China trashes criticism of Covid origin probe
A member of the joint study into the origins of Covid-19 insists the research team had full access to all data
BEIJING/BRUSSELS/MOSCOW: A top Chinese official on Wednesday dismissed accusations that China did not share all data with WHO-appointed researchers tracing the origins of the Covid-19 virus.
The denial comes a day after the publication of the WHOChina joint report on the origins of Covid-19, following which WHO chief Tedros Adhanom said Beijing withheld relevant data from the team of scientists who visited Wuhan in January.
Tedros was quoted as saying the investigation was “not extensive enough” and that experts had struggled to access raw information during their fourweek visit to the Chinese city of Wuhan where the virus first emerged in December 2019.
At least 14 countries, including the US, Australia and Canada, raised concerns over the report released by the WHO on Tuesday into the origins of the coronavirus, citing delays and a lack of full access to data.
Speaking on the report on Wednesday, Liang Wannian, co-leader of the joint study, said Chinese and international researchers had access to the same data throughout the probe period and that claims about lack of access were not accurate.
“Of course, according to Chinese law, some data cannot be taken away or photographed, but when we were analysing it together in Wuhan, everyone could see the database, the materials - it was all done together,” said Liang.
Rejecting talk of the report being delayed, Liang said “every sentence, every conclusion, every piece of data” needed to be verified by both sides before it could be released. “Throughout, we always upheld the principle of “quality comes first”, said Liang, chief of a Covid-19 experts’ committee set up by the China’s National Health Commission.
As governments point fingers over its origins, the virus has spiked again in many parts of the world, including Europe.
Daily new cases have doubled to around 40,000 in France, and hospitals in hot spots such as Paris have been overwhelmed, building pressure on President Emmanuel Macron to respond. There are similar surges elsewhere in Europe, forcing governments to reimpose curbs.
Pfizer: Our vaccine fully protects 12 to 15 year olds Pfizer said its Covid-19 vaccine was 100% effective in a finalstage trial in children aged 12 to 15, a finding that could pave the way for shots for teens and preteens before the next school year.
The vaccine is already authorised in the US for people aged 16 and above.
Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said they planned to submit the data to regulators in the US and Europe as soon as possible, seeking to amend their vaccine authorisations to include the younger age group.
In the study of 2,260 adolescents, the vaccine produced antibodies against the Covid-19 that exceeded the level seen in vaccinated young adults, Pfizer and BioNTech said.
All 18 cases of Covid-19 in the study were in teens who received a placebo, the companies said.
Side effects were consistent with those experienced by people ages 16 to 25.
Russia registers ‘world’s first’ vaccine for animals Russia said it has registered the world’s first coronavirus vaccine for animals, describing the step as important to disrupting mutations. It said mass production of the vaccine could begin in April.
The agriculture oversight agency Rosselkhoznadzor said the vaccine called Carnivak-Cov had been tested beginning October on dogs, cats, mink, foxes and other animals and was proven to be effective.