As Europe discusses the most effective measures to avoid a new wave of infections, prompted by the Omicron variant, US President Joe Biden warns Americans: a “winter of serious illness and death” could await unvaccinated people, and called on all Americans to get vaccinated, as restrictions around the world are escalating.
“The only real protection is getting the shot,” said President Biden, insisting that the Omicron variant is “there” and “will start circulating much faster in the United States.”
United States: Health authorities recommend Pfizer and Moderna instead of J&J
US health authorities on Thursday evening recommended that all adults be vaccinated against Covid-19 with Pfizer and Moderna rather than Johnson & Johnson, due to the risk of thrombosis linked to the J&J vaccine. The move was announced by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). In America, there were nine deaths attributed to reactions to Johnson & Johnson.
Coronavirus, Omicron’s advance in the world: Italy under siege
by Anais Ginori, Antonello Guerrera, Anna Lombardi, Gianluca Modolo, Rossella Tercatin
France tightens border controls with Great Britain
France will reinstate the obligation of “compelling reasons” for travelers to and from the United Kingdom during the night between Friday and Saturday in the face of the “rapid spread of the Omicron variant” in the country. The validity of tests departing from the UK is reduced from 48 hours to 24 hours.
Von der Leyen: recall within 6 months and Green Pass valid for 9 months
For the Covid digital certificate we will present a delegated act for a uniform approach on the recalls and the duration of the certificate. The booster must be administered at the latest 6 months after the completion of the vaccination cycle “while the duration of the Green Pass will be 9 months,” said the president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the end of the European Summit.
Financial Times: Ema ready to approve Novavax
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) could approve the use of Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine next week, according to sources consulted by the Financial Times. The news sent shares in the Maryland company up 7%. After the EMA, the World Health Organization (WHO) could also issue an emergency authorization to strengthen the Covax program, intended to find doses for vaccination campaigns in developing countries.
Omicron empties the City, the lockdown atmosphere returns to London
by our correspondent Antonello Guerrera
Guterres, UN: 40 countries have not vaccinated even 10% of the population
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the world to make “concrete” progress within a few days towards the now distant goal of vaccinating 40% of the world‘s population against Covid-19 before the end of the year. “Inequality in vaccines is giving variants a free pass to go wild,” Guterres told reporters. “The vaccine accumulation strategy, the vaccine nationalism strategy or the vaccine diplomacy strategy have failed. This new variant has demonstrated this failure,” said the UN secretary, they explain that just over two weeks after end of the year, 98 countries have yet to meet the WHO 40% vaccination target, and 40 countries have not vaccinated even 10%.
More than 400 dead in Germany
Germany has recorded another 50,968 cases of Covid and another 437 deaths in the last 24 hours. The weekly incidence is decreasing and stood at 331.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
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