100% Effective in Teens: Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine safe, effective in teens
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Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine was shown to be effective in adolescents aged 12-17 and showed no new or major safety problems in a clinical trial, the developer said on Tuesday, potentially setting the stage for a second vaccine for school-aged children to be authorized in July. Moderna, whose vaccine is authorized for adults 18 and older, said it will submit the findings of its adolescent study to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulators for emergency use authorization in early June.
Most children with COVID-19 develop only mild symptoms or no symptoms. Yet children remain at risk of becoming seriously ill, and they can spread the virus. Widely vaccinating 12- to 18-year olds could allow U.S. schools and summer camps to relax masking and social distancing measures suggested by the CDC. Moderna’s trial evaluated the vaccine in 3,732 adolescents aged 12 to 17, two thirds of whom got the vaccine and one third of whom got a placebo. The main goal was to produce an immune response on par with that seen in the company’s large, Phase 3 trial in adults, which was 94.1% effective at preventing COVID-19. Two weeks after the second dose, researchers found no cases of COVID-19 in the vaccine group compared to 4 cases in the placebo group, resulting in a vaccine efficacy of 100%, based on case definitions from the company’s adult trial. (Reuters)
Airlines re-route to avoid Belarus
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Airlines re-routed flights to avoid Belarus’s airspace on Tuesday and Belarusian planes faced a possible ban from Europe, as international outrage mounted over Minsk forcing down a jetliner and arresting a dissident journalist on board.
Western nations accused Belarus of hijacking and piracy over the interception of the Ryanair plane as it crossed the country on a flight from Greece to Lithuania, and diplomats said France, Ireland and Estonia would raise the incident at a private meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday.
A video released overnight showed 26-year-old Roman Protasevich – who was pulled from the passenger plane after Belarus scrambled a warplane to escort it to Minsk on Sunday – confessing to having organised anti-government demonstrations.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the video was “concerning” and described the forced landing of the jet as “an unprecedented and unacceptable act”. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko must pay a “bitter price” for detaining Protasevich. (Reuters)
Indian couple holds mid-air wedding to escape COVID curbs
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An Indian couple reportedly chartered a plane and held a mid-air wedding with more than 160 guests in an effort to escape coronavirus restrictions. Video footage posted on social media appeared to show the couple and their guests packed into the hired jet.
The state of Tamil Nadu, where the flight was said to have originated, recently imposed tougher restrictions, limiting weddings to 50 guests. India’s aviation authority has launched an investigation, reports said.
An official from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) told the Times of India that the SpiceJet staff aboard the flight had been taken off duty. A SpiceJet spokesperson told the Indian Express that the Boeing 737 was booked from Madurai to Bangalore by a travel agent for a trip after a wedding. The spokesperson said the client was “clearly briefed on Covid guidelines to be followed and denied permission for any activity to be performed on board”.
India is suffering a second wave of coronavirus that has killed at least 300,000 people, according to official figures. Experts estimate that the real death toll is far higher.
Bahrain increases daily vaccination capacity to 31,000 doses at 31 health centers
In line with the directives of the Government Executive Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, Her Excellency Faeqa Saeed Al Saleh today announced the expansion of the Kingdom’s National Vaccination Campaign, by increasing daily vaccination capacity to 31,000 doses.
The Minister added that the National Vaccination Campaign has requested 4.5 million doses of all types of approved vaccinations, to cover 2021-2022 vaccination and booster requirements, and to reflect patient choice and ensure vaccination rollout targets continue to be met, safeguarding the health of the Kingdom’s citizens and residents. In this regard, HE Al Saleh noted the importance of continuing to adapt the Kingdom’s strategic COVID-19 plans in line with epidemiological developments.
HE Al Saleh emphasised that the Kingdom of Bahrain was one of the first countries globally to order vaccinations, in August 2020, and has provided vaccinations free of charge to all, at 27 health centers, in addition to the vaccination centers at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Center, King Hamad University Hospital, Sitra Commercial Complex, and the Bahrain Defense Force Military Hospital, ensuring availability and access to all.
The Minister urged citizens and residents to register for a vaccine, and a booster shot, via the Ministry’s website healthalert.gov.bh, to continue to progress towards population immunity and protection. HE Al Saleh reiterated that all vaccinations approved within the Kingdom of Bahrain are safe and effective against the virus and its variant strains, adding that vaccines reduce the severity of symptoms. The Minister concluded by emphasising the importance of continuing to adhere to all precautionary measures even after being vaccinated, to reduce risk of infection, protect others and support national efforts to combat COVID-19.
Health Minister highlights efforts to combat COVID
Health Minister Faeqa bint Said Al Saleh stressed the importance of enhancing world readiness to respond to pandemics to ensure all people’s safety. The minister was addressing a discussion session themed “Ending this epidemic and preventing the following: Building a healthier, safer and equitable world together”. This was part of the 74th General Assembly of the World Health Organisation (WHO), being held in Geneva, Switzerland, remotely via videoconference.
She stressed the necessity of harnessing all efforts to protect the health system especially from the consequences of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). She expressed the hope that the world will be able to defeat the virus and get out of the pandemic, with the help of safe and effective vaccines that have been developed to combat the virus and overcome this difficult phase.
She underlined Bahrain’s pro-active approach in combating the pandemic, by taking preemptive measures o the experience of the Kingdom of Bahrain, which was preemptive before the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic. She highlighted the national efforts led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to overcome all challenges resulting from this health crisis.
She highlighted Bahrain’s health justice and equity in accessing all health services, including conducting examinations, receiving treatments, and providing vaccinations for free to various segments of society, including citizens and residents, without exception.
8 defendants jailed, fined for violating mandatory quarantine
The Lower Criminal Court sentenced eight defendants to six months in jail and fined them BD1000 to BD3000 for violating their mandatory quarantine as part of the precautionary measures for combating the novel coronavirus.
The Public Prosecution was notified by the Public Health Department at the Ministry of Health about the defendants for violating the precautionary measures and for not adhering to mandatory quarantine which was imposed on them to prevent them from mixing with others.
“The defendants left their places of residence on different dates during the quarantine period, while two of them who tested positive left their homes and went to private hospitals for a COVID-19 re-examination”, said Chief of the Ministries and Public Entities Prosecution. He said that the second COVID-19 test they had undergone proved that they were infected with the virus, which exposed others’ lives to danger. The Public Prosecution launched an investigation upon receiving the notifications and referred the defendants to the competent Criminal Court which convicted them.
“The Public Prosecution will continue its role, alongside competence authorities, in supporting national efforts to control this pandemic and prevent its spread”, said the Chief of the Ministries and Public Entities Prosecution. He urged adherence to the procedures and measures imposed by the concerned authorities in order to protect society, and for individuals to assume their social and national responsibilities to avoid criminal accountability.
1 Restaurant, 3 salons closed for violating health measures
The Public Health Directorate at the Health Ministry has announced the closure of one restaurant for one week for its failure to comply with the precautionary measures to combat the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
During 99 inspection visits carried out by the inspectors of the Health Ministry, in coordination with the Interior Ministry and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), to 99 restaurants and cafés across the kingdom, 13 restaurants were found in violation of precautionary measures, and were referred to the competent authorities.
The Health Ministry indicated that the restaurants had violated the provisions of ministerial edict 51/2020 on the mandatory health guidelines to be put in place in order to limit the spread of the pandemic, noting that the Public Health Directorate’s law enforcement officers had coordinated with their counterparts from the Interior Ministry and Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry, represented by the Inspection Directorate, and decided to close the restaurant for one week.
The Health Ministry stressed the need to implement the precautionary measures and decisions of the National Medical Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus, including restricting entry to shopping malls, as well as indoor spaces of restaurants and cafés to individuals aged 18 and above who are vaccinated and have completed 14 days after the second dose, in addition to those who have recovered from COVID-19.
These outlets are also required to check the temperature of their visitors, reduce their capacity according to the permissible percentage, mark standing and waiting places, ensure social distancing, prevent crowding and provide sanitizing supplies.
On the other hand, the Environmental Health Department visited a number of salons, and closed three (two men’s and one women’s). The violating salons allowed the entry of active cases who are required to be under quarantine and must not contact others.
A sports hall was also closed for flouting the precautionary measures in place to curb the spread of the pandemic. Meanwhile, cafés, restaurants and salons with minor violations were requested to address them immediately.
