<B-0>22560</B-0>
<B-1>Expert panel recommends that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are preferred, what prevails internationally</B-1>
<B-2>A panel of outside advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday recommended that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines be preferred over that of J&?J, while US President Joe Biden warns that Omicron is spreading and predicts a "winter of severe illness and death" for those unvaccinated for COVID-19</B-2><B-3>At a time when a senior World Bank official says the goal of vaccinating 70% of the population by mid-2022 may not be met, cases of the new coronavirus and deaths due to COVID-19 continue to be recorded worldwide.</B-3><B-4><B-5>USA</B-4></B-5><B-6>A panel of external advisors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended yesterday that Pfizer and Moderna's Covid-19 vaccines be preferred over Johnson & Johnson's for all adults because of the rare but fatal side effects observed.</B-6><B-7>The Immunization Advisory Committee voted unanimously for this recommendation, which is non-binding and should be approved by the CDC.</B-7><B-8>Cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) have been reported in people who received the J&J vaccine, particularly in women younger than 50 years of age. CDC estimates that this syndrome is more common than previously estimated in both women and men. At least 9 people have died in the US from thrombosis syndrome.</B-8><B-9>Committee members also found that the J&J vaccine is less effective than the other two in preventing Covid-19. However, they felt that the vaccine should remain available, particularly for those people for whom messenger RNA vaccines are contraindicated (because of allergic reactions) or if the latter are not available.</B-9>
<B-10>If no other vaccine is available, J&J's provides more benefits against Covid-19 than risks, commented Sarah Oliver, the CDC data presenter.</B-10><B-11>Of the approximately 200 million fully vaccinated Americans, about 16 million got the J&J vaccine, according to CDC data.</B-11><B-12>Meanwhile, Joe Biden warned yesterday (Thursday) that the Omicron variant of the new coronavirus is here, as cases have been confirmed in 36 US states, and that it is going to spread much faster than any other, urging Americans to get vaccinated and those who have already done so to get their booster dose as soon as possible.</B-12><B-13>The only real protection is to get your shot, the US president said, predicting that those unvaccinated for COVID-19 are likely to face a winter of severe illness and death.</B-13><B-14>Biden was speaking before reporters after a meeting devoted to the new coronavirus pandemic because, he said, he wanted to directly address a message to Americans.</B-14><B-15>And that was that it is of the utmost importance that those who are immunized receive their booster dose and that others rush to get the first dose.</B-15><B-16>Health ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) nations called yesterday (Thursday) for cooperation ahead of the spread of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, which they called the greatest threat to global public health today.</B-16><B-17><B-18>World Bank</B-17></B-18><B-19>The goal of vaccinating 70 percent of the world's population for Covid-19 by the middle of next year may not be met, according to a senior World Bank official.</B-19><B-20>At this stage, it is not obvious that the target will be met, Mamta Murthy, vice president for human development at the World Bank, pointed out when asked during an online press conference.</B-20><B-21>Of course, vaccine purchase and development may accelerate by the middle of next year, she added.</B-21><B-22>To date, slightly less than half of the world's population (44.95 percent) has been vaccinated, based on data from international agencies. But the disparities are huge, with the vaccination rate in rich countries reaching 67.45% and 4.36% in poor countries, especially in Africa.</B-22><B-23>The 70% threshold is considered crucial to control the pandemic. The World Health Organization recently reported that this target will not be reached in Africa until 2024 if this rate of vaccination continues.</B-23><B-24><B-25>Turkey</B-24></B-25><B-26>Turkey's health ministry announced yesterday (Thursday) that 18,100 cases of SARS-CoV-2 were confirmed in the previous 24 hours following 354,003 tests, bringing the total number of recorded infections to 9,118,424.</B-26><B-27>The deaths of 167 patients due to complications of COVID-19 increased the death toll to 79,863 by yesterday from March 11, 2020, when the pandemic of the new coronavirus broke out in the Turkish territory.</B-27><B-28><B-29>Malaysia</B-28></B-29><B-30>Malaysia's Ministry of Health announced today that in the 24 hours to midnight yesterday (Thursday) 37 patients succumbed to complications of COVID-19 and 4 were confirmed.262 cases of SARS-CoV-2.</B-30><B-31>The death toll from the pandemic of the new coronavirus in the Asian country of 33 million people has reached 31,026 deaths out of a total of 2,707,402 infections, according to official data.</B-31><B-32><B-32></B-33>Iran</B-32></B-33><B-34>The Iranian Health Ministry said yesterday (Thursday) that 63 patients had succumbed to complications of COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours and 2,500 cases of SARS-CoV-2 had been confirmed.</B-34><B-35>The toll of the new coronavirus pandemic in the Islamic Republic has reached 130,946 deaths out of a total of 6,165 since its outbreak on Iranian territory in February 2020.454 infections.</B-35><B-36><B-37>Brazil</B-36></B-37><B-38>Brazil's Ministry of Health announced yesterday (Thursday) that 124 patients had succumbed to complications of COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours and 3 were confirmed.720 cases of SARS-CoV-2, noting however that the data is not complete as six of the 27 entities in the federation did not submit newer data due to cyber attacks suffered last Friday.</B-38><B-39>Having recorded 617.395 deaths since the pandemic of the new coronavirus broke out in its territory, Latin America's largest nation of 212 million people is recording the second-heaviest death toll in the world in absolute terms, behind only the United States.</B-39><B-40><B-41>Germany</B-40></B-41><B-42>Confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Germany rose by 50,968 in the past 24 hours to 6,721,375, figures released today (Friday) by the Robert Koch Institute, the country's epidemiological surveillance body, show.</B-42><B-43>The deaths of 437 patients due to complications of COVID-19 raised the death toll of the new coronavirus pandemic in the country to 107,639 so far, according to the same source.</B-43><B-44><B-45>Georgia</B-44></B-45><B-46>Georgia's National Center for Disease Control and Public Health announced yesterday (Thursday) that in the previous 24 hours 3.123 cases of SARS-CoV-2 and 39 patients succumbed due to complications of COVID-19.</B-46><B-47>Officially, the death toll of the new coronavirus pandemic since its outbreak in the former Soviet republic on February 26, 2020 has reached 12,918 deaths out of a total of 901,202 recorded infections.</B-47><B-48>Source: CNA</B-48>.
<B-49>Contents of this article including associated images are owned by <B-50>Cyprus Times</B-49>
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or <B-51>Cyprus Times</B-50></B-51>
<B-52>Source</B-52>
<B-1>Expert panel recommends that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are preferred, what prevails internationally</B-1>
<B-2>A panel of outside advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday recommended that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines be preferred over that of J&?J, while US President Joe Biden warns that Omicron is spreading and predicts a "winter of severe illness and death" for those unvaccinated for COVID-19</B-2><B-3>At a time when a senior World Bank official says the goal of vaccinating 70% of the population by mid-2022 may not be met, cases of the new coronavirus and deaths due to COVID-19 continue to be recorded worldwide.</B-3><B-4><B-5>USA</B-4></B-5><B-6>A panel of external advisors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended yesterday that Pfizer and Moderna's Covid-19 vaccines be preferred over Johnson & Johnson's for all adults because of the rare but fatal side effects observed.</B-6><B-7>The Immunization Advisory Committee voted unanimously for this recommendation, which is non-binding and should be approved by the CDC.</B-7><B-8>Cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) have been reported in people who received the J&J vaccine, particularly in women younger than 50 years of age. CDC estimates that this syndrome is more common than previously estimated in both women and men. At least 9 people have died in the US from thrombosis syndrome.</B-8><B-9>Committee members also found that the J&J vaccine is less effective than the other two in preventing Covid-19. However, they felt that the vaccine should remain available, particularly for those people for whom messenger RNA vaccines are contraindicated (because of allergic reactions) or if the latter are not available.</B-9>
<B-10>If no other vaccine is available, J&J's provides more benefits against Covid-19 than risks, commented Sarah Oliver, the CDC data presenter.</B-10><B-11>Of the approximately 200 million fully vaccinated Americans, about 16 million got the J&J vaccine, according to CDC data.</B-11><B-12>Meanwhile, Joe Biden warned yesterday (Thursday) that the Omicron variant of the new coronavirus is here, as cases have been confirmed in 36 US states, and that it is going to spread much faster than any other, urging Americans to get vaccinated and those who have already done so to get their booster dose as soon as possible.</B-12><B-13>The only real protection is to get your shot, the US president said, predicting that those unvaccinated for COVID-19 are likely to face a winter of severe illness and death.</B-13><B-14>Biden was speaking before reporters after a meeting devoted to the new coronavirus pandemic because, he said, he wanted to directly address a message to Americans.</B-14><B-15>And that was that it is of the utmost importance that those who are immunized receive their booster dose and that others rush to get the first dose.</B-15><B-16>Health ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) nations called yesterday (Thursday) for cooperation ahead of the spread of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, which they called the greatest threat to global public health today.</B-16><B-17><B-18>World Bank</B-17></B-18><B-19>The goal of vaccinating 70 percent of the world's population for Covid-19 by the middle of next year may not be met, according to a senior World Bank official.</B-19><B-20>At this stage, it is not obvious that the target will be met, Mamta Murthy, vice president for human development at the World Bank, pointed out when asked during an online press conference.</B-20><B-21>Of course, vaccine purchase and development may accelerate by the middle of next year, she added.</B-21><B-22>To date, slightly less than half of the world's population (44.95 percent) has been vaccinated, based on data from international agencies. But the disparities are huge, with the vaccination rate in rich countries reaching 67.45% and 4.36% in poor countries, especially in Africa.</B-22><B-23>The 70% threshold is considered crucial to control the pandemic. The World Health Organization recently reported that this target will not be reached in Africa until 2024 if this rate of vaccination continues.</B-23><B-24><B-25>Turkey</B-24></B-25><B-26>Turkey's health ministry announced yesterday (Thursday) that 18,100 cases of SARS-CoV-2 were confirmed in the previous 24 hours following 354,003 tests, bringing the total number of recorded infections to 9,118,424.</B-26><B-27>The deaths of 167 patients due to complications of COVID-19 increased the death toll to 79,863 by yesterday from March 11, 2020, when the pandemic of the new coronavirus broke out in the Turkish territory.</B-27><B-28><B-29>Malaysia</B-28></B-29><B-30>Malaysia's Ministry of Health announced today that in the 24 hours to midnight yesterday (Thursday) 37 patients succumbed to complications of COVID-19 and 4 were confirmed.262 cases of SARS-CoV-2.</B-30><B-31>The death toll from the pandemic of the new coronavirus in the Asian country of 33 million people has reached 31,026 deaths out of a total of 2,707,402 infections, according to official data.</B-31><B-32><B-32></B-33>Iran</B-32></B-33><B-34>The Iranian Health Ministry said yesterday (Thursday) that 63 patients had succumbed to complications of COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours and 2,500 cases of SARS-CoV-2 had been confirmed.</B-34><B-35>The toll of the new coronavirus pandemic in the Islamic Republic has reached 130,946 deaths out of a total of 6,165 since its outbreak on Iranian territory in February 2020.454 infections.</B-35><B-36><B-37>Brazil</B-36></B-37><B-38>Brazil's Ministry of Health announced yesterday (Thursday) that 124 patients had succumbed to complications of COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours and 3 were confirmed.720 cases of SARS-CoV-2, noting however that the data is not complete as six of the 27 entities in the federation did not submit newer data due to cyber attacks suffered last Friday.</B-38><B-39>Having recorded 617.395 deaths since the pandemic of the new coronavirus broke out in its territory, Latin America's largest nation of 212 million people is recording the second-heaviest death toll in the world in absolute terms, behind only the United States.</B-39><B-40><B-41>Germany</B-40></B-41><B-42>Confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Germany rose by 50,968 in the past 24 hours to 6,721,375, figures released today (Friday) by the Robert Koch Institute, the country's epidemiological surveillance body, show.</B-42><B-43>The deaths of 437 patients due to complications of COVID-19 raised the death toll of the new coronavirus pandemic in the country to 107,639 so far, according to the same source.</B-43><B-44><B-45>Georgia</B-44></B-45><B-46>Georgia's National Center for Disease Control and Public Health announced yesterday (Thursday) that in the previous 24 hours 3.123 cases of SARS-CoV-2 and 39 patients succumbed due to complications of COVID-19.</B-46><B-47>Officially, the death toll of the new coronavirus pandemic since its outbreak in the former Soviet republic on February 26, 2020 has reached 12,918 deaths out of a total of 901,202 recorded infections.</B-47><B-48>Source: CNA</B-48>.
<B-49>Contents of this article including associated images are owned by <B-50>Cyprus Times</B-49>
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or <B-51>Cyprus Times</B-50></B-51>
<B-52>Source</B-52>
