Health Omicron resistant to two major vaccines, new study says Two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines may not be sufficient protection against the new variant, Hong Kong researchers said, calling on individuals to seek a third booster jab. 15/12/2021
Health Omicron: What are the symptoms of the latest COVID variant? Top US scientist Anthony Fauci said Omicron is "almost certainly" not more severe than the Delta variant. 14/12/2021
United Kingdom UK: MPs vote for new COVID measures, amid rebellion against PM Johnson One Labour MP said the Conservative rebellion against the UK government "is a reflection of the shattered authority of Boris Johnson". 14/12/2021
world news Booster dose raises protection against Omicron, UK study shows Nearly 2,200 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant have now been detected in about 60 countries worldwide. 10/12/2021
Health Here’s what COVID vaccine makers are doing about the Omicron variant COVID vaccine manufacturers are racing to develop new doses to combat the rising number of cases connected to the Omicron variant. 08/12/2021
Health COVID vaccines less effective on Omicron, warns Moderna boss The vaccine maker said the large number of mutations in the newly-identified Omicron variant could make it more resistant to current COVID vaccines. 30/11/2021
world news Merriam-Webster chooses vaccine as the 2021 word of the year Merriam-Webster has chosen "vaccine" as the word of the year in 2021. There was an increase of 1,048% in lookups compared to 2019. 29/11/2021
state of the union Europe's week: Fresh COVID wave and possible vaccine patent waiver Fresh restrictions were imposed in multiple different countries across the continent, as caseloads continued to spike. 26/11/2021
Europe News Hungary silently rejoins the EU's joint vaccine pool The move comes as a surprise, after the Hungarian government signalled last May that it did not want any more vaccines from the EU's joint procurement scheme. 26/11/2021
Europe News EU's COVID travel pass will expire nine months after last vaccine dose A booster shot will be required to extend the certificate, which allows cross-border travellers to skip testing and quarantine. 25/11/2021
world news EU medicines agency approves Pfizer's COVID vaccine for 5-11-year-olds The European Medicine Agency greenlighted Pfizer’s kids-sized shots on Thursday after concluding that the benefits outweighed the risks for 5-11-year-olds. 25/11/2021
Ukraine In Ukraine, anti-vax sentiment and fake certificates fuel COVID crisis Ukraine has rock-bottom vaccination rates as rumours spread that the vaccines contain microchips, are dangerous or do not stop the disease. Only 21% of Ukraine's 41 million people are fully vaccinated. 21/11/2021
Travel News 5-year-olds must be fully vaccinated to set sail on this cruise This cruise line is the first to state that 5-year-olds must be fully vaccinated if they want to travel aboard their ships. 19/11/2021
Austria COVID-19: Austria begins nationwide lockdown for unvaccinated people The government ordered the move due to protect the health service, saying the COVID-19 incidence rate among Austria's unvaccinated is much higher than among those who have received the jab. 14/11/2021
Austria Vienna to begin vaccinating young children against COVID-19 Kids aged 5 to 11 in Vienna, Austria will be able to receive a dose of a Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from Monday, the city said. 13/11/2021
world news Europe at global epicentre as COVID deaths and cases continue to rise COVID-19 deaths have increased by 10% in the World Health Organization's Europe and Central Asia region over the last week. 10/11/2021
Hear Billie Eilish counts herself 'Happier than ever' on visit to Sesame St Vun, two, three! The singer is seated next to The Count as she helps youngsters with their numeracy. 10/11/2021
