Tag: Moderna

South Africa based vaccine know-how transfer hub to replicate Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine

Frank

AFRICA – The WHO has initiated talks with USA based Moderna Inc to develop Covid-19 vaccines in Africa designed to help more developing countries access COVID-19 shots after rich nations bought up most of this year’s supply. The operations, which are to be carried out in the WHO- backed African vaccine hub may delay a while due to lack of progress in talks with the U.S. company, a senior WHO official has said. October last year, Moderna said it would not enforce patents related to its shot during the pandemic,…

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Moderna developing single-shot vaccine booster for Covid-19 and flu

Frank

USA – American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, Moderna, is developing a two-in-one vaccine booster shot that protects against both Covid-19 and the seasonal flu. The new vaccine, which the company is calling mRNA-1073, combines Moderna’s current Covid vaccine with a flu shot that’s also under development, according to a press release. The drug maker already had several influenza vaccine candidates in development. The new vaccine combines the experimental flu shot that is furthest along with its Covid vaccine. “Today we are announcing the first step in our novel respiratory vaccine…

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Takeda jumps on Japan’s Moderna vaccine mess to secure Novavax supply deal

Frank

JAPAN – Japanese drug giant, Takeda, has announced a deal where the Japanese government has agreed to purchase 150 million doses of the Novavax shot that it will produce. As Moderna faces questions about contaminants found in its COVID-19 vaccines in Japan, the company’s distribution partner in the country, Takeda, is moving forward on its plans with Novavax’s licensing and production deal covering the country The Novavax shot remains in development, and the partners aim to start the rollout in Japan early next year. The government’s purchasing agreement is subject…

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Kenya ramps up Covid-19 vaccination campaign as more doses arrive

Frank

KENYA – Kenya has received a second shipment of 880,320 doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine as the country makes gradual progress in its vaccination campaign. Speaking at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while receiving the consignment, Health chief administrative secretary Dr. Rashid Aman who was representing Health Cabinet secretary Mutahi Kagwe, said the donation from the US government will go a long way in supporting the ongoing vaccination drive that target to vaccinate at least 10 million adults by the end of the year. “You will recall that a fortnight…

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Ghana receives 1.2 million doses of Moderna vaccines from US

Frank

GHANA – Ghana has taken delivery of 1,229,620 doses of Moderna COVID -19 Vaccines from the United States (US) Government. The donation was through the COVAX Facility and the largest shipment of COVID-19 vaccines received in Ghana. The 1.2 million doses of Moderna will increase the range of COVID-19 vaccines available to Ghana and boost efforts at protecting more people from Coronavirus. Alhaji Asei Mahama Seini, a Deputy Minister for Health, who received the vaccines said the US support to Ghana was highly appreciated and that the Government of Ghana…

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Two die in Japan after shots from suspended Moderna vaccines

Frank

JAPAN – Two people have died after receiving Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) COVID-19 vaccine shots that were among lots later suspended following the discovery of contaminants, Japan’s health ministry said. The men in their 30s died this month within days of receiving their second Moderna doses, the ministry said in a release. Each had a shot from one of three manufacturing lots suspended on Thursday. The causes of death are being investigated. Japan halted the use of 1.63 million Moderna doses shipped to 863 vaccination centres nationwide, more than a week…

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Japan suspends 1.6 million doses of Moderna vaccine after contamination reports

Frank

JAPAN – Japan has suspended the use of 1.63 million doses of Moderna Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine, more than a week after the domestic distributor received reports of contaminants in some vials. Both Japan and Moderna said no safety or efficacy issues had been identified and the suspension was just a precaution. “Moderna confirms having been notified of cases of particulate matter being seen in drug product vials of its COVID-19 vaccine,” the U.S. vaccine maker said in a statement, adding it put the lot in question and two adjacent lots…

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Kenya receives close to one million Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses

Frank

KENYA – Kenya has received 880,460 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the first time that Moderna vaccines have been received in Kenya and widens the portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines available for the national vaccination rollout. The vaccines, which form the first of two shipments totaling 1.76 million doses, were donated by the United States Government via the COVAX facility and transported by UNICEF. “This donation builds on the United States partnership with the Government of Kenya in response to COVID-19. These life-saving vaccines will fill an important need at…

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MHRA approves Moderna COVID-19 shot for 12 to 17-year-olds

Frank

UK – The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in children aged 12 to 17 years, weeks after the Pfizer shot was given a greenlight for deployment in this age set. The UK’s health regulator has confirmed the vaccine, known as Spikevax, is safe and effective in this age group, the statement read.  While most children develop mild or no symptoms with COVID-19, they are still able to spread the virus and some remain at risk of becoming seriously ill. Moderna’s vaccine…

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Moderna to build mRNA manufacturing facility in Canada

Frank

CANADA – Moderna has announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build a vaccine manufacturing facility in Canada. Cambridge, Mass.-based Moderna did not disclose where in Canada the facility will be located. A CBC News report cited a company’s spokesperson as saying the company is in negotiations with Ottawa over the location and the timing of its construction. The company said in a news release that the goals of the MoU are to build the foundation to support Canada with direct access to rapid pandemic…

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