Covid 19

Oct 15 (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and BioNTech SE have asked U.S. regulators to authorize their COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children aged 5-11, with an expert panel to the Food and Drug Administration scheduled to meet later this month to review data. But with many parts of the world still awaiting doses for more vulnerable people, the World Health Organisation has urged countries and companies that control the global supply of the vaccines to prioritize supply to COVAX. The following is a list of some countries that have approved or are considering vaccinating children: EU COUNTRIES * In June, Denmark said it would offer COVID-19 shots to children aged 12-15 to boost its overall immunity against the virus. * France has started vaccinating those from 12 years upwards, provided they have parental consent. * Germany in August agreed to make vaccination available to all children aged 12-17. read more * Austria has started vaccinating children aged 12-15. … [Read more...] about Factbox: Countries vaccinating children against COVID-19

A private school in Florida told teachers and staff it will not employ anyone who receives the COVID-19 vaccine, and those who already took the vaccine would have to stay separate from students, the Associated Press reported. Leila Centner, the co-founder of the Centner Academy in Miami and a anti-vaccination activist, told employees in a letter last week that she made the policy decision with a "very heavy heart." She asked those who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine to wait until the end of the school year to get vaccinated. In a letter to parents , Centner included an unfounded claim that unvaccinated women have experienced miscarriages and other adverse reproductive problems from standing near vaccinated people. "No one knows exactly what may be causing these irregularities, but it appears that those who have received the injections may be transmitting something from their bodies to those with whom they come in contact," Centner said in the letter. "Until more is … [Read more...] about COVID-vaccinated teachers, staff at Florida school must stay away from students, co-founder says

People can now wear bands to help prove their COVID-19 vaccination status by purchasing a bracelet. At least two companies are offering wristbands they say will allow people to demonstrate that they have received a shot—though the method and standards of proof vary and the bands are not endorsed by federal health bodies. ImmunaBand, which launched its silicone bracelet of the same name on March 15, claims to have released the "first-to-market wearable COVID-19 vaccination documentation". Each ImmunaBand, priced at $19.99, has a metal tag with a unique QR code attached to it which, when scanned, links to a copy of the wearer's vaccination card. A more expensive one is available which has the wearer's name and vaccine type engraved on it. Both are sold on the ImmunaBand website. ImmunaBand requires that people upload a photograph of their vaccination card to an ImmunaBand server. The company says this photo is stored and end-to-end encrypted "to ensure data privacy and … [Read more...] about How to get COVID vaccine bracelets that show you’ve had your shot

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made $1.5 million in 2020 for his book on leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic that generated controversy. The $1.5 million is only a portion of the profit the governor is expected to make for the book over the next two years, Cuomo's spokesman Richard Azzopardi said Monday. According to his publishing contract, the New York Democrat will net $5 million for the book. Three million of the earnings are classified as Cuomo's advance payment and the other is $2 million in profits. In light of the news, critics are calling for Cuomo to release his full contract with the publisher for further insight into royalties and compensation if more copies of his book are sold. Azzopardi said $500,000 of the proceeds were donated to the United Way of New York State. The publication of Cuomo's book has come under criticism for being published in October while the number of New York's COVID-19 cases was rising. Additional criticism has involved members of his … [Read more...] about Andrew Cuomo netted $1.5M on COVID book in 2020, spokesman says

Sunday marked the fourth straight day India set a global daily record of new coronavirus infections, as new variants spread throughout the country. The 349,691 new infections brought India's total to more than 16.9 million, behind only the United States. The health ministry reported another 2,767 deaths in the past 24 hours, pushing India's fatalities to 192,311. According to the Associated Press, the death toll could be a huge undercount, as suspected cases are not included, and many COVID-19 deaths are being attributed to underlying conditions. This crisis has overwhelmed India's graveyards and crematoriums, and the unprecedented influx of bodies has forced the sites to skip individual ceremonies and Hindu rituals. Burial grounds in the capital New Delhi are running out of space. The head gravedigger at the city's largest Muslim cemetery, where 1,000 people have been buried during the pandemic, said more bodies are arriving now than last year. "I fear we will run out of … [Read more...] about Burial grounds in New Delhi running out of room as COVID cases continue rising