Europe and the Americas have reported surges in new COVID-19 cases, both up eight percent on last week’s numbers. In the former, the Nov 16 WHO epi update noted that just over 45 percent of countries ‘which were widely distributed across the Region reported increases of over 10% in new cases in the past week, including Germany’, while in the latter, the USA and Brazil recorded the largest rises. Fifteen of the 49 countries in the African region saw new cases go up by more than 10 percent over the week, however a recent study conducted by the WHO estimated that as few as one in every seven infections were being detected. Read more
In related news:
- A study carried out by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has found that following a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine, Comirnaty, at least six months after a primary course of either the same vaccine or AZ’s Vaxzevria, ‘protection against symptomatic infection in adults aged 50 years and over was 93.1% in those with AstraZeneca as their primary course and 94.0% for Pfizer-BioNTech’. Read more in the GOV.UK press release.
- Also in the UK, November 22 marks the day when WHO Emergency Use listed vaccines will all be recognised in arriving travellers. There are also changes relating to the under 18s arriving in England – see more here.
- STAT News writes on ‘8 lingering questions about the new Covid pills from Merck and Pfizer’.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.