More than 2 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in 215 countries or territories around the world, less than six months after the start of the first vaccination campaigns, in December 2020, according to a count made Thursday, June 3 by the ‘Agence France-Presse (AFP). While the billionth dose had been administered after five months, on April 24, it took less than a month and a half to double the amount.
The pandemic has killed at least 3.69 million people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources on Thursday. These figures, which are based on daily reports from national health authorities, are generally underestimated.
Page Contents
Italy: vaccination open to over 12s
In turn, Italy, the European country most affected by the pandemic after the United Kingdom, on Thursday opened vaccination against Covid-19 to all age groups from 12 years old. The Italian drug agency has given the green light to vaccination for adolescents aged 12 to 15, who represent a population segment of 2.3 million people.
However, each Italian region adapts these national guidelines according to the progress of its vaccination plan and its level of supply. “It’s a beautiful day, particularly welcomed the mayor of Naples, Luigi de Magistris. “It is an excellent signal both to contain the health pandemic and to resume all forms of activities as quickly as possible”.
“We can still accelerate our vaccination campaign”, estimated, for his part, the Italian Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, on social networks.
Africa is not ready for a third wave
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday that the African continent, affected by a further rise in Covid-19 cases, was not ready to face a third wave of contamination. “Many hospitals and clinics in Africa are far from ready to face a drastic increase in the number of seriously ill patients”, warned Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director, adding during an online press conference that “The threat of a third wave is real and growing”.
Africa officially has more than 4.8 million cases and 130,000 deaths, according to the WHO, or 2.9% of global cases and 3.7% of deaths. According to a UN agency survey conducted in May, the essential health equipment and personnel required to care for seriously ill Covid-19 patients are woefully inadequate in many countries on the continent. “Treatment is the last line of defense against this virus and we cannot afford it to fall”, underlined Mme Moeti, calling for better staffing.
At the same time, the continent is facing a shortage of vaccines and deliveries are almost at a standstill, according to the WHO, which hopes for new arrivals in the coming months through the Covax device. To date, only 2% of Africans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 24% of the world’s population is now vaccinated. Of the six countries that have not yet vaccinated, four are in Africa: Tanzania, Burundi, Chad and Eritrea.
In the UK, quarantine again for arrivals from Portugal
The United Kingdom announced on Thursday the return of the mandatory quarantine of up to ten days for passengers arriving from Portugal. Explaining a ” difficult decision “, the Minister of Transport, Grant Shapps, justified this measure, which will apply from Tuesday, by the quasi-doubling of the rate of positivity to Covid-19 in Portugal and the presence of a “Kind of Nepalese mutation” of the Delta variant.
“We don’t want to take any risks”, he added, as the UK hangs over the evolution of the Delta variant in the country, which threatens the end of almost all restrictions, hoped for on June 21. Portugal thus joins a number of countries, such as France, Italy, Spain and Greece, classified “orange”, that is to say that travelers will have to follow a quarantine of at least five days where they wish it and undergo several paying screenings.
The turnaround has angered the tourism industry, raising fears of a repeat of last summer, when repeated rule changes trapped thousands of vacationers subject to unscheduled quarantines upon their departure.
Tokyo Olympics: 10,000 volunteers threw in the towel
About 10,000 of the 80,000 volunteers planned for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo have resigned in recent months, organizers revealed fifty days before the opening of the “pandemic Olympics”.
“I think there is no doubt that one of the reasons is the concern over coronavirus infections”Tokyo 2020 General Manager Toshiro Muto said. Others have dropped out over scheduling issues after the Games were postponed for a year, or to protest sexist remarks made by Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori, who was forced to resign in February and was replaced. by Seiko Hashimoto.
Sharing vaccines and preventing crises on the G7 menu
G7 state health ministers are meeting Thursday and Friday in Oxford to discuss vaccine sharing with poor countries and ways to better identify animal health risks.
One week before the G7 leaders’ summit in England, the ministers of Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom have gathered against a backdrop of appeals increasing numbers of rich countries to do more to facilitate anti-Covid vaccination in disadvantaged states, where doses are only trickling in.
Joe Biden confirms donation of 80 million doses abroad
United States President Joe Biden confirmed on Thursday the donation of 80 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine abroad. “Today, the government announces the framework for the sharing of these 80 million American doses around the world”the White House said in a statement.
“At least three quarters [de ces doses] will be shared thanks to Covax ”, she added. This represents 60 million doses distributed using this device, which aims to supply low-income countries with vaccines. The remaining 25% (20 million doses) will be used “To countries in need, those facing outbreaks of the epidemic, to immediate neighbors” of the United States, also specified the White House.
“We do not share these doses to secure ourselves favors or force concessions” from other countries, the US president said in a statement. “We are sharing these vaccines to save lives and lead the world to the end of the pandemic, by our example. “
The day before, the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, had announced this plan, without providing the details, during a meeting at the United States embassy in San José, the capital of Costa Rica. “We are looking forward to the distribution [de vaccins par les Etats-Unis] and we hope to be included in this plan ”, then declared the President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado.
