Covid-19

EU regulator authorizes Pfizer's COVID vaccine for kids 5-11

The European Union’s drug regulator on Thursday authorized Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine for use on children from 5 to 11 years old, clearing the way for shots to be administered to millions of elementary school pupils amid a new wave of infections sweeping across the continent. It is the first time the European Medicines Agency has […]

Indonesia first to green light Novavax COVID-19 vaccine

Biotechnology company Novavax said Monday that Indonesia has given the world’s first emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine, which uses a different technology than current shots. The vaccine doesn’t require the extremely cold storage temperatures that some other vaccines need, which could allow it to play an important role in boosting supplies in poorer […]

Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine more than 90% effective in kids

Kid-size doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine appear safe and nearly 91% effective at preventing symptomatic infections in 5- to 11-year-olds, according to study details released Friday as the U.S. considers opening vaccinations to that age group. The shots could begin in early November — with the first children in line fully protected by Christmas — […]

FDA OKs mixing COVID vaccines; backs Moderna, J&J boosters

U.S. regulators on Wednesday signed off on extending COVID-19 boosters to Americans who got the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine and said anyone eligible for an extra dose can get a brand different from the one they received initially. The Food and Drug Administration’s decisions mark a big step toward expanding the U.S. booster […]

FDA panel endorses booster shot for J&J COVID-19 vaccine

U.S. health advisers endorsed a booster of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine Friday, citing concern that Americans who got the single-dose shot aren’t as protected as those given two-dose brands. J&J told the Food and Drug Administration that an extra dose adds important protection as early as two months after initial vaccination — but that […]

Government launches nationwide antibody testing programme

The UK Health Security Agency will work alongside NHS Test and Trace testing services in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to monitor levels of antibodies in positive cases across the UK. The data collected will help estimate the proportion of those who got COVID-19 despite developing antibodies as a result of having a vaccine or […]

YouTube removes over 1 million COVID-19 misinformation videos

YouTube announced on Wednesday that it has removed over 1 million COVID-19 misinformation videos. The video-based platform has being removing content related to false cures and claims of coronavirus being a fraud since February 2020, YouTube’s chief product officer Neal Mohan wrote in a blogpost. Based on the data, the company removed around 10 million […]

Washington’s probe leads to new Twitter feature

On Tuesday, Twitter announced plans to seek users’ judiciousness to further implement control over misinformation by launching a test of its latest feature that will allow users to report misleading posts. Following Washington’s pressure to go the extra mile to force the platform to contain possible misinformation, users will be reporting dishonest information through the […]

Vodafone Idea cites COVID behind 4.7% drop in revenue

Indian telecom operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) announced on Saturday a 4.7 percent dip in revenues QoQ, attributing its weak performance to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the operator edges ever closer to bankruptcy.   The loss in revenue – which amounts to $1.2 billion – is considered as another blow to the company, which is resorting to outside factors as the main reason behind its […]