An expert panel on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to recommend the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorise the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, saying the benefits of inoculation outweigh the risks.
A full authorisation for that age group would be would be an important regulatory step towards reaching about 28 million children for inoculation, most of them already back in school for in-person learning.
The vaccine could be available to the younger age group as soon as next week.
The FDA is not obligated to follow the advice of its outside experts, but usually does.
If the FDA authorises the shots for this age group, an advisory panel to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will meet next week to make a recommendation on the administration of the vaccine, and the CDC director will make the final call.
The companies have said their vaccine showed 90.7 per cent efficacy against the coronavirus in a clinical trial of children aged 5 to 11.
“To me, the question is pretty clear,” said Dr Amanda Cohn, a paediatric vaccine expert at the CDC and a voting member of the panel. “We don't want children to be dying of Covid, even if it is far fewer children than adults, and we don't want them in the ICU.”
Pfizer and BioNTech are seeking clearance for a lower, 10-microgram dose of the vaccine for children, versus 30 micrograms for those aged 12 and older.
The shot has been authorised for ages 12-15 since May after being cleared for those aged 16 and older in December.
The advisers paid close attention to the rates of a condition that causes heart inflammation called myocarditis that has been linked to both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, particularly in young men.
Even if the number of myocarditis cases in the younger age group turns out to be similar to that observed among 12- to 15-year-olds, more hospital admissions would still be prevented by the Covid-19 vaccine in most scenarios analysed, FDA staff reviewers said in documents prepared before Tuesday's meeting.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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World Cup warm up matches
May 24 Pakistan v Afghanistan, Bristol; Sri Lanka v South Africa, Cardiff
May 25 England v Australia, Southampton; India v New Zealand, The Oval
May 26 South Africa v West Indies, Bristol; Pakistan v Bangladesh, Cardiff
May 27 Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton; England v Afghanistan, The Oval
May 28 West Indies v New Zealand, Bristol; Bangladesh v India, Cardiff
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait this month is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
UAE’s fixtures: Fri Apr 20, UAE v Qatar; Sat Apr 21, UAE v Saudi Arabia; Mon Apr 23, UAE v Bahrain; Tue Apr 24, UAE v Maldives; Thu Apr 26, UAE v Kuwait
World T20 2020 Qualifying process:
- Sixteen teams will play at the World T20 in two years’ time.
- Australia have already qualified as hosts
- Nine places are available to the top nine ranked sides in the ICC’s T20i standings, not including Australia, on Dec 31, 2018.
- The final six teams will be decided by a 14-team World T20 Qualifier.
World T20 standings: 1 Pakistan; 2 Australia; 3 India; 4 New Zealand; 5 England; 6 South Africa; 7 West Indies; 8 Sri Lanka; 9 Afghanistan; 10 Bangladesh; 11 Scotland; 12 Zimbabwe; 13 UAE; 14 Netherlands; 15 Hong Kong; 16 Papua New Guinea; 17 Oman; 18 Ireland
