
<p id="h-topline"><strong>TOPLINE</strong> People who received Johnson &amp; Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine may benefit more from a Moderna or Pfizer booster shot, preliminary data from a U.S. study showed on Wednesday, a finding that comes as the Food and Drug Administration raised <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/10/13/fda-says-jj-covid-booster-likely-boosts-immunity-but-evidence-isnt-full-proof/?sh=466febb770cb">concerns</a> about the trial data of J&amp;J’s booster shots.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The National Institutes of Health-funded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.10.21264827v1.full.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a>&nbsp;on mixing and matching Covid-19 vaccines featured 458 adults who received one of the three U.S. approved vaccines—Pfizer, Moderna or J&amp;J—and received booster shots later.</p>



<p>The researchers then analyzed antibody levels among participants 15 days after the booster shot.</p>



<p>Among people who originally received a J&amp;J shot, antibody levels were four times higher after a J&amp;J booster, 35 times higher after a Pfizer booster and 76 times higher after a Moderna booster.</p>



<p>The study also found that Moderna recipients had higher antibody levels “irrespective of the booster vaccine administered,” when compared with those who had initially been inoculated with the Pfizer or J&amp;J vaccine.</p>



<p>The study found no safety concerns with mixing and matching the vaccines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>14.9 million. That’s the total number of people in the U.S. who have received the single dose J&amp;J Covid-19 vaccine,&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-total-admin-rate-total" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to</a>&nbsp;the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC’s tracker also shows that 10,029 people have received a J&amp;J booster dose even though this has not been formally approved by the FDA.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>The NIH-funded study’s findings and the FDA’s mixed review of J&amp;J’s booster shots data may lead to debates about what booster shots will be offered to nearly 15 million recipients of the single-dose vaccine. So far, the supply of Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines has far outstripped that of J&amp;J’s shot. According to the CDC’s data, Pfizer has delivered more than 273 million doses and Moderna has delivered more than 191 million doses compared to J&amp;J’s 23.5 million.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Earlier on Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/10/13/fda-says-jj-covid-booster-likely-boosts-immunity-but-evidence-isnt-full-proof/?sh=ea6d48270cbf">published</a>&nbsp;its analysis of J&amp;J’s vaccine booster and noted that it appeared to be beneficial, but the regulator questioned the sensitivity of a test the company used in its trials. Data shared by the vaccine maker showed that a second dose of the J&amp;J shot given two months after the first dose boosted its effectiveness in preventing disease to 75%. However, J&amp;J’s data was not submitted in time for the regulator to independently verify the company’s analysis, the FDA said in its document. The authors of the FDA document raised concerns that the test used by the company to measure immune responses in some trial participants may not have been sensitive enough and therefore could have inflated the efficacy. An FDA advisory panel will meet on Friday to consider whether to recommend the use of a J&amp;J booster shot. Last month, the agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/09/22/fda-authorizes-pfizer-covid-booster-shots-for-seniors-and-high-risk-patients---but-not-for-all-americans/?sh=2307be7b5468">authorized</a>&nbsp;Pfizer booster doses for seniors and other high-risk patients.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/13/health/johnson-vaccine-booster-fda.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">People who received a J.&amp;J. vaccine may be better off with a Moderna or Pfizer booster, a study finds.</a>&nbsp;(New York Times)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/13/jj-covid-vaccine-recipients-are-better-off-getting-pfizer-or-moderna-booster-nih-study-suggests.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">J&amp;J Covid vaccine recipients are better off getting Pfizer or Moderna booster, NIH study suggests</a>&nbsp;(CNBC)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/10/13/fda-says-jj-covid-booster-likely-boosts-immunity-but-evidence-isnt-full-proof/?sh=ea6d48270cbf">FDA Says J&amp;J Covid Booster Likely Boosts Immunity, But Evidence Isn’t Foolproof</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


US-HEALTH-VIRUS-VACCINE

J&J Covid-19 Vaccine Recipients May Benefit More From Pfizer Or Moderna Boosters, Study Finds


<p>While most cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus have been reported in the U.S. , Europe, and China, the virus is spreading rapidly across the African continent. </p>



<p>The confirmed worldwide cases for the virus have surpassed 200 million with the current figure being at 222,262,640</p>



<p>The death toll continues to rise globally now surpassing 4 million. It is currently at 4,593,598.</p>



<p>The world is currently dealing with a new variant of the virus known as the &#8216;Delta Variant&#8217;. The variant is known to be in over 85 countries globally. </p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>A<em>frica has just marked the continent’s most dire pandemic week ever. But the worst is yet to come as the fast-moving third wave continues to gain speed and new ground. The end to this precipitous rise is still weeks away. Cases are doubling now every 18 days, compared with every 21 days only a week ago. We can still break the chain of transmission by testing, isolating contacts and cases and following key public health measures.”</em> <strong><em><em>said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa</em></em></strong> <strong><em>on July 8 2021</em></strong></p></blockquote>



<p>The U.S. leads with 666,627 deaths. Brazil comes second with 583,866. India&#8217;s deaths are at 441,433; Mexico is with 263,470 deaths, and Peru is with 198,523.</p>



<p>China, where the virus originated from, maintains that the country&#8217;s death toll is at 4,634.</p>



<p>The figure of the global recoveries stands at 198,882,734.</p>



<p>The African continent now has a total figure of 8,003,746 confirmed cases of Covid-19, while the death toll stands at 200,275. The continent has made 7,162,070 recoveries. </p>



<p>World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said in an online briefing Thursday (1 July) that &#8220;The speed and scale of Africa’s third wave are like nothing we’ve seen before.&#8221;  </p>



<p>&#8220;The continent is on the verge of exceeding its worst week ever in this pandemic,&#8221; Moeti said</p>



<p>Here are the country-wide numbers for Africa:</p>



<figure id="main_table_countries_today" class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>Country</th><th>Total<br>Cases</th><th>Total<br>Deaths</th><th>Total<br>Recovered</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Africa</td><td>8,003,746</td><td>200,275</td><td>7,162,070</td></tr><tr><td>Algeria</td><td>198,313</td><td>5,445</td><td>135,232</td></tr><tr><td>Angola</td><td>48,790</td><td>1,282</td><td>44,054</td></tr><tr><td>Benin</td><td>16,946</td><td>135</td><td>11,890</td></tr><tr><td>Botswana</td><td>162,186</td><td>2,309</td><td>155,403</td></tr><tr><td>Burkina Faso</td><td>13,851</td><td>171</td><td>13,575</td></tr><tr><td>Burundi</td><td>12,585</td><td>38</td><td>773</td></tr><tr><td>Cabo Verde</td><td>36,012</td><td>316</td><td>34,725</td></tr><tr><td>Cameroon</td><td>84,210</td><td>1,357</td><td>80,433</td></tr><tr><td>CAR</td><td>11,296</td><td>100</td><td>6,859</td></tr><tr><td>Chad</td><td>4,996</td><td>174</td><td>4,816</td></tr><tr><td>Comoros</td><td>4,086</td><td>147</td><td>3,909</td></tr><tr><td>Congo</td><td>13,588</td><td>183</td><td>12,421</td></tr><tr><td>Djibouti</td><td>11,785</td><td>157</td><td>11,592</td></tr><tr><td>DRC</td><td>55,307</td><td>1,061</td><td>30,858</td></tr><tr><td>Egypt</td><td>290,395</td><td>16,801</td><td>242,623</td></tr><tr><td>Equatorial Guinea</td><td>9,939</td><td>129</td><td>8,971</td></tr><tr><td>Eritrea</td><td>6,648</td><td>38</td><td>6,601</td></tr><tr><td>Eswatini</td><td>44,234</td><td>1,156</td><td>38,871</td></tr><tr><td>Ethiopia</td><td>316,174</td><td>4,785</td><td>284,895</td></tr><tr><td>Gabon</td><td>26,177</td><td>168</td><td>25,775</td></tr><tr><td>Gambia</td><td>9,789</td><td>328</td><td>9,379</td></tr><tr><td>Ghana</td><td>121,307</td><td>1,069</td><td>113,267</td></tr><tr><td>Guinea</td><td>29,877</td><td>358</td><td>27,742</td></tr><tr><td>Guinea-Bissau</td><td>5,902</td><td>121</td><td>4,967</td></tr><tr><td>Ivory Coast</td><td>57,056</td><td>477</td><td>54,804</td></tr><tr><td>Kenya</td><td>241,134</td><td>4,800</td><td>229,762</td></tr><tr><td>Lesotho</td><td>14,395</td><td>403</td><td>6,830</td></tr><tr><td>Liberia</td><td>5,459</td><td>148</td><td>2,715</td></tr><tr><td>Libya</td><td>318,069</td><td>4,363</td><td>230,995</td></tr><tr><td>Madagascar</td><td>42,884</td><td>957</td><td>41,311</td></tr><tr><td>Malawi</td><td>60,852</td><td>2,217</td><td>49,374</td></tr><tr><td>Mali</td><td>14,942</td><td>542</td><td>14,135</td></tr><tr><td>Mauritania</td><td>34,297</td><td>737</td><td>31,832</td></tr><tr><td>Mauritius</td><td>11,466</td><td>32</td><td>1,854</td></tr><tr><td>Mayotte</td><td>19,925</td><td>175</td><td>2,964</td></tr><tr><td>Morocco</td><td>886,008</td><td>13,145</td><td>828,148</td></tr><tr><td>Mozambique</td><td>148,054</td><td>1,881</td><td>137,891</td></tr><tr><td>Namibia</td><td>125,772</td><td>3,414</td><td>120,812</td></tr><tr><td>Niger</td><td>5,888</td><td>199</td><td>5,624</td></tr><tr><td>Nigeria</td><td>195,890</td><td>2,556</td><td>184,882</td></tr><tr><td>Rwanda</td><td>90,145</td><td>1,134</td><td>45,362</td></tr><tr><td>Réunion</td><td>50,346</td><td>342</td><td>47,752</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Helena</td><td>2</td><td></td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Sao Tome and Principe</td><td>2,692</td><td>37</td><td>2,461</td></tr><tr><td>Senegal</td><td>73,257</td><td>1,812</td><td>64,582</td></tr><tr><td>Seychelles</td><td>20,323</td><td>108</td><td>19,767</td></tr><tr><td>Sierra Leone</td><td>6,374</td><td>121</td><td>4,364</td></tr><tr><td>Somalia</td><td>17,947</td><td>1,005</td><td>8,896</td></tr><tr><td>South Africa</td><td>2,824,063</td><td>83,617</td><td>2,599,667</td></tr><tr><td>South Sudan</td><td>11,526</td><td>120</td><td>11,195</td></tr><tr><td>Sudan</td><td>37,715</td><td>2,837</td><td>31,675</td></tr><tr><td>Tanzania</td><td>1,367</td><td>50</td><td>183</td></tr><tr><td>Togo</td><td>22,625</td><td>197</td><td>17,669</td></tr><tr><td>Tunisia</td><td>675,191</td><td>23,846</td><td>639,708</td></tr><tr><td>Uganda</td><td>120,714</td><td>3,061</td><td>95,679</td></tr><tr><td>Western Sahara</td><td>10</td><td>1</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Zambia</td><td>207,294</td><td>3,620</td><td>202,500</td></tr><tr><td>Zimbabwe</td><td>125,671</td><td>4,493</td><td>117,036</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption><a href="https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/">Data From World O Meter</a></figcaption></figure>



<p><em>Note: The numbers will be updated as new information is available. </em></p>


South African truck drivers receive COVID-19 vaccine

[IN NUMBERS] Coronavirus Update: COVID-19 In Africa


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong> The U.S.’s planned rollout of Covid-19 booster shots for the general public—initially slated to start September 20—remains up in the air pending approval from governmental regulators, but White House officials said Sunday at least Pfizer shots will likely be ready on time and the administration is prepared for a quick rollout whenever the shots are approved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanponciano/2021/08/18/biden-administration-plans-to-begin-providing-covid-19-vaccine-booster-shots-sept-20/?sh=6a7f765f5155">announced</a>&nbsp;in mid-August that booster shots for Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna recipients will start on September 20, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/03/us/coronavirus-booster-shots.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>New York Times</em></a>&nbsp;reported this week that timeline may be in doubt, as the shots still have not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the vaccine advisory panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).</p>



<p>Dr. Anthony Fauci acknowledged on CBS’&nbsp;<em>Face the Nation</em>&nbsp;it’s “conceivable” that only Pfizer’s shot will be approved by the 20th and Moderna’s shot will be delayed “at the most a couple of weeks,” as the FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-04/fda-pushes-for-moderna-booster-shot-data-in-weighing-dose?sref=LfZwdw4Z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seeks more data</a>&nbsp;from the company.</p>



<p>Exactly who will be eligible for the booster shot will depend on the exact terms that are approved by the FDA and CDC, he said.</p>



<p>Studies are underway on if people can “mix and match” booster doses—and get a Pfizer booster if their first two doses were of Moderna, for instance—but Fauci said the government is still “suggesting” as of now that people get a booster shot of the same vaccine as their initial dose.</p>



<p>White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain said on CNN the Biden administration is prepared to have booster shots available to the public “probably the very same day” as they’re approved, and the administration has adequate supply and a “distribution plan” to ensure widespread availability of the third shots when they’re ready to go.</p>



<p>Fauci&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/health-officials-sticking-month-covid-booster-shot-timeline/story?id=79700212" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>&nbsp;last week health officials are sticking with the recommendation that people get a booster shot eight months after their second dose—after President Joe Biden suggested it could potentially be after six—though it ultimately depends on what the FDA and CDC determine is best.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“We still are hopeful that at least one of the vaccinations could be available” on September 20 and the Biden administration is “ready to go as soon as the approval for the boosters comes,” Klain said on CNN, adding the FDA and CDC ultimately “will decide which of the vaccines are approved to be used as boosters.” “They will decide when that approval comes. They will decide who will get it under those approvals.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-don-t-know">WHAT WE DON’T KNOW</h2>



<p>When booster shots for those who received the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/08/22/johnson--johnson-booster-shot-likely-will-be-necessary-surgeon-general-says-possibly-with-a-different-vaccine/?sh=6428c6ef67dc">Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine</a>, an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/health/johnson-johnson-covid-19-vaccine.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adenovirus-based shot</a>&nbsp;that uses a different technology than Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines, will be approved. Federal health officials have said it’s “likely” that the one-dose vaccine will also require a booster shot, but they’re waiting until more data is in to make an official recommendation, including on whether the vaccine could be mixed with a booster shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Johnson &amp; Johnson&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/08/25/second-booster-shot-of-johnson--johnson-covid-vaccine-provokes-strong-immune-response-company-says/?sh=6cd8ac14328e">released</a>&nbsp;data in late August suggesting a second shot of the vaccine produces a “rapid and robust increase” in antibodies that protect against the coronavirus, which could be a promising sign for the booster shot’s approval.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



<p>The fact that booster shots haven’t been officially approved yet for the general population hasn’t stopped some people from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2021/09/03/vaccinated-travelers-covid-19-booster-shots-counterproductive/?sh=29602d12d99a">getting them anyway</a>, despite health officials&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/national/cdc-head-warns-against-unauthorized-booster-shots/2021/08/12/658395bf-7936-4b00-bb7b-eb6e48da4a25_video.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">advising</a>&nbsp;against it. The delta variant surge has reportedly provoked many Americans to take it upon themselves to get a third shot, such as by making a vaccine appointment and claiming to be unvaccinated. An internal CDC document&nbsp;<a href="https://abc7news.com/unauthorized-booster-shots-third-covid-vaccine-shot-pfizer-moderna/10944718/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;by ABC News on August 11 found an estimated 1.1 million people had already gotten an unauthorized booster shot, a figure the outlet notes is likely an undercount.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Fauci’s acknowledgement of Moderna’s potential approval delay is in line with previous reporting suggesting Moderna’s shot may not be ready in time, with a source familiar with the approval process telling&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/graisondangor/2021/09/03/moderna-will-likely-miss-booster-deadline-pfizer-only-shot-expected-for-sept-rollout/?sh=3f99e7683026"><em>Forbes</em></a>&nbsp;earlier this week that only Pfizer is expected to be ready for a September 17 FDA meeting on the booster shots. The holdup over Moderna’s vaccine approval is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-04/fda-pushes-for-moderna-booster-shot-data-in-weighing-dose?sref=LfZwdw4Z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a>&nbsp;largely based on the booster shot’s dosage, as Moderna submitted data based on a lower 50 microgram dose but the FDA is reportedly seeking data on a 100 microgram dose equal to the initial shots of the vaccine. Pfizer’s approval process is also speedier in part because the company has substantial data from Israel’s booster shot rollout using its vaccine, the Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-booster-plan-faces-complications-potential-delay/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>. The U.S. has already&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/graisondangor/2021/08/13/heres-who-should-get-an-extra-covid-19-vaccine-dose/?sh=7be5a14830a6">approved</a>&nbsp;third doses of the vaccines for immunocompromised groups that make up approximately 3% of the population, and the country’s planned booster rollout follows other&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/world/covid-booster-shots-delta.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">countries</a>&nbsp;like Israel, France, Germany and the Czech Republic that have started administering or plan to administer booster shots to at least some groups. The booster shots are a response to fears that the Covid-19 vaccines will wane in effectiveness as time goes on, which some&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/08/25/vaccine-protection-wanes-within-six-months-of-second-covid-shot-study-warns-but-theyre-still-effective-against-delta/?sh=69134bea5a80">studies</a>&nbsp;have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/08/19/covid-vaccines-less-effective-against-delta-variant-and-pfizers-effectiveness-wanes-rapidly-large-study-finds/">suggested</a>&nbsp;is likely. The vaccines have also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/leahrosenbaum/2021/07/27/how-good-are-covid-19-vaccines-at-protecting-against-the-delta-variant/?sh=21b769a21a6f">shown</a>&nbsp;diminished effectiveness at preventing infection against the delta variant, though they still remain highly protective against severe illness, hospitalization and death.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chief-critic">CHIEF CRITIC</h2>



<p>The World Health Organization (WHO) has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/08/23/who-leader-pleads-against-booster-shots-questioning-efficacy-and-highlighting-risk-of-more-potent-variants/?sh=4857b0ee131b">criticized</a>&nbsp;wealthy nations distributing booster shots before many countries around the world have even inoculated a large percentage of their population with initial doses. This is due to concerns about vaccine inequity, questions about the efficacy of booster shots and fears that more dangerous variants of the coronavirus could emerge from countries with low vaccination rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/graisondangor/2021/09/03/moderna-will-likely-miss-booster-deadline-pfizer-only-shot-expected-for-sept-rollout/?sh=3f99e7683026">Moderna Will Likely Miss Booster Deadline—Pfizer Only Shot Expected For Sept. Rollout</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/08/25/more-than-three-quarters-of-vaccinated-americans-plan-to-get-covid-19-booster-shot-poll-finds/?sh=74a7d46f2319">More Than Three-Quarters Of Vaccinated Americans Plan To Get Covid-19 Booster Shot, Poll Finds</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2021/09/03/vaccinated-travelers-covid-19-booster-shots-counterproductive/?sh=29602d12d99a">Some Vaccinated Travelers Are Already Getting Covid-19 Booster Shots—But Experts Say That May Be Counterproductive</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>


COVID-19 Booster Shot

When Can You Get A Covid-19 Booster Shot?


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong> The World Health Organization <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-epidemiological-update-on-covid-19---31-august-2021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> it has identified a new coronavirus “variant of interest,” named mu—also known by its scientific name, B.1.621—in its weekly pandemic update Tuesday, warning it was becoming increasingly prevalent in Colombia and Ecuador and shows signs of possible resistance to vaccines.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Since mu was first identified in Colombia in January 2021, there have been “sporadic reports” of cases and outbreaks in South America and Europe, the WHO said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While the global prevalence of mu among sequenced Covid-19 cases has fallen below 0.1%, the WHO said its prevalence has “consistently increased” in Colombia and Ecuador, where it is now responsible for around 39% and 13% of infections, respectively.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Reports on the variant’s prevalence should be “interpreted with due consideration” given the low sequencing capacity of most countries, the agency said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Mu has a number of mutations that suggest it could be more resistant to vaccines, the health agency warned, but said further research would be needed to confirm this.</p>



<p>Preliminary data show a reduced effectiveness of vaccines “similar to that seen for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/19/health/beta-variant-covid-19.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beta</a>&nbsp;variant,” the WHO said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>All viruses mutate over time and most mutations have little to no impact on the virus’ behavior. The WHO keeps&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/en/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">track</a>&nbsp;of “variants of interest,” those which have mutations “predicted or known to affect virus characteristics” like transmissibility, resistance to vaccines and disease severity. Mu is the fifth variant of interest to be monitored by the WHO since March. There are also four “variants of concern” the health agency tracks—alpha, beta, gamma and delta—which, in addition to meeting the criteria to be a variant of interest, have more significant changes, such as reducing the effectiveness of vaccines. The WHO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/31-05-2021-who-announces-simple-easy-to-say-labels-for-sars-cov-2-variants-of-interest-and-concern" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">introduced</a>&nbsp;a naming convention concerning variants in May to avoid the stigma and consequences when a variant is named after where it was first discovered.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>While wealthy countries hoard limited vaccine supplies for booster campaigns, many parts of the world have not yet had a chance to begin vaccinating. Limited vaccine coverage and the rapid spread of the coronavirus makes an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/08/18/stockpiling-vaccines-risks-new-variants-emerging-and-rising-covid-cases-study-finds-as-us-readies-booster-campaign/?sh=3a255afa132a">ideal</a>&nbsp;environment for new virus variants to emerge. The WHO said it would be monitoring “the epidemiology of the mu variant in South America, particularly with the co-circulation of the delta variant… for changes”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>3,857. That’s how many genome sequences—analyzed samples of the virus taken from patients that can be used to track how it moves through the population—on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gisaid.org/hcov19-variants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GISAID</a>, an open source genome repository, have been designated as mu in the past four weeks. The vast majority of these—1,544—have been reported in the U.S., and Colombia (844), Mexico (352) and Spain (351) also report a high number of sequences. This figure will be affected by both sequencing capacity, surveillance and the total number of cases in an area.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/07/23/a-new-covid-variant-is-being-investigated-in-the-uk-after-being-detected-in-countries-including-the-us-and-japan/?sh=6631f8a03298">A New Covid Variant Is Being Investigated In The U.K. After Being Detected In Countries Including The U.S. And Japan</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2021/08/12/a-new-killer-on-the-loose-b1621/?sh=44e2aacf3d1f">A New Covid Variant On The Loose: B.1.621</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.statnews.com/2021/08/30/inside-pfizer-labs-variant-hunters-race-to-stay-ahead-of-pandemic-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inside Pfizer’s labs, ‘variant hunters’ race to stay ahead of the pandemic’s next twist</a> (STAT News)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Robert Hart, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


Scientist in a protective suit holds and compares two different Coronavirus of different color in his hands. Creative image.

WHO Tracking New Covid Variant Named Mu, Warns It Could Be More Resistant To Vaccine

Thailand Rolls Out Pfizer Vaccine

Covid’s Forgotten Hero: The Untold Story Of The Scientist Whose Breakthrough Made The Vaccines Possible


<p><strong>The shortage, stockpiling and slow deployment of Covid-19 vaccines means the pandemic is far from over for the continent. Where do the poorer countries stand?</strong></p>



<p>Computer engineer David Osei recalls how he passionately argued with his friends when they debated whether getting the Covid-19 vaccines was a smart idea or not six months ago. Osei believed it was not. His argument at that time was that there was a wider conspiracy going on where wealthy nations would trial non-tested doses on people in developing countries.</p>



<p>“I said it was too quick to create a vaccine for a disease that was still developing and no one knew how it would turn out. In fact, I still had my doubts about whether Covid was real or not,” recalls Osei.</p>



<p>But then Covid-19 took the lives of two of his closest friends and his fiancé within the space of a month. Now, he has joined the rush to get vaccinated in Ghana. The problem is, there are not enough vaccines for him and millions of Africans on the continent.</p>



<p>“I believe it is important to protect ourselves as nobody knows how things will turn out tomorrow. I am afraid of how bad things can get for everyone,” says Osei.</p>



<p>According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the continent has now received more than 103 million Covid-19 vaccine doses with about 70% of these vaccines already distributed. However, this accounts for just 1.7% of the African population. For that number to reach 10%, the World Health Organization (WHO) says the continent needs another 183 million more doses by the end of 2021.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“More than half of the vaccines that have been received so far in Africa is through bilateral donations from other wealthy countries like the United States or the United Kingdom. So yet again, Africa is now relegated to depending on donations and the charity of developed economies to save lives.”</p></blockquote>



<p>Dr Ngozi Okonko-Iweala, the newly-appointed Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in a recent FORBES AFRICA interview highlighted the importance of African nations receiving vaccinations on time so as not to get left behind as in pandemics of the past such as H1N1.</p>



<p>To ensure this doesn’t happen again to Africa, Okonjo-Iweala and her team have developed the Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) accelerator with the WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to look at vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for impoverished countries.</p>



<p>Within this framework, the organization has also developed the Covax facility, which is the vaccines pillar of the ACT accelerator to make vaccines available to poor countries.</p>



<p>But this has not gone exactly according to plan. For one, wealthier countries had already signed multi-million dollar deals with manufacturers for vaccines as early as July 2020 while they were still in development and undergoing trials.</p>



<p>“Big pharma will always prioritize those who have money to pay and unfortunately that means that the Covax scheme will never get the required doses they need until those who have deeper pockets are</p>



<p>serviced. Africa was always going to be playing catch-up to these vaccines,” says Dr Jason Lamptey, a pulmonologist operating in Ghana.</p>



<p>These deep-pocketed countries have vaccinated over 40% of their population, while Africa, with an estimated population of over 1.3 billion people, has only managed to vaccinate about 2% of the population, according to the WHO.</p>



<p>The WHO is now reviewing its vaccination targets for Africa estimating that nine out of 10 African countries will not manage to inoculate 10% of their populations by September, according to a report published by the BBC.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p>“Why are some states stock-piling the few vaccines we have until they expire and we have to destroy them when there are people who urgently need it?”</p></blockquote>



<p>Under the Covax program, which started in February, the goal was to deliver some 520 million doses to Africa by the end of 2021. These vaccines were initially acquired from the Serum Institute of India but that plan went sideways when India stopped vaccination export due to the devastating effects of the pandemic in the country. The effect of this has led to a reported shortage of 225 million vaccine doses.</p>



<p>“More than half of the vaccines that have been received so far in Africa is through bilateral donations from other wealthy countries like the United States or the United Kingdom. So yet again, Africa is now relegated to depending on donations and the charity of developed economies to save lives,” says Lamptey.</p>



<p>The African Union has a target to supply 400 million vaccine doses to Africa and by so doing reaching a third of the population.</p>



<p>According to Phionah Atuhebwe, the New Vaccines Introduction Medical Officer at WHO’s regional office in the Congo, 12 million doses of vaccines were supplied through Covax in July.</p>



<p>“We are continuing to push to get more delivered within the next couple of months. Vaccines came to a halt after the issues with India but we are building new partnerships that will see more positive inflow of the vaccines,” says Atuhebwe.</p>



<p>Africa has some 7.2 million confirmed Covid-19 cases as of August, according to figures from the Africa CDC.</p>



<p>While hundreds of millions of vulnerable Africans wait for their first shot, rich countries now have the luxury to moot booster doses.</p>



<p>“We cannot accept countries that have already used most of the global supply of vaccines using even more of it while the world’s most vulnerable people remain unprotected,” said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a press briefing reported by Reuters.</p>



<p>This has led the WHO to call for a moratorium on all booster shots until the end of September to enable poorer countries in Africa to reach their minimum goal of a 10% vaccination rate.</p>



<p>One year into the Covid-19 pandemic, the threat of the Delta Variant is real in addition to the vaccine shortage coupled with fear sparked by fake studies and conspiracy theories.</p>



<p>According to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), just over 718,412 Nigerians and foreigners alike have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.</p>



<p>“Even with the changing variants of Covid-19, I believe the biggest problem we have is the slow reaction from health protocols as well as the even slower distribution of these vaccines. Why are some states stock-piling the few vaccines we have until they expire and we have to destroy them when there are people who urgently need it?” says Dr Joshua Hayman, a medical practitioner based in Victoria Island, Lagos.</p>



<p>Professor Oyewale Tomori, a virologist and Chairman of the Expert Review Committee on Covid-19, concurs with that assessment.</p>



<p>“I have said it several times that Nigeria is a place where the impossible happens and that is not exactly a good thing when it comes to Covid-19. We have mass hoarding of vaccines by officials and people who are supposed to be receiving priority not getting the doses in time. We have no clear monitoring system to determine who gets the vaccine in time and when. The whole system is flawed and needs an overhaul to ensure we save lives.”</p>



<p>The country’s minister of state for health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, in a virtual conference on ‘Nigeria and the next pandemic: preparedness, response and vaccines’ asserted that Nigeria will be focusing on vaccine development to cater for the shortage of vaccines in the country through a joint venture between the government and a private firm called Bio-Vaccine Nigeria Limited. Hopefully, more lives will be saved then.</p>


Pop-up Vaccination Bus as South Africa Weathers Third Covid Wave

A Long Shot Getting Africa Fully Vaccinated


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong> New Zealand authorities announced a nationwide lockdown on Tuesday after its largest city, Auckland, reported the country’s first local Covid-19 case in nearly six months, posing a threat to the country’s successful ‘zero-Covid’ strategy that has so far managed to keep the more infectious delta variant of the virus at bay.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/jacindaardern/videos/384119913274194" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a>&nbsp;that Auckland and the town of Coromandel will enter a seven-day lockdown while the rest of the country will be locked for the next three days.</p>



<p>The new case has&nbsp;<a href="https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/current-alert-level/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">triggered</a>&nbsp;‘Alert Level 4’—the highest pandemic alert level across the country, which&nbsp;<a href="https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/alert-level-4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">means</a>&nbsp;a stringent stay-at-home order is put in place with all physical contact being limited to household members.</p>



<p>While the single case has not been confirmed as a delta variant case, Ardern said the authorities are working under the presumption that it has been caused by the highly infectious variant.</p>



<p>The 58-year-old man who tested positive isn’t vaccinated and over the weekend he and his fully vaccinated wife traveled to the small town of Coromandel—located on the western side of New Zealand’s North Island.</p>



<p>Authorities said they have identified 23 locations of interest—10 in Auckland and 13 in Coromandel—visited by the man while he was infectious.</p>



<p>The source of the man’s infection is yet to be identified as he has no obvious link to any cases reported at New Zealand’s borders, raising fears that there may be other undetected cases spreading in the community.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>22.9%. That’s the percentage of eligible people in New Zealand who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, a total of 934,207 people,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-vaccine-data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to</a>&nbsp;official government data. While the number is significantly lower than other developed nations, the country’s vaccine rollout has begun gathering pace, trending&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-vaccine-tracker-how-many-kiwis-have-been-vaccinated-and-how-do-we-compare-with-the-rest-of-the-world/ENMCOHM5QW6W3UN6MRMCOQKO2U/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">slightly ahead</a>&nbsp;of the government’s projections.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>With measures such as having one of the strictest border restrictions, quarantining of all incoming travelers and strong contact tracing, New Zealand has emerged as one of the pandemic’s success stories so far. New Zealand has only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-case-demographics#case-details" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;2,926 Covid-19 cases and 26 deaths since the start of the pandemic, with a large number of those cases being detected at the border and isolated. This has allowed the country to effectively stomp out the local spread of the virus, eliminating the need for dragged-out lockdowns and other Covid measures. But the country’s relatively sluggish vaccine rollout may put its early success in danger if the more infectious delta variant manages to gain a foothold in the community. New Zealand’s trans-Tasman neighbor Australia—which had also managed to largely stomp out the local spread of Covid, is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/08/07/more-than-half-of-australias-population-under-lockdown-amid-unrelenting-delta-variant-covid-19-surge/?sh=6cca1d657a17">currently witnessing</a>&nbsp;one of its worst outbreaks of the pandemic, largely fueled by the delta variant. Last week, New Zealand authorities&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/08/12/covid-free-new-zealand-plans-to-reopen-borders-early-next-year/?sh=656e99d25154">announced</a>&nbsp;plans to reopen the country’s borders to foreign travelers with more lenient quarantine measures in place for fully vaccinated individuals from low-risk countries. But the reopening of its borders is likely to make it much harder for the country’s government to pursue a ‘zero-Covid’ strategy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-announces-level-4-lockdown-for-auckland-coromandel-new-zealand/ITGVJ7X446SLBQD3VSUHTXNNVM/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces level 4 lockdown for Auckland, Coromandel, New Zealand</a>&nbsp;(New Zealand Herald)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/449376/covid-19-community-case-nationwide-level-4-lockdown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Covid-19 community case: Nationwide level 4 lockdown</a>&nbsp;(Radio New Zealand)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealands-ardern-orders-nationwide-lockdown-over-one-covid-19-case-2021-08-17/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Zealand&#8217;s Ardern orders nationwide lockdown over one COVID-19 case</a> (Reuters)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Announces Lockdown Restrictions After Positive COVID-19 Case Detected In Auckland

Single Covid-19 Case In Auckland Triggers Nationwide Lockdown In New Zealand


<p><strong>Topline</strong>: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday night approved a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna for people with compromised immune systems, in a move that will likely enhance protection for vulnerable individuals at a time when the more infectious delta variant continues to spread all over the country.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-additional-vaccine-dose-certain-immunocompromised" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">late-night announcement</a>, the FDA amended its emergency use authorization (EUA) for the two mRNA vaccines to allow the administration of a third dose to recipients of solid organ transplant or those diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise.</p>



<p>The FDA’s move comes after few other countries including Israel, France and Germany began administering an additional dose to certain people amid the threat of the more infectious delta variant of the virus.</p>



<p>According to the FDA’s announcement, eligible recipients will be able to receive a third mRNA vaccine dose at least 28 days after getting their second shot.</p>



<p>The regulator’s late-night statement makes no mention of immunocompromised patients who have received the single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine.</p>



<p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to formally recommend an addition shot for immunocompromised groups following a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/agenda-archive/agenda-2021-08-13-508.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">meeting</a>&nbsp;of its advisers on Friday.</p>



<p>The FDA noted that its decision does not apply to the general population and according to the CDC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2021-07/07-COVID-Oliver-508.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimates</a>&nbsp;about 2.7% of U.S. adults could be eligible for the booster.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“Today’s action allows doctors to boost immunity in certain immunocompromised individuals who need extra protection from COVID-19,” Acting FDA Commissioner Dr Janet Woodcock said. “Other individuals who are fully vaccinated are adequately protected and do not need an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine at this time,” she added while noting that the agency is studying if an additional dose for the general population may be needed in the future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>A <a href="https://www.jhsph.edu/covid-19/articles/covid-19-vaccines-and-immunocompromised-people-fully-vaccinated-and-not-protected.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study published</a> last month by the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that only 50% of immunocompromised people who had received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine showed an antibody response to COVID-19. Such findings along with the nationwide proliferation of the more infectious delta variant—which has also been shown to cause breakthrough infections in some vaccinated individuals, had prompted calls for emergency approval of a booster dose for some individuals. Last month, a CDC advisory group reportedly met with the FDA to urge the agency to decide if booster shots for the immunocompromised were needed. Its not yet clear if a booster dose will help shore up a stronger immune response in immunocompromised individuals but a recent study from Israel—which has begun administering such boosters—suggested that this might be the case. However, the decision to authorize booster doses remains a controversial one in the global context as critics decry the fact that developed nations are administering an additional dose at a time when several poorer nations have limited access to vaccines. Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-calls-moratorium-covid-19-vaccine-booster-doses-until-september-end-2021-08-04/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">called</a> for a moratorium on COVID-19 vaccine booster shots until at least the end of September.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-bc9c6451c1b31a59a8c752abc3a1b839" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Extra COVID vaccine OK’d for those with weak immune systems</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2021/07/22/among-fully-vaccinated-breakthrough-covid-19-infections-are-more-common-than-previously-thought-does-it-matter/?sh=760873d25aef">Among Fully Vaccinated, Breakthrough Covid-19 Infections Are More Common Than Previously Thought: Does It Matter?</a> (Forbes)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


A health worker holds a vial of Janssen vaccine (American

FDA Authorizes Extra Covid-19 Vaccine Dose For Those With Weakened Immune Systems


<p id="h-toplinewhat-had-been-a-booming-moderna-stock-price-took-a-major-step-backward-wednesday-falling-more-than-15-on-the-heels-of-an-analyst-s-warning-that-the-stock-s-soaring-price-was-an-unrealistic-valuation-based-on-hype-around-the-company-s-covid-vaccine"><strong>TOPLINE</strong>: What had been a booming Moderna stock price took a major step backward Wednesday, falling more than 15% on the heels of an analyst&#8217;s warning that the stock&#8217;s soaring price was an “unrealistic valuation” based on hype around the company’s Covid vaccine.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Moderna’s price closed at $385.33 on Wednesday, after closing at more than $450 on Tuesday.</p>



<p>The drop marks the second-straight day Moderna’s stock has fallen, following a scathing analysis from Bank of America’s Geoff Meacham on Monday.</p>



<p>The analysis called Moderna’s price “ridiculous” and “unjustifiable on a fundamental basis,” noting the 11-year-old company’s market cap had exceeded those of drug companies that are over a century old.</p>



<p>Meacham placed his price target at $115—more than 75% lower than the price at Monday’s close.</p>



<p>Even with losses over the past two days, the stock’s price is still up more than 65% over the past month alone and around 450% from last year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“We continue to view current levels as unjustifiable on a fundamental basis, despite remaining positive on mRNA technology,” Meacham said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Moderna has been a massive supplier to the Covid-19 vaccination effort in the U.S., with its doses accounting for more than 140 million of the shots administered in the U.S., according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccination-trends" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CDC</a>. Only Pfizer and BioNTech have supplied more vaccines, accounting for just short of 198 million doses. But the rate of vaccination in the U.S. is significantly below what it was during the spring,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/08/05/daily-vaccinations-hit-highest-level-in-a-month-white-house-says-with-states-where-covid-19-is-surging-leading-the-way/?sh=609043c16f1e">despite a slight uptick</a>&nbsp;over the past few weeks, and the Bank of America analysis noted health officials are still advising that booster shots are not yet needed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Prices of Pfizer and BioNTech also dropped significantly on Wednesday, though not as much as Moderna&#8217;s. Pfizer&#8217;s price dropped 3.9%, BioNTech’s nearly 14%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/08/05/daily-vaccinations-hit-highest-level-in-a-month-white-house-says-with-states-where-covid-19-is-surging-leading-the-way/?sh=609043c16f1e">Daily Vaccinations Hit Highest Level In A Month, White House Says—With States Where Covid-19 Is Surging Leading The Way</a> (Forbes)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Nicholas Reimann, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


In this photo illustration the medical syringe is seen with

Moderna Crash Wipes Out Over $20 Billion In Market Value After Concerns Stock Is Overhyped


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong>: Top infectious disease official Dr. Anthony Fauci on Thursday highlighted the importance of the U.S. quickly gaining control of the delta variant, warning continued community spread could lead to even more dangerous mutations of Covid-19, including those capable of evading the protection of vaccines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>“That will happen, George, if we don’t get good control over the community spread,” Fauci told “Good Morning America” anchor George Stephanopoulos during a Thursday interview on ABC News.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Allowing the virus to spread through unvaccinated populations—as it is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/08/03/florida-shatters-record-for-covid-hospitalization-again-as-desantis-downplays-crisis/">doing</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/07/31/us-reports-almost-200000-new-covid-cases-in-worst-spike-since-january/">rapidly</a>&nbsp;now—gives it “ample opportunity to mutate,” explained President Biden’s top medical advisor.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“You may sooner or later get another variant, and it is possible that that variant might be in some respects worse than the already difficult variant we’re dealing with now,” Fauci said, referencing the delta variant, which experts say is significantly more infectious than other coronavirus strains.</p>



<p>He also emphasized that the virus can mutate regardless of whether people contracting the virus get symptoms.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Vaccines may be effective at preventing serious disease and death with Covid-19’s current mutations, but this may not necessarily be true with future evolutions, Fauci emphasized.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chief-critic">CHIEF CRITIC</h2>



<p>“People who say, ‘I don’t want to get vaccinated because it’s me and I’ll worry about me, I’m not having any impact on anybody else,’ that’s just not the case,” Fauci said.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Fauci’s warning came as Moderna&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/moderna-says-its-covid-19-shot-remains-93-effective-4-6-months-after-second-dose-2021-08-05/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a>&nbsp;Thursday morning its Covid-19 shot is about 93% effective through six months after the second dose. Pfizer in July said the effectiveness of its jab steadily declines to about 84% six months after the final dose. Both vaccine makers have said they expect booster shots to be necessary ahead of the winter season, particularly due to the threat of the delta variant.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The delta variant is driving surges in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations that haven’t been seen since the early stages of the U.S.’s vaccine rollout. More than 51,000 Americans are now hospitalized with Covid-19, an 87% increase from two weeks ago, and cases have increased 131% to a daily average of nearly 100,000 during the same period, according to data&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">compiled by The New York Times</a>. Deaths have also shot up (by 65%) over the past two weeks, but—at 410—are still well below the country’s winter peak. Fauci has said while it’s “unquestionable” the delta variant is more infectious, it is “less clear” whether it actually causes more serious disease.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Fauci warned in an <a href="https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/coronavirus/article253248688.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interview</a> with McClatchy on Wednesday the U.S. could begin reporting between 100,000 and 200,000 new cases each day if safety precautions and vaccinations don’t increase. “Remember, just a couple of months ago, we were having about 10,000 cases a day,” Fauci said. There are hopeful signs: After months of decline, the number of Americans getting the shot has been steadily increasing. White House Covid-19 data director Cyrus Shahpar <a href="https://twitter.com/cyrusshahpar46/status/1422226019260370947" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> Tuesday, as the U.S. surpassed a 70% partial inoculation rate, that the seven-day average of newly vaccinated people (441,000) was the highest in more than a month.</p>



<p><em><strong>By Jemima McEvoy, Forbes Staff</strong></em></p>


Dr. Fauci Testifies To Senate Health Committee On Country’s COVID-19 Response

Fauci: Failure To Control Delta Variant Could Lead To ‘Worse’ Mutations That Evade Vaccines


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong>: The U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration has extended the shelf life of the Johnson &amp; Johnson single-dose Covid-19 vaccine from four-and-a-half months to six months, the drugmaker announced on Thursday, a decision that comes at a time when several health officials expressed concerns about vaccine doses expiring and going to waste.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jnj.com/johnson-johnson-statement-on-u-s-fda-approval-of-shelf-life-extension-for-companys-covid-19-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">press release</a>&nbsp;by Johnson &amp; Johnson, the FDA’s decision was based on data from ongoing studies that showed the vaccine remains stable when refrigerated at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.</p>



<p>In a letter sent to the company, the FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/3zRuTMB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noted</a>&nbsp;that the extension will apply to batches that might have expired prior to the issuance of the order as long as they were stored at the requisite temperature.</p>



<p>The company will update the expiry dates of its batches on its&nbsp;<a href="https://vaxcheck.jnj/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, which vaccine providers can use as a reference.</p>



<p>The move will provide health workers six additional weeks to administer millions of doses of the single-shot vaccine.</p>



<p>The FDA had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-coronavirus-vaccine-science-coronavirus-pandemic-business-6d04574617b35c56e7ca2c711cc5585f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previously extended</a>&nbsp;the J&amp;J vaccine’s shelf life from three months to four-and-half months in June.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h3>



<p>49.3%. That’s the total percentage of people in the U.S. who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19,&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to</a>&nbsp;the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention. Among U.S. adults, 69.3% of people have received at least one dose of the vaccine.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>Unlike the two mRNA Covid-19 vaccines—made by Moderna and Pfizer—J&amp;J’s vaccine is administered as a single shot and can be stored in normal refrigeration temperatures. This means that the vaccine can be easily transported and administered in rural and isolated parts of the country where healthcare infrastructure may be limited.&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">According to</a>&nbsp;the CDC, more than 13 million people in the U.S. have received the one-shot vaccine. In comparison, more than 87 million people have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 63 million have received two jabs of the Moderna vaccine.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-science-health-coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-8126286b2c8bc65970117a08c77af075" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US extends expiration dates on J&amp;J COVID vaccine to 6 months</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-agrees-extend-jj-covid-19-vaccines-shelf-life-6-months-2021-07-28/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">J&amp;J says U.S. FDA agrees to extend shelf life of its COVID-19 vaccine</a>&nbsp;(Reuters)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/world/johnson-vaccine-shelf-life.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">J&amp;J vaccine shelf life extended to six months by F.D.A.</a> (New York Times)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


FDA Extends Shelf Life Of Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 Vaccine To Six Months


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong> A new study out of South Korea found that taking an AstraZeneca vaccine shot followed by a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shot boosted Covid-19 antibody levels six times more than receiving two Astra-Zeneca doses, as some governments around the world are giving the green light to mix Covid-19 vaccine shots for extra protection against the virus.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>The study was conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and it took a look at the effects of mixing certain vaccine doses and vaccine efficacy against coronavirus variants Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, as first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/mixed-astrazeneca-pfizer-shot-boosts-covid-antibody-level-study-2021-07-26/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;by Reuters.</p>



<p>About 499 medical workers took part in the study, with about 200 workers receiving two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, 200 workers receiving two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 100 workers receiving mixed doses of both the vaccines.</p>



<p>All three groups acquired antibodies, with the group that mixed AstraZeneca and Pfizer showing similar levels of antibodies as the group that received the two Pfizer shots.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study also found that each of the vaccine doses were most effective against the Alpha variant, but&nbsp; showed decreased effectiveness between 2 ½ to 6 times on Beta, Gamma and Delta variants.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>Back in June, Oxford University led a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/06/28/uk-study-offers-new-evidence-you-can-mix-and-match-coronavirus-vaccines/?sh=64cc30081082">study</a>&nbsp;to find out if mixing and matching vaccines was viable. It found that taking an AstraZeneca vaccine shot followed by a Pfizer shot created the highest T-cell response, which are immune cells that attack and destroy infected cells. The vaccine combo also generated more antibodies than taking a Pfizer shot followed by an AstraZeneca shot. Both the Oxford University study and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency study show that vaccines can still provide a strong immunity response to the virus if mixed and matched. The United States&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centers for Disease Control</a>&nbsp;does not recommend mixing doses from different vaccines since it has not yet evaluated if that practice is safe and effective. However, some countries like Germany and Spain allow for mixed shots, allowing people to receive Pfizer and Moderna shots even after they have already gotten AstraZeneca’s first dose. Canada’s health officials also started to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/canada-mixing-covid-19-vaccines-astrazeneca-pfizer-moderna-naci-1.6048152" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recommend&nbsp;</a>mixing vaccine shots last month, if people are unable to take two of the same vaccine doses.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h3>



<p>As the Delta variant continues to grow internationally, more people are reporting taking multiple vaccine doses. Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57571791" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">received</a>&nbsp;the Moderna jab at the end of June, a few months after she received her first AstraZeneca shot. One U.S. doctor received the one-shot Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine in Seattle, but then, after moving to Canada, got one shot of the Pfizer vaccine for added protection, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/26/delta-people-are-mixing-and-matching-covid-vaccines-over-concerns-about-variant.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>&nbsp;by CNBC. The U.S. does not consider people who have had different doses of vaccines as fully vaccinated.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-out-for">WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR</h3>



<p>Pfizer said it will be creating a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/08/pfizer-says-it-is-developing-a-covid-booster-shot-to-target-the-highly-transmissible-delta-variant.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">booster</a>&nbsp;shot to target the Delta variant. Trials for the booster shot&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsmv.com/news/pfizer-booster-shot-trial-underway-in-nashville/article_5447ab60-edf5-11eb-b977-6b315cb7c729.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">began</a>&nbsp;in Nashville on Monday. Moderna also announced it will be developing a booster shot, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-vaccine-booster-shot-what-we-know/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trial</a>&nbsp;results expected by September. Some doctors are even&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/20/dr-vin-gupta-encourages-jj-vaccine-recipients-to-get-a-pfizer-or-moderna-booster.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">encouraging</a>&nbsp;those who received the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine to consider getting either a Pfizer or Moderna booster shot, even though it is unclear how the booster shots may work with other vaccines.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/06/28/uk-study-offers-new-evidence-you-can-mix-and-match-coronavirus-vaccines/?sh=64cc30081082">U.K. Study Offers New Evidence You Can ‘Mix And Match’ Coronavirus Vaccines</a>&nbsp;(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>



<p><a href="http://mymusictaste.com/artist/68f14b7dcc835375b53d0ea65f4dedd7/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Americans are ‘mixing and matching’ Covid vaccines over concerns about the delta variant</a> (<em>CNBC</em>)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Kimberlee Speakman, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


Dept of Correctional Services Vaccination Rollout Launch in South Africa

Mixed AstraZeneca-Pfizer Vaccine Boosts Covid Antibody Levels, Korea Study Finds


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong>: The Chinese government on Thursday rejected the World Health Organisation’s plan for the second phase of investigation into the origins of Covid-19—which will also examine the possibility that the virus may have escaped from a Wuhan lab—signaling further politicization of the investigation that has previously been hampered by Beijing’s unwillingness to share important data.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>Zeng Yixin, the vice minister of China’s National Health Commission (NHC), told reporters he was “shocked” by the plan to investigate the lab leak hypothesis and said “it is impossible for us to accept such an origin-tracing plan.”</p>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-a20391afec60601f3d666efc3c18b61d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">According to</a>&nbsp;the Associated Press, Zeng dismissed the theory as a rumor “that runs counter to common sense and science.”</p>



<p>Responding to the WHO’s earlier statement about the investigation being hampered by the lack of raw data from Chinese authorities, Zeng reiterated Beijing’s stance that some data could not be completely shared due to privacy concerns.</p>



<p>Zeng insisted that the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s labs have no virus that can directly infect humans and noted that a WHO-led team of experts had visited the lab earlier this year and concluded that a leak was highly unlikely.</p>



<p>The vice minister also dismissed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/intelligence-on-sick-staff-at-wuhan-lab-fuels-debate-on-covid-19-origin-11621796228?reflink=share_mobilewebshare" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">media reports</a>&nbsp;that staff and graduate students at the institute had fallen sick due to the virus and then transmitted it to others.</p>



<p>The vocal push back from Beijing comes a week after WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for better cooperation from China and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-world-news-health-science-coronavirus-pandemic-c0c594f9060f676c0ea48c2d1c69daec" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noted</a>&nbsp;that there had been a “premature push” to rule out the lab leak theory.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>In March, the World Health Organization and China&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-convened-global-study-of-origins-of-sars-cov-2-china-part" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a>&nbsp;a joint study that offered preliminary insight into the origin of the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus. The report suggested that the outbreak was likely caused by the virus jumping from bats to humans through an intermediary animal and also labeled the lab leak hypothesis as “extremely unlikely.” It was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/30/who-criticises-chinas-data-sharing-as-it-releases-covid-origins-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sharply criticized</a>&nbsp;by the U.S., U.K., Canada and several other countries who accused China of “withholding access to complete original data and samples”. The lab leak theory—initially pushed by fringe groups—has seen a rise in mainstream interest after President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewster/2021/05/26/biden-says-intelligence-agencies-have-coalesced-around-two-likely-scenarios-for-origin-of-covid-19/?sh=266488003fb2">ordered</a>&nbsp;U.S. intelligence agencies to examine the origin of the pandemic in May. U.S. intelligence agencies have two prevailing theories at the moment with branches believing that it was transmitted from animals, while another branch believes it came from a lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which does research work on bat viruses.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-a20391afec60601f3d666efc3c18b61d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China rebuffs WHO’s terms for further COVID-19 origins study</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-will-not-follow-whos-suggested-plan-2nd-phase-covid-19-origins-study-2021-07-22/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China rejects WHO plan for study of COVID-19 origin</a> (Reuters)</p>



<p><em><strong>By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff</strong></em></p>


News Conference On Chinese Vaccines Against COVID-19 In Beijing

China ‘Shocked’ By WHO’s Plan To Investigate Covid-19 Lab Leak Theory


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong> Both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines work well at preventing symptomatic cases of the delta coronavirus variant—which became the dominant strain in the U.S. this month—but the vaccines’ effectiveness drops significantly in patients who only have one of the two doses, according to a new study.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>A study of 19,000 people from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2108891" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Public Health England</a>&nbsp;published Wednesday found that both doses of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines help protect against symptoms from both the alpha (B.1.1.7, also known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/04/07/uk-coronavirus-variant-is-now-the-dominant-strain-in-us-cdc-says/">the U.K. variant</a>) and delta variants at comparable rates.</p>



<p>Two doses of the Pfizer vaccine had an effectiveness of 93.7% at preventing symptomatic alpha infections, and 88% for the delta variant.</p>



<p>Two doses of AstraZeneca were found to be 74.5% effective at preventing symptomatic alpha infections, and 67% for delta.</p>



<p>However, the effectiveness of the vaccines plummeted if a patient had only received one dose of either vaccine: the study found both to be just more than 48% effective against alpha and only about 30% effective against delta.</p>



<p>Researchers said their findings support the theory that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2108891" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prioritizing second doses</a>, especially in vulnerable populations, is an effective way to prevent coronavirus outbreaks.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h3>



<p>The single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine only has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/07/20/johnson--johnson-vaccine-far-less-effective-against-delta-variant-study-suggests/?sh=44f5e2864299">a 33% efficacy rate</a>&nbsp;against the delta variant, a New York University study released Tuesday suggested, although it has not been peer reviewed.&nbsp;A small study from Moderna last month suggested their vaccine also&nbsp;<a href="https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-provides-clinical-update-neutralizing-activity-its-covid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">offers protection</a>&nbsp;against the delta strain.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>The delta variant, which experts believe is more transmissible than earlier forms of coronavirus, is thought to be the driving force behind <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/07/17/covid-hospitalizations-rise-nationwide-amid-delta-surge---especially-in-these-states/?sh=290e647e52a8">a new wave of infections</a> and a jump in hospitalizations across the U.S. Experts have warned about the danger delta could pose. Former Food and Drug Administration head Dr. Scott Gottlieb said the “majority” of unvaccinated Americans would likely contract the delta mutation eventually, adding the disease “is going to be the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/07/18/former-fda-head-says-delta-will-infect-majority-of-unvaccinated-americans-and-may-be-most-serious-virus-in-their-lifetime/?sh=22ee15f06b17">most serious virus</a> they will get in their lifetime in terms of the risk of putting them in the hospital.” The surge of new cases has pushed some cities like <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/graisondangor/2021/07/15/los-angeles-reportedly-will-reinstate-mask-mandate-saturday/?sh=7b879fb45373">Los Angeles</a> and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/07/21/delta-fueled-covid-surge-spurs-new-mask-mandates---here-are-the-states-where-they-cant-legally-be-reimposed/?sh=6be7887c37b4">Las Vegas</a> to reintroduce mandatory masking in some indoor spaces.</p>



<p><strong><em>By Carlie Porterfield, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


A doctor’s hand with a syringe of covid-19 coronavirus vaccine.

Study Finds Pfizer And AstraZeneca Vaccines Effective Against The Delta Variant — As Long As You Get Both Doses


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong>: Pfizer has struck a deal with a South African drug manufacturer to begin producing and distributing its coronavirus vaccine in Africa for the first time, the company announced Wednesday, in a move that follows mounting pressure to address inequalities in the global vaccine rollout.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>Pfizer&nbsp;<a href="https://investors.biontech.de/news-releases/news-release-details/pfizer-and-biontech-announce-collaboration-biovac-manufacture" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>&nbsp;it will be working with South Africa’s Biovac Institute, a public-private partnership focused on vaccine production, to produce and distribute over 100 million doses a year for the African Union beginning in 2022.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Biovac will be shipped batches of vaccine ingredients from Europe and then will perform so-called fill and finish operations, the last stage of manufacturing and packaging, according to a press release from the company.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Though technical transfer, on-site development and equipment installation activities will begin immediately, the company said manufacturing of the finished doses will only begin in 2022.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“At full operational capacity, the annual production will exceed 100 million finished doses annually,” which will be distributed within the 55 member states making up the African Union, the company said.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quotes">CRUCIAL QUOTES</h3>



<p>Pfizer CEO Andrew Bourla, who is set to give a speech later Wednesday at the World Trade Organization Summit, deemed the partnership progress toward the company’s goal of providing “fair and equitable” access to the vaccine “to everyone, everywhere.” Meanwhile, Biovac CEO Dr. Morena Makhoana lauded it as a “critical step forward.” “We believe this collaboration will create opportunity to more broadly distribute vaccine doses to people in harder-to-reach communities, especially those on the African continent,” said Makhoana.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The pace of vaccinations in Africa is running far behind the rest of the world. Just over 1.5% of Africans have been fully vaccinated, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making the continent’s goal of having 20% of its population vaccinated by the end of 2021 increasingly unlikely. This is largely due to a lack of African-based vaccine manufacturing facilities. The continent was relying on the World Health Organization-backed COVAX effort for its doses. However, COVAX has fallen far behind schedule, having delivered only 200 million doses since February (the U.S. has administered 338 million), in part because of the troubles of its biggest supplier, the Serum Institute of India.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Africa’s rollout is lagging at a time when the more infectious delta variant is driving a record surge of cases. Earlier this month, the continent reported its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/08/world/africa-coronavirus-cases-who.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“worst pandemic week ever”</a>&nbsp;after 16 countries saw a resurgence in infections, amounting to over 250,000 cases reported in just one week.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING&nbsp;</h3>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/16/world/africa/africa-vaccination-rollout.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Africa’s Covid Crisis Deepens, but Vaccines Are Still Far Off”</a> (The New York Times)</p>



<p><em><strong>By Jemima McEvoy, Forbes Staff</strong></em></p>


Tag: covid-19 recovery

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