If the Covid-19 pandemic is ever going to be defeated, the world needs to unite behind funding a vaccine that will ultimately kill off the virus, leading scientists told The National.
Two years on from when the disease first appeared in Wuhan, China, the international community is still trapped in a cycle of keeping ahead of the coronavirus, adjusting vaccines in response to mutations.
The Omicron variant sweeping across the globe is one of many new strains that could potentially prove deadlier and more transmissible unless a next-generation vaccine is developed.
A dose that makes Covid non-transmissible – like the polio or smallpox vaccines – is still uncertain, with scientists fearing that the virus might never be countered.
“We need a vaccine everywhere and for everybody, because this is a public health intervention and until that happens we are stuck in a cycle,” said Prof David Heymann, formerly of the World Health Organisation.
“Once we get a second-generation vaccine that prevents transmission, which I sincerely hope happens but there are no guarantees, then it's an entirely different story.”
Funding is key
To get to that position a considerable amount of funding will be required, according to Charlie Weller, head of infectious disease prevention at the Wellcome Trust medical foundation.
“International funding is not keeping pace with global research needs,” Ms Weller said. “The WHO’s Access to Covid-19 Tools Acceleration needs an investment of $16.8 billion this year to get lifesaving tests, treatments and vaccines from the laboratory to the front line in the countries that need them most.”
Ultimately, it will benefit the global economy to find a lasting solution to Covid, Dr Ilan Kelman said.
“We're looking at $20 to $30 trillion per year of damage to our world from the pandemic, so putting in a couple of $100 billion into different types of treatments and vaccines is nothing,” said Dr Kelman, professor of disasters and health at University College London. “It’s a false argument to suggest there’s ‘a trade-off’ as you’re not just saving trillions of dollars in damage every year but millions of lives. The knowledge that we have gained from this rapid development of vaccines should absolutely be put into preventing the next pandemic.”
Richer countries had to now move on their funding pledges to avoid further catastrophe because “we are far beyond the time for warm words”, said Sir Jeremy Farrar, a former member of the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies,
“We must invest far more now in next-generation therapeutics and vaccines, ones that not only stop sickness and death, but also prevent transmission and work against potential new variants,” the Wellcome Trust’s director told the BBC.
In a paper passed to The National, his colleague Ms Weller said that “private and philanthropic collaboration on a global scale” was required alongside financial investment on “a never-before-seen level” to develop vaccines.
Next-generation vaccines
The coming year will be key in achieving what “we have so far failed to do” Mr Farrar said, if we are to get ahead of the pandemic and “break this vicious reactive cycle”.
With current inoculations being adjusted to tackle variants such as Omicron, scientists have to rapidly start on third-generation vaccines to address Covid in the long term.
“Within three to five years, scientists will be looking at developing vaccines which cover and protect against multiple variants of Sars CoV-2 and even against multiple coronaviruses,” Ms Weller said.
But there are still many unanswered questions, such as for how long will vaccines provide protection?
“For one year, two years or longer? By knowing this, we may be able to make current vaccine supplies go further,” she said.
Her caveats on a long-term solution are endorsed by Prof Heymann. “It’s going to be a big challenge,” he told The National. “It's questionable whether we will even be able to develop a next-generation vaccine that can prevent transmission. The virus rapidly evolves and mutates, doing what we call ‘drift’, which is what the influenza virus does, in that it changes in such a way as it escapes the immune protection.”
North versus South
There is another little-discussed issue that is playing a significant role in the continuing pandemic.
On the one hand the World Health Organisation and others are calling on richer countries to supply millions more vaccines to the developing world, but these nations do not have the finance, infrastructure or inclination to vaccinate.
“Many developing countries don't yet have the capacity to do that,” said Prof Heymann, who played a significant role in containing the 1976 Ebola outbreak in Zaire, Africa.
“We've seen vaccines wasted in some countries because it's not usual in the southern hemisphere countries to give adult vaccinations like we do in western countries for influenza. They’ve never done this before.
“Also, southern Africa countries prioritise malaria as they see more deaths from that than they do from Covid, so it's a really complicated issue.”
Despite the African continent experiencing a major surge in Omicron cases, there is also a risk that developing countries will question why they should continue Covid boosters because “they think ‘we are doing this is for the northern hemisphere, not for our own countries because we don't need it’”, Prof Heymann said.
Dr Kelman said that asking for continuous inoculation from the developing world could prove too onerous.
“I think that’s absolutely right in regards to the southern hemisphere,” he said. “The diseases that have been eradicated there, such as smallpox or polio, did not require a new shot every six or 12 months. These countries simply don’t have the capacity or the infrastructure for a boost with the huge cost, time and resources.”
Universal vaccine
To be able to make it a global drug, scientists engineering the third generation will need a vaccine that is simple to store without significant refrigeration, easy to manufacture and can protect long term against new variants.
“It can act as a universal coronavirus vaccine,” Ms Weller said. “It may be possible to create a vaccine that protects against all Sars CoV-2 variants and other coronaviruses.”
Because current vaccinations do not provide long-lasting immunity, the universal vaccine is necessary to prevent reinfection, Prof Heymann said. “You'll have to modify it in such a way that it's not similar to the virus. Furthermore, decreasing transmission decreases the risk of mutations occurring allowing the virus to replicate in new people. That has to stop.”
Despite the huge scientific progress made during the two-year pandemic, Mr Farrar said he found it “staggering and deeply frustrating” that governments had failed to unite against the virus. “They are still not anticipating events or working together anywhere near the scale that is required,” he said.
Omicron’s universal spread in early 2022 may well prompt the world to act with a more unified response.
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The%20specs
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In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres
7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m
7.40pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (T) | 2,000m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks | Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile | Group 2 | $250,000 (T) | 1,600m
9.20pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
Klopp at the Kop
Matches 68; Wins 35; Draws 19; Losses 14; Goals For 133; Goals Against 82
- Eighth place in Premier League in 2015/16
- Runners-up in Europa League in 2016
- Runners-up in League Cup in 2016
- Fourth place in Premier League in 2016/17
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
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%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20series%20X%2FS%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
WandaVision
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Scoreline
Arsenal 3
Aubameyang (28'), Welbeck (38', 81')
Red cards: El Neny (90' 3)
Southampton 2
Long (17'), Austin (73')
Red cards: Stephens (90' 2)
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
OPTA'S PREDICTED TABLE
1. Liverpool 101 points
2. Manchester City 80
3. Leicester 67
4. Chelsea 63
5. Manchester United 61
6. Tottenham 58
7. Wolves 56
8. Arsenal 56
9. Sheffield United 55
10. Everton 50
11. Burnley 49
12. Crystal Palace 49
13. Newcastle 46
14. Southampton 44
15. West Ham 39
16. Brighton 37
17. Watford 36
18. Bournemouth 36
19. Aston Villa 32
20. Norwich City 29
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ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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Non-oil%20trade
%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Bawaal%20
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The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sav%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Purvi%20Munot%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24750%2C000%20as%20of%20March%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
India cancels school-leaving examinations
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
