Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
No. 4: Saudi Arabia Joins Other Countries In Approving Pfizer Vaccine
The Washington Post: Saudi Arabia Also Approves Pfizer Vaccine
BEIRUT — Saudi Arabia approved the registration of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, its Food and Drug Authority announced.U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which is partnering with German biotech firm BioNTech, submitted the data on Nov. 24 to be studied by the Saudi FDA, which assessed and approved the vaccine. It did not, however, say when the vaccine will arrive in Saudi Arabia, only that the Health Ministry would make that announcement. It added that it would test samples of each shipment to avoid any issues. (Dadouch, 12/10)
The Hill: Canada Authorizes Pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine
Canada’s government on Wednesday authorized the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, becoming the third country to do so after the United Kingdom and Bahrain. The move comes ahead of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee meeting on Thursday, which is expected to lead to U.S. authorization of the vaccine soon after. President Trump has been pressuring the FDA to move quickly, but other experts say it is good that the agency is being thorough. (Sullivan, 12/9)
CNN: Canada Crushed The Covid Curve But Complacency Is Fueling A Deadly Second Wave
"At least we're not as bad as the States." Those were the words uttered by so many Canadians during the first wave of coronavirus, perhaps without malice although with a good dose of smugness. But that complacency may have helped fuel a deadly second wave in Canada that is now straining hospital capacity in nearly every region of the country as health officials impose more restrictions and lockdowns. (Newton, 12/8)
In other global developments —
CNN: Covid-19 Vaccines Are Being Hoarded By Rich Countries, Leaving The Developing World Behind, Groups Warn
Rich countries have bought enough Covid-19 vaccine doses to immunize their populations three times over, an international vaccine watchdog has said, but developing countries are being left behind in the global sprint to end the coronavirus pandemic. In 67 poorer nations, just one in 10 people can hope to receive a vaccine by the end of next year, the People's Vaccine Alliance said on Wednesday. (Picheta, 12/9)
CIDRAP: Italian Child Had COVID Back In December 2019
A 4-year-old boy living outside of Milan with no travel history is now the earliest confirmed SARS-CoV-2 case in Italy, a team based in Italy reported in a research letter to Emerging Infectious Diseases yesterday. The patient was one of the 39 consenting people in Italy's Measles and Rubella Network who had suspected measles in the fall of 2019 but eventually tested negative. His sample was the only one to test positive for COVID-19 via polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) testing. Using Sanger technology, the researchers were able to match it 100% to the reference sequence Wuhan-HU-1 as well as other COVID-19 strains found in circulation later. (12/9)
Bloomberg: England’s Schools Had Low Covid Risk After Reopening
Coronavirus cases were low in schools that reopened in England after the first nationwide lockdown, suggesting there was little risk of spreading the disease, according to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. The research covered nurseries and schools that reopened after implementing measures such as smaller classes and the formation of social bubbles. Educational settings in England closed in late March for the first lockdown, with some partially reopening from June 1 to July 17. (Kew, 12/8)
Bloomberg: Cabin Crew Told To Wear Diapers On Risky Covid Flights
China’s aviation regulator is recommending cabin crew on charter flights to high-risk Covid-19 destinations wear disposable diapers and avoid using the bathroom to reduce the risk of infection. The advice comes in a 38-page list of guidelines for airlines to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The sixth edition echoes similar instructions in previous, less lengthy versions. The Civil Aviation Administration of China said the recommendation applies for charter flights to and from countries and regions where infections exceed 500 in every one million people. (Davies, 12/10)
