Global pandemic exit plan hits a snag

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While this is a major obstacle on the road to recovery, now is not the time for governments to throw away their stocks, writes Ivana Kottasová. Experts say it is possible, if not very likely, that the vaccine will be effective in preventing serious illness and death.

Some countries that use the vaccine may need to move their targets. Instead of trying to achieve herd immunity, the focus could be on preventing as many deaths as possible, even if the virus continues to circulate.

The success of this unique vaccine, developed on a not-for-profit basis, is largely dependent. The organizers of a program to provide vaccines to people in low- and middle-income countries, called COVAX, have announced plans to distribute more than 337 million vaccines by the end of June – of which 336 million doses are believed to come from ‘AstraZeneca. They say they are now waiting to hear the experts’ recommendations.

Many rich countries are also relying on AstraZeneca as they run to get their populations vaccinated before new, more dangerous variants emerge. The United States, which now reports its lowest infection rates in three months, relies on 300 million doses from the drugmaker, as does the European Union. The UK has ordered 100 million doses.

YOU ASKED. WE HAVE ANSWER.

Q: Can people decide which vaccine to take?

A: In most countries where several different vaccines are available, people just get what they get – at least for now, when stocks are limited.

Pfizer’s vaccine needs special, ultra-cold storage – much cooler than normal freezers, so it’s only available to people living in countries that can support cold supply chains. Even in these countries, Pfizer may be limited to people living in areas where such freezing facilities are available.

Moderna vaccine can be transported and stored at normal refrigeration temperatures, which might make it better suited to rural areas or places not close to ultra-cold storage.

In the United States, AstraZeneca is still in the process of applying for emergency use authorization, so it is not yet available. It is already being deployed in the UK and has been approved in the European Union.

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WHAT IS IMPORTANT TODAY

She is one of the most powerful women in Europe. A vaccine spit could derail its major plans for the continent

It is likely that a few weeks ago much of the world had never heard of Ursula von der Leyen’s name. The President of the European Commission is not a post which enjoys the fame or greatness of a national leader. So when the head of the commission appears in the media, there’s a good chance something has gone very wrong, writes Luke McGee.

The EU’s non-edifying row with the UK and drugmaker AstraZeneca over limited supplies of Covid-19 vaccines has caught von der Leyen and his management style in the spotlight. In the process, the Commission proposed export controls for vaccine manufacturers, and even raised fears of a return to sectarian and cross-border violence by threatening to impose restrictions between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Facebook is trying to solve its anti-vaxxer problem. Again

After years of fighting vaccine misinformation, Facebook is once again revising its policies to make them stricter. The company said on Monday that it was “expanding” its efforts to suppress false claims on its platform, as well as on Instagram, regarding Covid-19 vaccines and vaccines in general during the pandemic, reports Kaya Yurieff.

The announcement came a day after CNN Business reported that Instagram continued to highlight anti-vaxxer accounts in its search results, while Facebook groups that complained about vaccines remained easy to find. The findings have raised concerns among public health experts, given that the United States is in the midst of its largest vaccine deployment ever to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

President Joe Biden plans to test domestic flights

People intending to travel on domestic flights in the United States may soon be required to test negative for Covid-19 before boarding planes. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed in an interview with “Axios on HBO” on Sunday that the Biden administration was considering the measure, but gave no further details.

“There is an active conversation with the CDC right now,” Buttigieg said. “What I can tell you is that it’s going to be driven by data, by science, by medicine and by input from the people who are actually going to have to do this.”

The discussion follows a CDC rule that went into effect at the end of January, requiring negative Covid-19 tests for international travelers, US citizens and residents entering the United States.

ON OUR RADAR

`` It's all about the vaccine for me now, '' says Sara Jablow, who was vaccinated early due to her job and is interested in dating. `` I'm pretty straightforward about this: I believe in science, and if anyone isn't interested (in the vaccine) ... I'm done. ''
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TOP TIP

Parts of the United States are starting to reopen restaurants, even as Covid-19 is still transmitting at high rates. Los Angeles last Friday said its restaurants could reopen for alfresco dining with restrictions and 50 percent capacity. Chicago has reopened with rules that encourage physical distancing and masks. New York announced that restaurants could reopen at 25% of capacity just in time for Valentine’s Day. It’s always safer to avoid indoor meals, but Dr Anthony Fauci says it’s possible if it’s “done carefully.”

“If you dine indoors, you do it in a spaced fashion where you don’t have people sitting next to each other,” the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told Don Lemon. from CNN. “Good airflow” is the key, he said. Read here to learn more about indoor dining.

PODCAST OF THE DAY

“I think it’s really important that we start to defend and reframe the concept of trying to protect pregnant women from research and really revisiting that concept, because maybe we can protect pregnant women better by doing them. allowing participation in research and generating data within the safe limits of a clinical trial. “- Dr. Emily S. Miller, Obstetrician and COVID-19 Working Group Member of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr Sanjay Gupta discusses with Dr Miller whether pregnant women should be vaccinated against Covid-19. Listen now.

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