Global Health |

Here’s What We Know About C.1.2.—South Africa’s New, Highly Mutated Covid Variant

August 31, 2021 Healthtimes

SOURCE: FORBES Topline There has been a lot of buzz this past week over a new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa that appears to be more highly mutated than any other variant flagged by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a variant of interest or concern, but still comprises just a small share of the country’s Covid-19 cases and has not been conclusively investigated for how its mutations impact the behavior of the virus. A shot of the vaccine is administered. Getty Images Key Facts The evolution of this…

WHO Mulls Digital Documentation of COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates

August 31, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has published a guidance document for countries and implementing partners on the technical requirements for issuing digital certificates for vaccination against COVDI-19. By Michael Gwarisa Through their official international Website, WHO said the Digital Documentation of COVID-19 Certificates is being proposed as a mechanism by which a person’s COVID-19-related health data can be digitally documented via an electronic certificate. The certificate can be used in the same way as a paper-based vaccination record/card. That is to provide information to health care providers about the vaccination…

CDC Warns That Delta Variant Now Infecting Vaccinated People, The Variant Is More Contagious Than Chicken Pox

July 31, 2021July 31, 2021 Healthtimes

THE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a stern warning about the delta variant of the coronavirus: “Acknowledge the war has changed.” Now, it says even vaccinated people are able to readily spread the virus. That is part of the message from a recent internal presentation prepared by the CDC detailing findings, some of which are considered preliminary, on the dangers posed by the delta variant, which has already led to a spike in cases in the United States. The document, obtained Friday by NBC News and first…

Major Diabetes Breakthrough On The Horizon As Once In A Week Insulin Drug Is Under Development

May 3, 2021 Healthtimes

A new weekly insulin shot that lasts for 196 hours is currently under development in a move that bis likely to improve health outcomes for people living diabetes. Article Originally Published By Medical Health Today The new modified version of insulin is called Insulin icodec and has undergone two trials and according to experts, the fact that it lasts 196 hours in the body makes it ideal as a once in week treatment. Two phase 2 trials including hundreds of participants with type 2 diabetes from several countries assessed the…

India Discovers New COVID-19 Mutant Strain Resistant To Natural And Vaccine Acquired Immunity

March 25, 2021 Healthtimes

SOURCE: BBC A new “double mutant” variant of the coronavirus has been detected from samples collected in India. Officials are checking if the variant, where two mutations come together in the same virus, may be more infectious or less affected by vaccines. Some 10,787 samples from 18 Indian states also showed up 771 cases of known variants – 736 of the UK, 34 of the South African and one Brazilian. Officials say the variants are not linked to a spike in cases in India. India reported 47,262 cases and 275…

Ageism is a global challenge: UN

March 22, 2021 Healthtimes

A new report on Ageism that has been released by the United Nations (UN) indicates that every second person in the world is believed to hold ageist attitudes – leading to poorer physical and mental health and reduced quality of life for older persons, costing societies billions of dollars each year. Staff Reporter The report released today by WHO, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), calls for urgent action to combat…

1 in 4 people projected to have hearing problems by 2050

March 5, 2021 Healthtimes

Nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide ─ or 1 in 4 people ─ will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050, warns the World Health Organization’s (WHO) first World Report on Hearing, released today. At least 700 million of these people will require access to ear and hearing care and other rehabilitation services unless action is taken. “Our ability to hear is precious. Untreated hearing loss can have a devastating impact on people’s ability to communicate, to study and to earn a living. It can also impact on…

Compensation For COVAX Vaccine Recipients Who Develop Serious Reactions

February 23, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has signed a no -fault compensation deal which will see a lump-sum payment being made to recipients of the the COVAX vaccine who would have developed serious side effects and reaction getting paid for damages that would have occurred. By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization (WHO) and Chubb Limited (NYSE: CB), through ESIS Inc., a Chubb company, signed an agreement on behalf of the COVAX Facility on 17 February 2021 for the administration of a no-fault compensation programme for the 92 low- and middle-income…

Johnson & Johnson Announces Single-Shot Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Met Primary Endpoints in Interim Analysis of its Phase 3 ENSEMBLE Trial

January 30, 2021 Healthtimes

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (the Company) today announced topline efficacy and safety data from the Phase 3 ENSEMBLE clinical trial, demonstrating that the investigational single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in development at its Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies met all primary and key secondary endpoints. The topline safety and efficacy data are based on 43,783 participants accruing 468 symptomatic cases of COVID-19. The Phase 3 ENSEMBLE study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine candidate in protecting moderate to severe COVID-19, with co-primary endpoints of 14 days…

Engage Communities First Before Rolling Out Vaccine, WHO Tells African Governments

January 18, 2021 Michael Gwarisa

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti says communities must be part of the COVID-19 vaccination process and should be be engaged earlier to create buy in from communities. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a virtual press conference that was facilitated by APO Group, Dr Moeti said Africa was still lagging behind in terms of readiness for the COVID-19 Vaccines Roll-out and more community awareness needed to be done before the vaccine distribution commences. Developing a safe and effective vaccine is just the first step…