WHO panel moves to limit vaccine patents
Envoys from World Trade Organization member nations are taking up a proposal to ease patents and other intellectual property protections for COVID19 vaccines to help developing countries fight the pandemic, an idea backed by the Biden administration but opposed in other wealthy countries with strong pharmaceutical industries.
On the table for a twoday meeting of a WTO panel opening Tuesday is a revised proposal presented by India and South Africa for a temporary IP waiver on coronavirus vaccines. The idea has drawn support from more than 60 countries, which now include the U.S. and China.
Even optimistic supporters acknowledge an IP waiver could take months to finalize because of solid resistance from some countries and WTO rules that require consensus on such decisions — meaning a single country among the 164 members could scuttle any proposal.
HAITI
No shots yet for any resident
Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, has earned another grim distinction: It’s the only one that hasn’t vaccinated a single resident against COVID19. One of a handful of nations worldwide still awaiting vaccines, Haiti was among the 92 poor and middleincome countries offered doses under the Covax Facility. But the government initially declined AstraZeneca PLC shots, citing side effects and widespread fears in the population.
When the country finally agreed to receive the doses, production issues in India and a spike in global demand made them unavailable.
NEPAL Vaccinations resume
Nepal resumed its stalled coronavirus vaccination campaign on Tuesday with 1 million doses given by China after the Himalayan nation made international pleas for help with a shortage of doses. Thousands of people, all 64 years old, lined up at vaccination centers even before they opened. People aged 60 to 63 are scheduled in coming days.
Nepal’s vaccination campaign began in January but was stalled when neighboring India suffered a coronavirus surge and banned exports of the AstraZeneca vaccine it produces. Nepal had received 1 million AstraZeneca doses donated by India and paid for 2 million more but never received half the shipment. That left 1.4 million people over age 65 who received an initial dose of AstraZeneca vaccine still uncertain if they will receive their second.
SPAIN
Tourists, cruise ships welcome
Spain jumpstarted its summer tourism season on Monday by welcoming vaccinated visitors from most countries as well as European tourists who can prove they are not infected with coronavirus. It also reopened its ports to cruise ships.
The move opened borders for the first tourists from the United States and other countries outside of the European Union since those travelers were banned in March last year, when the pandemic hit global travel. But Spain is still banning nonessential travelers from Brazil, India and South Africa, where virus variants have been been a major source of concern.
Visitors need proof they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before the trip or that they overcame a COVID19 infection in the past six months.
PFIZER SERUM Tests in kids under 12
Pfizer says it is expanding testing of its COVID19 vaccine in children younger than 12. After a firststep study in a small number of young children to test different doses, Pfizer is ready to enroll about 4,500 young volunteers at more than
90 sites in the U.S., Finland, Poland and Spain.
The vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech already is authorized for emergency use in anyone 12 and older in the U.S. and European Union.
HAWAII Eviction stay is extended
Hawaii’s governor is extending for two more months an eviction moratorium that he implemented during the coronavirus pandemic, but says he doesn’t expect to keep it longer than that. The existing emergency order instituting a pause on evictions was due to expire Tuesday, but Gov. David Ige extended it 60 days to Aug. 6. The governor also noted that rent and mortgage relief remains available.
LOUISIANA GOP takes aim at shots
Republican lawmakers have sent Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards two bills that would keep state and local government agencies from requiring individuals to be immunized in order to be eligible for certain services.
Antivaccine proposals from GOP Reps. Danny McCormick and Kathy Edmonston received final passage on Monday. Edwards — who has championed vaccines against COVID19 and regularly urges Louisiana residents to get shots — hasn’t taken a position on the legislation. To date, no state agency has publicly proposed mandating vaccinations.