India Starts Nationwide Vaccine Delivery
The vaccination of the country's 1.3 billion people is the largest undertaking in the world. Patient groups warn about a domestic vaccine manufacturer. News reports are from Albania, Germany, and Pakistan.
Reuters:
India Delivers COVID-19 Shots To Prepare For 'World's Biggest Vaccination Drive'
Indian airlines started delivering batches of COVID-19 vaccines across the country on Tuesday, getting ready for the launch of a campaign to offer shots to 1.3 billion people in what officials call the world’s biggest vaccination drive. Authorities hope to inoculate 300 million high-risk people over the next six to eight months. Vaccinations are scheduled to begin on Saturday. (Shah and Ravikumar, 1/11)
Stat:
A Covid-19 Vaccine Maker In India Stirs Controversy Over Its Clinical Trial
For the second time in two weeks, patient groups in India are raising concerns about a domestic vaccine manufacturer and its Covid-19 shot, which is one of two vaccines that were recently granted emergency use by the Indian government for combating the pandemic. (Silverman, 1/11)
In other global developments —
AP:
Albania Carries Out 1st Vaccinations With Donated Doses
Albania kicked off its coronavirus vaccination program on Monday with doses received from an undisclosed European Union nation, making sure that the prime minister was among the first to receive a shot. Prime Minister Edi Rama said he was “not authorized” to say which EU country had provided 975 doses to the Balkan nation. Albania’s main vaccination campaign is due to start next week. (Semini, 1/11)
AP:
Bodies Pile Up At Crematorium In Germany's Virus Hot Spot
The caskets are stacked three high in the Meissen crematorium’s somber memorial hall, piled up in empty offices and stored in hallways. Many are sealed with plastic wrapping, others are labeled “infection risk,” “urgent” or simply “COVID.” A surge of coronavirus deaths in this corner of eastern Germany has boosted business for crematorium manager Joerg Schaldach and his staff, but nobody is celebrating. (Jordans, 1/12)
AP:
Gunmen Kill Policeman Escorting Polio Workers In Pakistan
Gunmen riding on a motorcycle shot and killed a policeman in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday as he escorted a team of polio workers. The attack in the district of Karak in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province came on the second day of a nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign that Pakistani authorities launched in an effort to eradicate the crippling disease by the end of the year. (1/12)
