COVID-19 vigilance

Clinical trials of four vaccine candidates are showing remarkable promise, with three exceeding 90% efficacy, no safety concerns and one has shown promise in older adults.

COVAX, a global alliance seeking to ensure that low- and middle-income countries get adequate vaccine provision, has only been able to secure vaccines for around 250 million people — far below what is needed.

Importantly, AstraZeneca and Oxford have pledged to provide their vaccine at cost price to all during the pandemic, and to maintain this price for low- and middle-income countries after the pandemic, when a vaccine will still be needed in case of future outbreaks. As infectious-disease researchers often say, an outbreak anywhere is an outbreak everywhere. Read more ...

Wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands, and get the vaccine (Facebook is now taking down misinformation on vaccines). See IATA to monitor international travel restrictions, and Commonwealth Innovation for Commonwealth country COVID performance.