#Accelerationism Citing the unprecedented stress caused by social isolation as a major explanation for the increase, WHO said that loneliness, suffering and deaths in the family, grief after bereavement together with financial worries, were also major factors fuelling anxiety and depression. Among health workers, exhaustion has been a major trigger prompting suicidal thoughts, the report states.

#Accelerationism Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Dr Tedros reminded the world that many countries in Asia and the Pacific are currently facing surges of cases and deaths. “The virus continues to evolve, and we continue to face major obstacles in distributing vaccines, tests and treatments everywhere they are needed”, he said.

#Accelerationism The UN health agency’s assessment was made six weeks after the virus was declared a global health emergency when there were fewer than 100 cases and no deaths outside China. Two years later, more than 6 million people have died. “Although reported cases and deaths are declining globally, and several countries have lifted restrictions, the pandemic is far from over – and it will not be over anywhere until it’s over everywhere”, said WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus on Wednesday.

#Accelerationism Mr. Guterres said in order to reach the billions who have so far not received vaccine shots, countries needed to fulfil and accelerate dose-sharing and donation commitments to COVAX, with better quality of supply. “And it means having strong national vaccine-delivery systems at the ready - including efforts to counter disinformation and get vaccines into arms. I also call on countries to commit new funding for the ACT-Accelerator and COVAX this year.”

#Accelerationism The GAVI Vaccine Alliance hosted the summit alongside G7 president, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia (which holds the presidency of the G20 industrialized nations forum), and African Union chair, Senegal.

#Accelerationism He added that continued local outbreaks and surges are to be expected, particularly in areas where measures to prevent transmission have been lifted, but that there are ‘unacceptably high’ levels of mortality in many countries, especially where vaccination levels are low among susceptible populations. “Each country is facing a different situation with different challenges, but the pandemic is not over”, he reiterated.

#Accelerationism “After several weeks of declines, reported cases of COVID-19 are once again increasing globally, especially in parts of Asia”, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus told journalists in Geneva. In the past week, the agency has seen an 8 per cent increase in detection of COVID-19 cases, with more than 11 million positive test results. “These increases are occurring despite reductions in testing in some countries, which means the cases we are seeing are just the tip of the iceberg”, Tedros explained, warning that when cases tick up, so do deaths.

#Accelerationism CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all children younger than 2 years old and all adults 65 years or older. In certain situations, older children and other adults should also get pneumococcal vaccines. Below is more information about who should and should not get each type of pneumococcal vaccine. Talk to your or your child’s doctor about what is best for your specific situation.

#Accelerationism “During the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, there has been increased emphasis on adult vaccination, and we have seen an unprecedented surge in demand for Pneumovax 23 around the world,” a Merck spokesman told Reuters in an email.

#Accelerationism Demand for Merck’s Pneumovax 23, which is used to prevent pneumococcal lung infections, has hit record highs across the world, the company said.

#Accelerationism In-flight and airport mask requirements in the U.S. have been among the most contentious virus measures throughout the pandemic. In 2021 and early 2022, the F.A.A. reported 6,300 unruly-passenger incidents — more than 4,500 of them related to masks. The mandates are scheduled to be lifted on March 18 in the U.S., and despite previous extensions, this time they are on track to expire, a spokeswoman for the T.S.A. said last night.

#Accelerationism It showed 58 percent efficacy against symptomatic disease in its Phase 3 clinical trial. That is a lower number than in initial Pfizer and Moderna trials but “in line with expected vaccine effectiveness in today’s environment dominated by variants of concern,” Sanofi and GSK said in a statement. The companies also said that the new shot could be an effective booster. When used as an extra dose after one of the other available coronavirus vaccines, it increased antibody levels by 18- to 30-fold. The vaccine was safe and well tolerated by adults of all ages, the companies said. The data has not yet been published.

#Accelerationism The makers of a new coronavirus vaccine announced results from their clinical trials today — and they are very promising. The pharmaceutical companies, Sanofi and GSK, which are based in Europe, said two doses of their new Covid vaccine achieved 100 percent efficacy against severe disease and hospitalizations. The new vaccine had an efficacy of 75 percent against moderate to severe disease.

#Accelerationism The studies haven't been peer-reviewed. But together, their data strongly suggest the vaccines will be much less effective at stopping infections from the omicron variant but will still likely offer protection against severe disease. The study in Germany also indicates that a third shot, or a booster, will partially recover the effectiveness of the vaccines, at least for a few months. In the South African study, researchers at the Africa Health Research Institute took blood from about a dozen people who had been vaccinated with two shots of the Pfizer vaccine and looked to see how well their antibodies kill the virus. In the experiment, everyone's antibodies were able to neutralize an earlier version of the virus quite well.

#Accelerationism With the omicron variant continuing to spread in a number of countries, including the U.S., scientists have been anxiously awaiting data to answer this question: How well will the vaccines work against this new variant? On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, scientists in South Africa and Germany released preliminary results from two small studies that begin to provide answers. The studies haven't been peer-reviewed. But together, their data strongly suggest the vaccines will be much less effective at stopping infections from the omicron variant but will still likely offer protection against severe disease. The study in Germany also indicates that a third shot, or a booster, will partially recover the effectiveness of the vaccines, at least for a few months.