International COVID-19 Updates & Discussion 3

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Covid-19 death rates 10 times higher in countries where most adults are overweight, report finds

The risk of death from Covid-19 is about 10 times higher in countries where more than half of the population is overweight, according to a report released Wednesday by the World Obesity Forum.

t.co

 

[Gordon_R]

UK to donate more than 100 million surplus vaccine doses:

Everyone is joining the bandwagon, but demand still outstrips supply:

Canada will share up to 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine with nations in need - source | News24

Canada will share up to 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines with countries in need, though a portion of this has already been announced, a government official said, adding that the domestic vaccination campaign will not be affected.

www.news24.com

 

[Dave]

So the next question is, when will UK start with boosters, probably early 2022?

Wasn’t there some discussion that it might be connected to the flu vaccine program towards the end of the year?

 

[AdrianH]

Wasn’t there some discussion that it might be connected to the flu vaccine program towards the end of the year?

Can't say I have heard or read anything regarding that.

 

[krycor]

I see enca reporting FDA gonna advise tossing J&J & AZ jabs produced in the plant there due to contamination and not being able to guarantee safe guards were in place.

So yah.. big slap in the face for US and the pharma companies who were pushing for controlled, centralized production as this yet again points to the fact that for critical vaccines this is a problem.

Ps. Trump era screw up of note

 

[Dave]

Can't say I have heard or read anything regarding that.

I had a quick search, “in the autumn” is so far all I can see.

Covid-19: Booster vaccine to be rolled out in autumn as UK secures 60m more Pfizer doses

The UK will roll out a covid-19 booster vaccine at the beginning of autumn in order to protect the most vulnerable ahead of winter, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced. As part of this, the government’s vaccines taskforce has secured an additional 60m doses of the...

www.bmj.com

 

[Dave]

Here’s one article that mentions it as being under consideration.

Government 'ramping up' plans for COVID-19 booster jabs in autumn

The government is 'ramping up' plans for an autumn booster campaign that could see practices deliver millions more COVID-19 jabs to protect against new variants, health and social care secretary Matt Hancock has said.

www.gponline.com

Mr Hancock added that the booster jab programme would be delivered on a ‘similar basis’ to the initial vaccine programme. He said it was still unknown whether COVID-19 vaccination could be delivered at the same time as the seasonal flu jab - set to be offered to an expanded population for a second year running in 2021.

 

[Gordon_R]

Cruise liners will be incubators to test the real-world efficacy of vaccines:

Covid: Celebrity Millennium cruise guests test positive for virus

Royal Caribbean restarted cruises in June after they were suspended for more than a year.

www.bbc.com

All guests had to show proof of vaccination and a negative Covid test before boarding, the company said. All on-board staff are fully vaccinated.

The two cases were confirmed during end of cruise testing and Royal Caribbean are conducting contact tracing, the company said in a statement.

Royal Caribbean has worked with the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) to restart its sailings. The CDC gave cruises the go-ahead if 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are vaccinated.

 

[Paulsie]

So yah.. big slap in the face for US and the pharma companies who were pushing for controlled, centralized production as this yet again points to the fact that for critical vaccines this is a problem.

Ps. Trump era screw up of note

What's trump got to do with an unreliable supplier? If anything, it is the responsibility of the pharma companies to vet and audit their suppliers. Especially when it comes to raw materials for vaccine manufacture.

 

[Paulsie]

Statement On The Status Of Johnson And Johnson Rollout In South Africa Based On The FDA Announcement - SA Corona Virus Online Portal

11 June 2021

sacoronavirus.co.za

Edit: probably belongs to the SA thread, but it is a follow on to @krycor post

 

[krycor]

What's trump got to do with an unreliable supplier? If anything, it is the responsibility of the pharma companies to vet and audit their suppliers. Especially when it comes to raw materials for vaccine manufacture.

Congressional investigation launched into Emergent BioSolutions' federal vaccine contracts

Congressional investigators have requested top executives from Emergent BioSolutions testify before the Select Subcommittee.

www.cnbc.com

Basically they won contracts due to ‘cozy’ relationship with Trump official. I guess right now he isn’t directly implicated but rather part of his administration was but it is a developing investigation.

That cozy relationship lead to profiteering at expense of standards.. usual cut corners.. nothing we don’t see happening in SA I guess though comb that with global pandemic and demands that it be manufactured there because superior standards and tech.. well.. egg on face eh.

 

[krycor]

Statement On The Status Of Johnson And Johnson Rollout In South Africa Based On The FDA Announcement - SA Corona Virus Online Portal

11 June 2021

sacoronavirus.co.za

Edit: probably belongs to the SA thread, but it is a follow on to @krycor post

It’s a global thing not just SA and also not just J&J. UK also pulling AZ manufactured there and distributed post contamination event.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Six elderly tourists die after 37 out of 40 on Namibia tour bus test positive for Covid | News24

Six elderly tourists died from Covid-19 after 37 out of 40 travellers on a bus trip in Namibia were tested positive for the coronavirus.

www.news24.com

@Mortymoose

 

[Mortymoose]

Six elderly tourists die after 37 out of 40 on Namibia tour bus test positive for Covid | News24

Six elderly tourists died from Covid-19 after 37 out of 40 travellers on a bus trip in Namibia were tested positive for the coronavirus.

www.news24.com

@Mortymoose

I was informed of this yesterday, not my fault.....

Ironically I was talking to my partner recently about how there seems to be busloads of tourists wandering around the back roads of Namibia , makes no sense as we are now experiencing record numbers of C19 and deaths.....

 

[Dave]

not my fault.....

How strong is your alibi?

 

[Gordon_R]

UK restrictions to remain, as cases continue to rise:

Covid: Lockdown easing in England to be delayed by four weeks

Most current Covid rules will remain for four more weeks after 21 June, government sources say.

www.bbc.com

Rising infections in the UK are being driven by the Delta variant, first identified in India, which now accounts for 90% of infections.

It is believed to be around 60% more infectious than the Alpha variant - which was first identified in Kent and was previously dominant in the UK - and twice as likely to result in infected people being hospitalised.

The government has set out four tests that must be met for the next stage of easing restrictions to go ahead:
- The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
- Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
- Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
- Its assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern

 

[Paulsie]

UK restrictions to remain, as cases continue to rise:

Covid: Lockdown easing in England to be delayed by four weeks

Most current Covid rules will remain for four more weeks after 21 June, government sources say.

www.bbc.com

This thing will be like brexit. Have a plan, have a road map, have a deadline.

3 years later, they will still be debating how to get there.

COVEXIT - you heard it here first.

 

[noxibox]

Covid-19 death rates 10 times higher in countries where most adults are overweight, report finds

The risk of death from Covid-19 is about 10 times higher in countries where more than half of the population is overweight, according to a report released Wednesday by the World Obesity Forum.

t.co

Deliberately misleading headline intended to imply this applies to anyone with a BMI over 25 whereas in fact the increased risk is almost entirely for those whose is BMI is well over 30.

They need to stop pretending that being overweight and being obese carry the same risk.

 

[Geoff.D]

I was informed of this yesterday, not my fault.....

Ironically I was talking to my partner recently about how there seems to be busloads of tourists wandering around the back roads of Namibia , makes no sense as we are now experiencing record numbers of C19 and deaths.....

Of course, there is nothing to suggest the tourists got it in Namibia. But plenty to suggest they brought it with them, into a virtually perfect incubator, (a bus, fully air conditioned and designed to keep the dust out) plenty of lack of fresh air.
More likely that they have now let the bugger loose on you guys.

 

[Mortymoose]

Our el Presidento is going to talk to the Nation tonight, We are now a red list country, with record cases, Our local hospital is now using stretchers.

Yet the youngsters are still partying like 1963, masks are not being worn....

Another Spar Owner died yesterday in Namibia, 2nd in less than a week, my mate from Conservation called me to tell me his mum is on her last legs and a lady we know lost both her mum and dad a day apart this weekend...

The Wave is just about here.....