The United States is the largest financial donor to the global COVAX vaccine sharing system, but the country has been strong with the actual vaccines it has in large supply, while many others have none. Three-quarters of the world’s vaccines actually administered have been in just ten countries, which together account for less than half of the world’s population.
“The world’s richest nations have closed much of the supply in the short term. At the current rate vaccines are being administered, 92 of the world’s poorest countries will not vaccinate 60% of their populations until 2023 or later “wrote Dr. Krishna Udayakumar and Dr. Mark McClellan, Duke health experts.
The report set out a three-part plan in which the United States should increase funding for COVAX, provide overdoses through the same scheme, and create bilateral programs based on the President’s Emergency Plan for assistance. of AIDS (or PEPFAR) to provide traits and support to countries in need. It could also provide support and materials for countries to produce safe and effective vaccines on their own.
The AstraZeneca vaccine, which the United States has shared, has been stopped in many age groups in Europe after regulators said the vaccine was possibly linked to dozens of rare but serious blood clotting events, some of them mortal. The United States suspended the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Tuesday after reporting the same case of coagulation in six people. The incidence remains extremely rare, at around one million.
Duke University estimates of 300 million overdoses had meant the U.S. would use the J&J vaccine, but given the pause, its projections may be exaggerated. But it won’t change the big picture, as J&J’s shooting currently accounts for less than 5% of the approximately 190 million shots currently in the U.S.
YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED.
Q. Officials say the J&J break will not slow down the U.S. vaccine program. Is true?
A. The pause in the launch of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine could have a significant impact in the US, but not in the way one might think. Practically, the effect is likely to be minimal. Even if the suspension is extended, the United States has not relied heavily on the J&J vaccine and the government said the United States can meet its vaccination targets without firing.
The biggest concern is that the J&J pause could cause a serious psychological blow to confidence in vaccines in general. But it is important to remember that these events are extremely rare. Of the nearly 7 million people who have received the J&J vaccine, there have been reports of only six cases of people experiencing cerebral sinus thrombosis in combination with low blood platelet levels, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the United States Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday. One of these people died.
WHAT’S IMPORTANT TODAY
Keeping half-empty seats on airplanes can reduce significantly Exposure to covid-19
The researchers used laboratory models to simulate the amount of exposure to virus particles that could be reduced when central seats are kept vacant in an aircraft cabin. The models were based on the spread of bacteriophage aerosols used as a substitute to estimate the spread of coronavirus in the air. Bacteriophages are viruses that can infect bacteria.
The analysis did not measure the impact of the use of masks, which is currently required on flights, but the researchers noted that some virus aerosol may be emitted from a masked infectious passenger and therefore distancing. could be useful.
Denmark removes AstraZeneca from its vaccination program
The UK has limited the use of the vaccine to people aged 30 and over, while other European nations have taken a more cautious approach, offering only the shot to people in much older age groups. Younger adults appear to experience the most blood clotting events. However, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) did not advise any change in the way the shot is used, saying the cases were very rare and the benefits still outweigh the risks.
“We basically agree with the EMA’s assessment of the AstraZeneca vaccine,” said Søren Brostrøm, director general of the Danish Health Authority, adding that the shot was not needed because the country already it had reached “an advanced point” in its vaccine deployment.
“If Denmark were in a completely different situation and in the middle of a third violent outbreak, for example, and a health system under pressure, and if we had not reached such an advanced point in the launch of vaccines, then I I would not hesitate to use the vaccine, even if there were rare but serious complications associated with its use. “
1 in 5 Americans will probably never choose to get a vaccine against Covid-19
The United States, along with the rest of the world, is betting on widespread vaccination to get out of the pandemic. But the latest issues of a national survey by the University of Monmouth on vaccination suggest that vaccination of the vaccine will be a major obstacle to achieving this.
ON OUR RADAR
- Banquet halls and hotels in the Delhi region, the capital of India, are becoming “extensive Covid hospitals,” as cases continue to rise during the country’s second wave.
- A senior Japanese government official did not rule out the possibility of canceling the Tokyo Olympics in July if the country’s outbreak worsens.
- Many evangelicals say they will not be vaccinated against Covid-19. This is what a pastor says to his congregation.
- Dr. Anthony Fauci wants you to know that the J&J vaccine is only paused, not canceled. Here’s how long a final decision can take.
- More than 5,000 people fully vaccinated in the U.S. have had Covid-19 infections, but that’s not to panic. Here’s why.
TODAY’S PODCAST
“We’ve been very slow in our agreements and we’re also slow in vaccination. And that’s something I really can’t explain. We should do better. We should be able to vaccinate faster because I have a lot of experience with that.” – Natalia Pasternak, Brazilian microbiologist