Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
China's Vaccine Appears Safe, But It Produces Lower Levels Of Antibodies
The Washington Post: China's Sinovac Reports Mixed Findings In Early Clinical Trials
Sinovac Biotech, one of China's coronavirus vaccine front-runners, published mixed findings from its two first clinical trials Tuesday, raising the stakes in Indonesia, which has already declared plans to roll out Sinovac's vaccine. While the vaccine appeared to be safe in these early clinical trials, the company reported that it generated lower levels of protective antibodies in the bloodstream compared with those arising in recovered coronavirus patients. In comparison, Moderna and Pfizer had reported antibody levels on par with or higher than those produced in recovered coronavirus patients. (Dou, 11/18)
AP: Putin Touts Russian Virus Vaccines At BRICS Summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin told BRICS leaders Tuesday that coronavirus vaccines developed in Russia “work effectively and safely” and urged the group of emerging economy nations to “join forces” for the mass production of the shots. Putin’s remarks come after early results of large studies of several experimental COVID-19 vaccines, including a Russian one, were announced. The BRICS grouping is made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. (Litvinova, 11/17)
The Washington Post: Has Sweden's Coronavirus Strategy Failed?
Even Sweden appears to be abandoning the Swedish model. On Monday, the country’s authorities banned gatherings of more than eight people as they grappled with the second coronavirus wave surging through much of Europe. The new restrictions followed other protocols coming into effect this week, including protective measures around nursing homes and bans on alcohol sales at restaurants and bars after 10 p.m. (Tharoor, 11/18)
Politico: Rome Heads Toward Coronavirus Disaster
It was only recently that Italy’s coronavirus response was being held up as an example by newspapers around the world. Now it looks like the country is shuffling towards a slow-motion disaster. In Naples, Italy’s third-biggest city and the heart of the mezzogiorno, the country’s south, ambulances carrying COVID-19 patients queued up outside overflowing hospitals. Images of an elderly man who died in a hospital bathroom and was reportedly left on the floor for over half an hour also prompted outrage. (Martuscelli, 11/14)
The Washington Post: Nursing Home Covid Cases Propel Belgium To One Of The World's Worst Death Rates. Again.
One Belgian doctor described nursing homes in his country as a scene of “carnage” in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, with fatalities inside the institutions pushing Belgium to a worst-in-the-world death toll. Afterward, policymakers vowed to fortify the care homes to protect against a potential new surge. Yet deep into a second wave, the virus is racing through nursing homes once more, and advocates say some of the same broad mistakes are cementing Belgium’s status as a country where reported coronavirus deaths per capita are off the charts. (Birnbaum, 11/17)
AP: Dutch Virus Restrictions To Be Eased Amid Falling Infections
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte eased his country’s coronavirus measures Tuesday amid falling infection rates, allowing public venues including cinemas, museums and libraries to reopen — with limitations on how many people can visit — after a two-week closure. The venues, which also include zoos and swimming pools, will be allowed to reopen at midnight Wednesday, Rutte said. (11/17)
