Health News Roundup: European Union starts drive to vaccinate children against COVID; Takeda submits approval request for Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine in Japan and more

Following is a abstract of present well being information briefs.
European Union starts drive to vaccinate children against COVID
Six-year-old Johanna squeezed her eyes shut as she obtained her first coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday on the Bethesda children’s hospital in the Hungarian capital Budapest. She was among the many first children aged 5-11 to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the European Union as half a dozen nations launched campaigns amid hovering infections and fears in regards to the speedy unfold of the brand new Omicron variant.
Takeda submits approval request for Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine in Japan
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd has submitted an approval request for Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine to Japan’s well being ministry, the U.S. drugmaker mentioned late on Wednesday.
New Zealand reviews first Omicron case in Christchurch border facility
New Zealand reported its first case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 at a state-run isolation facility in Christchurch, the Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield mentioned on Thursday. The contaminated individual got here to New Zealand from Germany by way of Dubai, he mentioned.
France’s Macron: obligatory COVID-19 jab is an choice
French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned on Wednesday it was attainable the COVID-19 vaccine would ultimately be made obligatory in France however mentioned it was not the precedence for now. Like its European neighbors and nations throughout the globe, France is scrambling to discover methods to include a recent surge in the pandemic. France’s seven-day common of recent infections is at its highest since November 2020.
Japan provides Moderna shot to COVID vaccine booster arsenal, becoming a member of Pfizer
Japan on Thursday formally permitted Moderna Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine for its booster shot programme that started this month. The transfer adopted a advice from well being ministry specialists on Wednesday that Moderna’s mRNA shot, used largely at office inoculation websites to date, could possibly be used as a 3rd booster shot for these aged 18 or older.
Omicron thrives in airways, not lungs; new information on asymptomatic instances
The following is a abstract of some latest research on COVID-19. They embody analysis that warrants additional examine to corroborate the findings and that has but to be licensed by peer evaluate. Omicron multiplies quicker in airways, slower in lungs
U.S. CDC advisers to weigh limits on J&J vaccine due to blood clot points -Washington Post
A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel will meet on Thursday to contemplate attainable limits on using the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine due to continued blood clot points, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will likely be introduced new information that seems to present the speed of clots in individuals who obtained the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has elevated since April, the Post reported, citing clinicians conversant in the agenda.
Indonesia reviews first case of Omicron variant
Indonesia has recognized its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, the nation’s well being minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin mentioned on Thursday. The variant was detected on Wednesday night in an worker on the Wisma Atlet hospital in Jakarta, who had no historical past of abroad journey.
South Korea to reimpose stricter distancing curbs amid spike in COVID-19 instances
South Korea mentioned on Thursday it can reinstate stricter social distancing guidelines a month-and-a-half after easing them below a ‘dwelling with COVID-19’ coverage, because the variety of new infections and severe instances spirals. Curbs will return from Saturday to Jan. 2, limiting gatherings to no more than 4 folks – so long as they’re absolutely vaccinated – and forcing eating places, cafes and bars to shut by 9 p.m. and film theatres and web cafes by 10 p.m., officers mentioned.
Omicron set to be Europe’s dominant variant by early 2022 – ECDC
There is a “very excessive” threat the Omicron variant of COVID-19 will turn into dominant in Europe by early subsequent yr and lead to a rising variety of hospital admissions and deaths, the European Union’s public well being physique mentioned on Wednesday. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) mentioned in a report that the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) was seemingly to overtake Delta throughout the first two months of 2022. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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