BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Wednesday it had struck a deal for an extra 150 million doses of Moderna s COVID-19 vaccine this year, nearly doubling the number of shots secured from the U.S. biotech firm for 2021. Under the deal, which confirms what Reuters exclusively reported on Monday, the European Union also has the option to buy another 150 million doses next year. The EU has already booked 160 million doses of the Moderna shot for this year. Deliveries began in January, with a target to supply 10 million doses by the end of March, although there have been some delays. Moderna confirmed the deal. With the new agreement, the EU has secured up to 2.6 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines from six vaccine makers, the Commission said. That compares with an EU population of around 450 million, although not all vaccines may pass clinical tests. This brings us closer to our major objective: ensure that all Europeans have access to safe and effective vaccines as quickl
The country s death toll has reached 11,577 after 53 more fatalities, officials said adding that 271 more patients have recovered, taking the total recoveries to 512,033., Xinhua reported.The
Strong immune response may increase susceptibility to Covid-19 in some cases
February 17, 2021 Researchers in Berlin have observed how SARS-CoV-2 uses an immune system defense mechanism to multiply.
The study, published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine, carried out by the researchers revealed that SARS-CoV-2 increasingly hijack the body’s mucous membrane cells and multiply there.
“This may give us part of the explanation as to why the immune system has difficulty regulating or even defeating the infection in some people,” says Dr. Julian Heuberger, scientist at the Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology in Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin’s Medical Department.
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Project brings together Novartis drug discovery and gene therapy expertise and funding support from the Gates Foundation
Agreement aims to address disparity in access to treatments and to prioritize populations and regions that bear the
greatest burden of sickle cell disease in the search for curative therapies
Effort expands on Novartis commitment to sickle cell disease, which includes a therapeutic pipeline and a holistic approach to diagnosis, treatment, and management of the disease in sub-Saharan Africa
Basel, February 17, 2021 - Novartis today announced that it has entered into a grant agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As part of the agreement, the foundation will provide funding support for the discovery and development of a single-administration,
Travellers released from quarantine as NT Government revokes Greater Melbourne COVID-19 hotspot
Posted
WedWednesday 17
updated
WedWednesday 17
FebFebruary 2021 at 9:04am
NT Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie says he will continue to monitor the situation in Melbourne.
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Key points:
Free travel between Melbourne and the NT has now resumed
Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie said the Melbourne cluster linked to a Holiday Inn hotel had been contained
It means anyone currently in quarantine in the Northern Territory after visiting the city will be released, and free travel between the two locations will resume.
In a statement, NT Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie said it was appropriate to revoke the declaration based on expert advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.