It therefore recommended its continuous use to tame the pandemic.

    “WHO considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue”, the global health regulator said.

    WHO spoke as some countries in the European Union (EU) temporarily suspended the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

    The measure was a precautionary measure, following reports that it was causing blood clots.

    In a statement, the WHO said this decision was based on reports of rare blood coagulation disorders in persons who had received the vaccine.

    It said, however, that other countries in the EU – having considered the same information – had decided to continue using the vaccine in their immunization programmes.

    “Vaccination against COVID-19 will not reduce illness or deaths from other causes. Thromboembolic events are known to occur frequently. Venous thromboembolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease globally.

    “In extensive vaccination campaigns, it is routine for countries to signal potential adverse events following immunization.

    “This does not necessarily mean that the events are linked to vaccination itself, but it is good practice to investigate them.

    “It also shows that the surveillance system works and that effective controls are in place, the statement said.

    The statement said the WHO was in regular contact with the European Medicines Agency and regulators around the world for the latest information on COVID-19 vaccine safety.

    “The WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety is carefully assessing the latest available safety data for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

    “Once that review is completed, WHO will immediately communicate the findings to the public.

    “At this time, WHO considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue,” the statement said.

  • Why WHO wants use of AstraZeneca vaccine to continue despite fears

    Why WHO wants use of AstraZeneca vaccine to continue despite fears

    Despite fears over usage, the World Health Organization (WHO) has again recommended the continuous use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine.

    Recall a number of countries in the European Union have temporarily suspended use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

    The countries suspended use of the vaccine as a precautionary measure based on reports of rare blood coagulation disorders in persons who had received the vaccine.

    Other countries in the EU – having considered the same information – have decided to continue using the vaccine in their immunization programmes.

    The WHO in a statement said at this time, it considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue.

    A statement published on WHO’s website on Wednesday reads: “Vaccination against COVID-19 will not reduce illness or deaths from other causes.

    “Thromboembolic events are known to occur frequently. Venous thromboembolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease globally.

    “In extensive vaccination campaigns, it is routine for countries to signal potential adverse events following immunization.

    “This does not necessarily mean that the events are linked to vaccination itself, but it is good practice to investigate them. It also shows that the surveillance system works and that effective controls are in place.

    “WHO is in regular contact with the European Medicines Agency and regulators around the world for the latest information on COVID-19 vaccine safety.

    “The WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety is carefully assessing the latest available safety data for the AstraZeneca vaccine. Once that review is completed, WHO will immediately communicate the findings to the public.

    “At this time, WHO considers that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue”.

  • WHO admits people may have severe allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccine

    WHO admits people may have severe allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccine

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the agency is aware that a small fraction
    of people – around one person in every one million people vaccinated – may have severe allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine, known as anaphylaxis.

    WHO, in a statement posted on its website on Tuesday, stated that just like the way people react to other vaccines or drugs, they could also react to COVID-19 vaccine.

    The organisation stated that “some people could react to the vaccine, especially those with history of anaphylaxis to one of the vaccine constituents which may have higher risk of reaction following COVID-19 vaccination.

    “Similarly, if the person provides a history of anaphylaxis with a previous dose of the same vaccine, he or she should be advised not to take the vaccine.’’

    The UN health agency made the clarification while reacting to a story published by The Observer Newspaper with the title: “Allergic Person Advised not to take COVID-19 vaccination”.

    According to the WHO statement, all vaccination sites should have a medical doctor or clinical officer with the necessary kit to address such reactions or any other adverse event following vaccination to manage allergy.

    “WHO recommends that before the first dose, clients should inform the vaccinating team about any allergic reaction they may have had in the past.

    “This is a precautionary measure. The healthcare providers will then assess the patient’s medical history to determine if he or she is at risk of severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine.

    “All immunisation providers are trained to recognise severe allergic reactions and are knowledgeable about the practical steps needed to treat them.

    “We encourage all those who are vaccinated to remain at the vaccination site for 30 minutes for observation.’’

    During the on-going COVID-19 rollout, WHO is working closely with the Ministry of Health to detect and immediately respond to any serious side effects that may occur within 30 minutes of vaccination and beyond the 30 minutes when the person goes home.

    In addition, it stated that the same article reported that some European countries had suspended the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine based on reports of rare blood coagulation disorders in a few people.

    “WHO is aware that as a precautionary measure, a few countries in the European Union have suspended the use of a specific batch as a precaution, while full investigation is undertaken.

    “It is important to note that the European Medicines Agency’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee position is that the vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh its risks.

    “The committee says the vaccine can continue to be administered while investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing.”

    “As soon as WHO gains full understanding of events surrounding the suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine in those countries, the findings and any changes to current recommendations will be immediately communicated to the public,” it added.

    The world body also noted that vaccinations against COVID-19 would not reduce other medical conditions or deaths from other causes.

    It stated that “they will continue to occur, including after vaccination but they are not related to the vaccines.”

    Meanwhile, around 14.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine produced by Serum Institute of India have been delivered to 23 African countries under the COVAX initiative as of March 12.

    Nearly 600,000 doses of the COVAX-funded AstraZeneca vaccine had been administered.

  • WHO: Women less likely to die from COVID-19 than men in Africa

    WHO: Women less likely to die from COVID-19 than men in Africa

    Women account for a slightly smaller proportion of COVID-19 infections and deaths compared with men, a preliminary analysis by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 28 African countries shows.

    WHO Regional Office for Africa said this in a statement issued from its headquarters in Brazzaville, Congo on Thursday.

    According to the statement, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, reported the findings of the analysis at a virtual press conference on COVID-19.

    Moeti said the analysis was based on COVID-19 gender specific epidemiological data provided by countries.

    “The data found that although women account for around 41 per cent of COVID-19 cases, this ranges from 31 per cent in Niger to over 57 per cent in South Africa.

    “In most countries, women are somewhat less likely to die from COVID-19 than men.

    “For instance, in Cote d’Ivoire the case fatality ratio stands at 0.4 per cent for women compared with 0.5 per cent in men.

    “In the Democratic Republic of the Congo it is 2.2 per cent versus 2.7 per cent and 0.1 per cent versus 0.5 per cent in Seychelles.

    “This comes despite women accounting for a large part of the health workforce which puts them at higher risk of infection,’’ she said.

    According to the statement, in Africa more than 95,000 health workers have been infected with COVID-19.

    It stated that in Seychelles, women accounted for 71 per cent of health worker infections, 64 per cent in Eswatini, 55 per cent in Cote d’Ivoire and 54 per cent in Senegal.

    “Further analyses are required to determine the factors behind the disparity in infections between men and women. However, some studies have suggested that biological, behavioural or social factors could be responsible.

    “Other studies report that men are significantly more likely to suffer severe effects of COVID-19 and more likely to have pre-existing conditions, explaining the slightly lower fatality rate seen in women.

    “However, the pandemic and the initial strict containment measures such as lockdowns, movement restriction and school closures accentuated existing vulnerabilities faced by women and girls,” Moeti stated.

    The statement, however, quoted Moeti, as saying, “the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls have been profound, leaving many grappling with heightened risks to their health and safety.

    “Our response must go beyond the clinical aspects of the pandemic and address the hidden crises that risk causing long-term effects to lives and livelihoods.”

    With the pandemic accentuating challenges to accessing essential health services, a WHO preliminary analysis in 22 countries found 10 reported a rise in maternal deaths.

    The highest increases reported in Comoros, Mali, Senegal and South Africa between February and July 2020, compared with the same period in 2019.

    Nine of the 22 countries reported a decline in births in health facilities and an increase in complications due to abortions.

    Studies have also found that violence against women, and particularly domestic violence, increased in several countries as security, health, and financial worries created tensions and strains which were worsened by the confined living conditions of lockdown.

    The global health agency further said the economic fallout due to COVID-19 had greatly affected women.

    It stated that informal workers, most of whom were women, accounted for more than 90 per cent of the labour force in sub-Saharan Africa, citing a World Bank report.

    “Informal sector jobs have been particularly hit by the pandemic; WHO is working with countries to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on women’s health.

    “Several countries have implemented initiatives to ensure services for sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, adolescent and older people’s health are maintained.

    “The projects include reorganising antenatal care services and providing personal protective equipment to minimise COVID-19 infection and mobile-based family planning services.

    “It also includes self-care options for oral and injectable contraceptives as well as public private partnerships to deliver contraceptives and other family planning commodities,” said WHO.

  • COVID-19 pandemic unlikely to end in 2021 – WHO

    COVID-19 pandemic unlikely to end in 2021 – WHO

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is unlikely the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will end in 2021.

    “I think it will be very premature and unrealistic to think that we are going to finish with this virus by the end of the year.

    “What we can finish with – if we are smart – is hospitalisations, deaths and the tragedy associated with this pandemic,’’ Mr Michael Ryan, Director of WHO’s health emergencies programme, said at a news conference on Tuesday.

    Ryan said that WHO’s focus at present was to keep transmissions as low as possible and vaccinate more and more people.

    According to the official, delivery of vaccine doses has improved compared to 10 weeks ago although there are `huge challenges’ in distributing them.

    “If the vaccines begin to impact not only on death and hospitalisation, but have a significant impact on transmission dynamics and transmission risk, then I believe we will accelerate toward controlling this pandemic,’’ Ryan said.

  • COVID-19 vaccines: Nigeria not excluded from benefiting countries – FG

    COVID-19 vaccines: Nigeria not excluded from benefiting countries – FG

    The Federal Government has said the World Health Organisation (WHO) did not delist Nigeria from the list of African countries to receive its COVID-19 vaccines.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said this on Saturday while speaking on a radio programme.

    He said Nigeria was still on the list adding that the purported delisting of the country owing to lack of storage facilities to store the vaccines was a misrepresentation of the facts.

    “The report is untrue; It is not correct at all. WHO has not delisted Nigeria from the list of vaccine beneficiaries.

    “What happened was that Nigeria was to get 100,000 doses of vaccines from Pfizer in January ,which the pharmaceutical company later said would be delivered in February.

    “”Even while we were awaiting the delivery for Pfizer’s vaccines ,we had already put in place storage facilities that could store up to 400,000 doses of the vaccine at -70 degree Celsius.

    “The is apart from the storage facilities put in place by states in the country . So the issue of lack of storage facilities is not true .

    “And you know COVID-19 vaccines are limited in supply and that informed why WHO thought that if countries should get the vaccines based on affordability, so many would not get the vaccines .

    “So they decided to deliver millions of doses to countries that might not be able to get them easily.

    “So they promised Nigeria 41 million doses free with the initial delivery of 16 million doses of Oxford -AstraZeneca vaccinee to come this month “, he said .

    The minister said the WHO opted to send Oxford’s vaccines first because it could be stored in a relatively higher temperature .

    Mohammed, however, said all vaccines sent into the country would have to be certified safe by NAFDAC before they would be accepted.

    On the Executive Order recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari to compel the adherence to safety measures against COVID-19,the minister said the step was taken to safeguard the health of citizens .

    He said the President took the step as many citizens were not adhering to extant COVID-19 safety protocols.

    The minister appealed to citizens to always take precautions against the pandemic to guarantee their safety and that of others .

    He said the Federal Government had implemented a lot of intiatives under its Economic Sustainable Plan to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on citizens and businesses.

    He said the initiatives such as Payroll Support ,Grants to artisans had benefited hundreds of thousands of Nigerians.

    Mohammed said the government was committed to making life better for all citizens and would continue to implement programmes to positively impact on the lives of Nigerians.

  • WHO excludes Nigeria, eight others from global vaccine bid

    WHO excludes Nigeria, eight others from global vaccine bid

    The World Health Organisation-led COVAX global initiative has failed to shortlist Nigeria for the Pfizer vaccines following the country’s inability to meet the standard requirement of being able to store the vaccines at the required -70 degrees Celsius.

    The Nigerian government had stated that it was expected to receive 100,000 doses through the COVAX initiative, which was set up to ensure rapid and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries, regardless of income level.

    Speaking at a virtual press conference, the Director, WHO, African Region, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said only four African countries were shortlisted for the Pfizer vaccine out of the 13 that applied.

    Moeti said WHO could not risk the Pfizer vaccines being wasted.

    She said, “Around 320,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been allocated to four African countries – Cape Verde, Rwanda, South Africa, and Tunisia. This vaccine has received WHO Emergency Use Listing but requires countries to be able to store and distribute doses at minus 70 degrees Celsius.

    “To access an initial limited volume of Pfizer vaccine, countries were invited to submit proposals. Thirteen African countries submitted proposals and were evaluated by a multi-agency committee based on current mortality rates, new cases, and trends, and the capacity to handle the ultra-cold chain needs of the vaccine.

    “This announcement allows countries to fine-tune their planning for COVID-19 immunization campaigns. We urge African nations to ramp up readiness and finalize their national vaccine deployment plans. Regulatory processes, cold chain systems, and distribution plans need to be in place to ensure vaccines are safely expedited from ports of entry to delivery. We can’t afford to waste a single dose.”

    The Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Prof Babatunde Salako, had told this newspaper that there is not enough space at the moment to store the Pfizer vaccines at that temperature.

    But the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, had described the report as fake, saying Nigeria had the capacity to store the vaccines and had taken journalists on a tour of its facility in Abuja.

    Although, Nigeria was expected to be on the list of African countries to receive the first set of Pfizer vaccines because of its rate of infection which is now the sixth-highest on the continent.

    Only South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia have higher infection rates than Nigeria. But Morocco and Egypt have already independently obtained vaccines and begun distribution while South Africa, which has the highest burden of the disease in Africa, has already procured one million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, produced in India but has yet to begin distribution.

    Nigeria has, however, received no COVID-19 vaccine even as its rate of infection has continued to surge.

    Unlike the other vaccines on the market, the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, which has the highest WHO rating, is expected to be stored at 70 degrees Celsius which Nigeria could not meet.

    However, the WHO regional director said countries that failed to make the Pfizer list could get the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine later in the month although it has not yet been endorsed by the health organization.

    This newspaper learnt that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine does not need to be stored in a cold facility.

    Moeti said, “Nearly 90 million of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine could start arriving on the continent later this month. This is subject to the WHO listing the vaccine for emergency use. The review is ongoing and its outcome is expected very soon.”

    The WHO director said it was time for African countries to up their game in the rollout of vaccines.

    She said the initial phase of 90 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines would support countries to immunize three percent of the African population most in need of protection, including health workers and other vulnerable groups in the first half of 2021.

    “As production capacity increases and more vaccines become available, the aim is to vaccinate at least 20 percent of Africans by providing up to 600 million doses by the end of 2021,” Moeti said.

    To complement COVAX efforts, the African Union has secured 670 million vaccine doses for the continent which will be distributed in 2021 and 2022 as countries secure adequate financing. The African Export-Import Bank will facilitate payments by providing advance procurement commitment guarantees of up to $2bn to the manufacturers on behalf of countries.

    Since the AU will distribute vaccines based on population, Nigeria is expected to receive the highest shipment. However, no date has been announced for the distribution.

  • 2.5bn people in 130 countries are without COVID-19 vaccines, WHO warns

    2.5bn people in 130 countries are without COVID-19 vaccines, WHO warns

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) says three quarters of all COVID-19 vaccinations were only in 10 countries, accounting for almost 60 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    “Around 130 countries, with 2.5 billion people, are yet to administer a single dose”, WHO Director- General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said at a regular press briefing on COVID-19, in Geneva, on Friday.

    “On Wednesday, COVAX published its forecast for the distribution of vaccines to participating countries. Countries are ready to go, but the vaccines aren’t there. We need countries to share doses, once they have finished vaccinating health workers and older people.

    “We also need a massive scale-up in production. Manufacturers can do more: having received substantial public funding, we encourage all manufacturers to share their data and technology to ensure global equitable access to vaccines.’’

    Ghebreyesus repeated his call on companies to share their dossiers with WHO faster and more fully than they have been doing, so that the oragnisation would review them for emergency use listing.

    Similarly, he called on companies to emulate last week’s announcement by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi that it would make its manufacturing infrastructure available for the production of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

    “Companies can also issue non-exclusive licenses to allow other producers to manufacture their vaccine – a mechanism that has been used before to expand access to treatments for HIV and hepatitis C,’’ he said.

  • Rich countries sabotaging equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines – WHO

    Rich countries sabotaging equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines – WHO

    The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, has expressed concern over the distribution of vaccines, especially to health workers and the elderly in low-income countries.

    He explained that rich countries are sabotaging equitable access to drugs. He noted that more than 39 million doses of vaccines have been administered in at least 49 higher-income countries, whereas, only 25 doses have been distributed in one lowest-income country.

    He further disclosed that some countries and companies continue to go around the COVAX facility in order to jump to the front of the queue by driving up prices. These actions, according to him, will lead to hoarding, a chaotic market, uncoordinated response, continued social and economic disruption, could delay the delivery of vaccines to poor countries, and prolong the pandemic.

    The WHO DG, therefore, urged higher-income countries and manufacturers of vaccines to work together in solidarity to ensure that within the first 100 days of this year, vaccination of health workers and older people is underway in all countries.

    Speaking during its 148th session of the Executive Board, on Monday, Ghebreyesus, stated: “The recent emergence of rapidly-spreading variants makes the rapid and equitable rollout of vaccines all the more important. But we now face the real danger that even as vaccines bring hope to some, they become another brick in the wall of inequality between the world’s haves and have-nots.

    “It’s right that all governments want to prioritize vaccinating their own health workers and older people first. But it’s not right that younger, healthier adults in rich countries are vaccinated before health workers and older people in poorer countries. There will be enough vaccine for everyone. But right now, we must work together as one global family to prioritize those most at risk of severe diseases and death, in all countries.

    “For the past 9 months, the ACT Accelerator and the COVAX vaccines pillar have been laying the groundwork for the equitable distribution and deployment of vaccines. We have secured 2 billion doses from five producers, with options on more than 1 billion more doses, and we aim to start deliveries in February. I use this opportunity to thank Gavi and CEPI.

    “COVAX is ready to deliver what it was created for. But in recent weeks I have heard from several Member States who have questioned whether COVAX will get the vaccines it needs and whether high-income countries will keep the promises they have made. As the first vaccines begin to be deployed, the promise of equitable access is at serious risk.

    “More than 39 million doses of vaccine have now been administered in at least 49 higher-income countries. Just 25 doses have been given in one lowest-income country. Not 25 million; not 25 thousand; just 25.

    “I need to be blunt: the world is on the brink of a catastrophic moral failure – and the price of this failure will be paid with lives and livelihoods in the world’s poorest countries.

    “Even as they speak the language of equitable access, some countries and companies continue to prioritize bilateral deals, going around COVAX, driving up prices and attempting to jump to the front of the queue. This is wrong. 44 bilateral deals were signed last year, and at least 12 have already been signed this year. The situation is compounded by the fact that most manufacturers have prioritized regulatory approval in rich countries where the profits are highest, rather than submitting full dossiers to WHO.

    “This could delay COVAX deliveries and create exactly the scenario COVAX was designed to avoid, with hoarding, a chaotic market, an uncoordinated response, and continued social and economic disruption. Not only does this me-first approach leave the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people at risk, it’s also self-defeating.

    “Ultimately, these actions will only prolong the pandemic, the restrictions needed to contain it, and human and economic suffering. Vaccine equity is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic and economic imperative.”

    He added: “A recent study estimated that the economic benefits of equitable vaccine allocation for 10 high-income countries would be at least 153 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, rising to 466 billion dollars by 2025. That’s more than 12 times the total cost of the ACT Accelerator.

    “It’s not too late. I call on all countries to work together in solidarity to ensure that within the first 100 days of this year, vaccination of health workers and older people is underway in all countries.

    “First, we call on countries with bilateral contracts – and control of supply – to be transparent on these contracts with COVAX, including on volumes, pricing and delivery dates.

    “We call on these countries to give much greater priority to COVAX’s place in the queue and to share their own doses with COVAX, especially once they have vaccinated their own health workers and older populations so that other countries can do the same.

    “Second, we call on vaccine producers to provide WHO with full data for regulatory review in real-time, to accelerate approvals. We also call on producers to allow countries with bilateral contracts to share doses with COVAX, and to prioritize supplying COVAX rather than new bilateral deals.

    “And third, we call on all countries introducing vaccines to only use vaccines that meet rigorous international standards for safety, efficacy and quality, and to accelerate readiness for deployment.”

  • COVID-19: WHO gives ‘Emergency’ approval to Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine

    COVID-19: WHO gives ‘Emergency’ approval to Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine

    The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday granted emergency validation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, paving the way for countries worldwide to quickly approve its import and distribution.

    Britain launched its inoculation drive with the US-German vaccine on December 8, with the United States, Canada and EU countries following suit.

    WHO said the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was the first to receive its “emergency validation” since the novel coronavirus first broke out in China a year ago.

    “This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to COVID-19 vaccines,” said Mariangela Simao, a top WHO official tasked with ensuring access to medicines.

    “But I want to emphasise the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere,” she said in a statement.

    WHO said its emergency use listing opens the way for regulators in different countries to approve the import and distribution of the vaccine.

    It said it also enables UNICEF, which plays a key logistical role in distributing anti-Covid vaccines, and the Pan-American Health Organization to procure the vaccine for countries that need it.

    WHO convened its own experts and those from around the world to review the data on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine’s “safety, efficacy and quality,” weighing the benefits against the risks.

    “The review found that the vaccine met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by WHO, and that the benefits of using the vaccine to address COVID-19 offset potential risks,” it said.