With inputs from Dr Monica Vasudev

World closer to the end of the pandemic, says WHO Director General

In a media briefing earlier this week, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of WHO said that “the end of the pandemic is now in sight”, although its “not there yet”. He urged all to not give up and continue to run to the finish line, just as the marathon runner runs harder nearer the finish line. To enable governments to finish this race, WHO has released six policy briefs (available on its website) outlining the actions regarding vaccination, testing and management of Covid-19, including the infodemic of Covid-19, that they can take to win this race…(Source: UN, Sept. 14, 2022).

Africa still facing the pandemic threat due to low vaccination

With just 22% of its population fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the continent of Africa is still facing the threat of the pandemic. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, the acting director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said that with the low vaccination uptake, “the levels of protection are still relatively low.”…(Source: Reuters, Sept. 15, 2022)

Israel and Singapore approve the bivalent Covid-19 booster vaccine

Israel has approved Pfizer’s Covid-19 bivalent booster for individuals aged 12 years and older. The vaccine would be available in the country by the end of this month. Those who have taken a vaccine dose at least 3 months back are eligible to take the updated booster. Health authorities have urged the high-risk persons to take the updated booster together with a flu vaccine. 

Singapore has also authorised the use of Moderna’s bivalent booster vaccine for adults aged 18 years and older, who have completed their primary vaccination series…(Source: Medscape, Sept. 15, 2022)

New Zealand eases up on several Covid-19 mandates

Masks are no longer mandatory in New Zealand. Masks are required only in healthcare and aged care facilities. Household contacts now do not need to self-isolate; the Covid-positive patients still need to isolate for a week. From Sept. 26, all government vaccine mandates will be removed. Vaccination requirement for travelers coming into the country, which was earlier essential, has been relaxed. "Finally, rather than feeling that COVID dictates what happens to us, our lives, and our futures, we take back control," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said…(Source: Medscape, Sept. 12, 2022).

High risk of Alzheimers in the very old persons with Covid-19 

The likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease is increased up to 80% among older adults, aged ≥65 years, with Covid-19. The risk was highest in women who were 85 years old. However, the study of more than 6 million patients without Alzheimer’s disease published in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease failed to show any cause-and-effect association of Covid-19 with Alzheimer’s disease…(Source: Journal of Alzheimers Disease, Sept. 15, 2022).

Being fully vaccinated reduces risk of long Covid 

A new study from the UK has found that people who become infected with SARS-CoV-2 before taking the Covid-19 vaccine are more likely to have symptoms of long Covid after 12 weeks. On the other hand, the risk of such symptoms is reduced by 41% among those who developed Covid-19 after taking both doses of the vaccine. Hence, people must be encouraged to complete their vaccination schedule at the earliest…(Source: Medscape, Sept. 14, 2022).