Police arrest 22 in EU raids linked to suspected theft of Italy's pandemic funds worth $650 million
Police in Italy, Austria, Romania and Slovakia have arrested 22 people as part of an investigation into the suspected theft of hundreds millions of euros in post-pandemic relief funds from the European Union.
New drug to protect babies and toddlers from RSV gets FDA approval ahead of cold season
U.S. officials have approved a new long-acting drug to protect babies and toddlers against a respiratory virus that causes thousands of hospitalizations each year.
WHO: COVID cases, deaths in Africa drop to lowest levels yet
The World Health Organization says the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in Africa have dropped to their lowest levels since the pandemic began, marking the longest decline yet seen in the disease.
EU regulator advises AstraZeneca's COVID drug be cleared
The European Union's drug regulator says it's recommending that an antibody drug developed by AstraZeneca be authorized to help people avoid getting sick with the coronavirus.
Africa moving toward control of COVID-19 says WHO director
The World Health Organization’s Africa director Matshidiso Moeti says Africa is moving to the “control phase” of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased vaccination rates will be crucial in helping the continent live with the disease.
Vaccines to Africa must have good shelf lives, says expert
The director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that at least 2.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines donated to the continent's countries have expired, citing short shelf lives as the major reason.
Nigeria to reject vaccine donations with short shelf lives
Authorities in Nigeria have announced that the West African country will no longer accept COVID-19 vaccines with short shelf lives after it was unable to use 1 million doses before they expired.
Scientist behind UK vaccine says next pandemic may be worse
One of the scientists behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is warning that the next pandemic may be more contagious and more lethal unless more money is devoted to research and preparations to fight emerging viral threats.
Omicron brings COVID-19 vaccine inequity 'home to roost'
The emergence of the new omicron variant and the world’s desperate and likely futile attempts to keep it at bay are reminders of what scientists have warned for months: The coronavirus will thrive as long as vast parts of the world lack vaccines.
India's Serum Institute resumes vaccine exports to COVAX
The Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker, has resumed exports of coronavirus vaccines to the U.N.-backed COVAX distribution program after halting most overseas sales in March.
AstraZeneca opens research center as UK builds science hub
Prince Charles is praising Cambridge as a center of scientific collaboration as the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca opened a 1 billion-pound ($1.34 billion) research center there on Tuesday.
AstraZeneca to book modest profit from coronavirus vaccine
British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca says it will start to book a modest profit from its coronavirus vaccine as it moves away from the nonprofit model that it's operated so far during the pandemic.
AstraZeneca pulls request for Swiss approval of COVID shot
AstraZeneca says it is withdrawing its application for approval of its COVID-19 vaccine in Switzerland because the country’s medical regulator wanted to restrict its use to people over age 50.
India to resume exports of coronavirus vaccines in October
India, the world’s largest vaccine producer, will resume exports and donations of surplus coronavirus vaccines in October after halting them during a devastating surge in domestic infections in April.
EU, AstraZeneca reach deal to end vaccine delivery dispute
The European Union and drugmaker AstraZeneca say they reached a deal to end a damaging legal battle over the slow pace of deliveries of the company’s COVID-19 vaccines.
‘How will we ever get through this?:’ Orlando nursing home requires vaccines for workers
As nursing homes continue to manage their facilities in the height of the pandemic, a debate over vaccine mandates continues. This time for nursing home employees.
WHO Africa: COVID-19 booster shots make 'mockery' of equity
The Africa director for the World Health Organization says rich countries’ decisions to roll out COVID-19 booster shots while so many people across Africa remain unvaccinated “threaten the promise of a brighter tomorrow" for the continent.
Facebook bans firm behind Pfizer, AstraZeneca smear campaign
Facebook has removed hundreds of accounts linked to a disinformation network operating out of Russia that sought to smear COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
Emergent: FDA letting troubled COVID vaccine factory restart
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing the problem-plagued factory of contract manufacturer Emergent BioSolutions to resume production of COVID-19 vaccine.
AstraZeneca to seek US approval of COVID vaccine in 2nd half
AstraZeneca said it intends to seek U.S. approval for its COVID-19 vaccine later this year, further delaying the application even as the company announced it had already delivered more than 1 billion doses to other countries.
Russia OKs testing combination of Sputnik, AstraZeneca shots
Russia’s health officials have given a go-ahead to testing a combination of the AstraZeneca coronavirus shot and the single-dose version of the domestically developed Sputnik V vaccine.
Thailand's capital tightens restrictions to fight COVID-19
Officials in Thailand have further tightened coronavirus restrictions in response to an alarming rise in cases and deaths that is stressing the country’s health care system.
Thai police use tear gas against anti-government protesters
Thai police have used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse hundreds of anti-government protesters who held a rally in Bangkok despite coronavirus restrictions banning gatherings of more than five people.
Thailand tightens measures as daily cases cross 10,000
Thailand has tightened coronavirus restrictions and warned of further measures as daily cases surpassed 10,000 and the death toll hit a record 141 despite an overnight curfew in Bangkok and several other provinces.
Thai AstraZeneca vaccine production falls short of target
A government official says production of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine at a factory in Thailand has fallen short of its target, likely delaying the country’s plan to acquire a total of 61 million doses until next May.
Vaccine deliveries rising as delta virus variant slams Asia
As many Asian countries battle their worst surge of COVID-19 infections, the slow flow of vaccine doses from around the world is finally picking up speed, giving hope that inoculation rates can increase and help blunt the effect of the rapidly spreading delta variant.
Thailand preparing to limit exports of its COVID-19 vaccine
Thai health authorities say they plan to limit exports of locally produced AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine because the country doesn’t have enough for its own needs.
The Latest: SKorea sees biggest daily virus jump in 6 months
South Korea has reported 826 new cases of the coronavirus, its biggest daily jump in about six months, as fears grow about another huge wave of the virus in the greater capital area.
2 Australian states urge against under 40s taking AZ vaccine
The Queensland and Western Australia state governments have advised people under age 40 not to take the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine because of the risk of a rare blood clotting disorder, despite the Australian government making those shots available to all adults.
Florida governor downplays COVID-19 delta variant
As the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday labeled the delta variant of the novel coronavirus a “variant of concern,” Gov. Ron DeSantis downplayed the potential impact it could have on the state.
Morocco moves to vaccinate prison inmates 45 and up
About 300 inmates in a prison near the Moroccan capital have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as part of what authorities say is a commitment to protect a population considered especially vulnerable.
EU seeks big fine in court case over AstraZeneca deliveries
Lawyers for the European Union have accused vaccine producer AstraZeneca in a Brussels court of diverting doses to other nations when it had promised them for urgent delivery to the 27 member countries.
Courtroom showdown: EU takes on AstraZeneca in vaccine row
The European Commission will try this week to persuade a Belgian court to order the AstraZeneca pharmaceutical company to deliver millions of doses of its COVID-19 vaccines to EU countries.
Japan expands state of emergency, approves 2 more vaccines
Japan has expanded a coronavirus state of emergency hours after it approved the use of two more vaccines in an effort to contain a worrying surge in infections nine weeks ahead of the opening of the Tokyo Olympics.
Mexico: Russia’s Sputnik V shortages mean limited 2nd doses
Mexican authorities say Russia has been having so many problems producing second doses of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine that there won't be enough to give people who got the first dose a second shot.
Denmark removes J&J from vaccination program over clot fears
Denmark's health authorities say they have removed the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 shot from its vaccination program to investigate reports of rare but potentially dangerous blood clots.
The Latest: Washington state resumes J&J inoculations
Gov. Jay Inslee said Saturday that inoculations with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can begin in Washington state following a review by scientific experts in a western states work group.
EU agency says people should get 2nd dose of AstraZeneca too
The European Medicines Agency says people who have received a first dose of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine should also get the second one despite the rare risk of blood clots that have been linked to the shot.
FDA inspection found problems at factory making J&J vaccine
U.S. regulators say the Baltimore factory contracted to make Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine was dirty, didn’t follow proper manufacturing procedures and had poorly trained staff.
The Latest: New Mexico preparing for 'vaccine hesitancy'
New Mexico health officials say they are preparing to respond to pockets of vaccine hesitancy in some communities as overall interest increases in receiving the vaccine for COVID-19.
The Latest: Hawaii eases virus rules for inter-island travel
Hawaii officials are moving forward with a plan to allow people who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus to skip pre-travel testing and quarantine requirements for flights between islands.
EU drug agency links J&J shot to rare clots, says odds favor use
The European Union’s drug regulatory agency says it found a “possible link” between Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine and extremely rare blood clots and that a warning should be added to the label.
Africa CDC urges India to lift COVID vaccine export limits
The Africa CDC director says he wants to believe that India will lift export restrictions on COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible, warning that “India is not an island” while some African nations still have seen no shots at all.
Europe scrambles as J&J vaccine delay deals another blow
European countries are diverging on whether to push ahead with giving residents Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine after reports of very rare blood clots in a handful of recipients in the United States.
EU throws weight behind Pfizer-BioNTech and new technology
In a stinging rebuke to pharma giant AstraZeneca, the head of the European Union's executive arm has announced plans for a major contract extension for COVID-19 vaccines with Pfizer stretching to 2023.
The Latest: California governor says all schools must reopen
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging all schools in the state to reopen, saying there are no health barriers to getting children back into classrooms and ending distance learning.
South Africa halts J&J vaccine jabs; Europe rollout delayed
South Africa has suspended giving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as a “precautionary measure” following the FDA decision in the United States to pause the use of the vaccine while very rare blood clot cases are examined.
US recommends 'pause' for J&J shots in blow to vaccine drive
The U.S. recommendation to “pause” use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine set off a chain reaction worldwide and dealt a setback to the global vaccine campaign.
Australia rules out adding J&J vaccine to inoculation plan
The Australian government decided against buying the single-dose Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine and identified a second case of a rare blood clot likely linked to the AstraZeneca shot.
France advises vaccine mixing for some, amid clotting fears
French health officials say people under 55 who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should get other vaccines for their second shot because of an extremely rare risk of a blood clotting disorder.
Australia to buy extra 20 million doses of Pfizer vaccine
Australia says it has finalized a deal to buy an extra 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine as it rapidly pivots away from its earlier plan to rely mainly on the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Governments give varying advice on AstraZeneca vaccine
A patchwork of advice is emerging from governments across Europe and farther afield, a day after the European Union’s drug regulator said there was a “possible link” between the AstraZeneca vaccine and a rare clotting disorder.