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Reuters broke the news that an estimated 30 million to 50 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine made earlier this year sit idle in Emergent BioSolutions Inc’s plant in Baltimore, awaiting a green light from U.S. regulators to ship. A source said Emergent is waiting for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve release of those doses. Emergent shares opened nearly 1% higher following the Reuters report.

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Reuters exclusively reported that the African Union (AU) intends to buy up to 110 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna Inc in an arrangement brokered in part by the White House, which will defer delivery of some doses intended for the United States to facilitate the deal. The AU’s doses will be delivered over the coming months, with 15 million arriving before the end of 2021, 35 million in the first quarter of next year and up to 60 million in the second quarter.

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Reuters exclusively reported that Germany may miss its target to donate 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses this year due to conditions imposed by manufacturers and delivery shortfalls, a health ministry official said in a letter to Brussels. The 100 million doses account for half the total promised by European Union member states to poorer countries this year, according to the European Commission. The German foreign office said on Oct. 19 that Germany had only donated just over 17% of that amount.

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Reuters exclusively reported that a World Health Organization-led program to ensure poorer countries get fair access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments aims to secure antiviral drugs for patients with mild symptoms for as little as $10 per course. Merck & Co’s experimental pill molnupiravir is likely to be one of the drugs, and other drugs to treat mild patients are being developed. According to a draft document seen by Reuters, which outlines the goals of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) until September next year, the program wants to deliver about 1 billion COVID-19 tests to poorer nations and procure drugs to treat up to 120 million patients globally, out of about 200 million new cases it estimates in the next 12 months.

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Reuters was first to report that the White House will lift COVID-19 travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors starting Nov. 8, ending historic restrictions that had barred much of the world from entering the United States for as long as 21 months. The unprecedented travel restrictions kept millions of visitors out of the U.S. from China, Canada, Mexico, India, Brazil, much of Europe and elsewhere; shrunk U.S. tourism; and hurt border community economies. They also prevented many loved ones and foreign workers from reuniting with families.

The post Reuters reveals U.S. to lift restrictions Nov 8 for vaccinated foreign travelers; market reacts appeared first on Reuters News Agency.

Reuters exclusively reported that the European Medicines Agency expects to decide in early October on the possible use of a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech, COVID-19 vaccine. It will be the EU drugs regulator’s first decision on boosters, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a third dose of Pfizer for those 65 and older, all people at high risk of severe disease, and others who are regularly exposed to the virus.

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Reuters exclusively reported that efforts to develop an African base for COVID-19 vaccine production will focus on trying to replicate Moderna’s shot, but a lack of progress in talks with the U.S. company means the project will take time. The drive to produce vaccines in Africa is designed to help more developing countries access COVID-19 shots after rich nations bought up most of this year’s supply.  

The post Reuters exclusively reports WHO-backed vaccine hub for Africa to copy Moderna COVID-19 shot appeared first on Reuters News Agency.

Reuters exclusively reported that South Korean biotech firm GL Rapha expects to win regulatory approval from Russia to export Sputnik Light coronavirus vaccines this month, paving the way for the first overseas production of the shot to ease a supply shortage. The Russian Direct Investment Fund, which markets Sputnik V and single-dose version Sputnik Light abroad, plans to produce around 700 million doses overseas this year. But production got off to a slow start and growing domestic demand constrained supply from Russia, disrupting both shots’ global rollout plan and allowing rival vaccine makers to fill the gap in several markets.

The post Reuters exclusively reported S.Korea’s GL Rapha to ship out 10 mln Sputnik Light COVID-19 shots this month appeared first on Reuters News Agency.

Reuters’ Marisa Taylor and Dan Levine exclusively reported that top U.S. health officials believe that Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine could be authorized for children aged 5-11 years old by the end of October. The decision on whether to authorize a vaccine for younger children is eagerly anticipated by millions of Americans, particularly parents whose children started school in recent weeks amid a wave of infections driven by the Delta variant.

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Reuters reported exclusively that German genetic testing company Qiagen sees upside potential for its full-year guidance and expects a good third quarter after the company cut its forecast in July.

Finance Chief Roland Sackers told Reuters in an interview that demand for COVID-19 tests had taken yet another turn as continued breakthrough infections from the Delta coronavirus variant in some vaccinated people was fueling test kit demand.

Asked about the prospect of Qiagen becoming a takeover target again, Sackers said he had strong confidence in the group’s growth potential but would not rule out any tie-up.

The post Qiagen shares hit 21-year high following Reuters exclusive interview appeared first on Reuters News Agency.

Reuters examined how the Indian state of Kerala’s approach to dealing with COVID-19 cases, heavily criticized by the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its high overall case numbers, has helped to catch infections early, allowing state authorities to better manage the illness and dramatically lower the death rate.  Kerala has relied on antigen tests to detect and strictly isolate infected people at home, an approach the federal health ministry has sharply criticized but which state officials argue has helped them to better allocate hospital beds and oxygen supplies for those who really need them.

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The year 2021 began with governments racing to obtain, and administer, COVID-19 shots produced by some of the pharmaceutical industry’s biggest names, as well as new rivals from China and Russia. At stake: The ability of countries to protect their people and revive dormant economies, with the wealthiest nations quickly taking the lead. All along the way, Reuters correspondents around the world have provided deeply reported insight and exclusive stories into the progress achieved by early leaders in vaccines; the industry’s setbacks in producing shots at unprecedented scale; the unequal access that has left many countries behind; and the new variants that are upending expectations of what will happen next in this pandemic.

The post COVID-19 series: The year of the vaccine appeared first on Reuters News Agency.

Reuters took readers on a deep dive into how drugmakers Pfizer Inc, BioNTech and Moderna Inc are expected to reap billions of dollars from COVID-19 booster shots in a market that could rival the $6 billion in annual sales for flu vaccines for years to come. The companies have said they expect that fully inoculated people will need an extra dose to maintain protection and to fend off new variants. Now a growing list of governments have decided to offer booster doses to older citizens or people with weak immune systems in the face of the fast-spreading Delta variant. 

The post Reuters gives insight into how Pfizer, Moderna is reaping billions from COVID-19 vaccine booster market appeared first on Reuters News Agency.

Reuters has delivered unparalleled coverage in 2021 of the extraordinary actions taken by the world’s central bankers to limit the damage to their economies wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the efforts of several top economies – the U.S. in particular – face new threats: Inflation and the Delta variant. Fast, deep and always relevant, Reuters economics and central banks coverage spans the globe, with correspondents in the world’s capitals and financial centers consistently delivering market-sensitive exclusive news and insight from their numerous policymaking sources. Take a look at some recent highlights.

COVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS

EXCLUSIVE Fed’s Kaplan wants bond-buying taper to start soon and be gradual

EXCLUSIVE-Delta variant delaying Indonesia’s recovery, inflation pressures, rate hike – c.bank chief

EXCLUSIVE BOJ policymaker sees prospects of deeper debate on price goal this year

Fed now facing twin inflation, growth risks as virus jumps and supply chains falter

Lagarde tames her biggest ECB rebellion through compromise and attrition

Seven months and ticking, the case for keeping Powell as Fed chair builds

Exclusive: BOJ seen cutting this year’s growth forecast as COVID-19 curbs hurt outlook – sources

Analysis: A fine mess – Weak inflation prompts a global central bank reset

Exclusive: ECB policymakers at odds on inflation strategy, hope for September deal – sources

Analysis: As Fed taper looms, global central banks eye their own exits from stimulus

Exclusive: Fed will limit any overshoot of inflation target, Powell says

EXCLUSIVE ECB expects data to vindicate 1.85 trln euro purchasing scheme – policymaker

The post Special Edition: Central banks vs. Inflation and the Delta variant appeared first on Reuters News Agency.