Category: News

By James Macharia Chege and Josephine Mason JOHANNESBURG/LONDON (Reuters) -Omicron advanced across the world on Thursday, with health experts warning the battle against the COVID-19 variant was far from over despite two drugmakers saying their vaccines protected against it and signs it carries a lower risk of hospitalisation. Coronavirus infections have soared wherever the highly…

Read More “Vaccines, pills and data offer some Christmas cheer in face of Omicron advance” »

By Pushkala Aripaka (Reuters) – A three-dose course of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine is effective against the rapidly-spreading Omicron coronavirus variant, the pharmaceutical company said on Thursday, citing data from an Oxford University lab study. Findings from the study, yet to be published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, match those from rivals Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna which…

Read More “AstraZeneca vaccine booster works against Omicron, Oxford lab study finds” »

By Michael Erman (Reuters) -Moderna Inc said on Monday that a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine appeared to be protective against the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus in laboratory testing and that the current version of the shot would continue to be its “first line of defense against Omicron.” The company said its…

Read More “Moderna says booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine appears protective vs Omicron” »

LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Netherlands went into lockdown on Sunday and the possibility of more COVID-19 restrictions being imposed ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays loomed over several European countries as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly. In the United States, White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci urged people travelling to visit loves…

Read More “Omicron threat looms over winter holidays in Europe and U.S.” »

By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Islamic countries pledged on Sunday to set up a humanitarian trust fund for Afghanistan as, with millions facing hunger and a harsh winter setting in, Pakistan’s prime minister warned of chaos if the worsening emergency was not urgently addressed. The crisis is causing mounting alarm but the international response has…

Read More “Islamic countries pledge fund to stave off Afghanistan ‘chaos’” »