Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Cuban-Developed Vaccine More Than 92% Effective Against Covid
Reuters: Cuba Says Abdala Vaccine 92.28% Effective Against Coronavirus
Cuba said on Monday its three-shot Abdala vaccine against the coronavirus had proved 92.28% effective in last-stage clinical trials. The announcement came just days after the government said another homegrown vaccine, Soberana 2, had proved 62% effective with just two of its three doses. (6/22)
In other global developments —
Reuters: Colombia's COVID-19 Deaths Pass 100,000 In Unrelenting Third Wave
Reported deaths from COVID-19 in Colombia passed 100,000 on Monday, the country's health ministry said, amid warnings of potential scarcity of treatment drugs and oxygen in hospitals during a long and brutal third peak of infections and deaths. The country of 50 million people has reported more than 3.9 million cases of coronavirus infections, as well as 100,582 deaths. (6/21)
NPR: Europe Watches With Worry As Delta Variant Spreads Fast In The U.K. And Lisbon
A worrying spike of coronavirus infections in Europe is being driven by the delta variant, according to global health leaders, even as immunization rates in some countries are on the way up. Increased cases reported in the U.K. and Portugal have forced officials to reimplement lockdown restrictions or hold off on lifting pandemic mandates. Officials in France, Germany and Spain said they are closely monitoring clusters of infection tied to the delta variant. The strain, also known as B.1.617.2, was first detected in India. It is now "well on its way to becoming the dominant variant globally because of its increased transmissibility," Soumya Swaminathan, the World Health Organization's chief scientist, said Friday. (Diaz, 6/21)
Reuters: Vaccinated Brits Could Be Back On Europe's Beaches Soon - Minister
Britain is working on easing travel restrictions for the fully vaccinated to allow people to enjoy a summer holiday on Europe's beaches but the plans are not finalised yet, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Tuesday. Currently British citizens are essentially prevented from travelling to most countries - including those in the European Union - as the quarantine and testing rules are so cumbersome and expensive. (Faulconbridge and Smout, 6/22)
AP: NKorea Tells WHO It Has Detected No Virus Cases
North Korea has told the World Health Organization it tested more than 30,000 people for the coronavirus through June 10 but has yet to find a single infection. The WHO said in a monitoring report Tuesday that North Korea’s testing figures included 733 people who were tested during June 4-10, of which 149 were with influenza-like illnesses or severe respiratory infections. (6/22)
AP: Duterte Threatens To Arrest Filipinos Who Refuse Vaccination
The Philippine president has threatened to order the arrest of Filipinos who refuse COVID-19 vaccination and told them to leave the country if they would not cooperate with the efforts to contain the pandemic. President Rodrigo Duterte, who is known for his public outbursts and brash rhetoric, said in televised remarks Monday night that he has become exasperated with people who refuse to get immunized then help spread the coronavirus. (6/21)
USA Today: Vaccine Clots More Deadly Than COVID In Australia This Year
Australia's top medical officer on Monday urged countrymen who have received an AstraZeneca COVID shot to "not delay" getting the second dose – even though the vaccine has been linked to more deaths than COVID in Australia this year. Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly, after a National Cabinet meeting, reiterated the benefits of vaccination and encouraged Australians to stay vigilant for symptoms of COVID-19. He told Australia's ABC network that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in combating COVID-19 "far outweighed" the risks of developing a very rare blood clotting syndrome. (Bacon and Aspegren, 6/21)
AP: Hungary's Immunity Cards Allow Packed Stands, Raise Concerns
Tens of thousands of soccer fans packed the Puskas Arena in Budapest last week to attend Euro 2020 matches. It was the first full-house international soccer event in Europe in more than a year — made possible largely by Hungary’s adoption of government-issued immunity cards. The only one of the tournament’s 10 host countries to allow full crowds in stadiums, Hungary has conducted one of Europe’s most successful COVID-19 vaccination drives. The immunity cards attest that their bearers have received at least one vaccine dose or recovered from COVID-19, and allow them access to sports events as well as to services and venues such as hotels, spas, concerts, theaters and indoor restaurant dining. (Spike, 6/22)
Also —
CIDRAP: CDC Bans Imported Dogs From High-Risk Nations After Rabies Variant Detected
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has temporarily suspended the import of dogs from high-risk countries and recently launched a multistate investigation based on the detection of a rabies variant detected in a rescue dog from Azerbaijan. The 1-year suspension will begin on Jul 14."The importation of just one dog infected with CRVV [canine rabies virus variants] risks re-introduction of the virus into the United States resulting in a potential public health risk with consequent monetary cost and potential loss of human and animal life," said a notice from the Federal Register. (6/21)
Bloomberg: U.K. Pledges Patient Health Data Revamp To Accelerate Treatment
Boris Johnson’s government promised to revamp health care data in England to give patients easier access to test results, medication lists and care plans -- and for records to be shared between systems to speed up treatment. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the move would deliver “better patient-focused care” by transforming the way data is used across health and care sectors. It would ensure clinicians have up-to-date medical information so they can make quicker, more informed decisions, he said. (Ashton, 6/22)
AP: UK Infected Blood Probe Focuses On School Where Dozens Died
A public inquiry into Britain’s contaminated blood scandal, which led to the deaths of more than 2,000 people in the 1970s and ’80s, began hearing evidence Monday from former students at a disabled children’s school where dozens died after being given blood products tainted with HIV and hepatitis. Former students and parents from Treloar’s College, an English boarding school, were testifying to the Infected Blood Inquiry because the school’s health center gave children infected blood products such as plasma to treat their haemophilia, a condition that impairs the body’s ability to make blood clots. (Hui, 6/21)
