Omicron Covid variant risk 'very high', warns WHO
World | Nov 29, 2021, 04:07 PM ISTThe development comes shortly after WHO had said that it is “not yet clear” whether the newly-detected coronavirus variant Omicron is more transmissible.
The development comes shortly after WHO had said that it is “not yet clear” whether the newly-detected coronavirus variant Omicron is more transmissible.
WHO’s regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, called on countries to follow science and international health regulations in order to avoid using travel restrictions.
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, which has developed Covaxin, had submitted EOI to WHO on April 19 for the vaccine's Emergency Use Listing.
Though Covaxin has been added in the Oman approval list, however, Bharat Biotech is still awaiting its vaccine's approval from the World Health Organization (WHO), which on Tuesday sought additional data to decide on much-awaited Emergency Use Listing (EUL).
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, which has developed Covaxin, had submitted EOI (Expression of Interest) to the WHO on April 19 for the vaccine's Emergency Use Listing (EUL).
On Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the G20 countries to help collect USD 8 billion to ensure a fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world.
Earlier on Monday, the WHO said it is expecting one additional piece of information from Bharat Biotech regarding its COVID-19 vaccine COVAXIN.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the news during his press briefing from Geneva, "following a public call for experts."
Approval of the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, which goes by the name Mosquirix, provides a “glimmer of hope” for Africa, according to Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.
WHO said its decision was based on results from ongoing research in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi that has tracked more than 800,000 children since 2019.
Globally, the numbers of weekly COVID-19 cases and deaths continued to decline, WHO said.
Bharat Biotech has already completed the Phase 2/3 trials of Covaxin for use in children under 18 years of age.
A WHO-led team of scientists that travelled to China in early 2021 to investigate the origins of the virus struggled to get a clear picture of what research China was conducting beforehand, faced constraints during its visit.
The latest guidance adds to previous recommendations for the use of interleukin-6 receptor blockers and systemic corticosteroids for patients with severe or critical COVID-19.
Bharat Biotech on Friday said it has submitted all the data to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) of its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin and is awaiting feedback from the UN Public Health Agency.
The WHO is currently reviewing Covaxin data submitted by Bharat Biotech. According to WHO website, the date for a decision on the jab is yet to be confirmed.
The agencies said that, even before the Taliban's recent takeover of Afghanistan, the country required the world's third-largest humanitarian operation, with more than 18 million people needing help.
UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, has expressed concern about the prevailing humanitarian needs within Afghanistan and urged for continuous support to ensure necessary assistance in the country.
"We believe clearly that the data does not indicate that boosters are needed," Swaminathan said at a news conference in Geneva. She expressed more understanding for a recent U.S. decision to administer boosters to people with weaker immune systems.
According to the UN health agency, 70 WHO-supported medical facilities across Afghanistan treated nearly 14,000 conflict-related cases last month, which compares with 4,057 cases seen a year ago.
Top News
Latest News