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Fauci: About Two-Week Wait Before Omicron Threat Is Known

White House Chief Medical Adviser Anthony Fauci said Friday it should be about two weeks before scientists fully understand how transmissible and severe the omicron variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 truly is, and until then, people need to get vaccinations and booster shots.

During a briefing by the White House COVID-19 Response Team, Fauci said South African researchers are leading the way but even their studies will take another week or two to get clinical data. The omicron variant was first identified in South Africa and there are more and longer-term cases to study there, he said.

The White House response team repeated a message delivered earlier this week by President Joe Biden, that omicron is a variant of concern. Fauci presented new data showing both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are markedly boosting antibodies and stressed the need for people to get vaccinated.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said her agency is working with health departments across the United States to help them quickly conduct the genome sequencing necessary to isolate and identify the omicron variant. She said the CDC is far more effective at this process than it was earlier this year.

Walensky stressed that while the focus is on the omicron variant, the delta variant of the virus is dominant in the U.S. and responsible for 99.9 percent of all cases in the country, especially among the unvaccinated.

White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients told reporters that 2.2 million vaccinations – including more than one million boosters – were administered in the U.S. on Thursday, the highest single-day total since May.

Zients said Biden has outlined areas where his administration is taking action to address the potential threat posed by the omicron variant, including vaccinations and boosters for adults, getting kids vaccinated, providing free home testing kits, strengthening travel rules and getting the rest of the world vaccinated.

To the last point, Zients said the U.S. has donated 1.2 billion doses of vaccine for global distribution, more than all other nations combined. Friday alone, he said, the U.S. shipped 11 million doses of vaccine, nine million of which were designated for Africa.

Source: Voice of America

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São Tomé and Príncipe takes an important step in the fight against non-communicable diseases

– The World Health Organization supports São Tomé and Príncipe in validating the Protocols for the prevention and management of cases of non-communicable diseases in primary health care.

Non-communicable diseases are all types of illnesses that are not transmitted from person to person, such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, cancer and others.

The act of validation and subsequent implementation of the protocols will mark the turning point in terms of the system of services and treatment in health posts, health centers and hospitals in the country, with the adoption of new procedures and techniques for tracking, diagnosing, treating and forwarding the different cases of non-communicable diseases.

Organized as part of a joint workshop, the event was attended by the Minister of Health, Dr. Edgar Neves, and the WHO Representative, Dr. Anne Ancia.

In recent years, non-communicable diseases have been gaining ground in the country, with the change in the population’s lifestyle, and in 2018 they already represented 55% of the causes of mortality nationwide, and 70% of all admissions to the Ayres Hospital de Menezes.

The validation of these protocols will allow preventive actions to reduce risk factors that have caused great suffering to the population with regard to non-communicable diseases.

Addressing the event’s attendees, the WHO Representative congratulated the government on its adherence to the WHO Package for Essential Non-Communicable Disease (NSP) Interventions for Primary Health Care in resource-constrained country settings.

Dr. Anne Ancia ensured that this adherence sets an important milestone in shifting the paradigm, placing the focus on non-communicable diseases, an integrated approach to diseases with an emphasis on strengthening primary health care and bringing health closer to health. people, – we were quoting.

The health minister who presided over the act, in turn, said that the data that have been reaching his ministry indicate that there will be a rapid increase in non-communicable diseases if preventive measures are not reinforced.

Dr. Edgar Neves lamented the fact that as São Tome and Principe begins to make progress in treating infectious diseases and reaping the economic benefits of that effort, it becomes increasingly vulnerable to non-communicable diseases.

The application of the new protocols for non-communicable diseases will be carried out in a pilot project at the level of the districts of Água-Grande, Mé-Zochi and Lembá, and will be ensured in the context of the United Nations program of Sustainable Development Goals in the social protection component to vulnerable families.

The World Health Organization hopes that this pilot project will obtain results that can lead to its expansion at the national level, thus translating into a joint effort to implement universal health coverage, which is currently an ambitious plan to improve the health condition of the people. of São Tomé and Príncipe.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

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Osun state adopts integrated strategies, targets over two million residents for COVID-19 vaccination

Osun, 3 December, 2021 – As the festive season draws near and less than 2.9 % of Nigerians are vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine, the Osun State is implementing innovative integrated strategies to increase the percentage of the residents getting vaccinated against the virus.

Osun state, like many others in the country, unveiled a mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign. With support from the WHO, Osun also set up vaccination sites closer to the population and along border settlements, targeting two million (50% of its population) to be fully vaccinated by January 2022.

The WHO State Coordinator, Dr Ahmed Bello, said “The failure to get a large percentage of Nigerians vaccinated leaves the bulk of the population unprotected against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To mitigate against sustained community transmission within the country, we have been adopting several strategies of taking the vaccines closer to the people and have established vaccination posts along the border settlements. Additionally, WHO has supported the state in setting up 46 mass vaccination points across the senatorial districts. The State is also leveraging the existing polio structure and the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) to integrate COVID-19 vaccination in the state,” he said.

Osun state located in the south-west region and shares state boundaries with five states – Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara – along 14 (Odo Otin, Ila and Ifedayo, Obokun, Oriade, Ife South, Olorunda, Ejigbo, Iwo, Ayedire, Isokan, Irewole, Ayedaade, and IFe North) of its 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Dr Bello added that Osun state supported by partners have been conducting border synchronization meetings with bordering states at the LGA/ward/settlement level for better planning and quality vaccination.

COVID-19 vaccination has been globally accepted as a critical public health response measure to prevent severe COVID-19 disease and deaths. Nigeria, since March 2021 rolled out the mass vaccination exercise using three vaccines (AstraZeneca, Moderna and the Janssen’ Johnson and Johnson). However, the vaccination uptake in the country remains low.

As of 29 November 2021, 6 644 441 (5.9% of 111,760,503) people have received at least the first dose, and 3,645,757 receiving two doses (3.3%)

In Osun state, 105 417 (5.2%) of the targeted 2 million people (34% of the total population) have been fully vaccinated and 257,408 (12.4%) people have received their first jab as of 29 November 2021. Osun state has an estimated total population of 5,764,868 and about 50% of this being in the 18 years and above age bracket, this implies that 88% of the target is not yet covered.

Speaking at the flag-off of the campaign at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo on 19 November 2021, the Governor of the State, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi, said the mass campaign is also part of the strategies to stave off the re-emergence of the COVID-19 infection and achieve herd immunity in the state…

Mr Alabi said the state has more ground to cover to reach more than the targeted population (2 million) by January 31, 2022.

“I am happy to announce that about two Million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been allocated to the State and all eligible persons that are yet to be vaccinated now have access to the vaccines.

“We have established fixed posts at our primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities, outreach posts in places outside the health facilities and special locations like Churches, Mosques, Markets and Malls will be used. I urge indigenes and residents of the state to take maximum advantage of the opportunity to get vaccinated as the vaccines have been tested and found to be trusted, safe and efficacious in protecting the people.

Appreciating WHO and partners for the support given to the state in combating the virus and other health interventions, he said ” I want to appreciate WHO, UNICEF, and other partners for the support since the rolling out of the COVID-19 vaccine in Osun State.

“Furthermore, I want to implore community leaders, stakeholders, women and religious leaders to assist in mobilizing all eligible persons to avail themselves of this golden opportunity of receiving the Covid-19 vaccination. It is one way we can all be protected against the virus. We should also continue observing the non-pharmaceutical measures such as wearing face masks, washing of hands, and maintaining social distance” he said.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

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NASA Astronauts Conduct Previously Postponed Spacewalk

Two astronauts with the U.S. space agency, NASA, left the International Space Station (ISS) Thursday to conduct a spacewalk to replace a broken antenna system, two days after the walk was postponed over concerns about space debris.

NASA astronauts Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron stepped out of the ISS airlock early Thursday to replace the faulty antenna, used to communicate voice and data to ground control. The operation was expected to last six-and-a-half hours.

The spacewalk had originally been scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed late Monday after NASA said it had received a notification of space debris that it needed to assess. The space agency said once it determined the debris did not pose a risk, the operation was rescheduled for Thursday.

It was not immediately clear whether the debris field that prompted the spacewalk to be postponed was related to a Russian anti-satellite missile test two weeks ago. That event created a debris field that forced ISS crew members to seek shelter in their escape capsules as a precaution.

Source: Voice of America

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Omicron and Vaccines: What You Should Know

Omicron is unlikely to have completely outsmarted the vaccines, experts say, even with its unusual array of mutations.

There are a lot of unknowns, but they expect that the shots will still do what they do best: Keep people out of the hospital and out of the grave.

Omicron raised alarms when it was first identified during a sharp spike in cases in South Africa. The World Health Organization added it to its list of variants of concern last week.

The virus contains dozens of mutations, including several that are thought to make it more infectious and others that appear to help it evade the immune system.

“But I think it’s still very possible that vaccines will hold up against severe disease, even with those mutations,” said Dr. Carlos del Rio, a professor of medicine at Emory University and president-elect of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

That’s what has happened with every variant so far. With delta, he noted, “breakthrough” infections among vaccinated people have increased, but those cases are mostly mild.

Omicron seems to be better able than other variants to infect people who have already had COVID-19, according to early data from South Africa. But people with reinfections generally have not been seriously ill.

Experts are recommending boosters for people who can get them. U.S. officials have authorized them for everyone age 18 and older.

Open questions

Researchers will have more questions than answers about omicron for the next few weeks while they study the variant. They don’t yet know for sure how the virus stacks up against other variants in terms of how easily it infects or how sick it makes its victims.

Hospitalizations have increased in South Africa during the omicron surge, but it’s not clear if that’s because the virus causes more severe infections or because more people are getting infected. Most of the country is not vaccinated.

Scientists need to figure out whether the rise in infections is “vaccine failure or failure to vaccinate,” said Dr. Walter Orenstein, associate director of the Emory University Vaccine Center.

“If it’s vaccine failure, is it a problem of time since the last dose and waning immunity?” Orenstein said.

Though it does not yet seem to be necessary, some companies are working on modifying their vaccines to better protect against the new variant.

Moderna and the Pfizer-BioNTech partners say they can have a new vaccine ready in about three months. Johnson & Johnson says it is working on a new version but did not give a timeline. Oxford University told Reuters news agency that the vaccine it produces with AstraZeneca is still highly effective but that it can quickly update it if necessary.

Many companies have started developing modified vaccines against previous variants, but none has gone to regulators for approval.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it will not require drugmakers seeking approval for their updated vaccines to go through a process as lengthy as the one for the original versions. Much like with the annual flu vaccine, a few tests for safety and immune response will do.

Source: Voice of America

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EU Leaders Consider Mandatory Vaccinations to Fight Omicron Variant

European Union leaders said Wednesday they are considering a number of public health options, including vaccine mandates, to address the growing threat posed by the omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said little is currently known about the variant, but enough is known to be concerned. She said they expect scientists to have a handle on the nature of the variant in about two to three weeks, but in the meantime are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.

Von der Leyen said the best use of that time is to get more people vaccinated, and those who are inoculated should get booster shots. She said more than one-third of the European population — 150 million people — are not vaccinated.

The European Commission president said that while not everyone can be vaccinated, the majority of people can.

“This needs discussion. This needs a common approach, but it is a discussion that I think has to be had,” she said.

Von der Leyen said Pfizer-BioNTech has indicated it can accelerate the production and distribution of its children’s vaccine, which will be available to European children beginning December 13.

She also said Pfizer and Moderna are set to deliver 360 million more doses of their vaccines by the end of March 2022, and that boosters are available to those who received their initial shots.

The commission also urged EU members to commit to a day-by-day review of travel restrictions and a readiness to impose all necessary controls, including decisive action, if clusters of the omicron variant are found.

Source: Voice of America

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Biden HIV/AIDS Strategy Calls Racism ‘Public Health Threat’

The Biden administration in its new HIV/AIDS strategy calls racism “a public health threat” that must be fully recognized as the world looks to end the epidemic.

The strategy released Wednesday on the annual commemoration of World AIDS Day is meant to serve as a framework for how the administration intends to shape its policies, research, programs and planning over the next three years.

The new strategy asserts that over generations “structural inequities have resulted in racial and ethnic health disparities that are severe, far-reaching, and unacceptable.”

New HIV infections in the U.S. fell about 8% from 2015 to 2019, but Black and Latino communities — particularly gay and bisexual men within those groups — continue to be disproportionately affected, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

African Americans make up about 13% of the U.S. population but accounted for more than 40% of new infections. The Latino population accounted for nearly 25% of new infections but makes up about 18.5% of the U.S. population.

Historically, gay and bisexual men have been the most disproportionately affected group. They account for about 66% of new HIV infections, even though they account for only 2% of the population, according to the CDC. In 2019, 26% of new HIV infections were among Black gay and bisexual men, 23% among Latino gay and bisexual men, and 45% among gay and bisexual men under the age of 35.

To reduce the disparities, the strategy includes calls for focusing on the needs of disproportionately affected populations, supporting racial justice, combating HIV-related stigma and discrimination and providing leadership and employment opportunities for people with or at risk for HIV.

Besides addressing racism’s impact on Americans battling the virus or at risk of contracting it, the new strategy also puts greater emphasis on harm reduction and syringe service programs, encourages reform of state laws that criminalize behavior of people with HIV for potentially exposing others and adds focus on the needs of the growing population of people with HIV who are aging.

More than 36 million people worldwide, including 700,000 in the U.S., have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic more than 40 years ago. Nearly 38 million people are living with HIV, including 1.2 million in the U.S.

President Joe Biden’s administration recently announced it will host the Global Fund to Fight AIDS replenishment conference next year. The United States has contributed about $17 billion to the fund, about a third of all donor contributions.

A giant red ribbon, a symbol of support for people living with HIV, was also displayed on the North Portico of the White House to mark World AIDS day. The two-story ribbon display has become an annual tradition at the White House since 2007.

“Honored to continue this tradition on #WorldAidsDay, remembering the lives lost to HIV/AIDS and supporting those living with the virus across the world,” first lady Jill Biden said in a Twitter posting that included a photo of her posing in front of the ribbon display.

Source: Voice of America

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Africa steps up Omicron variant detection as COVID-19 cases rise in southern Africa

Brazzaville – African countries are stepping up measures to detect and control the spread of the Omicron variant as weekly new COVID-19 cases in the continent rise by 54% due to an upsurge in southern Africa.

In Africa, the Omicron variant has now been detected in four countries, with Ghana and Nigeria becoming the first West African countries and the latest on the continent to report the new variant. So far, Botswana and South Africa have reported 19 and 172 Omicron variant cases, respectively. Globally, more than 20 countries have detected the variant to date. The two southern Africa countries account for 62% of cases reported globally.

Omicron has a high number of mutations (32) in its spike protein, and preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection, when compared with other variants of concern. Researchers and scientists in South Africa and the region are intensifying their investigations to understand the transmissibility, severity and impact of the Omicron variant in relation to the available vaccines, diagnostics and treatment and whether it is driving the latest surge in COVID-19 infections.

Southern Africa has recorded a surge in cases, mostly driven by South Africa. For the seven days leading to 30 November, South Africa reported a 311% increase in new cases, compared with the previous seven days. Cases in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province, have increased by 375% week on week. Hospital admissions rose 4.2% in the past seven days from the previous seven days. And COVID-19-related deaths in the province jumped 28.6% from the previous seven days.

While new COVID-19 cases are rising in southern Africa, they dropped in all other subregions during the past week from the previous week.

Working with African governments to accelerate studies and bolster the response to the new variant, World Health Organization (WHO) is urging countries to sequence between 75 and 150 samples weekly.

“The detection and timely reporting of the new variant by Botswana and South Africa has bought the world time. We have a window of opportunity but must act quickly and ramp up detection and prevention measures. Countries must adjust their COVID-19 response and stop a surge in cases from sweeping across Africa and possibly overwhelming already-stretched health facilities,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

The emergence of Omicron is rattling countries around the globe and underlines the importance of pandemic preparedness – the focus of a special session of the World Health Assembly that wrapped up this week. Countries agreed to launch a global process to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the WHO Constitution to strengthen pandemic prevention preparedness and response.

In South Africa, WHO is deploying a surge team to Gauteng Province to support surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention and treatment measures. Botswana is boosting oxygen production and distribution, which are essential for the treatment of critically ill patients.

Additional epidemiologists and laboratory experts are also being mobilized to boost genomic sequencing in Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia. WHO has mobilized US$ 12 million to support critical response activities in countries across the region for the next three months.

African countries are also refining operational plans for stronger disease surveillance and investigations.

In Africa, vaccination rates remain low. Only 102 million people, or 7.5% of the population, is fully vaccinated. More than 80% of the population still needs to receive a first dose.

Only five African nations have reached the WHO global target for countries to fully vaccinate 40% of their population by the end of 2021. Botswana could become the sixth if its current vaccination rates are maintained. Just three other African countries have enough vaccine supplies to meet the targets but, at the current pace of uptake, they will be unable to do so.

“The combination of low vaccination rates, the continued spread of the virus and mutations are a toxic mix. The Omicron variant is a wake-up call that the COVID-19 threat is real. With improved supplies of vaccines, African countries should widen vaccination coverage to provide greater protection to the population,” Dr Moeti said.

Operational planning and funding challenges, vaccine delivery as well as communication and community engagement bottlenecks have hindered the efforts to widen vaccinations in some African countries. WHO and its partners are supporting countries to scale up vaccine delivery and uptake, including intensified assistance to roll out more than 5 million doses at risk of expiring by the end of the year due to having been donated with a short shelf life.

WHO held a virtual press conference today facilitated by APO Group. The briefing was led by Dr Abdou Salam Gueye, Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response, WHO Regional Office for Africa. He was joined by Professor Anne von Gottberg, Clinical Microbiologist, Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, South Africa.

Also on hand to respond to questions were Dr Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi, Regional Virologist, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Dr Richard Mihigo, Coordinator, Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, WHO Regional Office for Africa, and Dr Thierno Balde, Regional COVID-19 Incident Manager, WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

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Jigawa State distributes over three million treated nets to vulnerable populations

The Jigawa State Government, as part of its malaria prevention/elimination strategies, has begun the distribution of 3.7 million Insecticide Treated Nets to vulnerable households in the state.

The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Namadi, at the inauguration of the 12-day distribution exercise on 17 November 2021, in Madobi village, Dutse Local Government Area (LGA), said that the goal is to encourage everyone to sleep inside the net, especially the malaria vulnerable populations (pregnant women and children under 5 years).

He stressed that the goal is to ensure 100% coverage for net distribution and 80% usage by the vulnerable population.

Maryam Musa, a 26-year-old mother of four children, a beneficiary of the free Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITN) at the venue for the state flag-off the 2021 replacement campaign, expressed her gratitude to the government and partners for the support in protecting her household against the killer disease.

“I am happy to be among the first recipients of this gesture and wish other mothers would benefit also. We need the nets to protect my children and myself from mosquito bites to prevent malaria,” she said.

Malaria remains a public health problem in Nigeria. It could be prevented and cured through collaborative efforts such as the use of ITN.

Malaria is a deadly disease responsible for approximately 11% maternal and 30% child mortality, especially among children under five years.

Intervention

The Permanent Secretary Jigawa State Ministry Health, Dr Salisu Muazu, said that the state government and its partners planned to distribute 3.7 million ITNs across the 288 wards in 27 LGAs during the 2021 replacement campaign.

“The government and our technical partners have worked out the logistics to conduct a hitch-free exercise. We are deploying modern technology to record the distribution,” he said.

In his goodwill message, the WHO State Coordination, Dr Sunday Audu, commended the effort of the Jigawa State government in responding to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies.

Dr Audu said that “the 2021 World Malaria Report (WMR) has shown that the progress against malaria control has stalled in high burden countries. Since 2000, malaria high burden countries have achieved significant improvement in the fight against the disease using the ITNs as one of the most cost-effective intervention”.

He further encouraged the government to invest in health and pursue Primary Health Care (PHC) revitalization by implementing the PHC under a one-roof strategy to address inequities in access to quality healthcare services.

Other partners supporting Jigawa state and its malaria prevention strategies include the Global Fund, the United State Government through the USAID/PMI, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID). The implementing partners are Catholic Relief Society (CRS), and Malaria Consortium among others.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

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WHO strengthens surveillance system, leverage collaboration with traditional leaders on health in Borno state

Maiduguri, 2 December, 2021 – In preparation for the Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIA) in Borno State, the WHO Country Representative (WR), Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, has solicited advocacy train to the Shehu of Borno, Dr Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, to canvass support for the success of the exercise.

The high-level meeting held at the Palace of the Shehu of Borno in Maiduguri recently, was to enhance collaboration with the traditional leaders and aimed at the delivery of essential health services in the state.

In his opening remarks, Dr Mulombo appreciated the traditional leader and the district heads for all their support to various health responses in the state.

“You were supportive in mobilizing and encouraging the residents of Borno state to adhere to the COVID-19 preventive measures. You played a key role, and cases have drastically plummeted in the state.

“We have been providing support in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public health programmes aimed at preventing, promoting and protecting the health of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states in line with the goals and objectives of the National Health Plan. Although we are reviewing our emergency responses across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, we ultimately solicit your support in mobilizing the people Borno state during the measles and yellow fever vaccination campaign”, he said.

The supplemental exercise is for measles and Yellow Fever. The campaign conducted by the Borno State Government, with support from the WHO and other partners, is scheduled for 25 to 30 November 2021. The campaign targets to reach an estimate of two million people between ages nine months to 59 months

Pledging the continual support, Alhaji Al-Amin El-Kanemi, said as heads of the traditional institutions, they would use their positions to mobilize the people and ensure all eligible persons in the area get vaccinated.

Commending WHO and partners for the humanitarian response and health interventions in the region, he suggested that WHO organize training for the traditional leaders to empower them with the knowledge and skills required to support health interventions, including disease prevention, detection, and reporting.

Also, as part of the strategies to strengthen the surveillance system in the state, the WR donated 20 phone tablets, 20 power banks, and phone accessories to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Borno State Ministry of Health (MoH) with funding support from ECHO (European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations). The items would assist in enhancing surveillance reporting and strengthen the system (SORMAS –Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System).

Receiving the items, the Director of Public Health, MoH, appreciated WHO and promised to use the technology effectively.

Measles and Yellow fever are highly contagious diseases but vaccine-preventable. This year, Nigeria recorded sporadic outbreaks of yellow fever and measles due to low routine immunization coverage. The supplementary immunization activities are strategies for delivering vaccination to children otherwise missed by routine services in the hard-to-reach areas, the underserved groups and communities or to older susceptible individuals

As of 11 November 2021, Nigeria recorded 13 766 suspected measles cases, with 9 135 confirmed. Also, as of 21 October 2021, over 1600 suspected yellow fever cases, with 40 confirmed cases, have been recorded.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa