Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE said on Thursday (February 25) that they are testing a third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine to better understand the immune response against new variants of the virus. They are also in talks with regulatory authorities about testing a vaccine modified to protect specifically against the highly transmissible new variant found in South Africa and elsewhere, known as B.1.351, as a second arm of the same study. The companies believe their current two-dose vaccine will work against the South African variant as well as one found in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. But the studies will allow the vaccine makers to be prepared if and when more protection is necessary, they said. "The rate of mutations in the current virus is higher than expected," Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer Mikael Dolsten said in an interview. "It's a reasonable probability that we would end up with regular boosts. And for potent vaccines, it may be that you need to do a ... » Learn More about Pfizer-BioNTech’s new trial to test COVID-19 vaccine booster against South African variant
Covid 19 vaccine
S. Korea launches mass COVID-19 vaccination nationwide
Video Player Close A medical worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Buk-gu of Gwangju, South Korea, Feb. 26, 2021. South Korea on Friday launched its mass COVID-19 vaccination nationwide, starting with patients and health workers under the age of 65 in nursing hospitals and facilities. (NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua) SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Friday launched its mass COVID-19 vaccination nationwide, starting with patients and health workers under the age of 65 in nursing hospitals and facilities. The free vaccination campaign began at 9:00 a.m. local time across the country. On the first day, 5,266 patients and health workers in 213 nursing facilities are scheduled to be inoculated, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Separately, 292 nursing hospitals started administering vaccines according to their own schemes of inoculation that is slated to be completed in five days. The first batch of the two-dose AstraZeneca ... » Learn More about S. Korea launches mass COVID-19 vaccination nationwide
Iran to become major COVID-19 vaccine producer in world: minister
Video Player Close TEHRAN, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian minister of health and medical education said on Friday that Iran will turn into a major COVID-19 vaccine producer in the next Iranian spring which begins on March 20, official IRNA news agency reported. "With the continual efforts of the Iranian youth, we will become one of the largest (COVID-19) vaccine hubs in the world in the next spring," Saeed Namaki was quoted as saying. "Based on the plan, we will vaccinate vulnerable groups by spring," Namaki said, adding that and "we will hopefully be able to control the situation by utmost observance of health guidelines." On Feb. 9, Iran started nationwide vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using Russia's Sputnik V jabs. Iran's Health Ministry reported 8,103 daily COVID-19 cases on Friday, raising the total nationwide infections to 1,615,184. The pandemic has so far claimed 59,899 lives in Iran, up by 69 in the past 24 hours, said Sima Sadat Lari, the spokeswoman for ... » Learn More about Iran to become major COVID-19 vaccine producer in world: minister
Hong Kong’s daily COVID-19 cases rebound to two-week high
Video Player Close People wearing face masks walk on the street in south China's Hong Kong, Feb. 26, 2021. Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 24 additional confirmed cases on Friday, taking the local total tally to 10,950. Hong Kong launched its mass COVID-19 vaccination drive Friday, a week after the arrival of the first one million doses made by Sinovac Biotech. One million doses of the Fosun Pharma/BioNTech vaccine are expected to be shipped to Hong Kong soon. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai) HONG KONG, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 rebounded to a two-week high on Friday, with a growing cluster of infections at a restaurant. The special administrative region's Center for Health Protection reported 24 additional confirmed cases on Friday, taking the local total tally to 10,950. The new cases included 18 local infections, of which one had an unknown origin. There were also more than 20 cases reported to test positive for ... » Learn More about Hong Kong’s daily COVID-19 cases rebound to two-week high
Bolivia launches unprecedented vaccination drive to combat COVID-19
Video Player Close LA PAZ, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia on Thursday launched the largest immunization campaign in its history in the eastern city of Santa Cruz to inoculate residents with COVID-19 vaccines developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm. Bolivian President Luis Arce inaugurated the campaign, accompanied by government officials and representatives of the Chinese Embassy to Bolivia. People with underlying medical conditions were the first to be vaccinated. "With this vaccine we feel safe, so that all my colleagues with whom I do dialysis three times a week can be protected," said Monica Alejandra Cruz, the first beneficiary at the National Center for Tropical Diseases in Santa Cruz. A hundred people in the high-risk group arrived at the vaccination center, complying with social distancing rules put in place by the Ministry of Health. The "doses of hope" have generated high expectations among the public that the campaign will bring the pandemic under ... » Learn More about Bolivia launches unprecedented vaccination drive to combat COVID-19
Maharashtra plans ‘Covid War Memorial’ to honor frontline workers
Maharashtra government plans to launch a ‘Covid War Memorial’ to honor the frontline workers, who sacrificed their lives while fighting the deadly Coronavirus. The memorial will also remind the sacrifices to the future generations. “This is a very unique and innovative idea which will boost the morale of not only medical fraternity but also inspire every segment of people who have worked to fight Covid -19 , government of Maharashtra will definitely work on this proposal & possibility on-ground implementation in Maharashtra very soon,” Rajesh Tope, Maharashtra health minister said. This comes after senior Radiologist, Dr. Sunita Dube also founder of Medscapeindia , proposed to the health ministry of Maharashtra to set up the memorial as a reminder for future generations to remember and prepare people for future pandemics. According to Dube, the new memorial will include a monument, Doctors' statue, immunity booster, laser light shows, to portray COVID war journey, ... » Learn More about Maharashtra plans ‘Covid War Memorial’ to honor frontline workers
We were resolute, strong about protecting our interests: S Jaishankar on border issue
For Quick Alerts Subscribe Now Jaipur Literature Fest: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor lauds Professor Michael Sandel on his new book View Sample For Quick Alerts ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS For Daily Alerts #S Jaishankar Broader de-escalation of troops once disengagement is completed at all friction points: Jaishankar tells Wang #S Jaishankar Border disputes a reality, should be given sufficient attention: China tells India #S Jaishankar EAM inaugurates new chancery building of Indian High Commission in Mauritius #S Jaishankar Bodies dealing with human rights should realise, terror can’t be justified: Jaishankar #S Jaishankar India's time-tested relationship with Maldives poised to take quantum jump: Jaishankar #S Jaishankar Jaishankar holds 'productive' talks with Ethiopian Deputy PM Mekonnen Just In 3 min ago Delhi: 55-year-old man killed by speeding Mercedes in ... » Learn More about We were resolute, strong about protecting our interests: S Jaishankar on border issue
Freeport eyes U.S. expansions as Biden’s EV plan boosts copper demand
Freeport-McMoRan Inc is set to approve expansions at several of its U.S. copper mines to capitalize on surging demand for the red metal as President Joe Biden moves to electrify the nation's automobiles and combat climate change , Chief Executive Richard Adkerson told Reuters. The expansions would be a major bet on the U.S. economy - one of the company's largest markets - and also on the rising demand for electric vehicles (EVs), which use twice as much copper as internal combustion engines. Adkerson also said he has no desire to combine Freeport with Barrick Gold Corp or another gold producer and is working to give COVID-19 vaccines to about 25,000 workers at the Grasberg copper mine in Indonesia, which Freeport owns with that country's government. He also is aiming to double the size of the company's board of directors. Phoenix-based Freeport already produces more than 1 billion pounds of copper each year in the United States, little of which is exported. While ... » Learn More about Freeport eyes U.S. expansions as Biden’s EV plan boosts copper demand
One phase poll in TN, Kerala, Puducherry; 3 in Assam; 8 in Bengal; Counting on May 2
Voting for five assembly elections will begin on March 27, with West Bengal conducting the maximum eight phases continuing till April 29, and votes for the polls in the four states and one Union territory will be counted on May 2, the Election Commission said on Friday. IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, centre, with Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra, left, and Rajiv Kumar addresses a press conference in New Delhi, February 26, 2021. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo. As many as 18.68 crore voters will be eligible to cast their votes at 2.7 lakh polling stations for 824 assembly seats across Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The elections for the five assemblies are expected to witness a determined attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party to put up a strong show, including in Assam where it is already in power, as well as in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry where the saffron party has been pushing hard in recent years. ... » Learn More about One phase poll in TN, Kerala, Puducherry; 3 in Assam; 8 in Bengal; Counting on May 2
EC announces dates for assembly polls in 5 states: Highlights
For Quick Alerts Subscribe Now Jaipur Literature Fest: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor lauds Professor Michael Sandel on his new book View Sample For Quick Alerts ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS For Daily Alerts #Election Commission Assembly Elections 2021: This will be my last set of elections during my tenure, says Sunil Arora #Election Commission Arrangements in place for candidates to file nomination online: CEC #Election Commission TN, Bengal, Kerala, Puducherry, Assam elections 2021: Full polling, counting schedule #Election Commission Five assembly polls to begin March 27, counting of votes on May 2 #Election Commission Election Commission to announce poll dates for 5 states at 4.30 today #Election Commission EC to hold meeting today to finalise schedule for assembly elections in 5 states Just In 20 min ago Police supposed to collect evidence for true picture, ... » Learn More about EC announces dates for assembly polls in 5 states: Highlights