Jumat, 09 April 2021

Britain's Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, dies aged 99 - CNA

LONDON: Britain's Prince Philip, a constant presence at Queen Elizabeth II's side for decades, died on Friday (Apr 9) at age 99, Buckingham Palace announced.

The death of the Duke of Edinburgh is a profound loss for the 94-year-old monarch, who once described him as her "strength and stay all these years".

Queen Elizabeth announced his passing "with deep sorrow" after he died peacefully in the morning at Windsor Castle, west of London, the palace said in a statement.

"The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss," the statement said.

The Duke of Edinburgh, as he was officially known, was the longest-serving consort in British history. During that time he earned a reputation for a tough, no-nonsense attitude and a propensity for occasional gaffes.

He was admitted to hospital on Feb 16, 2021, and went home after a month during which he was treated for a pre-existing heart condition and an infection.

READ: Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip: The strength behind the crown

Announcing his passing, BBC television played the national anthem over a picture of Philip in his prime, dressed in military dress uniform.

Flags were lowered to half-mast on royal and government buildings and a notice announcing his death pinned to the gates of Buckingham Palace.

Britain Prince Philip Obit
This photo dated Jul 10, 1947 shows the official photograph of Britain's Princess Elizabeth and her fiance, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in London. (File photo: AP)

Philip, who was by the queen's side for nearly eight decades, retired from public duties in 2017 at the age of 96.

His death came just months before his 100th birthday in June - an event typically marked in Britain with a congratulatory message from the queen, who is now Britain's longest-serving monarch.

The couple, who celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in November, had been living largely in isolation at Windsor Castle, west of London, because their advanced age put them at heightened risk from COVID-19.

They received their first vaccinations against the virus in January.

READ: UK PM hails Philip's 'extraordinary life' as tributes pour in

FEW PUBLIC APPEARANCES

Philip was no stranger to health issues.

He was previously fitted with a stent in 2011 after suffering from a blocked artery.

He also had a hip operation in 2018 and in January 2019, he emerged unscathed after his vehicle was involved in a traffic accident that injured two people near the monarch's Sandringham estate in eastern England.

The prince then spent four nights in hospital in December that year, receiving treatment for what was described as a "pre-existing condition".

He was discharged on Christmas Eve, in time to rejoin the rest of the royal family for the festive period.

Britain's Prince Philip, in his role as Captain General, Royal Marines, attends a Parade to ma
Britain's Prince Philip, in his role as Captain General, Royal Marines, attends a parade to mark the finale of the 1664 Global Challenge, on the Buckingham Palace Forecourt, in central London, Britain, Aug 2, 2017. (File photo: REUTERS/Yui Mok)
​​​​​​​

Since the pandemic, Philip has made few public appearances.

He was last seen at a staged appearance at a military ceremony at Windsor Castle in July, days after attending the wedding ceremony of his granddaughter Princess Beatrice.

In November, he and the queen marked the latest anniversary of their 1947 nuptials by releasing a photograph of them together, again at Windsor.

Britain Royal Wedding Anniversary
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh look at a homemade wedding anniversary card in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, England, Nov 17, 2020, ahead of their 73rd wedding anniversary. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Pool via AP)

Philip and the queen have four children - Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward - eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

SHELVED PERSONAL AMBITIONS

Philip, the longest-serving consort in British history, was born on the island of Corfu with Danish and Greek royal titles.

He fled the country when he was just 18 months old with his parents and four sisters, after his uncle, king Constantine of Greece, was forced to abdicate.

The family initially settled in France.

Philip was formally introduced to princess Elizabeth, the future queen, in July 1939 and they kept in touch during the war, meeting on a number of occasions.

The pair married in Westminster Abbey in London in 1947.

A rising star in the British navy, Philip had reached the rank of commander by the time Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952. He eventually shelved his personal ambitions to support his wife in the role.

Over the ensuing decades he was involved in numerous charities, including the World Wildlife Fund For Nature and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme for young people.

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC9wcmluY2UtcGhpbGlwLWRpZXMtOTktYnJpdGFpbi1xdWVlbi1lbGl6YWJldGgtMTQ1ODkzMDLSAQA?oc=5

2021-04-09 12:11:15Z
52781499953537

Britain's Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, dies aged 99 - CNA

LONDON: Britain's Prince Philip, a constant presence at Queen Elizabeth II's side for decades, died on Friday (Apr 9) at age 99, Buckingham Palace announced.

The death of the Duke of Edinburgh is a profound loss for the 94-year-old monarch, who once described him as her "strength and stay all these years".

The outspoken former navy commander devoted much of his life as the queen's consort to charity work - but was notorious for numerous gaffes, many deemed downright offensive.

He was admitted to hospital on Feb 16, 2021, and went home after a month during which he was treated for a pre-existing heart condition and an infection.

Announcing his passing, BBC television played the national anthem over a picture of Philip in his prime, dressed in military dress uniform

Philip, who was by the queen's side for nearly eight decades, retired from public duties in 2017 at the age of 96.

Britain Prince Philip Obit
This photo dated Jul 10, 1947 shows the official photograph of Britain's Princess Elizabeth and her fiance, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in London. (File photo: AP)

His death came just months before his 100th birthday in June - an event typically marked in Britain with a congratulatory message from the queen, who is now Britain's longest-serving monarch.

The couple, who celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in November, had been living largely in isolation at Windsor Castle, west of London, because their advanced age put them at heightened risk from COVID-19.

Philip and the queen received their first vaccinations against the virus in January.

FEW PUBLIC APPEARANCES

Philip was no stranger to health issues.

He was previously fitted with a stent in 2011 after suffering from a blocked artery.

He also had a hip operation in 2018 and in January 2019, he emerged unscathed after his vehicle was involved in a traffic accident that injured two people near the monarch's Sandringham estate in eastern England.

The prince then spent four nights in hospital in December that year, receiving treatment for what was described as a "pre-existing condition".

He was discharged on Christmas Eve, in time to rejoin the rest of the royal family for the festive period.

Britain's Prince Philip, in his role as Captain General, Royal Marines, attends a Parade to ma
Britain's Prince Philip, in his role as Captain General, Royal Marines, attends a parade to mark the finale of the 1664 Global Challenge, on the Buckingham Palace Forecourt, in central London, Britain, Aug 2, 2017. (File photo: REUTERS/Yui Mok)
​​​​​​​

Since the pandemic, Philip has made few public appearances.

He was last seen at a staged appearance at a military ceremony at Windsor Castle in July, days after attending the wedding ceremony of his granddaughter Princess Beatrice.

In November, he and the queen marked the latest anniversary of their 1947 nuptials by releasing a photograph of them together, again at Windsor.

Britain Royal Wedding Anniversary
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh look at a homemade wedding anniversary card in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, England, Nov 17, 2020, ahead of their 73rd wedding anniversary. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Pool via AP)

Philip and the queen have four children - Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward - eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

SHELVED PERSONAL AMBITIONS

Philip, the longest-serving consort in British history, was born on the island of Corfu with Danish and Greek royal titles.

He fled the country when he was just 18 months old with his parents and four sisters, after his uncle, king Constantine of Greece, was forced to abdicate.

The family initially settled in France.

Philip was formally introduced to princess Elizabeth, the future queen, in July 1939 and they kept in touch during the war, meeting on a number of occasions.

The pair married in Westminster Abbey in London in 1947.

A rising star in the British navy, Philip had reached the rank of commander by the time Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952. He eventually shelved his personal ambitions to support his wife in the role.

Over the ensuing decades he was involved in numerous charities, including the World Wildlife Fund For Nature and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme for young people.

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC9wcmluY2UtcGhpbGlwLWRpZXMtOTktYnJpdGFpbi1xdWVlbi1lbGl6YWJldGgtMTQ1ODkzMDLSAQA?oc=5

2021-04-09 11:27:56Z
52781499953537

US Army selects ST Engineering's Bronco armoured troop carrier for tests in arctic conditions - CNA

SINGAPORE: An armoured troop carrier based on ST Engineering's range of Bronco vehicles - which has endured improvised bomb attacks in Afghanistan with zero deaths - will soon be tested by the US Army for use in arctic conditions.

American military vehicle manufacturer Oshkosh Defence said in a news release on Monday (Apr 5) that it will partner ST Engineering to produce prototypes for the US Army’s cold weather, all-terrain vehicle (CATV).

This comes after the US Army awarded contracts to two vendors - the Oshkosh-ST Engineering partnership and a team from the British defence company BAE Systems, Defense News reported on Tuesday.

The CATV is a new programme for a tracked vehicle that operates in extreme cold weather or arctic conditions, Defense News said. It is designed to replace the US Army's Small Unit Support Vehicles that have been in service since the early 1980s.

ST Engineering Land Systems head Lee Shiang Long told CNA that the Oshkosh CATV prototypes can be reconfigured internally to accommodate a variety of missions.

"A general-purpose vehicle, for example, can be used as a troop carrier, casualty evacuation or command and control vehicle and can be swapped from one configuration to another in the field within 30 minutes by a two-person crew," he said.

Oshkosh's CATV will be based on ST Engineering's Bronco 3, a member of the Bronco range that has been in service in various countries since 2001.

The Bronco 3 has an "unsurpassed" payload of nearly 6,000kg and a capacity of 388 cubic feet, ST Engineering said on its website, noting that it can "easily accommodate" a payload of soldiers, equipment and cargo to "provide total support" for mission conditions.

"Featuring a completely re-engineered chassis incorporated with a V-shaped hull, it holds the largest capacity in the Bronco family; providing superior man machine interface armoured protection, maximise crew’s operating space and effectively deflects underbelly detonations," the company said.

READ: Singapore-based aviation contractor aims to build supersonic combat drone in Seletar hangar

The Bronco 2, called the Warthog, was customised for the British Army and was deployed in Afghanistan for four years, ST Engineering said. In this period, it clocked more than 320,000km and encountered 30 improvised explosive device attacks with zero fatalities.

The Bronco 1 is in service with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Royal Thai Army.

TESTING AND EVALUATION

Oshkosh and ST Engineering will deliver two prototypes - one general-purpose vehicle and another cargo vehicle for testing and soldier evaluation in the third quarter of this year.

The prototypes will be evaluated on payload, mobility, crush resistance, swimming and transportability.

According to Defense News, the deadline to deliver prototypes is Jun 14, with testing and evaluation to take place in Alaska at the Cold Regions Test Center from August through the end of December.

The programme will move directly into production once a winner is chosen, Defense News said. The US Army has announced plans to issue a follow-on production contract for up to 200 CATVs in Financial Year 2022.

READ: SAF unveils the Hunter – the Army’s first fully digital fighting vehicle

Mr Lim said ST Engineering has a proven track record in armoured combat vehicles, both wheeled and tracked.

"The Bronco is highly manoeuvrable and amphibious, and has the ability to traverse across difficult terrain, be it swamps, desert, snow or water bodies," he added. 

"It has successfully completed winter and summer trials in the Arctic Circle and United Arab Emirates respectively, enduring extreme temperatures ranging from -45 degrees Celsius to 49 degrees Celsius."

This is not the first time that ST Engineering has participated in foreign military equipment programmes.

"ST Engineering has been pursuing growth in international defence, offering our suite of munitions, weapons and platforms," Mr Lee said.

For instance, he said ST Engineering's Next Generation Armoured Fighting Vehicle and Terrex 2 "met the design requirements and were rigorously tested" in the US Army's mobile protected firepower and the US Marine Corps' amphibious combat vehicle programmes, respectively.

"This is a validation of our defence engineering capabilities and ability to deliver a competitive solution," he added.

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9zaW5nYXBvcmUvYnJvbmNvLXN0LWVuZ2luZWVyaW5nLXVzLWFybXktYXJtb3VyZWQtdHJvb3AtY2Fycmllci0xNDU4ODI3NNIBAA?oc=5

2021-04-09 09:43:08Z
CBMibGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9zaW5nYXBvcmUvYnJvbmNvLXN0LWVuZ2luZWVyaW5nLXVzLWFybXktYXJtb3VyZWQtdHJvb3AtY2Fycmllci0xNDU4ODI3NNIBAA

Kamis, 08 April 2021

AstraZeneca woes grow as Australia, Philippines, African Union curb COVID-19 shots - CNA

LONDON: Australia and the Philippines limited use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday (Apr 8), while the African Union dropped plans to buy the shot amid global shortages, dealing further blows to the company's hopes to deliver a vaccine for the world.

The vaccine - developed with Oxford University and considered a frontrunner in the global vaccine race - has been plagued by safety concerns and supply problems since Phase III trial results were published in December, with Indonesia the latest country forced to seek doses from other drugmakers.

The Philippines suspended the use of AstraZeneca shots for people under age 60 after Europe's regulator said on Wednesday it found rare cases of blood clots among some adult recipients, although it still believes that the vaccine’s benefits outweighed its risks.

Australia recommended people under 50 should get Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine in preference to AstraZeneca's, a policy shift it warned would hold up its inoculation campaign.

READ: AstraZeneca: Who is using the jab, and who is not

AstraZeneca's shot is sold at cost, for a few dollars a dose. It is by far the cheapest and most high-volume launched so far, and has none of the extreme refrigeration requirements of some other COVID-19 vaccines, making it likely to be the mainstay of many inoculation programmes in the developing world.

But more than a dozen countries have at one time suspended or partially suspended use of the shot, first on concerns about efficacy in older people, and now on worries about rare dangerous side effects in younger people.

READ: Australia to continue AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine rollout, review EU findings

READ: Malaysia deliberating over use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after EU findings

That, coupled with production setbacks, will delay the rollout of vaccines across the globe as governments scramble to find alternatives to tame the pandemic that has killed more than 3 million.

'EXTREMELY RARE'

Italy on Wednesday joined France, the Netherlands, Germany and others in recommending a minimum age for recipients of AstraZeneca's shot, and Britain said people under 30 should get an alternative. South Korea also suspended use of the vaccine in people under 60 this week, while approving Johnson & Johnson's one-dose vaccine.

AstraZeneca has said it is working with British and European regulators to list possible brain blood clots as "an extremely rare potential side-effect".

South Africa also paused AstraZeneca vaccinations last month after a small trial showed the shot offered minimal protection against mild-to-moderate illness caused by the dominant local coronavirus variant.

AstraZeneca is grappling with production issues that have led to shortfalls of its vaccine in several countries.

Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Thursday the country was in talks with China on getting as many as 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to plug a gap in deliveries caused by delays in the arrival of AstraZeneca shots.

READ: Covax backs AstraZeneca as COVID-19 vaccines reach 100 territories

READ: Indonesia says about 100 million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses face arrival delays

India has put a temporary hold on all major exports of AstraZeneca's shot made by the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s biggest vaccine-maker, as domestic infections rise.

That has affected supplies to the GAVI/WHO-backed global COVAX vaccine-sharing facility through which 64 poorer countries are supposed to get doses from SII, the programme’s procurement and distributing partner UNICEF told Reuters last month.

GAVI and the World Health Organisation said in a statement on Thursday that the facility had delivered nearly 38.4 million doses to more than 100 countries and economies across six continents, and expects to deliver doses to all participating economies that requested vaccines in the first half of the year.

AstraZeneca Chief Executive Pascal Soriot was quoted in the statement as saying more than 37 million doses of the company's vaccine had been delivered through COVAX.

"We continue to work 24/7 to deliver on our unwavering commitment to broad, equitable and affordable access," he said.

The African Union is exploring vaccine options with Johnson & Johnson, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said. It dropped plans to buy AstraZeneca's shot from SII to avoid duplicating efforts by COVAX, which will continue to supply the vaccine to Africa.

Britain is slowing its vaccine rollout due to delays in a shipment of AstraZeneca shots from India and is at loggerheads with the EU over exports of the vaccine. Australia has also blamed delays in its immunisation campaign on supply issues in Europe.

AstraZeneca has cited reduced yields at a European factory for the supply shortfall to the European Union.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC9hc3RyYXplbmVjYS1jb3ZpZC0xOS12YWNjaW5lLXdvZXMtZ3Jvdy1hdXN0cmFsaWEtcGhpbGlwcGluZXMtMTQ1ODMyODbSAQA?oc=5

2021-04-08 22:07:30Z
52781500428965

AstraZeneca: Who is using the jab, and who is not - CNA

The fallout over the AstraZeneca jab continued Thursday with several countries halting its use among younger people, as nations raced to secure much-needed vaccines in the face of fresh virus surges.

The European Medicines Agency says blood clots should be listed as a "very rare" side
The European Medicines Agency says blood clots should be listed as a "very rare" side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine. (Photo: AFP/Joel Saget)

PARIS: The AstraZeneca vaccine's rollercoaster ride has taken another twist with a growing list of countries restricting its use over "very rare" blood clots.

While Britain, whose Oxford University developed it, now no longer recommends it for the under 30s, South Africa has rejected it outright.

READ: AstraZeneca woes grow as Australia, Philippines, African Union curb COVID-19 shots

Nevertheless, the vaccine is still the most widely used in the world and remains cheaper and easier to store than its competitors.

It has already been given in some 111 countries - more than its competitors Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna put together - according to an AFP database from official sources.

Here is an overview of where the jab is now being restricted:

DITCHED

South Africa suspended its vaccine rollout - meant to begin with AstraZeneca in February - after a study found the jab failed to prevent mild and moderate illness caused by a variant found there.

Instead it offered its doses to the African Union.

SUSPENDED

More than a dozen countries including the biggest European Union nations suspended AstraZeneca shots in mid-March because of fears over blood clots and other possible side effects.

Most then restarted using it after Europe's drugs regulator said it was "safe and effective".

But some other countries continued their suspensions, including Norway and Denmark.

RESTRICTED

Many countries have resumed the vaccine's use only for older people, aged 55 and above, because the clots tend to affect younger people more.

These include France, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Iceland and Sweden as well as Canada.

READ: Covax backs AstraZeneca as COVID-19 vaccines reach 100 territories

But the doubts about blood clots did not go away, and the EU and British drugs regulators said Wednesday that it was linked to clotting in some rare cases.

Spain, the Philippines and Italy reacted by suspending the jab for people under 60 while Belgium restricted it to over 55s.

Australia says it should no longer be given to people under 50 unless they had already received a first dose without ill effects.

Oxford University has suspended trials on children following the new concerns.

Britain, which has already given more than 20 million doses of jab, says it will now offer alternative vaccines to young people.

MOST WIDELY USED 

Despite criticisms over supply difficulties and safety concerns, the AstraZeneca vaccine is today being administered in around 111 countries and territories.

The jab also forms the bulk of those being given for free to poorer countries under the Covax scheme led by the WHO, the Gavi vaccine alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC9hc3RyYXplbmVjYS13aG8taXMtdXNpbmctdGhlLWNvdmlkLTE5LXZhY2NpbmUtamFiLTE0NTgyODk20gEA?oc=5

2021-04-08 16:00:15Z
52781491296352

Britain condemns seizure of Myanmar embassy in London - CNA

Google verwendet Cookies und Daten für Folgendes:
  • Dienste anbieten und betreiben, z. B. Störungen prüfen und Maßnahmen gegen Spam, Betrug oder Missbrauch ergreifen
  • Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken erheben, um zu verstehen, wie unsere Dienste verwendet werden
Wenn Sie zustimmen, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auch für Folgendes:
  • Qualität unserer Dienste verbessern und neue Dienste entwickeln
  • Werbung ausliefern und die Effektivität von Werbung messen
  • Personalisierte Inhalte anzeigen, abhängig von Ihren Einstellungen
  • Personalisierte oder allgemeine Werbung bei Google und im Web anzeigen, abhängig von Ihren Einstellungen
Die Auswahl nicht personalisierter Inhalte und Werbeanzeigen kann davon abhängen, welche Inhalte Sie sich gerade ansehen und wo Sie sich befinden (die Anzeigenbereitstellung basiert auf dem allgemeinen Standort). Personalisierte Inhalte und Werbeanzeigen können ebenfalls darauf basieren, darüber hinaus aber auch auf Aktivitäten wie Suchanfragen bei Google und Videos, die Sie sich bei YouTube ansehen. Zu personalisierten Inhalten und Werbeanzeigen gehören beispielsweise Dinge wie relevantere Ergebnisse und Empfehlungen, eine individuelle YouTube-Startseite und Werbung, die auf Ihre Interessen zugeschnitten ist.

Klicken Sie auf „Anpassen“, um sich Ihre Möglichkeiten anzusehen. Zu diesen gehören zum Beispiel Steuerelemente, um Cookies für die Personalisierung zu deaktivieren, oder Informationen zu Steuerelementen auf Browserebene, mit denen einige oder alle Cookies für andere Zwecke deaktiviert werden können. Besuchen Sie bei Bedarf jederzeit g.co/privacytools.

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9ZTBRRFRGWl9yMFHSAQA?oc=5

2021-04-08 13:14:53Z
52781497464552

Philippines suspends AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for under 60s - CNA

MANILA: The Philippine health department suspended on Thursday (Apr 8) the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 jab for people under 60 after reports of blood clots overseas, in a setback for the country's already slow vaccine rollout.

It comes amid a record surge in coronavirus infections that has forced more than 24 million people in the capital and surrounding provinces into a lockdown.

Several European countries have suspended the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine for younger populations after it was earlier banned outright in several places over blood clot scares.

The EU's medicines regulator said on Wednesday blood clots should be listed as rare side effects of the jab, but the benefits continue to outweigh the risks.

"While we have not seen such incidents in the country, the FDA has recommended to temporarily suspend the use of the vaccine for persons below 60 years old as we await results of the review being done by our local experts, as well as the official guidance of the WHO," Food and Drug Administration director-general Eric Domingo said.

READ: EU health ministers fail to agree common guidance on AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot

The Philippines has received about 2.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far - the majority from China's Sinovac.

It also got 525,600 AstraZeneca doses through the COVAX programme, most of which have been administered already, according to official data.

The country expects another 3 million AstraZeneca doses in the coming months.

President Rodrigo Duterte's government has been skewered by critics over its handling of the pandemic and efforts to secure vaccines.

The 2.5 million doses received so far represent a fraction of the shots Manila has been negotiating with seven manufacturers to secure.

The bulk of the supply is not expected until later this year.

READ: Malaysia deliberating over use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after EU findings

But the challenge is not limited to stock.

Low public confidence in vaccines remains after the country became the first to deploy the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia in 2016.

A botched rollout led to unfounded claims that several dozen children had died from the jab, and a recent survey showed about 60 per cent of the population were unwilling to be inoculated against COVID-19.

"I want to emphasize that this temporary suspension DOES NOT MEAN that the vaccine is unsafe or ineffective - it just means that we are taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of every Filipino," Domingo said in the statement.

The World Health Organization's Western Pacific office on Wednesday backed the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the region.

"Available data do not suggest any overall increase in the clotting conditions in the vaccinated population as compared to the general population," Socorro Escalante, WHO essential medicines coordinator, told reporters.

The European Medicines Agency examined 86 blood clotting cases, 18 of which were fatal, out of about 25 million people in Europe who received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Most of the cases were in women aged under 60.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram

Let's block ads! (Why?)


https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMic2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9hc2lhL3BoaWxpcHBpbmVzLXN1c3BlbmQtYXN0cmF6ZW5lY2EtY292aWQtMTktdmFjY2luZS1wZW9wbGUtdW5kZXItNjAtMTQ1ODE1NTbSAQA?oc=5

2021-04-08 09:16:58Z
52781491296352