3.33pm EDT
15:33
A White House plan to offer Covid-19 booster shots will most likely start this month only with the vaccine made by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech, a source told Reuters.
President Joe Biden had expected to launch a campaign to administer 100 million booster shots on September 20. But U.S. vaccine makers other than Pfizer have lagged in seeking authorization of an additional dose. Moderna Inc only started submitting data for regulatory approval of a booster shot on Wednesday and said on Friday it had completed its submission. “We are awaiting a full review and approval by the FDA and advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)“, White House spokesman Chris Meagher said. “When that approval and recommendation are made, we will be ready to implement the plan our nation*s top doctors developed so that we are staying ahead of this virus.”
3.14pm EDT
15:14
Four officers have been injured during clashes with anti-vaccine protesters in London, the Metropolitan Police said.
The force said a number of protesters had “become violent” towards police during action in the capital.
The Met said it had made 10 arrests while policing the group.
It said: “We have made 10 arrests while policing this protest group. They originally gathered at Canary Wharf and then travelled to South Kensington.”
2.58pm EDT
14:58
Ministers have faced calls to “get a grip” after it emerged flu vaccine deliveries to GPs will be delayed.
Appointments for many patients will have to be rescheduled after Seqirus, the largest provider of flu vaccines to the UK, confirmed delays of up to two weeks in England and Wales.
The company blamed “unforeseen challenges linked with road freight delays” for the delivery disruption, PA reports.
GP Online reported the company had sent a letter advising practices not to rebook appointments until they receive confirmation of a new delivery date of vaccine supplies.
An apparent exodus of HGV drivers from EU countries, who returned to the continent during the coronavirus pandemic and remained there, has been blamed for disruption in sectors of the economy in recent weeks.
A Seqirus spokeswoman said: “Seqirus supplies influenza vaccines to all GP practices in England and Wales.
“Due to unforeseen challenges linked with road freight delays, we have informed all our customers of a consequent delay to their scheduled vaccine delivery by a maximum of one to two weeks.
“Seqirus is working hard to resolve the delay to allow customers to reschedule their influenza vaccination clinics.”
Updated
at 3.14pm EDT
2.26pm EDT
14:26
After much deliberation, the government’s independent vaccine advisers concluded that, on the strength of evidence so far, there was a marginal benefit to vaccinating healthy children aged 12 to 15 years old.
But that benefit was deemed so very marginal the advisers would not give the green light to mass vaccination of healthy children in the age group.
Instead, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) broadened out the existing group of 12- to 15-year-olds eligible for Covid vaccination. Beyond the extremely vulnerable who have already been called forward for shots, the JCVI drew on research from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to include children with major, chronic heart, lung, kidney and neurological conditions.
Children with sickle cell disease and type I diabetes will also be eligible.
2.05pm EDT
14:05
Consumers have been warned of an autumn rise in living costs from sharp increases in household energy bills and food prices, as Covid and Brexit disruption ripple through the UK economy.
Sounding the alarm for a wide range of products and services going up in price, business leaders said the UK was facing a “perfect storm” of worker shortages and problems with global supply chains that would lead to a burst of inflation within months.
The warning over the cost of living comes as millions of households face a drop in their income as the government prepares to cut universal credit by £20 a week from 6 October and close the furlough wage subsidy scheme, in moves charities warn will push more people into poverty.
Rebecca McDonald, senior economist at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “Millions of families are facing mounting stress and anxiety about how they will cover the cost of living as the planned cut to universal credit rapidly approaches.
1.59pm EDT
13:59
Summary
Here is a brief summary of all the big coronavirus news from so far today:
- The UK government’s vaccines watchdog has decided there is not enough evidence to recommend the rollout of Covid vaccines to all 12- to 15-year-olds, but has held open the possibility of ministers seeking other advice to go ahead nonetheless.
- In Denmark, the country’s health minister Magnus Heunicke has announced residents in nursing homes will get a third shot of the Covid vaccine, starting next week.
- The UK government has announced 121 more Covid deaths in the past 24 hours.
- The US government’s plan to roll out additional shots of the coronavirus vaccine for the general public on September 20 will proceed with just the Pfizer vaccine, a source familiar with the discussion said on Friday.
- Italy’s prime minister has announced his government could make Covid vaccines mandatory, sparking a row in the country that has seen a recent rise in protests and violence from anti-vaxxers.
- Spain’s two-week Covid rate fell below 200 cases per 100,000 people for the first time in over two months, according to its health ministry.
- In the United States, Joe Biden has said he will set out his administration’s next steps to combat the coronavirus Delta variant next week.
- North Korea leader Kim Jong-un has ordered officials to wage a tougher epidemic prevention campaign in “our style” after he turned down some foreign vaccines offered via the UN-backed immunisation programme.
That’s it from me, Tom Ambrose, for today. I’m now handing over to my colleague Nadeem Badshah, who will keep you across all the latest Covid news tonight.
1.39pm EDT
13:39
Healthcare workers in Hawaii say a lack of government action is worsening the coronavirus crisis in the islands.
They say that without effective policy changes the state’s limited hospitals could face a grim future.
“Soon we’re going to be in a situation where we’re going to ration health care,” said Dr. Jonathan Dworkin, an infectious diseases specialist in Hawaii.
Dworkin said that while mandates may be unpopular, rationing Hawaii’s limited health care resources is “going to be far more ugly.”
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort, Waikoloa Beach, Hawaii, USA. Photograph: Ted Soqui/SIPA USA/PA Images
“It involves making decisions about who lives and dies,” he said. “I hate the idea of having to make a decision about who’s going to get oxygen.”
Dworkin added that another stay-at-home order may be needed.
1.12pm EDT
13:12
Spain’s two-week Covid rate fell below 200 cases per 100,000 people for the first time in over two months, according to its health ministy.
The 14-day infection rate was 198, the first time it has dipped below 200 cases since July 2, Reuters reported.
The health ministry said 71.5% of the population are fully vaccinated, while 39.4% of people aged 12 to 19 have received both doses of a vaccine.
A health worker loads a syringe with the vaccine against coronavirus in Granada, Spain. Photograph: Álex Cámara/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock
Since the pandemic started, 4,877,755 people have tested positive for Covid in Spain while the death toll rose to 84,795 on Friday, the health ministry said.
12.30pm EDT
12:30
In the UK, police have prevented anti-vaccine protesters from storming the headquarters of Britain’s medical regulator amid violent clashes in east London.
At least four officers were injured and arrests were made during a confrontation as hundreds of people gathered outside the offices of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in Canary Wharf.
Police drew batons and called for reinforcements as protesters attempted to force open the door of the regulator’s offices, with security guards looking on from inside.
Police officers clashing with anti-vaccine protesters in South Kensington, London. Photograph: Andy McKay/PA
Some of the crowd who had gathered at Canary Wharf were later involved in another confrontation outside the Science Museum vaccination centre in Kensington, west London.
Metropolitan Police Events
(@MetPoliceEvents)We have officers attending a demonstration outside a commercial building on Cabot Square in Canary Wharf.
A number of officers are on scene, guarding the entrance to the building.
“A number of protesters have become violent towards police,” the Metropolitan police said on Twitter after the confrontation in east London.
“Four of our officers have been injured during clashes. This is unacceptable. We remain on scene.”
The protests are understood to have been organised by activists angered by reports that the Covid-19 vaccination campaign could be extended to younger age groups.
Updated
at 12.31pm EDT
12.26pm EDT
12:26
The US government’s plan to roll out additional shots of the coronavirus vaccine for the general public on September 20 will proceed with just the Pfizer vaccine, a source familiar with the discussion said on Friday.
Moderna’s booster submission was found inadequate and the US Food and Drug Administration and requires stronger data from the company, reports the Reuters news agency.
It makes the process likely to be a few weeks behind that of Pfizer/BioNTech, the source added.
A woman is injected with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a Dallas County Health and Human Services vaccination site in Dallas. Photograph: LM Otero/AP
12.21pm EDT
12:21
Italy’s prime minister has announced his government could make Covid vaccines mandatory, sparking a row in the country that has seen a recent rise in protests and violence from anti-vaxxers.
During a press conference on Thursday, Mario Draghi said all Italians of eligible age could soon be obliged to get a shot, as soon as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) gives its conditional approval for four vaccines.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Photograph: AGF/REX/Shutterstock
The news sparked protests by anti-vaxxers who, in recent days, have sent death threats to members of the government, virologists, health officials and journalists, because of their pro-vax stances.
Prosecutors in Turin on Tuesday have launched an investigation into an antivax chat group on Telegram, where members posted death threats against foreign minister, Luigi Di Maio.
Updated
at 12.22pm EDT
11.56am EDT
11:56
A bit more on those jobs statistics mentioned in the Joe Biden press conference earlier this afternoon.
The US economy added just 235,000 jobs in August, a sharp drop from preceding months, as employers cut back hiring plans amid the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus virus.
The unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage points to 5.2% from 5.4% in July and has fallen dramatically from a high of 14.7% in April last year.
So far this year, monthly US job growth has averaged 586,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
But August’s hiring slowdown was unexpected. Economists polled by Bloomberg had anticipated a gain of 725,000 jobs for August, after surging over 1m in July.
11.23am EDT
11:23
With companies increasingly recognising that pandemic-induced burnout is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed, what are the signs and what can frazzled workers do to help recovery?
My colleague Alexandra Topping has been speaking to Dr Rajvinder Samra, a psychologist and lecturer in health at the Open University, who describes burnout as “the effects of chronic and acute stress over long periods of time”.
For the full story, click below.
11.14am EDT
11:14
In the United States, Joe Biden has said he will set out his administration’s next steps to combat the coronavirus Delta variant next week.
He also called the US economic recovery “durable and strong”.
“We need to make more progress in fighting the Delta variant,” Biden said in remarks from the White House.
However, earlier today Reuters reported the US economy created the fewest jobs in seven months in August as hiring in the leisure and hospitality sector stalled amid a resurgence in Covid infections.
Joe Biden delivers remarks on the August jobs report at the White House in Washington. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
But other details of the Labor department’s closely watched employment report on Friday were fairly strong, with the unemployment rate falling to a 17-month low of 5.2% and July job growth revised sharply higher.
Wages increased a solid 0.6% and fewer people were experiencing long spells unemployment.
Updated
at 11.48am EDT
11.09am EDT
11:09
UK confirms 121 Covid deaths, 42,076 new cases for Friday
The UK government has announced 121 more Covid deaths in the past 24 hours.
This represents a drop from 178 deaths related to coronavirus on Thursday.
The latest data also confirmed a further 42,076 people tested positive for Covid.
Source by www.theguardian.com
