GEORGETOWN, Guyana: CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General, Trade and Economic Integration, Mr. Joseph Cox, says the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was not only causing upheavals in health and social spheres, but was also having serious deleterious effects on economic life by causing a re-ordering of processes, changing operational ethos, and strategic pivoting at both the national and regional levels. […]
Vaccine inequity continues to divide the region. Lessons must be learned to bring pandemic under control and ensure access to future COVID-19 therapeutics.
Washington D.C. (PAHO) – While COVID-19 infections tripled in 2021 and health systems struggled to cope, “we have learned what it takes to bring this virus under control,” and must urgently address gaps in vaccine access to ensure everyone is protected, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F. Etienne urged. “When we compare […]
By Jaime Sidani, Beth Hoffman & Maya Ragavan, The Conversation Since COVID-19 vaccines became available for children ages 5 to 11 in early November 2021, many families have been lining up to get their school-age kids vaccinated prior to holiday travel and gatherings. As of Dec. 14, 5.6 million U.S. children ages 5 to 11 […]
By Andrew Harding, BBC News South African scientists – hailed for their discovery of Omicron – are investigating the “highly plausible hypothesis” that the emergence of new Covid-19 variants could be linked, in some cases, to mutations taking place inside infected people whose immune systems have already been weakened by other factors, including, though not […]
By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY A study by Oregon researchers finds that people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 who have a breakthrough infection end up with what the authors call “super immunity.” They caution the vaccinated should not seek COVID-19 infection, but the “hybrid immunity” offers some solace for those who catch one despite having been […]
By Dr. Dave A. Chokshi As a father of a young child and the City’s doctor, it has been especially meaningful for me to see so many brave children roll up their sleeves to get vaccinated against COVID-19. I have had the privilege of being present when some have gotten their first dose. I remember […]
By David Leonhardt, NY Times Get ready for the Omicron surge, and take it seriously. But remember that the vaccines appear to provide strong protection against what matters most: severe Covid illnesses. That’s my reading of experts’ reactions to the latest developments on the Omicron variant. Today, I will walk through them. Highly contagious The […]
By Colbert I. King, Washington Post A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help. Soon a man in a rowboat came by and shouted to the man on the roof: “Jump in. I can save you.” The stranded fellow shouted back: “No, it’s okay. I’m praying […]
By Dave Goldiner and Chris Sommerfeldt, NY Daily News All private sector workers in the city must be vaccinated against COVID-19 under a first-in-the-nation mandate rolled out by Mayor de Blasio on Monday — but the sweeping new rule drew swift pushback from business leaders and could pose a logistical headache for incoming Mayor Eric […]
By Shabir A. Madhi, The Conversation South Africa reacted with outrage to travel bans, first triggered by the UK, imposed on it in the wake of the news that its genomics surveillance team had detected a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa has been monitoring changes in […]