Pfizer, UNICEF Strike Covid Pill Supply Deal For Poor Nations

Stat: Pfizer Inks Deal With UNICEF To Supply Covid Pill To Poor Countries
As part of an effort to widen access to its Covid-19 pill, Pfizer has reached a deal with UNICEF to supply up to 4 million treatment courses to 95 low- and middle-income countries representing 53% of the global population. But consumer advocates have quickly argued the move falls short. The agreement follows a deal the company reached last November with the Medicines Patent Pool, a public health organization backed by the United Nations, to supply its Paxlovid pill to the same 95 countries. The arrangement calls for the MPP to sub-license production rights to generic companies to then manufacture and distribute their own versions at lower prices than the Pfizer pill. (Silverman, 3/22)

The Washington Post: Why Covax, The Best Hope For Vaccinating The World, Was Doomed To Fall Short 
It was, many experts thought, a noble and necessary effort. The goal: to combat a deadly coronavirus that in early 2020 was already spreading around the world. The idea: to coax wealthy and poor countries to pool their money to place advance orders for vaccine doses. Participating countries would then share doses equitably to protect their most vulnerable people first. But just months into the effort, it should have been clear it was doomed to fall short. (Taylor, 3/22)

And more about the spread of covid around the world —

Reuters: S.Korea's Total COVID Cases Top 10 Million As Crematoria, Funeral Homes Overwhelmed 
South Korea's total coronavirus infections topped 10 million, or nearly 20% of its population, authorities said on Wednesday, as surging severe cases and deaths increasingly put a strain on crematories and funeral homes nationwide. The country has been battling a record COVID-19 wave driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant even as it largely scrapped its once aggressive tracing and quarantine efforts and eased social distancing curbs. (Shin, 3/23)

Bloomberg: Europe Hit By Covid Wave After ‘Brutally’ Easing Curbs, WHO Says
A third of European nations, including Germany, France and the U.K., are seeing a surge in Covid-19 cases after “brutally” easing restrictions, the World Health Organization’s regional head said. “The countries where we see in particular an increase are the United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, France, Italy and Germany,” Hans Kluge, the WHO’s director for Europe, said at a briefing in Moldova on Tuesday. “Those countries are lifting restrictions brutally from too much to too few.” (Matsuyama, 3/23)

AP: Idaho Dance Group Stuck In Ireland Because Of COVID-19 
The Red Hot Mamas musical-comedy group from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, gave a well-received performance at the March 17 St. Patrick’s Festival Parade in Limerick, Ireland, but some members had to stay in the country longer than expected after testing positive for COVID-19. Trip leader Pam Ames says about half the group of 15 had to quarantine in Ireland this past week, although six participants who tested negative did fly home. (3/22)

The New York Times: South Africa Begins To Lift Covid Restrictions But Leaves Its Indoor Mask Mandate.
South Africa will begin lifting Covid-19 restrictions on Wednesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday in an address that marked the start of what he called a “new era” in the country’s fight against the pandemic. Masks will no longer be required outdoors in South Africa but will continue to be required in public indoor spaces, including shops, offices and public transportation. (Patil, 3/23)

In other global developments —

Stat: Aurobindo, Major Generic Drug Maker, Will Close A Key U.S. Production Plant
Aurobindo Pharma, which is based in India and is one of the largest global producers of generic medicines, is closing its U.S. manufacturing facility in New Jersey next month, according to a notice filed with the state Department of Labor. In its filing, the generic drug company disclosed it is terminating operations of its Aurolife Pharma unit in Dayton, N.J., and will eliminate a total of 99 jobs as of April 26. No further details were provided and calls to the facility were not returned. No one at Aurobindo headquarters in Hyderabad, India, could be reached for comment. (Silverman, 3/22)

AP: 9 Million Children To Be Vaccinated Against Polio In Africa
A drive to vaccinate more than 9 million children against polio has been launched this week in four countries in southern and eastern Africa after an outbreak was confirmed in Malawi. The urgent vaccination campaign has started in Malawi where drops of the inoculation are being placed in the mouths of children across the country, including in the capital, Lilongwe, and the country’s largest city, Blantyre. (3/22)

CIDRAP: WHO Calls For More TB Funds, Shorter Treatment For Kids
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced new recommendations yesterday for diagnosing and treating children and young adolescents with tuberculosis (TB), including drug-resistant forms of the disease. The recommendations were among the items discussed at a press briefing in advance of World TB Day on Mar 24. WHO officials also shared their concerns about the ability to treat TB patients in Ukraine amid the destruction caused by the Russian invasion, and called for more international funding for TB diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. (Dall, 3/22)