Month: September 2022

The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. September 30, 2022 By Nellie Bristol Under COVID-19’s current course, yearly vaccination focused on high risk populations is most likely to prevent the most hospitalizations and deaths and prove more cost effective than aiming for regular full population immunization, Professor Azra Ghani of Imperial College said September 29. Speaking at a webinar hosted by the Andean Health Organization, Ghani cited mathematical modeling data showing the largest decreases in hospitalizations and deaths derived from providing annual boosters to those over 75. Additional benefit was seen in annual boosters for those over 60. While more frequent vaccination was considered, Ghani said, “We don’t see so much benefit in moving to six monthly vaccines,” she said. “That’s partly because we don’t see too much of a…

The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. September 15, 2022 By Nellie Bristol   Ten countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia will partner with a new public-private collaboration to scale up COVID-19 test and treat operations for high risk populations, the COVID Treatment Quick Start Consortium announced September 7. Working with an initial donation of 100,000 doses of Paxlovid from Pfizer, the consortium aims to integrate the program into long term systems that will offer a range of antivirals, including generic versions as they become available. When administered within five days of symptom onset, Paxlovid has been shown to significantly reduce hospitalization rates and deaths from COVID among patients 65 and older, regardless of vaccine status or prior infection. Older individuals, along with health workers, the immunocompromised, and those…