Queensland University’s potential Covid-19 vaccine could be ready in 2021: Australian health minister
The vaccine was found to produce virus-neutralising antibodies and had a substantial effect on the elderly, Australian health minister Greg Hunt said.
By Press Trust of India | Posted by Srivatsan K C | Melbourne
UPDATED ON NOV 13, 2020 11:55 AM IST
Australian health minister Greg Hunt on Friday said a potential Covid-19 vaccine, being developed by the University of Queensland, could be available for all Australians in the third quarter of 2021.
He said the vaccine development was ahead of schedule and it was “doing its job”.
The vaccine was found to produce virus-neutralising antibodies and had a substantial effect on the elderly, Hunt said.
“That is particularly so in the elderly, and that is an especially important outcome, given the global vulnerability to elderly...from Covid-19,” he told a press briefing.
Biotech firm CSL has completed the manufacturing of the vaccine candidate to allow the third stage of clinical trials to begin.
“That is an extraordinary development.... It means that this vaccine will potentially be available, subject to the results of those trials, for delivery to Australians early in the third quarter of 2021,” he said.
“Our national goal is to ensure that all Australians who seek to be vaccinated are vaccinated by the end of 2021,” he added.
CSL Limited has signed a deal to supply the Australian government with 51 million doses of the vaccine once it’s proved to be effective.
Hong Kong pushes for surveillance cameras in classrooms
ANI, Hong Kong
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 04:09 PM IST
- According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, an adviser to the Executive Council, Chief Executive Carrie Lam's de facto cabinet, suggested that placing CCTV cameras in classrooms would reveal if teachers had made "subversive remarks".
Islamic State claims deadly and rare twin blasts in Baghdad
AP
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 04:09 PM IST
The attack was the first in nearly three years to hit the capital. Elsewhere, in northern Iraq and the western desert, attacks continue and almost exclusively target Iraqi security forces.
UK considers paying people to stay home amid lockdown breaches
Bloomberg, London
UPDATED ON JAN 22, 2021 04:00 PM IST
The policy, which would cost about 2 billion pounds a month, would be designed to overcome people’s fear of losing income if forced to self-isolate by a positive test, according to a document dated January 19 obtained by the Guardian and confirmed by a person familiar with the matter.
Explained: Why has Google threatened to pull its search engine from Australia
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Kunal Gaurav
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 03:39 PM IST
Google Australia managing director Mel Silva on Friday warned a Senate committee in Canberra that the mandatory code of conduct proposed by the government was “unworkable”.
Moderna lags in WHO vaccine drive as chinese shots near approval
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 03:33 PM IST
In contrast, leading Chinese vaccine makers Sinopharm and Sinovac Biotech Ltd. are further along in the WHO approval process, the document shows, though their shots are not among the nearly 2 billion already procured by Covax.
Pfizer vaccine safe for elderly despite Norway scare, WHO says
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 02:57 PM IST
The World Health Organization said it sees no evidence that Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE’s Covid-19 vaccine contributed to the deaths of elderly people and urged that the shot still be used.
Poland says it could take legal action over Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine delay
Reuters, Warsaw
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 02:44 PM IST
Poland received 176,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, a drop of around 50% from what was expected."I think that such a decision (on legal action) could be made next month if these supplies are not completed in accordance with the manufacturer's declaration," said a government spokesman.
Cash for Covid? UK says no decision on reported plan for positive tests
Reuters, London
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 02:28 PM IST
Surveys have indicated that only a small proportion of people with Covid symptoms were coming forward for tests while many others ignored instructions to self-isolate because of the financial impact of quarantining.
China's vaccine maker to offer Pakistan 20 million doses
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 02:21 PM IST
Pakistan is not among the 51 nations that have started administering shots despite being the fifth most populous country globally, according to data collected by Bloomberg.
First-ever treaty to ban nuclear weapons enters into force
PTI, United Nations
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 02:21 PM IST
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is now part of international law, culminating a decades-long campaign.
'Liberating feeling': Dr Fauci compares working under Trump, Biden admin
AP
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 02:10 PM IST
While choosing his words carefully, Fauci acknowledged that it had been difficult at times to work for Trump, who repeatedly played down the severity of the pandemic.
China finds coronavirus cluster in major chicken processing plant
Reuters, Beijing
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 01:48 PM IST
Meatpacking workers in the United States, Brazil and across Europe were among the groups hit hardest by Covid-19 last year.
Sri Lanka approves vaccine amid warnings of virus spread
AP
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 01:44 PM IST
- In over three months since, Sri Lanka has reported more than 52,000 new patients and 260 deaths. Between 500 to 900 new cases are being reported daily.
Trump's 'Diet Coke button' seems to have left Oval Office when he did
ANI
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 01:38 PM IST
It appears that US President Joe Biden has removed the button installed on the presidential desk by his predecessor Donald Trump, who was devoted to the soda drink.
EXPLAINER: Why Alexei Navalny is a thorn in the Kremlin's side
AP, Moscow
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 01:21 PM IST
Navalny vowed to return to Russia and continue his work, while authorities threatened him with arrest.