Coming as it does at a time when COVID-19 resolutely refuses to pack up and go away, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow this November will likely discuss not only international climate action but the impact of climate on health issues as well. As the Lancet Countdown 2020 Report explained, no continent, country, or community is immune from […]
Pfizer
Pfizer vaccine talks ongoing with expert group
An expert government panel is in talks regarding the BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine, Union Health Minister Mankush Mandaviya told the Lok Sabha on Friday. The Minister said “an expert group of the Indian government is still in talks with Pfizer over COVID vaccine supply.” United States State Department spokesperson Ned Price has announced that the […]
Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine: Less effective against Delta variant?
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 has registered a lower level of efficacy in preventing the Delta variant first identified in India, according to new data from Israel. Effectiveness of the vaccine has dropped to 64 percent in preventing infection as the Delta variant spreads in Israel, now accounting for ninety percent of the country’s cases. […]
Pfizer vaccine on the cusp of securing Indian approval, CEO says
The Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 is on the verge of securing approval for use in India. This is according to the drugmaker’s chief executive officer Albert Bourla who, speaking at a virtual event, said they were in the “final stages” of receiving the nod and said “I hope very soon we will finalise an agreement […]
Pfizer withdraws approval application in India
Drugmaker Pfizer has rescinded its emergency use authorisation application for its vaccine candidate against COVID-19. However, it intends to resubmit. The pharmaceutical giant sought emergency use authorisation for its vaccine in India last year but “has decided to withdraw its application at this time” according to a company spokesperson. Pfizer’s vaccine showed promising results in […]
Accelerated approval for Pfizer, SII vaccines?
Following the requests by both Pfizer and the Serum Institute of India (SII) for emergency use authorisation for their respective COVID-19 vaccine candidates, the Union Government is considering an accelerated approval process. “We are in the process of reviewing,” said a senior government official quoted by Reuters. “It is an accelerated reviewing process, which is […]
Emergency use authorisation sought by SII, Pfizer
The Serum Institute of India (SII) is seeking emergency use authorisation for Covishield, also known as the ‘Oxford Vaccine’. Pfizer has done the same for its vaccine candidate. Phase-III trials of Covishield – made by the University of Oxford in collaboration with AstraZeneca – are underway in various parts of the country, conducted by the […]