HEALTH - The African Mirror

Dec

31

2020

WHO, marking year since COVID-19 began, urges fair vaccine distribution to all

COVID-19

STEPHANIE NEBEHAY THE head of the World Health Organization, marking a year since the first cases of the novel coronavirus were reported by China, urged countries to ensure that vaccines are made available to people at risk everywhere, not just in rich nations. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, appealed for $4 billion to buy COVID-19 vaccines for distribution in lower and middle-income countries through the COVAX vaccine facility. "This is the challenge we must rise to in the New Year," Tedros said in a video message issued a day before the first anniversary of China reporting the first cases of…

Dec

31

2020

By The African Mirror

FACTBOX-First found in UK and South Africa, COVID variants cross the world

COVID-19

TWO variants of the coronavirus, first found in Britain and South Africa and more transmissible than the original, are spreading across the world. The World Health Organization says there is not enough information to determine whether the variants could undermine vaccines being rolled out across the globe. The following countries are among those that have reported variants of the novel coronavirus, first identified in China a year ago, among their populations. * The UNITED STATES reported its first known case of the variant B.1.1.7, originally documented in Britain, in Colorado - a man in his 20s with no recent travel…

Dec

31

2020

By The African Mirror

Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca: Which COVID-19 vaccine could reach developing countries first?

COVID-19

THIN LEI WIN BRITAIN has become the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca as it battles a major winter surge driven by a new, highly contagious variant of the virus. Britain has already ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine, and the government said it had accepted the recommendation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to grant emergency authorisation. The approval is a vindication for a shot seen as essential for mass immunisations in the developing world as well as in Britain. In December, Britain began rolling…

Dec

31

2020

By The African Mirror

EXPLAINER-Where are we in the COVID-19 vaccine race?

COVID-19

BRITAIN has become the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, prioritizing the rapid deployment of the shot as it battles a major winter surge driven by a new, highly contagious variant of the virus. The following is what we know about the race to deliver vaccines to help end the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 1.7 million people worldwide: WHO IS FURTHEST ALONG? U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and German partner BioNTech are the COVID-19 vaccine trailblazers. On Nov. 18, they became the first in the world to release full…

Dec

31

2020

By The African Mirror

Soccer-Authorities say they’re powerless to halt Neymar party

COVID-19

AN end-of-year party for 150 people attended by Brazilian soccer star Neymar is drawing scrutiny from local prosecutors, but the town where it is being held on New Year’s says it cannot do anything to prevent the bash from taking place. Brazilian media said the Paris Saint Germain striker was the host of the five-day-long party in Mangaratiba, a beachside town around 105 km (65 miles) from Rio de Janeiro but his public relations team was quoted by one newspaper as saying he was only a guest. Newspapers on Wednesday said guests had started arriving at the luxury condominium where…

Dec

30

2020

By The African Mirror

Nigeria warns on oxygen supplies, dysfunctional labs in tackling COVID

COVID-19

NIGERIA faces oxygen supply challenges to treat coronavirus patients in parts of the country and unacceptable laboratory delays as case numbers rose to the highest recorded in a single week, health authorities have revealed. The new warnings from Nigerian officials come as the resurgent virus strikes across much of the world, bringing greater caseloads and hospitalisations. "There is an on-going review of the chain for the supply of medical oxygen for our medical facilities across the nation," said Boss Mustapha, chairman of Nigeria's coronavirus task force, naming the capital of Abuja as an area of concern. Labs' "inability to function…

Dec

30

2020

By The African Mirror

One care worker remains in German hospital after vaccine overdose

COVID-19

A care home worker in Germany is still in hospital after being among a group that received the first known overdoses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19, local authorities said on Tuesday. Eight workers in an elderly care home received five times the recommended dose of the vaccine on Sunday. "One lady is currently being looked after as an inpatient," said a spokeswoman for the northern district of Vorpommern-Ruegen, without giving further details about her condition. Three other workers who had gone to hospital for checks after developing flu-like symptoms were now back at home. Out of the 1.5 million…

Dec

30

2020

By The African Mirror

FACTBOX-COVID variants, found in UK and South Africa, travel the world

COVID-19

BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said a variant of the coronavirus, which could be up to 70% more transmissible, is spreading rapidly in Britain. A separate variant, first found in South Africa, is also causing concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is not enough information to determine whether the new variants could undermine vaccines being rolled out internationally. The following countries are among those that have reported variants of the novel coronavirus, first identified in China a year ago, among their populations. * SWITZERLAND has documented five cases of the variant from Britain and two cases of…

Dec

29

2020

By The African Mirror

Siya Kolisi’s wife tests positive for COVID-19

COVID-19

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER RACHEL Kolisi, the first lady of South African rugby, has gone into self-isolation after being infected with COVI/D-19. Kolisi, wife of the Springbok captain and mother of their two boys, has been forced to complete the rest of festive season on her own, communicating with her husband and children through the window. Siya, who has tested negative, shared his experience with thousands of followers on social media, all of whom praised him for being supportive to his wife. “Date nights have changed a bit. It’s been a roller coaster experience, I tested negative which I’m incredibly grateful…

Dec

29

2020

By The African Mirror

COVID-19 claims the lives of South African politicians

COVID-19

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER TWO prominent South African politicians and two leading trade unionists have died within days of each from COVID-19, as the second wave of the pandemic gains momentum, with South Africa passing the one millions mark in infections. Nomvuso Shabalala, an ANC member of parliament and former deputy mayor of Ethekwini, Dr Nchaupe Mokoape, the former president of the Azanian People’s Organisation and the South African Students Organization and David Simpunzi, the secretary-general of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Patrick Mkhize died within days of each other. In its tribute to Shabalala (60), who was a…