Category: Health Updates
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Pakistan increases COVID restrictions amid a third wave
Pakistani authorities have sealed sections of the capital Islamabad, officials say, as the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic caused a spike in cases and hospital admissions across the country. Pakistan recorded 2,253 new cases of the virus in the last 24 hours, with active cases rising by 917 to 22,038, according to government data…
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Denmark suspends use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine following reports of blood clots
Denmark has suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine after some people who received the jab later developed blood clots. The country’s health agency said there is no evidence at this time that the vaccine is behind the clots, but is suspending the use of it as a precaution as it investigates the matter further. “At present,…
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Danish woman dead after AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, blood clotting had ‘highly unusual’ symptoms
A 60-year-old Danish woman who succumbed to a blood clot after receiving a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca had a “highly unusual” disease state, according to the Danish Medicines Agency. The statement follows Denmark’s decision to suspend the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine after some people who received the jab later developed blood clots. Denmark’s Health Authority noted its move to suspend the use of…
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Study finds link between coronavirus mortality risk and obesity
The World Obesity Foundation released a new study Thursday that found a link between a country’s COVID-19 mortality and obesity prevalence in its population. The researchers found “high mortality rates only in countries where overweight prevalence exceeds around 50% of the adult population.” “Globally, at the end of 2020, COVID-19 mortality rates were more than ten times higher in countries…
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EU regulator authorizes AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for all adults
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population. The European Medicines Agency’s expert committee unanimously recommended the vaccine to be used in people 18 and over, although concerns had been raised this week that not enough data…
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EU regulator reviewing Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine
Europe’s regulatory agency on Thursday announced it started a rolling review of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine ahead of a submitted application. The review was spurred by data from laboratory and clinical studies, which found the vaccine induced an immune response against the virus, which could help protect against disease, per a statement from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). “EMA will…
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Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine 85% effective after single dose,
A vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech cut symptomatic COVID-19 disease by 85% after the first dose, according to Israeli researchers. Findings were outlined in correspondence published in The Lancet on Friday, drawing on results from 7,214 health care workers at the Sheba Medical Center. Researchers found the 85% reduction in disease 15 to 28 days after the first dose, and reported a…
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Johnson & Johnson submits COVID-19 vaccine to WHO for emergency use listing
Johnson & Johnson announced on Friday that it had submitted its coronavirus vaccine to the World Health Organization for emergency use listing. The vaccine, which is administered in a one-dose jab, is also pending emergency use authorization from the FDA. “Our filing with the World Health Organization marks another important step in our effort to combat COVID-19 and…
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Zinc, Vitamin C have no impact on coronavirus symptoms
Zinc and Vitamin C fell short in a clinical trial after researchers found they made no significant difference in easing the duration of coronavirus symptoms. Findings from the Cleveland Clinic were published in JAMA Network on Friday, drawing on results from April 27 to Oct. 14, when 214 coronavirus patients in Ohio and Florida outpatient care sites were given either…
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FDA grants Moderna permission to increase doses in each vial from 10 to 14
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Moderna permission to increase the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses per vial from 10 to 14, the New York Times reports. Moderna did not confirm the approval Friday but told Fox News it is currently in discussions with the FDA about a “potential increase in fill volumes, thus enabling extraction of additional doses from…
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