Coronavirus
Protein subunit and inactivated vaccines line up to join vaccination campaigns
The EU seems to be comfortable with betting on mRNA COVID vaccines for now. But just around the corner, vaccines developed under other platforms are lining up, with recombinant proteins and the whole virion-inactivated vaccines leading the way.
Delta COVID variant now dominates European region, warn WHO and ECDC
The COVID Delta variant has swept rapidly across Europe to become the dominant strain across much of the region according to new data from European health authorities, who warn that action must be taken to curtail its spread.
Argentina complains to Russia over vaccine delivery
Argentina has complained to Russia about delays in delivering second doses of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a letter warning of breach of contract repercussions, the government in Buenos Aires said Thursday (22 July).
Half of Europeans vaccinated as Germany warns on rising virus cases
More than half of all European adults are now fully vaccinated, the EU said on Thursday (22 July), as countries across Europe and Asia battled fresh outbreaks blamed on the fast-spreading Delta variant.
‘Pingdemic’ grips Britain as fears of food shortages grow
Britain's supermarkets, wholesalers and hauliers were struggling on Thursday (22 July) to ensure stable food and fuel supplies after an official health app told hundreds of thousands of workers to isolate after contact with someone with COVID-19.
China rejects WHO plan for study of COVID-19 origin
China rejected on Thursday (22 July) a World Health Organization (WHO) plan for a second phase of an investigation into the origin of the coronavirus, which includes the hypothesis it could have escaped from a Chinese laboratory, a top health...
Spain votes to end obligatory outdoor face mask rule
The end of the obligation to wear face masks outdoors in Spain when social distancing is practicable, as decreed on 26 June by the government, was approved by parliament on Wednesday, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
One in two hospitalised COVID-19 patients develop a complication
A study published in the Lancet has found that out of more than 70,000 adults in the UK hospitalised with severe COVID-19 disease, half developed at least one health complication during their hospitalisation, while almost one in three participants died....
Spain fully vaccinates half the population
Just over half of Spain’s population, or 24.4 million people, are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the health ministry. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
‘Hidden pandemic’: 1.5 mln children worldwide have lost a caregiver due to COVID
As many as 1.5 million children worldwide have lost a parent, grandparent, or primary caregiver from COVID-19 during the first 14 months of the pandemic, a Lancet global study has estimated. Researchers have called for urgent investments in services to support children who lost their caregivers as the number is likely to grow.
Catalonia reimposes night-time curfew amid COVID-19 fifth wave
The High Court of Justice of Catalonia greenlit on Friday a nighttime curfew in 161 municipalities of the northeastern Spanish region as COVID-19 cases rose and hospitals face growing pressure, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported Sunday.
Spanish firm finetunes ‘second generation’ COVID-19 vaccine for EU’s booster campaign
A Spanish company active in animal health stands ready to start clinical trials and get the EU's regulatory go-ahead for a 'deadline-proof' recombinant protein vaccine. EURACTIV spoke with the company's chief of the vaccine programme.
COVID-19 infection rate rises threefold among young Spaniards
The COVID-19 infection rate in Spain has soared to 436 cases for every 100,000 residents in the past two weeks, with young people particularly affected by a threefold increase compared to the previous fortnight, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
French health agency: Women’s health more affected by pandemic than men’s
The coronavirus pandemic has affected women more than men in France in 2020, according to the national public health agency Santé Publique France, which said that women's socioeconomic status played a greater role than purely health factors. EURACTIV France reports.
EU efforts to assess Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine stymied by data gaps
The developers of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine have repeatedly failed to provide data that regulators deem to be standard requirements of the drug approval process, according to five people with knowledge of EU efforts to assess the drug.
Israel changes strategy as Delta variant makes 90% of the cases
Four weeks ago, Israel was celebrating a return to normal life in its battle with COVID-19. Then came the more infectious Delta variant, and a surge in cases that has forced re-imposing some COVID-19 restrictions and rethinking strategy.
EU matchmaking event to boost COVID-19 therapeutics development
Today and tomorrow (12-13 July) the Commission is hosting a matchmaking event to mobilise the development and production of COVID-19 therapeutics, another tool in the fight against COVID-19.
France to make COVID-19 jab compulsory for healthcare professionals
The French government has said it will make the COVID-19 jab compulsory for the healthcare sector and other professionals this week on the back of ongoing debate over mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers elsewhere in the EU. EURACTIV France reports.
COVID cases to soar in children but schools should stay open – EU health agency
The benefits of children attending school outweigh the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19, although cases in children are set to soar in the autumn, said a new report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), published on Thursday (8 July).
MEPs bemoan ‘spaghetti’ of travel rules across EU
The EU is facing a patchwork across the bloc when it comes to travelling, despite having a fully running EU digital covid certificate. As the delta variant surges across the bloc, MEPs call for implementing harmonised measures instead of national restrictions.
Nightlife restrictions return to Spain as COVID-19 cases soar
Faced with soaring numbers of new COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated young people, the Spanish city of Barcelona has announced it will shut down nightlife venues from this weekend. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
The Brief, powered by UNESDA – Choosing freedom with courtesy
The idea of wearing face masks on public transport used to be anathema. The small number of people who did wear masks on the metro, at least in the UK, got odd looks, as though they were being insulting by refusing to share the same air as us.
We need global standards, not double standards, for COVID-19 vaccines
The EU's decision to only allow people to travel to the region if they are fully vaccinated with a European Medicines Agency (EMA) recognized COVID-19 vaccine is discriminatory and puts vaccine uptake at risk, writes Thabani Maphosa.
Spanish health officials concerned by spike in COVID-19 cases
Spain has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases, with the 14-day average of infections per 100,000 residents climbing to 152.8, according to the latest data provided by Spanish health authorities. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.