President Biden, Secretary Blinken, they are deeply focused on the issue of expanding global vaccination, manufacturing, and delivery all of which will be critical to ending the pandemic, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said

The Serum Institute of India has been saying that the Biden administration is blocking exports of raw materials that it needs to make COVID vaccines, and the Serum Institute has also urged President Biden to lift that embargo

The plan is to help establish one or more technology transfer hubs that will transfer a comprehensive technology package and provide appropriate training to interested manufacturers

Facing soaring cases and overflowing hospitals after lockdown restrictions were eased, it also abruptly changed the rules to allow it to fast-track vaccine imports, having earlier rebuffed foreign drugmakers like Pfizer

I would like to underline here the importance for countries that have the prospect of excess vaccine supplies to release them as soon as possible, World Bank President David Malpass said

Warning that the pandemic is a long way from over, Ghebreyesus said the world has many reasons for optimism

Citing officials, Geo News reported that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to another Chinese vaccine, CoronaVac

\"The agreement is legally binding and served as a basis for the first-round allocation document, which has been communicated to all participating economies,\" a Gavi spokeswoman said in an email

Dr Vardhan says over 89 lakh healthcare workers have got the first dose and over 54 lakhs have got the second dose. As far as frontline or field level workers are concerned, over 98 lakhs got the first dose and over 45 lakhs have got the second dose, he adds

Despite increased demand for COVID-19 vaccines in India COVAX expects to deliver doses to all participating economies that have requested vaccines in the first half of the year

The international community should work together to resist 'vaccine nationalism,' strengthen cooperation and policy coordination to fight against COVID-19, and improve the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries in a meaningful way, Yi Gang, Governor of the People's Bank of China said

Centre's clarification comes amid an ongoing debate over the export of vaccines with some states, mostly non-BJP ruled, flagging the issue of shortage of vaccines

The Philippines suspended the use of AstraZeneca shots for people under age 60 after Europe's regulator said on Wednesday it found rare cases of blood clots among some adult recipients, although it still believes that the vaccine's benefits outweighed its risks

Within countries, illness and death from Covid-19 have been higher among groups who face discrimination, poverty, social exclusion, adverse daily living and working conditions - including humanitarian crises

SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said the company has \"chosen to prioritize India temporarily for two months\" and hopes to then restart exports by June

India is the only country expected to register a double-digit growth this fiscal.

Due to the new wave of outbreaks in India right now, the Indian government has stepped up their vaccination programmes, which means that they've made less doses available for the rest of the world, Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi told CBS News

Adar says Covishield has found an excellent response below the age of 50 with one dose. About 70 per cent of people are fully protected with one dose, but the second dose is necessary for long-term immunity protection, he adds

The MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi added that several countries have requested India for vaccine supply under the 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine over 91% effective after 6 months; Will construct 40km highways per day, says Nitin Gadkari; Demand for cooling appliances surges on rising temperature, COVID-19 cases. Watch this and more news on News Blast.Also Read: Bharti Airtel aims to meet 50% power needs at data centres with solar energy