Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Other Countries Roll Out Their COVID Vaccine Plans
The Hill: Russia Says Vaccine Candidate Is 95 Percent Effective, Will Sell For $10 Internationally
Russia on Tuesday said its COVID-19 vaccine candidate Sputnik V has an efficacy over 95 percent, adding that it would cost less than $10 a dose in international markets. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced the price tag for its near-ready vaccine around the same time British vaccine creators from Oxford University and AstraZeneca said their version was 70 percent effective, up to 90 percent if dosages are adjusted, The Washington Post reported. (Deese, 11/24)
The Guardian: Russia Says Data On Sputnik Covid Vaccine Shows 95% Efficacy
Not everyone is convinced by Russia’s official data, however, and suspicions have been increased by the fact Russian authorities speedily licensed the vaccine before the results of stage three trials were available, as well as reports of state employees being coerced into taking part in trials. While numerous countries have expressed an interest in studying or purchasing the vaccine, few western countries have signed up. Among EU nations, only Hungary has expressed a serious interest, causing friction with other members of the bloc. A spokesman for the European commission said the body “does not have any data regarding this Russian vaccine,” Interfax reported on Tuesday evening. (Roth and Walker, 11/24)
In other global developments on the COVID vaccine —
AP: With Hope High For Vaccine, Britain Prepares To Roll It Out
With major COVID-19 vaccines showing high levels of protection, British officials are cautiously — and they stress cautiously — optimistic that life may start returning to normal by early April. Even before regulators have approved a single vaccine, the U.K. and countries across Europe are moving quickly to organize the distribution and delivery systems needed to inoculate millions of citizens. (Kirka, 11/25)
Bloomberg: Row Over England Flu Shots Prompts Fear Of Covid Vaccine ‘Chaos’
Communication failures risk derailing the mass roll-out of a potential Covid-19 vaccine in England, family doctors warned after they were blindsided by a government announcement on free flu shots for the over-50s. Ministers announced last week that people aged 50-64 will be able to get a flu vaccination from Dec. 1, but doctors complained they were not told in advance and were deluged with calls from patients demanding appointments. Some practices are still not able to get hold of enough flu vaccine for the over-65s, let alone younger patients. (Ashton, 11/25)
AP: EU Says First Virus Vaccinations Possible By Christmas
A top European Union official said Wednesday that the first citizens in the 27 nation bloc could be vaccinated against the coronavirus by Christmas, but she warned that member countries must urgently prepare their logistical chains for the rollout of hundreds of millions of doses of the vaccines. Claiming that “there’s finally light at the end of the tunnel,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told EU lawmakers that “the first European citizens might already be vaccinated before the end of December.” (11/24)
AP: Trudeau: Canadians Won't Be Among The First To Get Vaccine
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday Canada will have to wait for a vaccine because the very first ones that roll off assembly lines are likely to be given to citizens of the country they are made in. Trudeau said the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany have mass vaccine-production facilities but Canada does not. (Gillies, 11/24)
Bloomberg: China Vaccine Maker Applies For Public Use Of Covid Shot
A leading Chinese vaccine developer has applied for authorization to bring its Covid-19 shot to the market, seeking to get a jump on Western rivals as the race for a working inoculation against the virus enters the final stretch. China National Biotec Group Co. has submitted an application to Chinese regulators, reported state media Xinhua Finance on Wednesday, citing parent company Sinopharm’s vice general manager Shi Shengyi. The application likely includes interim data from the company’s Phase III human testing conducted in the Middle East and South America. (11/25)
The New York Times: A Coronavirus Vaccine Game Plan, With Help From South Korea
The deaths were mounting, and so were the public’s fears. South Korea had vastly expanded its flu vaccine program to cover millions more people, to prevent a one-two punch to its health system as the coronavirus spread globally. But as the injections got underway, reports of deaths started popping up. (Sang-Hun and Grady, 11/24)
