Yearly Archives: 2021

Economic impact of tuberculosis mortality in 120 countries and the cost of not achieving the Sustainable Development Goals tuberculosis targets: a full-income analysis

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Lancet Global Health
Oct 2021 Volume 9 Number 10 e1336-e1473
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/issue/current

 

Articles
Economic impact of tuberculosis mortality in 120 countries and the cost of not achieving the Sustainable Development Goals tuberculosis targets: a full-income analysis
Sachin Silva, et al.

COVID-19 vaccine equity and booster doses

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Lancet Infectious Diseases
Sep 2021 Volume 21 Number 9 p1193-1332, e258-e301
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

 

Editorial
COVID-19 vaccine equity and booster doses
The Lancet Infectious Diseases
The debate on COVID-19 vaccine equity has been long-running, and we have previously weighed in on the topic. However, the facts that (1) by Aug 9, only 12·6 million of the 4·46 billion doses administered globally were in low-income countries, (2) 3·65 billion have been administered in high-income (HICs) and upper-middle-income countries, and (3) WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus actually had to issue a plea for a moratorium on third-dose boosters in HICs on Aug 4, mean that we, again, need to add our voice to the demand for equitable access to vaccines.

“No one is safe until everyone is safe” has become the mantra of the COVID-19 pandemic, with good reason. Unmitigated transmission means rampant viral replication, which in turn means infinite opportunities for the emergence of new, more transmissible variants that could escape natural or vaccine-induced immunity. A perverse social experiment would be to allow the virus to continue ripping through low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), where people tend to live in close proximity and infection prevention strategies are difficult to implement because much of the populations rely on hand-to-mouth income (India being a case-in-point), while seeing how quickly HICs can redesign vaccines to counter yet another variant that has emerged from LMICs. Beyond the moral argument, this approach would make no economic sense: if many final goods in HICs rely on raw materials and intermediate goods from LMICs, and if LMICs cannot provide these materials because their populations are dying from COVID-19 or are prevented from working because of lockdowns, how long do HICs think that they can keep their own economies running? The RAND corporation estimates that HICs would see a return of US$4·8 for every $1 spent on supplying vaccines to LMICs, and the Global Dashboard for Vaccine Equity shows that if vaccine distribution were uniform, HICs still stand to gain the most. Additionally, while HICs hoard their precious vaccines, China and Russia, two ambitious political entities, have been only too happy to offer their vaccines and strengthen their spheres of influence in Africa, South America, southeast Asia, the Middle East, and eastern Europe.

The administration of a third dose is motivated by fear of the B.1.617.2 (delta) variant but the intensity of this fear is unfounded, as there is now evidence that vaccines licensed in HICs are effective enough against it. Conversely, there is no definitive evidence if, and when, a third dose is necessary, and much-needed trials—the only context in which third-dose administration should be acceptable—are eagerly awaited. There is some evidence of waning antibody titres, which is an axiom of any vaccine administration that does not equal waning cellular immunity. Although the world has ubiquitously grappled with the plague of vaccine hesitancy, the level of coverage in HICs and the rates of administration of new doses should now be sufficient to allow the redirection of surplus doses to those who have none via the COVAX initiative. It is deeply ironic that COVID-19 vaccine acceptance might actually be much higher in LMICs than in HICs. A point must also be made about increasingly risky behaviour—it is irresponsible to encourage relaxation of basic physical distancing measures such as mask wearing in public or confined spaces even for vaccinated individuals, which may well be contributing to a large proportion of breakthrough infections.

A crucial problem for getting vaccines to LMICs is an interrupted cold chain. This is the case in Africa, where many communities live without continuous power supplies, and freezers that cost up to $20 000 are unaffordable. While capacity building is ongoing, countries could focus on donating and administering vector vaccines that are easier to store than mRNA vaccines and are sufficiently safe and effective, particularly in older individuals. Preliminary evidence from the Com-COV trial shows that heterologous vaccination is safe and induces robust immune responses, a viable option for countries that cannot rely on a steady stream of vaccines. There have been calls, reasonable in a time of global catastrophe, to waive intellectual property rights to facilitate local vaccine manufacturing, which should currently focus on LMICs with sufficiently robust regulatory capacities to ensure the quality of local production, as argued by the Center for Global Development. Vaccine donors and corporations can think about how to help with these issues in the short and long terms.

Vulnerable people in HICs have already been prioritised; vulnerable people in LMICs cannot wait until 2023 for their turn, and this wait is in the best interest of no one.

Safety and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 recombinant protein vaccine formulations in healthy adults: interim results of a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 1–2, dose-ranging study

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Lancet Infectious Diseases
Sep 2021 Volume 21 Number 9 p1193-1332, e258-e301
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

 

Articles
Safety and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 recombinant protein vaccine formulations in healthy adults: interim results of a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 1–2, dose-ranging study
Paul A Goepfert, et al.

Immunogenicity and safety of a tri-antigenic versus a mono-antigenic hepatitis B vaccine in adults (PROTECT): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial

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Lancet Infectious Diseases
Sep 2021 Volume 21 Number 9 p1193-1332, e258-e301
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

 

Immunogenicity and safety of a tri-antigenic versus a mono-antigenic hepatitis B vaccine in adults (PROTECT): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial
Timo Vesikari,et al. for the PROTECT Study Group

Safety and immunogenicity of a purified inactivated Zika virus vaccine candidate in healthy adults: an observer-blind, randomised, phase 1 trial

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Lancet Infectious Diseases
Sep 2021 Volume 21 Number 9 p1193-1332, e258-e301
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

 

Safety and immunogenicity of a purified inactivated Zika virus vaccine candidate in healthy adults: an observer-blind, randomised, phase 1 trial
Htay-Htay Han, et al.

Impact of the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination on invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia in The Gambia: 10 years of population-based surveillance

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Lancet Infectious Diseases
Sep 2021 Volume 21 Number 9 p1193-1332, e258-e301
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

 

Impact of the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination on invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia in The Gambia: 10 years of population-based surveillance
The Gambia Pneumococcal Surveillance Group,
Grant A Mackenzie, et al.
Open Access

BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine and correlates of humoral immune responses and dynamics: a prospective, single-centre, longitudinal cohort study in health-care workers

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Lancet Respiratory Medicine
Aug 2021 Volume 9 Number 8 p803-936, e69-e87
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/issue/current

 

Articles
BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine and correlates of humoral immune responses and dynamics: a prospective, single-centre, longitudinal cohort study in health-care workers
Yaniv Lustig, et al

Behavioural nudges increase COVID-19 vaccinations

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Nature
Volume 597 Issue 7876, 16 September 2021
https://www.nature.com/nature/volumes/597/issues/7875

 

Article | 02 August 2021 | Open Access
Behavioural nudges increase COVID-19 vaccinations
Two randomized controlled trials demonstrate the ability of text-based behavioural ‘nudges’ to improve the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, especially when designed to make participants feel ownership over their vaccine dose.
Hengchen Dai, Silvia Saccardo, Daniel M. Croymans

FoGS provides a public FAQ repository for social and behavioral genomic discoveries

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Nature Genetics
Volume 53 Issue 9, September 2021
https://www.nature.com/ng/volumes/53/issues/9

 

Comment | 06 September 2021
FoGS provides a public FAQ repository for social and behavioral genomic discoveries
Here we introduce ‘FAQs on Genomic Studies’ (FoGS), an open-access repository of explanatory documents that accompany genomic analyses in social and behavioral genomics. For fields such as social and behavioral genomics that are shaped by an ugly history and uncertain future, socially and ethically responsible research and research communication are crucial. FoGS amplifies one such approach towards responsible research communication.
Daphne Oluwaseun Martschenko, Benjamin W. Domingue, Sam Trejo

Balancing incentives and disincentives for vaccination in a pandemic

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Nature Medicine
Volume 27 Issue 9, September 2021
https://www.nature.com/nm/volumes/27/issues/9

 

Comment | 06 September 2021
Balancing incentives and disincentives for vaccination in a pandemic
Mandates and incentives are being considered to increase uptake of vaccines against COVID-19, but payment for vaccination may be the fairest approach.
Julian Savulescu, Jonathan Pugh, Dominic Wilkinson

mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants and severe COVID-19 disease in Qatar

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Nature Medicine
Volume 27 Issue 9, September 2021
https://www.nature.com/nm/volumes/27/issues/9

 

Article | 09 July 2021
mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants and severe COVID-19 disease in Qatar
A matched test-negative, case-control study using real-world data from a predominantly working-age population demonstrates efficacy of the mRNA-1273 vaccine to be 100% and 96.4% against the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and B.1.351 (Beta) SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, respectively.
Hiam Chemaitelly, Hadi M. Yassine, Laith J. Abu-Raddad

Safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of PfSPZ Vaccine against malaria in infants in western Kenya: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial

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Nature Medicine
Volume 27 Issue 9, September 2021
https://www.nature.com/nm/volumes/27/issues/9

 

Article | 13 September 2021
Safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of PfSPZ Vaccine against malaria in infants in western Kenya: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial
The PfSPZ Vaccine does not protect infants from infection with Plasmodium falciparum, the major cause of malaria.
Martina Oneko, Laura C. Steinhardt, Robert A. Seder

SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1 — a tale of two vaccines

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Nature Reviews Immunology
Volume 21 Issue 9, September 2021
https://www.nature.com/nri/volumes/21/issues/9

 

Comment | 16 July 2021
SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1 — a tale of two vaccines
It took roughly 1 year for a COVID-19 vaccine to become available, yet, four decades after the first patient with HIV was described, we do not yet have a vaccine for HIV. Here, Barton Haynes examines the biological reasons why vaccine development for HIV is so exceptionally challenging.
Barton F. Haynes

Cost-effectiveness analysis of an intervention project engaging Traditional and Religious Leaders to improve uptake of childhood immunization in southern Nigeria

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PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 18 Sep 2021]

 

Cost-effectiveness analysis of an intervention project engaging Traditional and Religious Leaders to improve uptake of childhood immunization in southern Nigeria
Angela E. Oyo-Ita, Patrick Hanlon, Ogonna Nwankwo, Xavier Bosch-Capblanch, Dachi Arikpo, Ekperonne Esu, Christian Auer, Martin Meremikwu
Research Article | published 16 Sep 2021 PLOS ONE
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257277

Incentives can spur COVID-19 vaccination uptake

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PNAS – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States
September 07, 2021; vol. 118 no. 36
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/36

 

Brief Reports
Incentives can spur COVID-19 vaccination uptake
Heike Klüver, Felix Hartmann, Macartan Humphreys, Ferdinand Geissler, and Johannes Giesecke
PNAS September 7, 2021 118 (36) e2109543118; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2109543118

The impact of a universal human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination program on lower genital tract dysplasia and genital warts

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Preventive Medicine
Volume 150 September 2021
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/preventive-medicine/vol/150/suppl/C

 

Research article Abstract only
The impact of a universal human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination program on lower genital tract dysplasia and genital warts
M. Clark, N. Jembere, R. Kupets
Article 106641

Applying the AFIX Quality Improvement Model to Increase Adult Immunization in Wisconsin

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Public Health Reports
Volume 136 Issue 5, September/October 2021
https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/phrg/136/5

 

Research
Applying the AFIX Quality Improvement Model to Increase Adult Immunization in Wisconsin
Stephanie M. Borchardt, PhD, MPH, Kailynn Mitchell, MPH, Taylor Larson, MPH, Ellen Ehlers, MSW, Stephanie L. Schauer, PhD
First Published February 9, 2021; pp. 603–608

Durability of mRNA-1273 vaccine–induced antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants

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Science
Volume 373| Issue 6561| 17 Sep 2021
https://www.science.org/toc/science/current

 

Reports
Durability of mRNA-1273 vaccine–induced antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants
BY Amarendra Pegu et al.
13 Aug 2021: 1372-1377
Open Access
Most individuals vaccinated with mRNA-1273 develop functional antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants for at least 6 months.

Immune correlates of protection by mRNA-1273 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in nonhuman primates

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Science
Volume 373| Issue 6561| 17 Sep 2021
https://www.science.org/toc/science/current

 

Research Articles
Immune correlates of protection by mRNA-1273 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in nonhuman primates
BY Kizzmekia S. Corbett et al.
17 Sep 2021
Open Access
mRNA-1273 vaccine–induced antibody responses are a mechanistic correlate of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in nonhuman primates.

Process evaluation of complex interventions in chronic and neglected tropical diseases in low- and middle-income countries—a scoping review protocol

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Systematic Reviews
https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles
[Accessed 18 Sep 2021]

 

Process evaluation of complex interventions in chronic and neglected tropical diseases in low- and middle-income countries—a scoping review protocol
The use of process evaluations is a growing area of interest in research groups working on complex interventions. This methodology tries to understand how the intervention was implemented to inform policy and practice. A recent systematic review by Liu et al. on process evaluations of complex interventions addressing non-communicable diseases found few studies in low- and middle- income countries (LMIC) because it was restricted to randomized controlled trials, primary healthcare level and non-communicable diseases. Yet, LMICs face different barriers to implement interventions in comparison to high-income countries such as limited human resources, access to health care and skills of health workers to treat chronic conditions especially at primary health care level. Therefore, understanding the challenges of interventions for non-communicable diseases and neglected tropical diseases (diseases that affect poor populations and have chronic sequelae) will be important to improve how process evaluation is designed, conducted and used in research projects in LMICs. For these reasons, in comparison to the study of Liu et al., the current study will expand the search strategy to include different study designs, languages and settings.
Authors: María Lazo-Porras, Hueiming Liu, J. Jaime Miranda, Graham Moore, Mafalda Burri, François Chappuis, Pablo Perel and David Beran
Content type: Protocol
Published on: 7 September 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Donations—Vaccine Empathy or Vaccine Diplomacy? A Narrative Literature Review

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Vaccines
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines

 

Open Access Review
COVID-19 Vaccine Donations—Vaccine Empathy or Vaccine Diplomacy? A Narrative Literature Review
by Zhaohui Su et al.
Vaccines 2021, 9(9), 1024; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9091024 – 15 Sep 2021
Abstract
Introduction: Vaccine inequality inflames the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring equitable immunization, vaccine empathy is needed to boost vaccine donations among capable countries. However, damaging narratives built around vaccine donations such as “vaccine diplomacy” could undermine nations’ willingness to donate their vaccines, which, in turn, […

medRxiv

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medRxiv
medRxiv is a free online archive and distribution server for complete but unpublished manuscripts (preprints) in the medical, clinical, and related health sciences. Preprints are preliminary reports of work that have not been certified by peer review. They should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information. medRxiv is for the distribution of preprints – complete but unpublished manuscripts – that describe human health research conducted, analyzed, and interpreted according to scientific principles…
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/about-medrxiv
[Accessed 18 Sep 2021]

Selected Content
A Vaccination Simulator for COVID-19: Effective and Sterilizing Immunization Cases.
Aknur Karabay, Askat Kuzdeuov, Shyryn Ospanova, Michael Lewis, Atakan Huseyin Varol
medRxiv 2021.03.28.21254468; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.28.21254468 Revision

The prevalence of adaptive immunity to COVID-19 and reinfection after recovery, a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 011 447 individuals
Tawanda Chivese, Joshua Matizanadzo, Omran Musa, George Hindy, Luis Furuya-Kanamori, Nazmul Islam, Rafal Al-Shebly, Rana Shalaby, Mohammad Habibullah, Talal Al-Marwani, Rizeq F Hourani, Ahmed D Nawaz, Mohammad Haider, Mohamed M Emara, Farhan Cyprian, Suhail A. R. Doi
medRxiv 2021.09.03.21263103; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.03.21263103

COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against hospitalizations and ICU admissions in the Netherlands, April- August 2021
Brechje de Gier, Marjolein Kooijman, Jeanet Kemmeren, Nicolette de Keizer, Dave Dongelmans, Senna C.J.L. van Iersel, Jan van de Kassteele, Stijn P. Andeweg, the RIVM COVID-19 epidemiology and surveillance team, Hester E. de Melker, Susan J.M. Hahné, Mirjam J. Knol, Susan van den Hof
medRxiv 2021.09.15.21263613; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.15.21263613

Efficacy of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine against severe COVID-19 in those with risk conditions and residual risk to the clinically extremely vulnerable: the REACT-SCOT case-control study
Paul M McKeigue, David A McAllister, Chris Robertson, Sharon Hutchinson, Stuart McGurnaghan, Diane Stockton, Helen M Colhoun, for the PHS COVID-19 Epidemiology and Research Cell
medRxiv 2021.09.13.21262360; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.13.21262360

Interrogating COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in the Philippines with a Nationwide Open-Access Online Survey
Alexandria Caple, Arnie O. Dimaano, Marc Martin C. Sagolili, April Anne M. Uy, Panjee Mariel G. Aguirre, Dean Lotus C. Alano, Giselle Sophia M. Camaya, Brent John A. Ciriaco, Princess Jerah S. Clavo, Dominic G. Cuyugan, Cleinne Florence Geeseler V. Fermo, Paul Jeremy C. Lanete, Ardwayne Jurel D. La Torre, Thomas Albert T. Loteyro, Raisa Mikaela Lua, Nicole Gayle R. Manansala, Raphael Willard M. Mosquito, Alexa Marie C. Octaviano, Alexandra Erika T. Orfanel, Gheyanna Merly U. Pascual, Aubrey Joy S. Sale, Sophia Lorraine S. Tendenilla, Maria Sofia Lauren R. Trinidad, Nicole Jan S. Trinidad, Daphne Louise V. Verano, Nicanor Austriaco
medRxiv 2021.09.11.21263428; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.11.21263428

Efficacy of vaccination against severe COVID-19 in relation to Delta variant and time since second dose: the REACT-SCOT case-control study
Paul M McKeigue, David A McAllister, Sharon J Hutchinson, Chris Robertson, Diane Stockton, Helen M Colhoun, for the PHS COVID-19 Epidemiology and Research Cell
medRxiv 2021.09.12.21263448; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.12.21263448

Effectiveness of Mass Vaccination in Brazil against Severe COVID-19 Cases
Daniel A.M. Villela, Tatiana Guimarães de Noronha, Leonardo S. Bastos, Antonio G. Pacheco, Oswaldo G Cruz, Luiz Max Carvalho, Claudia Torres Codeço, Marcelo Ferreira da Costa Gomes, Flávio Codeço Coelho, Laís Picinini Freitas, Raquel Martins Lana, Victor Bertollo Gomes Porto, Luiz Antônio Bastos Camacho, Claudio José Struchiner
medRxiv 2021.09.10.21263084; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.10.21263084

Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccine in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Meng Lv, Xufei Luo, Quan Shen, Ruobing Lei, Xiao Liu, Enmei Liu, Qiu Li, Yaolong Chen
medRxiv 2021.09.11.21262855; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.11.21262855

Predictors of real-world parents’ acceptance to vaccinate their children against the COVID-19
Petros Galanis, Irene Vraka, Olga Siskou, Olympia Konstantakopoulou, Aglaia Katsiroumpa, Ioannis Moisoglou, Daphne Kaitelidou
medRxiv 2021.09.12.21263456; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.12.21263456

Think Tanks et al

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Think Tanks et al
 
 
Brookings [to 18 Sep 2021]
http://www.brookings.edu/
Up Front
The game is not yet over, and vaccines still matter: Lessons from a study on Israel’s COVID-19 vaccination
Oren Heller, Yaniv Shlomo, Yung Chun, Mary Acri, and Michal Grinstein-Weiss
Monday, September 13, 2021
 
 
Center for Global Development [to 18 Sep 2021]
http://www.cgdev.org/page/press-center
Accessed 18 Sep 2021
[No new digest content identified]
 
 
Chatham House [to 18 Sep 2021]
https://www.chathamhouse.org/
Accessed 18 Sep 2021
[No new digest content identified]

 
 
CSIS
https://www.csis.org/
Accessed 18 Sep 2021
Podcast Episode
Dr. LaQuandra S. Nesbitt: “Vaccine Requirements Will Get Us Over The Finish Line”
September 17, 2021 | By J. Stephen Morrison, H. Andrew Schwartz

Blog Post
In Southeast Asia, Privatized Vaccination Schemes Gain Traction
September 16, 2021 | By Simon Tran Hudes

 
 

Kaiser Family Foundation
https://www.kff.org/search/?post_type=press-release
September 14, 2021 News Release
Preventable Costs of Unvaccinated COVID-19 Patients Rise Sharply in August as Hospitalizations Surge
A surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations among people who have not been vaccinated in August is adding billions of dollars in preventable costs to the nation’s health-care system, an updated KFF analysis finds. In August, the new analysis estimates that the preventable costs of treating unvaccinated patients in  hospitals total $3.7…
 
 
Rand [to 18 Sep 2021]
https://www.rand.org/pubs.html
Selected Research Reports, Featured Journal Articles
Report
Identifying Strategies to Boost COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance in the United States
Sep 9, 2021
This report recommends strategies to help boost COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in the United States in order to reach herd immunity and end the pandemic.
Florian F. Schmitzberger, Kirstin W. Scott, Wilson Nham, Kusum Mathews, Lucy Schulson, Sydney Fouche, Nasma Berri, Alex Shehab, Ashwin Gupta, Rama A. Salhi, Neil Kamdar, Jennifer Bouey, Mahshid Abir
 
 
World Economic Forum [to 18 Sep 2021]
https://agenda.weforum.org/news/
Media
India Completes First Drone Delivery of Vaccines, Start of New Pilot Programme with World Economic Forum
News 18 Sep 2021

Majority Want to Prioritize Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccines Before Boosters
News 10 Sep 2021
Health experts say at least 60% of world’s population needs to be vaccinated by 2022 to get the current pandemic under control – but only 0.4% of doses have been administered in low-income countries
Majority would receive a booster shot, but think priority goes to people yet to have a full dose
Read the full report

Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review :: 11 September 2021

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Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review is a weekly digest  summarizing news, events, announcements, peer-reviewed articles and research in the global vaccine ethics and policy space. Content is aggregated from key governmental, NGO, international organization and industry sources, key peer-reviewed journals, and other media channels. This summary proceeds from the broad base of themes and issues monitored by the Center for Vaccine Ethics & Policy in its work: it is not intended to be exhaustive in its coverage. You are viewing the blog version of our weekly digest, typically comprised of between 30 and 40 posts below all dated with the current issue date

.– Request an Email Summary: Vaccines and Global Health : The Week in Review is published as a single email summary, scheduled for release each Saturday evening before midnight (EDT in the U.S.). If you would like to receive the email version, please send your request to david.r.curry@centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.org.

– pdf version:  A pdf of the current issue is available here: 

vaccines-and-global-health_the-week-in-review_11-sep-2021Download

– blog edition: comprised of the approx. 35+ entries posted below.

– Twitter:  Readers can also follow developments on twitter: @vaxethicspolicy.
.
– Links:  We endeavor to test each link as we incorporate it into any post, but recognize that some links may become “stale” as publications and websites reorganize content over time. We apologize in advance for any links that may not be operative. We believe the contextual information in a given post should allow retrieval, but please contact us as above for assistance if necessary.

Support this knowledge-sharing service: Your financial support helps us cover our costs and to address a current shortfall in our annual operating budget. Click here to donate and thank you in advance for your contribution.

.
David R. Curry, MS
Executive Director
Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy

COVID

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Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

 

COVID

 

Editor’s Note:
As is obvious to all, the sheer volume of strategic announcements, regulatory actions, country program decisions, commentary, and, indeed, misinformation around COVID response continues at extraordinary levels. Our weekly digest strives to present a coherent and comprehensive snapshot, but cannot be exhaustive, If you recognize a missed strategic development, a new source of rigorous analysis, or an insight/commentary that would benefit our common understanding, please advise me…we will review all suggestions and consider for inclusion in a subsequent edition: david.r.curry@ge2p2global.org

We are seeking access to modelling which engages scenarios and articulates imperatives around a pandemic end-game through at least a 2025 horizon. We assess that WHO must be conducting or contracting for such modeling – or should recognize an imperative to be doing so in its global health governance role. If we have missed such modeling in progress, we would be delighted to be advised of it and will include it in our coverage.

WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 8 September 2021

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Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

 

WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 8 September 2021
8 September 2021 Speech [Editor’s text bolding]
:: Today, the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an outbreak of meningitis in the north-eastern Tshopo Province, with 261 suspected cases and 129 deaths reported. Health authorities have deployed an initial emergency team, and WHO is supporting the response.

:: More than 50 thousand people have died with COVID-19 every week since October last year, and for the past month, deaths have remained at almost 70 thousand a week. We have the solutions to stop transmission and save lives. The inequitable distribution of life-saving tools including diagnostics, oxygen, PPE and vaccines is driving a two-track pandemic.

:: Globally, 5.5 billion vaccine doses have now been administered, but 80 percent have been administered in high- and upper-middle income countries. High-income countries have promised to donate more than 1 billion doses, but less than 15 percent of those doses have materialised. Manufacturers have promised to prioritize COVAX and low-income countries. We don’t want any more promises. We just want the vaccines.

:: A month ago, I called for a global moratorium on booster doses at least until the end of September, to prioritise vaccinating the most at-risk people around the world who are yet to receive their first dose. There has been little change in the global situation since then, so today I am calling for an extension of the moratorium until at least the end of the year, to enable every country to vaccinate at least 40 percent of its population.  

 

:: As the world’s largest producers, consumers and donors of vaccines, the world’s 20 leading economies hold the key to vaccine equity and ending the pandemic. Now is the time for true leadership, not empty promises.

COVAX – Vaccines Supply

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Milestones :: Perspectives :: Research

 

COVAX – Vaccines Supply
“The evolving supply landscape has led to a reduction of ~25% in anticipated volumes available for supply in 2021 through COVAX. Interventions from manufacturers could improve these deliveries.”

Joint COVAX statement on Supply Forecast for 2021 and early 2022
CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF, WHO [Editor’s text bolding]
Geneva/New York/Oslo, 8 September 2021 – Twelve months ago, the world came together to support COVAX, a multilateral initiative aimed at guaranteeing global access to life-saving COVID-19 vaccines.

With the support of the international community, COVAX immediately began securing financing, entering into negotiations with vaccine developers and manufacturers and addressing the host of technical and operational challenges associated with rolling out the largest and most complex vaccination programme in history.

 

COVAX has already achieved significant progress: more than US$10 billion has been raised; legally-binding commitments for up to 4.5 billion doses of vaccine; 240 million doses have been delivered to 139 countries in just six months.

Yet the global picture of access to COVID-19 vaccines is unacceptable. Only 20% of people in low- and lower-middle-income countries have received a first dose of vaccine compared to 80% in high- and upper-middle income countries.

In the critical months during which COVAX was created, signed on participants, pooled demand, and raised enough money to make advance purchases of vaccines, much of the early global supply had already been bought by wealthy nations. Today, COVAX’s ability to protect the most vulnerable people in the world continues to be hampered by export bans, the prioritisation of bilateral deals by manufacturers and countries, ongoing challenges in scaling up production by some key producers, and delays in filing for regulatory approval.

According to its latest Supply Forecast, COVAX expects to have access to 1.425 billion doses of vaccine in 2021, in the most likely scenario and in the absence of urgent action by producers and high-coverage countries to prioritize COVAX. Of these doses, approximately 1.2 billion will be available for the lower income economies participating in the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC). This is enough to protect 20% of the population, or 40% of all adults, in all 92 AMC economies with the exception of India. Over 200 million doses will be allocated to self-financing participants. The key COVAX milestone of two billion doses released for delivery is now expected to be reached in the first quarter of 2022.

In addition to working closely with participating governments to ensure the conditions are in place on the ground to facilitate successful rollout of vaccines, COVAX and its partners call on donors and manufacturers to recommit their support, and prevent further delays to equitable access by ensuring the following:

:: Manufacturers deliver to COVAX in accordance with firm commitments and provide transparency on timelines for availability to COVAX to allow countries to plan in advance.

:: Where countries are ahead of COVAX in manufacturer queues, and already have achieved high coverage, to give up their place in the queue to COVAX so that its participants can access the doses already secured via supply contracts and deliver vaccines to where they are needed most.

:: Expand, accelerate, and systematize dose donations from countries that are already well advanced in their vaccination programmes. This includes ensuring doses are available in larger and more predictable volumes, with longer shelf lives – reducing the burden on countries trying to prepare for deliveries.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to claim lives, destroy livelihoods and stunt economic recovery, we continue to emphasise that no one is safe until everyone is safe. There is only one way to end the pandemic and prevent the emergence of new and stubborn variants and that is by working together.

 

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COVAX Global Supply Forecast
September 8, 2021
[Excerpts; Text bolding from original]
…While Q4 will see a dramatic increase in deliveries, this latest forecast reflects a reduction in the number of doses that COVAX expected to receive in 2021. The three major reasons for this are:
:: Export restrictions, particularly with respect to uncertainty around the resumption of exports from the Serum Institute of India (SII), a key COVAX supplier.
:: Scale-up challenges at manufacturing sites that supply COVAX. These issues particularly affect supply of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccines.
:: The timing and likelihood of filing and regulatory approval for candidates produced by Novavax, SII-Novavax, and Clover, with WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) or approval by a Stringent Regulatory Authority (SRA) required for supply to COVAX participants

COVAX is making strenuous efforts to address and mitigate these risks. In addition to ongoing dialogue with the Government of India, we are calling on donors and manufacturers to:
:: Make supply schedules transparent, so that it is not possible for manufacturers to prioritize
bilateral customers over COVAX.
:: To give up their place in the queue to COVAX where countries are ahead of COVAX and have
enough doses to meet domestic needs
:: Expand, accelerate, and systematize dose donations.

In addition to the efforts being made to bring forward supply, COVAX partners continue to work hard
with recipient health ministries to ensure they are able of absorbing much larger deliveries in the
fourth quarter. Ensuring demand is capable of meeting increased supply will be an essential
objective for COVAX going forward.

This supply forecast will continue to evolve. The forecast will continue to be regularly updated
based on the best available information from manufacturers and subsequent analysis by Gavi and
UNICEF. For example, should India’s export ban be lifted, and J&J returns to its earlier commitments
for 2021 supply, major additional doses could become available to COVAX in 2021…

Selected Slide:

Momentum of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing scale up sufficient for step change in distribution

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Momentum of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing scale up sufficient for step change in distribution
IFPMA Media Release, Published 07 September 2021
[Editor’s text bolding]
:: This month COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing output will pass the 7.5 billion dose mark. Vaccine manufacturers worldwide are now producing 1.5 billion doses per month and this is expected to continue growing. 12 billion vaccines will be produced by the end of 2021 and if there are no major bottlenecks, by June 2022 total vaccine production is estimated to reach over 24 billion by which time vaccine supplies will most likely outstrip global demand.

:: The biopharmaceutical industry continues to call for dose sharing and renew its commitment to work with governments to support their efforts. From now on, G7 countries have sufficient stocks of doses to vaccinate adults, teenagers and roll out boosters programmes to protect the most at-risk groups as well as substantially increase the number of doses available to low- and lower-middle-income countries. Political leadership is critical to enable dose deliveries as quickly as possible.

:: Reducing the toll of the pandemic on lives and livelihoods requires equitable access to vaccines and country readiness for vaccination. Therapeutics are integral to COVID-19 mitigation strategies, but more testing and demand data is needed to ensure these can be rolled out equitably.

Geneva, 7 September 2021: Innovative biopharmaceutical company trade body announced that COVID-19 vaccines dose production will reach 7.5 billion at the end of September, at a rate of nearly 1.5 billion doses each month. The successful vaccine manufacturing scale up has been achieved thanks to a steady increase in production, supply chain, and voluntary tech transfer agreements with partners across the world. By January 2022, there will be sufficient vaccines produced for every adult on every continent. Modelling by Airfinity (report here) indicates that even if vaccine advisory committees and governments in G7 countries vaccinate teenagers and adults and decide to give boosters to at-risk populations, there would still be over 1.2 billion doses available for redistribution in 2021 alone. This means that each month for the foreseeable year, over 200 million doses would be, with effective planning, available for low- and lower-middle-income countries.

The historic COVID-19 manufacturing scale up should now urgently shift attention to delivering vaccine equity including dose sharing. In May 2021, the innovative biopharmaceutical industry publicly committed to expend every effort to make additional uncommitted COVID-19 doses available to low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMIC) and to support governments that have significant domestic supplies of COVID-19 vaccine doses to share a meaningful proportion of their doses with LMICs in a responsible and timely way through COVAX or other efficient established mechanisms (link here).

The new Airfinity data show that equitable redistribution of doses can be stepped up. Thanks to the steady vaccine manufacturing output, projections show it is possible to vaccinate the whole adult population of the world by June 2022. But this requires governments to strategically release doses so that vaccines leave the production lines and reach the people who need them most, from healthcare workers to vulnerable populations. Such vaccine deployment requires urgent political leadership and coordinated action to remove delivery and administration bottlenecks in many environments, especially as mRNA vaccines might make up to 40% of the additional doses available. Here again, industry stands by its commitments of May 2021, to support country readiness, and partner with governments on COVID-19 vaccine deployment, particularly in LMICs, to ensure that they are ready and able to deploy available doses within their shelf life (link here)…

 

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COVID-19 vaccine stock forecast for 2021 and 2022- Summary Version
airfinity 4 September 2021
PDF available upon registration at link above.
Selected slide/blow-up.

Xi: China to donate another 100m doses of COVID vaccines

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Xi: China to donate another 100m doses of COVID vaccines
chinadaily.com.cn|Updated: 2021-09-10
China will donate 100 million more doses of COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries within this year on top of a donation of $100 million to COVAX, President Xi Jinping said on Sept 9.
Xi made the remarks when addressing the 13th BRICS summit via video link in Beijing. BRICS refers to the emerging market economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
China will strive to provide a total of 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the world by the end of this year, said Xi, noting that China, to date, has provided more than 1 billion doses of finished and bulk vaccines to over 100 countries and international organizations.

The G20 Must Recommit to COVAX

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The G20 Must Recommit to COVAX
Project Syndicate, Sep 3, 2021 Seth Berkley, CEO Gavi Alliance
Additional G20 support can make the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access facility a success. Failure to achieve equitable access would mean more lives lost, broken health-care systems, even deadlier and more transmissible variants, and a pandemic with no end in sight…
…By recommitting to COVAX, G20 leaders will recommit to a multilateral solution that builds on the astounding scientific progress of the past year. Based on COVAX’s latest forthcoming supply forecast, when topped up with doses through bilateral deals, equitable COVID-19 vaccine access can protect up to 60% of the adult population in 91 lower-income countries. This would represent a huge step toward the WHO target of 70%, which is needed to suppress the coronavirus everywhere, and COVAX represents the best opportunity to achieve it.
Failure would mean more lives lost, broken health-care systems, even deadlier and more transmissible variants, and a pandemic with no end in sight. The G20 must not allow that to be an option.

 

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Editor’s Note:
We highlight selected text from the G20 Health Minister’s Final Declaration as below. The G20 meeting involving heads of state and government will be convened in Rome on October 30-31, 2021 and will address COVID response.

G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting – Rome 5-6 Sep 2021
…During the two days of work, participants focused on multiple issues related to health. In particular, three sessions were dedicated to the impact of Covid-19 on the sustainable development goals (SDG) of the 2030 Agenda, to what should be done in order to prevent, be better prepared and respond to future pandemics and the tools which allow to effectively counter the pandemic…

Final Declaration [5,945 words]: https://www.g20.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/G20_Italia_2021_Health_Declaration_final_05092021_OFFICIAL.pdf
[Selected excerpts; Editors text bolding]

7. As our Leaders committed to in Riyadh, and reinforced at the Global Health Summit in Rome, we will work towards enhancing timely, equitable and global access to safe, affordable and effective COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics (VTDs). In line with the WHO, we support the goal to vaccinate at least 40% by the end of 2021 of the global population… We need to also share more doses to meet the immediate need for safe, effective and quality and affordable vaccines building upon the commitments made at the COVAX AMC Summit…

17. We commit to improving rapid and transparent research, data, information and material access and sharing, in line with applicable laws and regulations at the national and international levels, necessary to prevent, detect, and respond to future potential health emergencies, and collectively resolve to strengthen research initiatives to better understand the links between human, animal (both domestic and wild) and environmental health, to enhance decision making based on solid scientific evidence…

ACCESSIBLE VACCINES, THERAPEUTICS AND DIAGNOSTICS
…28. We encourage a collaborative effort to develop common global strategies to support research, development, and equitable distribution of vaccines, therapeutics – including, but not limited to, medical oxygen – and diagnostics, taking into consideration the ongoing WHO Member State process to examine strengthening health emergencies preparedness and response…High quality, adequately sized clinical trials are the primary way to generate actionable evidence, informing which vaccines and therapeutics are safe and effective. We will support science to shorten the cycle for the development of safe and effective vaccines, treatments and tests from 300 to 100 days…

30. …We reaffirm our Leaders’ support at the Global Health Summit for the global sharing of safe, effective, quality and affordable vaccine doses including working with the ACT-A vaccines pillar (COVAX) co-lead by CEPI, Gavi and WHO… We welcome the outcomes of the COVAX Advanced Market Commitment (AMC) Summit co-hosted by Japan and Gavi, which include mobilizing and exceeding the targeted resources to ensure the 1.8 billion doses needed to cover nearly 30% of the population of AMC eligible economies, and dose-sharing commitments, and urge additional support for vaccine production, necessary supplies, other delivery and distribution needs, and vaccination support. We support the establishment of the COVAX Humanitarian Buffer and the commitment by Gavi/COVAX to allocate up to 5% of the doses for this purpose. We recognize the need to complement vaccine supply with financing for vaccine absorption and delivery, and surge capacity of resources to deploy these vaccines…

A Call for a Global Summit to End the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Global COVID Summit – Proposed for UN General Assembly, Sep 2021

A Call for a Global Summit to End the COVID-19 Pandemic
SEPTEMBER 1, 2021
Dear World Leaders Attending the 2021 UN General Assembly:
The world is at a perilous and urgent moment in the COVID-19 pandemic. The Delta variant has spread
rapidly to more than 130 countries, demonstrating that we are fighting a virus that doesn’t respect
borders and advances rapidly across continents.

The best way to prevent further catastrophe is to dramatically decrease worldwide cases and slow
transmission of the virus through widespread global vaccination, combined with other public health
measures. However, inequitable access to high-quality vaccines and capacity to administer them is prolonging the pandemic and destabilizing economies and societies around the world.

Therefore, we call on world leaders to convene a global summit during this year’s United Nations General Assembly and commit to actions to make 7 billion doses of high-quality vaccines available before the end of 2021 and an additional 7 billion doses by mid-2022; ensure that every country is ready to implement equitable vaccination programs at scale by the end of this year; and vaccinate 70 percent of the world’s population by mid-2022. People everywhere should also have equitable access to tests, therapies, and other proven interventions so lives can be saved using all COVID-19 tools.

A global pandemic needs a global plan of attack. The summit should secure the commitments and actions needed to close the vaccine supply, financing and capacity gaps. Very soon there will be enough supply of high-quality vaccines to assure that all countries can meet the needs of their own citizens and also engage in a global effort to vaccinate everyone. Urgent actions must be taken to increase countries’ distribution and delivery capabilities, which are poised to become the key constraint in the race between vaccines and variants. That is why we need a comprehensive response to the current crisis, which will also strengthen health systems and preparedness for the next pandemic…

“Endorsed by a broad coalition of leaders and organizations” [listing here.]

 

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Biden to Call for Vaccine Conference at UN Amid Shot Scarcity
Politics
By Josh Wingrove and David Wainer
Bloomberg, September 8, 2021, 7:07 PM EDT
:: With virus spreading, Covax program cuts its supply forecast
:: Advocates say U.S. pledge of 600 million doses is not enough
President Joe Biden plans to call for a meeting on global vaccine supply to be held at the United Nations General Assembly later this month, as wealthy nations face pressure to do more to bolster inoculations for developing countries, according to people familiar with the matter.
Biden intends to host a session during the UN meetings, though the scope and the attendees aren’t yet clear. While the U.S. has been reaching out to other countries about participating in the session, it hasn’t finalized its plans, the people said…

 

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Editor’s Note:
U.S. President Biden’s announcement of the Path Out of the Pandemic action plan on 9 September did not include the anticipated announcement of a global COVID summit to be convened during the upcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA 76) – 14-30 September 2021 in New York.

The closing text of the plan ̶ which notably included a number of national-level COVID vaccination mandates affecting employees of the U.S. federal government and private commercial organizations ̶ noted only: “… In the weeks ahead, the President will announce additional steps to build on the progress the Administration has made to combat this pandemic globally…”

IsDB to Work with Member Countries in Dealing with Vaccine Divide

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IsDB to Work with Member Countries in Dealing with Vaccine Divide
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 02 September 2021 – The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) will work closely with the 57 member countries of the Bank to deal swiftly with the emerging vaccine divide. The President of Islamic Development Bank, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, stated this in a historic speech delivered in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, during the opening ceremony of the 2021 Annual Meetings of IsDB Group.
Dr. Al Jasser delivered the speech in the presence of H.E. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and the 57 ministers of finance, economy, planning and international development from IsDB member countries who serve in the bank’s Board of Governors. He assured the governors that despite the challenges of COVID-19, the financial position of IsDB remains stable with the Bank maintaining its AAA rating of intact for over a decade.
The IsDB President stated that although IsDB member countries account for around 25% of the world population, only 10% (9.7%) of all 5.2 billion doses administered worldwide were in our member countries. Thus, a ‘Vaccine Divide’ has emerged.
“Failure to swiftly deal with this emerging phenomenon will impede recovery and slow economic growth, further widening gaps and worsening inequalities,” Dr. Al Jasser elaborated.
In its effort to support the member countries, IsDB has committed US$ 4.5 billion to help member countries contain, mitigate, and recover from the impact of COVID-19 by adopting a 3-R approach (Respond, Restore, Restart)…

COVID-19 Research – Recommendations & Considerations for GloPID-R, 2021-2023

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COVID-19 Research – Recommendations & Considerations for GloPID-R, 2021-2023
GloPID-R Scientific Advisory Group – June 18, 2021:: 62 pages
PDF: https://www.glopid-r.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/glopid-r-sag-report.pdf
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed the challenge of a century and has catapulted the critical importance of emerging diseases research onto the front page. Building from earlier research investments, and with over $3.8 billion in new research funding invested in response to the events of the pandemic, the importance of preparedness research needs no further justification1.

There have been some key successes in the pandemic-related research: the rapid coordination of research needs through the WHO R&D Blueprint mechanism and the ensuing funding calls offered through the research funders coalition Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and others have greatly enhanced our knowledge of the new pathogen and its impact. Essential knowledge gaps were filled through a range of basic, translational, and clinical research studies, and the findings of these studies have found their way into the evidence-based guidance that WHO and other public health and clinical partners developed.

New mechanisms of pathogenesis were identified that helped inform the choice of potential therapeutic approaches, which were then trialled in clinical trial networks, allowing the rapid evaluation of their utility. Against all expectations, within a year of the release of the first genomic information by Chinese scientists, the first clinical trials of vaccines were completed, showing the first promise of a way out.

Nonetheless, the pandemic is far from over, and is stretching the capacity of the world to deal with this health crisis. Challenges such as the emergence of new variants, vaccine acceptance, and the glaring global inequity in access have arisen as major concerns.

As the world faces the uncertainty of the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the leadership of the GloPID-R asked their Scientific Advisory Group2 (SAG) to recommend an approach to research funding for COVID-19 over the coming 12–18 months. For this purpose, the SAG members reviewed existing research agendas and documents, and applied their expertise to undertake a scenario-planning approach to produce possible future scenarios for the COVID-19 and related research landscape. These scenarios were used to navigate and help frame the uncertainty around COVID-19 and infectious diseases, and to provide research recommendations.

Marlène Schiappa annonce la naturalisation de plus de 12 000 travailleurs étrangers en première ligne pendant la crise sanitaire

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Marlène Schiappa annonce la naturalisation de plus de 12 000 travailleurs étrangers en première ligne pendant la crise sanitaire
Ministre de L’Interieur
Publié le 09/09/2021

A l’occasion de la cérémonie de naturalisation organisée au Panthéon ce jeudi 9 septembre 2021, Marlène Schiappa, ministre déléguée auprès du ministre de l’Intérieur, chargée de la Citoyenneté, dresse le bilan du dispositif exceptionnel d’acquisition de la nationalité française des ressortissants étrangers mobilisés pendant la crise sanitaire, qu’elle a créé le 14 septembre dernier.

Un an après son lancement, 16 381 dossiers ont été déposés en préfecture sur l’ensemble du territoire français et 12 012 étrangers sont devenus Français. C’est le résultat d’un examen bienveillant de ces dossiers, qui s’est traduit, par exemple, par la réduction de la durée de séjour régulier sur le territoire national à 2 ans, au lieu de 5 dans le droit commun des naturalisations.

Professionnels de santé, agents de sécurité ou d’entretien, garde d’enfants, caissiers, aide à domicile, éboueurs… La République s’honore d’accueillir en son sein ces nouveaux Français qui ont montré tant de détermination et de dévouement à servir leurs compatriotes. Plusieurs d’entre eux se sont vu convier Place Beauvau à la rentrée.

« Ces travailleurs de la première ligne ont répondu présents pour la nation. C’est normal que la nation fasse un pas vers eux. Je souhaite bienvenue dans la nationalité française à nos nouveaux compatriotes et leur dis merci au nom de la République : le pays a tenu bon aussi grâce à eux ! » déclare la ministre Marlène Schiappa.

 

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France grants citizenship to 12,000 Covid frontline workers
Fast-track scheme is aimed at those whose jobs put them at risk in pandemic
The Guardian, 9 Sep 2021
France has granted citizenship to more than 12,000 frontline workers whose jobs put them at risk during the Covid pandemic under a special fast-track scheme.
As well as speeding up the application process, which normally takes up to two years, the government also cut the residency requirement from five years to two.
“Frontline workers responded to the call of the nation, so it is right that the nation takes a step towards them,” said the citizenship minister, Marlène Schiappa. “The country pulled through thanks to them.
“I welcome our new compatriots to French nationality and thank them in the name of the republic. The country also thanks them.”…