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Covid-19: France speeds up vaccination, lively debate around the world on the lifting of patents

2021-05-08T14:33:36.828Z


New measures, new reports and highlights: Le Figaro takes stock of the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.


While the pandemic has already killed more than 3.2 million people worldwide, including more than 105,000 in France, vaccination continues, leaving aside certain countries with the lowest incomes such as countries in Africa, Asia and Africa. from South America.

Faced with the demand to massively increase the quantity of vaccines produced, the United States said it was in favor of the lifting of patents, thus hoping to increase the number of production centers.

An initiative welcomed with relief for some countries, Germany and laboratories remain skeptical for the moment.

Read also: Covid-19: why the epidemic has finally started to decline

  • New acceleration in the dropper of vaccinations in France

While nearly 17 million first doses have been injected, France has decided to start a new phase of its vaccination campaign.

From May 10, anyone over 50 will be able to be vaccinated and the doses available at the end of the day will be open to everyone the next day "

without age limit

", French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday during his visit. at the Parc des Expositions, Porte de Versailles in Paris to make it a new vaccinodrome.

To read also: Vaccination "without age limit": how to make an appointment from May 12

Vaccination is also open to minors aged 16 and 17 suffering from certain diseases which put them at "

very high risk of severe form

".

  • Europe is torn apart over the lifting of vaccine patents

Europeans have said they are ready to discuss US support for the proposal to lift patents on anti-Covid vaccines, hailed by Russia, the African Union and the United Nations, while poor countries are sorely lacking in doses. An initiative warmly welcomed by the boss of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and by the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who spoke of a "

historic decision

". The French president also said he was "very favorable"

The reactions were however more nuanced on the side of the laboratories.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said he was "

not at all

" in favor of a temporary suspension.

Germany has also shown its skepticism by warning that "

the protection of intellectual property is the source of innovation and must continue to be so in the future

".

To read also: Would the lifting of patents make it possible to speed up vaccination in the world?

  • Covax signs agreement with Novavax to secure 350 million anti-Covid doses

While the international device is criticized for its delay, Covax has reached an agreement with the American biotechnology company Novavax to secure 350 million doses of the vaccine candidate which will begin to be distributed in the third quarter.

A new signature to diversify the orders of vaccines intended for 120 countries with the lowest incomes which are suffering from delays in AstraZeneca deliveries due to the Indian crisis.

The NGOs, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have called for their part to “

increase the transparency

” of Covax by notably making public its contracts with vaccine manufacturers.

Read also: Two months after its launch, the international Covax program is lagging behind

As rich countries concentrate almost all vaccine doses, the regional office for Africa of the World Health Organization (WHO) warns of the risk of a new wave on the African continent due to increasing delays in vaccination compared to the rest of the world.

  • Brazil reports delivery delays to produce CoronaVac

The Butantan Institute in Sao Paulo, which produces CoronaVac in Brazil, said the Brazilian government's repeated criticism of China affects the supply of active ingredients needed to manufacture the main vaccine used in the country against the Covid-19.

The delays come at a time when Brazil records more than 2,300 deaths per day on a weekly average and totals nearly 415,000 deaths, making it the second most bereaved country in the world behind the United States.

Read also: Covid-19: three questions on the Chinese vaccine CoronaVac, examined by the European Medicines Agency

  • Vaccines soon available to adolescents?

For the moment excluded from all vaccination campaigns, adolescents could soon have access to it.

Moderna has announced that its vaccine is 96% effective in young people between the ages of 12 and 17, according to initial results from clinical trials.

Germany would like to offer them by the end of August, subject to the green light from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Read also: United States: towards an authorization of the vaccination of adolescents

  • Harry and Meghan raise funds for anti-Covid vaccination

Committed to anti-Covid vaccination, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle appealed for donations for vaccine equity on the occasion of the second birthday of their son Archie.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-05-08

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