COVID-19 vaccination in the United States

The latest health bulletin from the National Public Health Organization (NPHO) covers a variety of health topics, featuring questions about vaccinations directed to the Chair of the National Vaccination Committee, Professor Emerita of Pediatrics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Maria Theodoridou, along with her responses.

Albert Bourla linked Pfizer‘s name with the containment effort of the COVID-19 pandemic and this is the piece of history that belongs to him definitively, objectively and beyond any objection or reservation.

There has been a lukewarm response from people aged 60 and over in Greece to the call of the scientific community and health authorities to get the updated vaccine against the coronavirus. 

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning regarding a new mutation of the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, known as the FLiRT variants. These variants have emerged from the analysis of sewage samples, indicating a shift in the virus's genetic makeup.

The pharma giant AstraZeneca has requested that the European authorization for its Covid-19 vaccine be pulled, according to the EU medicines regulator.

In an update on the European Medicines Agency's website Wednesday, the regulator said that the approval for AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria had been withdrawn "at the request of the marketing authorization holder."

The European Commission has granted approval for the Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5-adapted COVID-19 vaccine, a groundbreaking step in the fight against the ever-evolving pandemic. Developed by Novavax, this marks the first protein-based vaccine tailored to address the unique challenges posed by the autumn-winter season.

EU regulators have recommended authorizing an updated Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech which targets the dominant XBB.1.5 variant of Omicron, putting it on track to become the third adapted shot  by the two companies to be approved in the bloc.

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said it plans a cost-cutting operation if its co-developed with BioTech COVID-19 vaccine and antiviral treatment for the coronavirus continue to underperform in the coming months due to falling demand.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) recommend considering a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 60 to 79 years and those in a state of health that makes them exposed to a high risk of acute diseases.

With COVID-19 numbers rising again, Health Ministry opened up booster shot appointments in an effort to increase dropping the number of infections.

One of BioNTech, Sinovac or Turkovac vaccines can be chosen for the booster shot, which will be the sixth dose for those aged 65 and over and also those in risky groups.