Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
UK To Offer Booster Shots To All Aged Over 40
Bloomberg: U.K. Expands Covid Booster Plan In Bid To Avoid New Restrictions
The U.K. government is extending its coronavirus booster program, part of an effort to avoid following other European nations into imposing new restrictions to control the virus. From Monday, everyone over age 40 will be invited to have a third dose of the vaccine. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the hope is that by bolstering immunity within the population, the number of serious cases that require hospitalization will be limited. Britain has already delivered 15 million booster jabs covering a quarter of the population. (Landberg, 11/22)
Bloomberg: Javid Says ‘Plan B’ Not Needed, Confirms Racial Bias Probe
There’s no need yet for the U.K. to implement “Plan B” to clamp down on persistently high Covid infection levels, said U.K. Health Minister Sajid Javid. Separately, Javid confirmed that the U.K. would follow the lead of U.S. health agencies and review what he called possible “systemic racial bias” in certain medical devices and “in health services across the world.” On Sky News, Javid said expanding the vaccine booster program would be the key to a Christmas season without new restrictions. (Krasny and Sidders, 11/21)
In news from Europe —
The Washington Post: Europe Protests: Clashes In Rotterdam And Rallies In Rome Amid New Pandemic Restrictions
Protests against coronavirus restrictions erupted across Europe — including clashes in Rotterdam and massive rallies in Vienna — as authorities announced more-stringent measures in an attempt to control rising cases ahead of the winter holidays. At least seven people were injured and more than 50 arrested after protests in Rotterdam turned violent late Friday, with protesters throwing stones and police firing shots, according to Dutch police. Demonstrators decried a proposed law that would ban unvaccinated people from entering businesses even if they provide a negative test. They also protested a partial lockdown that went into effect last week and will last until at least Dec. 4, which forces restaurants and other establishments to close at 8 p.m. (Stein, 11/20)
NBC News and AP: Police In The Netherlands Open Fire On Covid Lockdown Protesters As European Nations Reintroduce Restrictions
Police opened fire on anti-lockdown protesters in the Dutch city of Rotterdam Friday ahead of demonstrations in several European cities against new Covid restrictions. Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told reporters ... police officers "felt it necessary to draw their weapons to defend themselves" more than once after protesters tore through the city's central shopping district, setting fires in their wake. (Da Silva, 11/20)
AP: Tens Of Thousands Protest Belgium's Tighter COVID-19 Rules
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated through central Brussels on Sunday to protest reinforced COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the Belgian government to counter the latest spike in coronavirus cases. Many among the police estimate of 35,000 at the rally had already left for home when the demonstration descended into violence as several hundred people started pelting police, smashing cars and setting garbage bins ablaze. Police, responded with tear gas and water cannons and sought to restore order as dusk settled on the Belgian capital. (Casert, 11/22)
AP: Austria Enters Nationwide Lockdown To Fight Soaring Cases
Austria went into a nationwide lockdown early Monday in a desperate effort to contain spiraling coronavirus infections. The lockdown in the Alpine nation comes as average daily deaths have tripled in recent weeks and some hospitals have warned that their intensive care units are reaching capacity. The lockdown will last at least 10 days but could extend to 20, officials said. People will be able to leave their homes only for specific reasons, including buying groceries, going to the doctor or exercising. (11/22)
Reuters: Germany Debates Compulsory Vaccination As Fourth COVID Wave Rages
German politicians are debating making COVID-19 vaccinations compulsory for citizens in light of soaring infections and low inoculation rates. Several members of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc said on Sunday that federal and state governments should introduce compulsory vaccinations soon as other efforts to push up Germany's low inoculation rate of just 68% have failed. (11/21)
The Hill: Putin Revaccinated As Russia's Vaccine Rate Remains Low
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that he has revaccinated with Russia's COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, as Russia's vaccination rate remains just above one third of the population. "Today, I received another dose of vaccine — Sputnik Light, at your recommendation, at the recommendation of your colleagues. It is called revaccination," Putin was quoted as saying by state-owned Russian News Agency TASS after meeting with health officials. "I was revaccinated two hours ago. I feel nothing. I am in normal condition. Everything is all right," he added. (Choi, 11/21)
ABC News: 'I Lost Everything': Guadeloupe Riots Overtake COVID Protest
Residents in the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, an overseas territory of France, expressed dismay Sunday after protests against COVID-19 restrictions erupted into rioting and looting for the third day in a row, prompting French authorities to send in police special forces. Road blockades by protesters made traveling across the island nearly impossible Sunday. Firefighters reported 48 interventions overnight into Sunday morning. The island of 400,000 people has one of the lowest vaccination rates in France at 33%, compared with 75% across the country. (Soupama and Corbet, 11/21)
Elsewhere around the world —
Associated Press: After Slow Starts, Some Asian Vaccination Rates Now Soaring
When Cambodia rolled out COVID-19 vaccines, lines stretched down entire streets and people left their shoes out to save their places as they sheltered from the sun. But three months into its campaign, just 11% of the population had received at least one dose. In far wealthier Japan, it took two weeks longer to reach that level. Now both countries boast vaccination rates that rank among the world's best. They are two of several nations in the Asia-Pacific region that got slow starts to their immunization campaigns but have since zoomed past the United States and many nations in Europe. (Rising and Cheang, 11/22)
Bloomberg: Vietnam Expects To Fully Vaccinate All Adults For Covid By Year’s End
Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed local officials to accelerate Covid-19 shots in order to fully vaccinate all adults age 18 and older this year, surpassing the nation’s inoculation target, the cabinet’s news portal reported. The nation will have enough vaccine doses this month to administer two shots to its entire adult population against the virus by the end of the year, according to the report, which also cited Deputy Premier Vu Duc Dam. (Ngoc Chau, 11/22)
Bloomberg: Hong Kong Approves Sinovac Vaccine For Children Ages 3-17
Hong Kong approved lowering the age of eligibility for the Covid-19 vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. to three years old, down from 18 years old. The city’s Secretary for Food and Health said adolescents from 12-to-17 years will be accorded priority to receive the vaccine, “with a view to extending to children of a younger age group at a later stage,” according to a statement on Saturday. Experts serving on panels for the Centre for Health Protection had earlier backed the new age limit. (Lee, 11/20)
