WHO expects increase in number of deaths, hospitalisations from Covid variant Omicron

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that it expects an increase in the number of hospitalisations and fatalities related to the new Omicron coronavirus strain, reported Sputnik. “As case numbers linked to a variant of concern increase globally, we expect the number of hospitalized cases and even deaths to be reported,” the WHO said in a […]

New shipment of WHO life-saving medical supplies arrives in Kabul

An aircraft carrying around 7 metric tonnes of lifesaving medical supplies arrived in Kabul from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the operations and logistic teams of Qatar Airways and the Qatar government. According to an official statement by WHO, the medicines and supplies landed in Kabul on November 4. This is the fourth flight carrying WHO supplies to […]

WHO regional director congratulates India for administering over 1 billion Covid vaccine doses

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of World Health Organization South-East Asia on Thursday congratulated India for administering one billion COVID-19 vaccine doses in the country. “Huge congratulations to India for marking yet another milestone, a billion COVID-19 vaccine doses administered,” she said in a video address. Speaking further Singh […]

WHO panel recommends Covid-19 vaccine booster shot for people with weak immunity

People with weaker immune systems should receive an additional shot of approved COVID-19 vaccines, an advisory group to the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday. The recommendation follows a four-day meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization. A final report will be issued in December, the WHO said in […]

WHO to decide on Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin emergency usage in October

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday informed that the final decision on Bharat Biotech’s submission on emergency use listing (EUL) for its Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine will be made in October 2021. The status of assessment for Covaxin is “ongoing” as of now, the WHO informed in a document citing […]

WHO thanks India for resumption of Covid vaccine supply to COVAX from October

Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday extended gratitude to India for resuming crucial COVID vaccine shipments to COVAX from October. Ghebreyesus also said that the move will help WHO to reach its goal of 40 percent vaccination in all countries by the end of […]

MEA hold talks with DG WHO, discuss cooperation chains in Health sector

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (West) Reenat Sandhu called on Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva to discuss cooperation chains between India and the WHO in the health sector. Both parties discussed topics associated with pandemic response, vaccines and traditional medicine, MEA spokesperson […]

China rejects need for further WHO coronavirus origins probe

China has opposed next-phase COVID-19 origins-tracing, saying that it is “inappropriate” that the World Health Organization (WHO) came up with the second phase of the study that focused on a lab-leak theory. In recent months, the lab-leak theory has gained great traction after the Biden administration pushed for a fresh intelligence probe into […]

US reaffirms support to WHO’s plan for probe into Covid-19 orgins, including in China

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday met WHO chief Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesu in Kuwait, where he reaffirmed support to the UN agency’s additional studies on the COVD-19 origins, including in China to better understand the pandemic. “In a meeting with DG Tedros, we discussed saving lives by ending this pandemic and advancing global […]

Covid-19 Delta variant detected in 96 countries, says WHO

The Delta COVID-19 variant, first identified in India, has already been detected in 96 countries, 11 more than last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in its weekly epidemiological update on Wednesday. The Delta variant, also referred to as a “double mutant” because it carries two mutations, is 55 percent more transmissible than the […]