WHO calls for moratorium on booster till 2021-end, ‘additional’ dose for high risk population

Currently, 20 per cent of the available vaccines are being used as boosters

COVID-19 virus not the last to cause pandemic, warns WHO chief

Tedros Ghebreyesus October 13 announced names of 26 experts who will advise WHO on developing framework to define studies into …

World freed from toxic leaded petrol: A global win

While global eradication of toxic lead in petrol needs to be celebrated, this also reminds us how tough it is to undo wrong if the evidence of …

Don’t politicise SARS-CoV-2 origin, WHO says as probe calls grow louder

WHO announced next steps August 12 as part of its investigation to find SARS-CoV-2 origins 

Deaths by exposure to hazardous chemicals increased 29% between 2016 and 2019: WHO

While most of these deaths are preventable, countries still don’t have enough legal control on the use of hazardous compounds such as lead

Need to ramp up vaccine supply for developing countries: Global task force on COVID-19

Heads of the World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization met for the first time …

Long working hours killed 745,000 in 2016, study finds

The trend may worsen during COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly altered the way people work, the report adds  

What Nigeria must do to eliminate malaria: 3 researchers offer insights

Nigeria accounts for nearly a quarter of deaths from malaria in the world — in 2018 the numbers stood at 95,000. Three of the country&…

Reducing risk of zoonoses in food production: WHO lays down guidelines

There is, however, no evidence that consumption of food is implicated in the transmission of the COVID-19, the WHO guidlines underscored

Kenya’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout has got off to a slow start: The gaps, and how to fix them

Kenya is currently accessing vaccines exclusively through the COVAX facility, and yet supply to this initiative has been dogged by vaccine …

What’s the new coronavirus variant in India and how should it change their COVID-19 response?

In 15-20% samples from Maharashtra, the state accounting for 62% of cases in the country, a new, double mutation in key areas of the virus has …

COVID-19 vaccine update: AstraZeneca vaccinations should continue, benefits outweigh risks, says WHO

Strategic advisory group of experts on immunization called the one-dose Janssen shot as a safe and lifesaving addition to Pfizer, Moderna and …

First ever national survey shows the extent of South Africa’s TB problem

In 2019, 58,000 people died of TB in South Africa and 1.4 million people died from TB globally

What Tanzania’s COVID-19 vaccine reluctance means for its citizens and the world

Only a few months into the pandemic, the president declared Tanzania COVID-free following three days of national prayers. The argument was that …

COVID-19 vaccine update: South Africa may return Serum Institute of India doses

The WHO has approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus jab for emergency use. This means the vaccine can be rolled out globally 

Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: What do WHO recommendations say

Health workers at high risk of exposure and older people — including those aged 65 or older — should be given priority for Oxford / …

Some key questions answered on COVID-19 vaccines for African countries

Vaccines for COVID-19 are generating a lot of talk. To shed some light on which vaccines are available for countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and …

Antenatal care visits increase in most states: NFHS-5

Mothers consuming iron folic acid tablets for 100 days or more during their pregnancy period showed a heterogenous trend

Anaemia in women, children aggravated in 2019: NFHS-5

As many as 68.4% children and 66.4% women surveyed suffered from anaemia in 2019

Current policy developments to contain AMR not enough: South Centre expert

Viviana Munoz Tellez, coordinator, South Centre, spoke on the gaps and challenges in the ongoing policy interventions to contain …

Antimicrobial resistance: The need to tackle access-excess problem

AMR, like every process, has its own drivers and determinants. The threat has evolved over time due to our acts of omission and commission

In a first, WHO commits to eliminate cervical cancer globally

The global health body aims to reduce more than 40% new cases by 2050 through vaccination, screening and treatment

WHO nod to first emergency use vaccine can tackle rising vaccine-derived poliovirus cases

Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus occurs if a population is poorly vaccinated and there are enough susceptible children for excreted …

Need emergency action to avert measles and polio epidemics, warn UN bodies

$655 million would be needed to address the immunity gaps in non-Gavi eligible countries and target age groups

Nature’s bounty to boost immunity at a Greater Noida village

A look at 10 medicinal plants known to enhance immunity and strengthen brain power