Category: Covid-19 Vaccine

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GSK (NYSE:GSK) is reportedly suing Pfizer (PFE) and partner BioNTech (BNTX) for patent infringement over the use of certain mRNA technology for their COVID-19 Comirnaty vaccines.

GSK, also known as GlaxoSmithKline, filed the suit in a Delaware federal court on Thursday, alleging that Pfizer and BioNTech's Comirnaty vaccines infringe upon vaccine technology developed by GSK, according to Reuters.

A Pfizer spokesperson told Reuters that the company was confident in its intellectual property position on the vaccines and would vigorously defend itself against the claims in court.

The case is the latest filed by GSK against Pfizer over technology used in its vaccines. Last year, GSK sued Pfizer, alleging that Pfizers RSV vaccine Abrysvo infringed upon GSKs patents for its RSV vaccine Arexvy.

In 2022, COVID-19 vaccine developer Moderna (MRNA) also sued Pfizer and BioNtech for patent infringement over Comirnaty. The case is ongoing.

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GSK sues Pfizer, BioNTech over COVID-19 vaccines patents (NYSE:GSK) - Seeking Alpha

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11 LIRR employees suspended without pay, accused of submitting fake COVID-19 vaccine cards - East Oregonian

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11 LIRR employees suspended without pay, accused of submitting fake COVID-19 vaccine cards - InsideNoVa

The federally supported mass community vaccination center opened in north Tulsa three years ago.

It was a focused outreach to seek equitable access for minority populations, build trust in the Black community hurt by past medical maltreatment and help overcome justifiable vaccine hesitancy, said Rev. Jamaal Dyer, senior pastor of Friendship Church.

The temporary clinic at Tulsa Community Colleges Northeast Campus, 3727 E. Apache St., could administer up to 3,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine per day for eight weeks.

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Three years ago: Community vaccination center opens at TCC Northeast Campus - Tulsa World

The Eastern Caribbean Court of Court of Appeal has set May 2 as the date for hearing of the appeal in the COVID-19 vaccine mandate case, which was initially scheduled to be heard on February1this year.

The earlierhearing was adjourned after a member of the three-judge panel was unavailable to hear the matter.

Since then, public sector workers who were dismissed under the governments 2021 COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which the High Court later ruled was illegal, have been awaiting the new date for the hearing.

On March 13,2023, High Court judge,Justice Esso Henry who has since been appointed a justice of appeal delivered what Jomo Thomas, a lawyer for the claimants, described as the legal equivalent of a slam dunk.

Justice Henry ruled against the government in all but one aspect of the case, brought by the e Public Service Union(PSU) the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union (SVGTU) and the Police Welfare Association(PWA).

The government appealed the ruling But Justice Mario Michel, who was president of the three-member panel, said that one of the members was unable to sit as part of the panelon February 1.

Accordingly, and regrettably, this matter will be adjourned to a date to be fixed by the chief registrar in consultation with counsel, Justice Michel said.

He said he wanted to assure the lawyers involved in the matter that the chief registrar would be asked to find the first available date convenient to counsel.

Since then, the parties have been anxiously waiting for a date for the hearing of the appeal.

Thomas confirmed to the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Friday that parties in the matter were informed that the appeal will be heard on May 2, when the Court of Appeal sits in Antigua.

The hearing is slated to take place exactly one month after Elroy Boucher, president of the PSU, expressed concerns about the delay.

Boucher told an April 2 press conference that he had spoken about the delay withThomas and fellow counsel in the matter, Shirlan Zita Barwellland Cara Shillingford Marsh, the lead attorney.

We were told that they had expected that sometime within the next two months that the matter will come back up. And as you havesaid, weve not heard anything about it, Boucher had said then.

In her March 2023 ruling, Justice Henry held that the public sector workers dismissed under the governments COVID-19 vaccine mandate never ceased to hold their jobs.

She ordered the government to pay them all wages and benefits they would have received had it not been for the governments decision to terminate them.

The judge further ordered that the government pay punitive damages.

The court has granted a stay of execution of Henrys judgment, pending the hearing of the appeal.

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Court sets May 2 for SVG COVID-19 vaccine mandate appeal case - St Vincent Times

A medical staff member prepares a vial of the Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine against Covid-19 at ... [+] a vaccination center.

Some 700,000 people in England will get a free Covid-19 vaccine this week as the countrys spring booster campaign kicks off.

Starting Monday, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems will be able to get a shot free of charge to reduce the impact of the disease.

Some 48,400 shots have already been delivered to adults in residential care homes, officials say, with vaccine teams having visited around 3,400 facilities by Thursday April 18.

Vaccines significantly reduce the chances of hospitalization and death from Covid-19. This is especially important for those most at risk of complications.

Follow-up doses help maintain existing protection against the disease, which can wane over time.

Steve Russell, who directs vaccines and immunizations at the countrys public health system, the National Health Service, said last years data showed those who received the spring jab were up to 50% less likely to be admitted to hospital for three to four months afterwards.

Officials invited eligible members of the public to book their shots last week. These individuals will also be invited to book by phone, letter or email.

Private vaccines are now also available in the U.K. for the first time ever.

Scientists on the U.K. countrys Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation advise health leaders on vaccine eligibility. They compare evidence on a shots benefits and risks with the dangers of the disease it targets to come up with their recommendations.

In February, JCVI scientists advised giving boosters to those aged 75 or older, those living in older peoples care homes and those aged six months or older who are immunosupressed.

This includes people whose immune systems are weakened because of treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, certain immunosupressive medications or organ transplantation. It also includes those who have particular health conditions that impact the immune system, including multiple myeloma, HIV infection, and certain genetic disorders.

A full list of relevant immunosupressive conditions can be found on page 24 of the UKs Green Book on Covid-19.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, chair of Covid-19 immunization on the JCVI, said at the time that the spring programme will continue to focus on those at greatest risk of getting seriously ill, who will benefit the most from a further vaccine dose.

It is important that everyone who is eligible takes up the offer this spring, he said in a statement. Current vaccines provide good protection against severe disease, hospitalization and can protect those most vulnerable from death.

Mary Ramsay, who directs public health programmes at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said that ongoing surveillance shows Covid-19 is still causing severe illness, particularly in older age groups and those who are immunosuppressed.

But data clearly show that booster campaigns in spring and fall are effective in helping to protect those most at risk halving the likelihood of hospitalization from the virus, she added.

Minimizing the impact of Covid-19 on Englands public health system remains important as hospitals struggle to keep up with demand for services.

The country has been experiencing a crisis in emergency care for at least two years, with a lack of available hospital beds leading to lengthy waits for admission, overcrowding in emergency departments and ambulance delays.

There are many factors behind the crisis, including a lack of social care capacity for people who are medically fit to leave hospital, but who need extra support in the community to be discharged safely.

Its likely that long waits for elective procedures, exacerbated by a pandemic which saw vast swathes of cancelled operations, have left people sicker than they would have been if theyd been seen quicker.

An ageing population and widening levels of inequality have also contributed to increased demand for services.

The true impact of Covid-19 on the country is still being unpicked by researchers. Last month, statisticians revealed the disease is thought to be a major factor in a reduction in the U.K.s healthy life expectancy.

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Some 700,000 Brits To Get Free Covid-19 Booster Shots This Week - Forbes

Transgender and disabled individuals in India face challenges when attempting to obtain vaccines. Because of this, they are often labeled as being hesitant. A need was felt to look into aspects within and outside of the health system which make it difficult for specific communities to decide on vaccination.

A new study published recently in the Journal of Communication in Healthcare sought to understand the role of trust in decisionmaking about Covid-19 vaccine among two communities in India.

The study was conducted at the initiative for Health Equity Advocacy and Research (iHEAR) hosted at the Sangath Bhopal Hub. Funded by Sabin Vaccine Institute, USA, study researchers from iHEAR interviewed 24 community representatives who identify themselves as transgenders or as persons with disability, and 21 key informants.

Key informants were people with knowledge of the vaccination programme, such as vaccine program managers, vaccine providers, and community advocates. We recorded interviews and analyzed them line by line. This was done over the period of more than a year from October 2021 to December 2022. A unique aspect of the project was that it was co-led and co-designed by members of the trans and disabled community who were part of the research team and community advisory board, researchers said.

People from both communities have unique healthcare needs. Understanding how vaccines interact with these unique healthcare needs is crucial to making informed decisions on vaccines. For instance, among trans persons, considerations such as interaction between vaccines and gender-affirmative interventions (e.g. hormone therapy) were significant. Similarly, for the disabled, factors such as their specific disabilities and any comorbidities they may have has played a vital role (eg their disability medication). Additionally, there was a lack of proactive government effort to address these issues in the public sphere, including the use of accessible communication methods to effectively reach these communities, researchers said.

Dr Satendra Singh, study co-investigator and disability justice defender said the recent study highlights the overlooked challenges faced by trans and disability communities in vaccine rollouts, emphasising the imperative of an intersectional approach and addressing communication inequities as pivotal factors in restoring trust and increasing vaccine uptake. We discovered that past negative experiences with the health system have fueled mistrust, while decision-making patterns proved to be dynamic and context-dependent, thus underscoring the critical importance of inclusion in vaccine trials. he said.

Dr Harikeerthan Raghuram, associate director (Health Equity), Sangath, said that, Leaders should stop painting whole communities as people who are not coming forward to get a vaccine. This is because, as the study shows, decisions about whether or not to get vaccinated today are made in the light of negative experiences faced by transgender and disability communities over many decades within and outside of healthcare. To resolve this, we must work to regain that trust step by step, he added.

The Indian Express Pvt Ltd

First uploaded on: 21-04-2024 at 19:48 IST

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Trust in systems, structural gaps in vaccine info: Critical factors that motivate trans, disability communities to go for Covid vaccination, says new...

St Marys Vaccination Hub is getting ready to open its doors to the public as the Covid-19 spring vaccination programme gets underway.

People aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes and young people aged 6 months and over with severe immunosuppression will be offered a dose of Covid-19 vaccine this spring.

There are several ways to get a spring vaccination. Many people will be invited directly via their GP practice.

But if you are eligible, you dont need to wait to be invited, you can book using the National Booking System, by calling 119, or using the NHS App, until 30 June.

St Marys Vaccination Hub will offer a walk-in service from Monday 22 April, however booking an appointment using the National Booking Service is advised to help keep waiting times down.

Sue Lightfoot, Clinical Lead, Hospital Vaccination Centre, said:

If youre at increased risk of illness from Covid-19, getting a vaccination gives you good protection and helps to reduce your risk of getting seriously ill and needing hospital care or much worse.

The vaccine also reduces your risk of catching and spreading the virus and protects against the different strains of Covid that are circulating in our communities.

Were looking forward to welcoming our Island community back to the Vaccination Hub at St Marys this spring as well as the roving clinics that we will be running at various community venues around the Island in June.

From 22 April until 30 May, the Hub will be openon Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdayfrom 7:45am to 5:45pm (closed on Bank Holidays).

From 1 June until 27 June, the Hub will be open on Tuesday and Thursday, 7:45am to 1:45pm.

If youre not sure if you have a condition that means youre eligible for the vaccination, or you need help with booking an appointment, the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Covid Vaccination Helpline team will be able to help via 0300 561 0018.

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St Mary's Vaccination Hub Gets Ready For Spring Covid-19 Vaccinations - Isle of Wight Radio

Thousands of life-saving COVID-19 spring vaccinations will be given to some of the North Wests most vulnerable residents from Monday, as the first bookable appointments get underway in the region.

Last week, the NHS National Booking Service opened to those aged 75 or over (on 30 June 2024) and people with a weakened immune system to make their appointments to top-up their protection against Covid.

The NHS has also started delivering vaccinations to those who live in in older adult care homes and people who are housebound. Vaccination teams have already visited around a quarter of care homes in the North West during the first week, giving thousands of doses to those who are more likely to have severe illness if they catch the virus.

Dr Linda Charles-Ozuzu, Regional Director for Commissioning and Senior Responsible Officer for the COVID-19 vaccination programme at NHS England North West said: As the spring COVID-19 vaccination drive begins, I would urge anyone who is eligible but has yet to book an appointment to not delay, and get protected against the virus as soon as possible.

There are thousands of appointments available at sites across the region, so its easy and convenient to book at a time and place to suit you.

Covid can still be very dangerous to older people and those who have weakened immune systems, and this dose will top-up previous protection, reducing the risk of serious illness.

More than 900,000 people in the North West are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this spring and with more than 500 sites offering the vaccines, including GP practices, community pharmacies and mobile clinics such as Cheshire & Merseysides Living Well Bus, it will be easy and convenient to get one.

The NHS has sent texts, emails, NHS App messages or letters to those who are eligible for the spring dose, reminding them they can book a vaccine appointment via the NHS website, on the NHS app or by calling 119 for free.

Bookable vaccinations will start being delivered on Monday 22 April, with the spring vaccination drive coming to an end on Sunday 30 June, and anyone eligible who has not received any previous doses should get vaccinated during this years spring offer, to help protect against serious illness.

For more information about the spring vaccine, visit:COVID-19 vaccination NHS (www.nhs.uk)

You can book your spring booster on theNational Booking Serviceor on theNHS App.

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NHS England North West COVID-19 spring vaccination appointments get underway in the North West - NHS England

Edwin J. Torres, NJ Governor's Office / Flickr cc

The ability to quickly walk or drive to US COVID-19 vaccination sites in the first 2 years of the pandemic ranged widely by jurisdiction and urban or rural area, which may have led to missed opportunities for uptake, according to a newstudy in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assessed the accessibility of COVID-19 vaccination sites from December 2020 to March 2022.

The authors noted that the major barriers to vaccine coverage are transportation costs, opportunity costs, and time to travel to vaccination sites, per a previous governmental analysis. "The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided recommendations to jurisdictions with regard to the planning of convenient COVID-19 vaccination sites especially those with populations of homebound persons or persons living in remote places," they wrote.

Of the 131,951 total vaccination sites, 57,064 were pharmacies, 35,728 were medical practices, 10,606 were community health sites, 5,222 were hospitals, and 23,331 were of unknown or other type.

Nearly half of all physically able vaccine seekers (46.6%) could walk to COVID-19 vaccination siteswithin 15 minutes, while 74.8% could make the journey in 30 minutes, 82.8% could be there in 45 minutes, and 86.7% could do so within 60 minutes.

Walking time variations across jurisdictions and between urban/rural areas indicate that potential gains could have been made by improving walkability or making transportation more readily available.

In socially vulnerable areas, accessibility by walking was greater, at 55.3%, 81.1%, 86.7%, and 89.4%, respectively. Fifteen-minute walking accessibility in noncore urban areas ranged from 27.2% to 65.1%.

By car, accessibility ranged from 27.2% by 15 minutes to 52.7% by 60 minutes in noncore urban areas and 65.1% to 97.7%, respectively, in large cities.

"Knowledge of the functional proximity to vaccine sites for different populations is essential for effective planning and for ensuring equity of health resource access in public health emergencies," the researchers wrote. "Walking time variations across jurisdictions and between urban/rural areas indicate that potential gains could have been made by improving walkability or making transportation more readily available."

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Study: Time to walk, drive to COVID vaccination sites may have deterred some - University of Minnesota Twin Cities