The most recently
During the holidays, the World Health Organization approved the emergency use of the Comirnaty COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.
As the first vaccine to receive FDA approval, BioNTech /Pfizer Inc. it was also the first to receive WHO emergency validation.
The validation is significant, as it now allows countries to speed up approval processes to start administering the vaccine.
As a result, UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization can also begin to purchase the vaccine for distribution.
The WHO review of the vaccine concluded that the vaccine meets WHO safety and efficacy standards.
In addition, WHO has also asked other vaccine developers to come forward for validation.
COVID-19 cases continue to increase worldwide as countries struggle to stem the spread of the virus.
Increasing the urgency is the new strain of the United Kingdom which is considered more virulent.
Although validation is good news, the Comirnaty vaccine raises logistical and price issues. For many countries, the AstraZeneca the vaccine is likely to be a more viable option. Most importantly, AstraZeneca has also involved vaccine producers worldwide to meet global demand.
The World Health Organization’s approval for the emergency use of the AstraZeneca vaccine will therefore be a fundamental step in combating the virus.
After the United Kingdom’s approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine last week, India reportedly approved the vaccine on Friday. Argentina also approved the emergency use of the vaccine.
The latest COVID-19 numbers
At the time of writing this report, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was 84,349,523.
In the United States, the total number of cases has increased to 20,614,554, with the total number of related deaths rising to 356,401.
Behind the USA, India saw the total number of cases increase to 10,303,409, with Brazil reporting 7,700,578 cases in total.
For France, Germany, Italy and Spain, the total number of cases was 8,461,804, with 224,611 related deaths.
Across the UK, the total number of cases was 2,542,065, with 74,125 related deaths.
Governments expect the numbers to increase after the holiday, however.
What is the next?
Other countries are expected to complete the COVID-19 vaccine review process in the coming weeks.
With France, Germany, Italy and Spain reporting a combined total number of 8,461,804 cases, more than Brazil, EMA approvals are essential.
After EMA’s approval of the BioNTech / Pfizer Inc. vaccine last week, word spread at the end of the week that the EMA needs more data from AstraZeneca.
In terms of production capacity, price and logistics, there will certainly be pressure for EMA approval.
From Russia, Sputnik V is also in high demand, with the Russian vaccine supposedly approved by Argentina. Russia is already delivering the vaccine to countries like Algeria, Bolivia, Guinea and Serbia.
India and Brazil, however, are delaying the use of Sputnik V until further tests are completed.
Concerns about the safety of the Sputnik V vaccine, however, mean that the West remains reluctant to consider the vaccine.
China’s vaccine also had a cold reception. At the end of last week, China’s health authorities approved the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for general use. Although the West has not yet shown interest in the Sinopharm vaccine, nations in the Middle East have started using the Sinopharm vaccine.
Despite skepticism, successful clinical trials of vaccines from China and Russia would give governments an increasing number of vaccines to choose from.
The good news is that Johnson & Johnson it is also due to deliver clinical trial data this month. A 4º the West vaccine, together with vaccines from China and Russia, would provide an even wider choice.
Johnson & Johnson currently remains the pioneer in delivering the first single dose vaccine.
This article was originally posted on FX Empire