People ride a New Jersey bus after the US government announced it would no longer enforce a mask mandate on public transport. Reuters
People ride a New Jersey bus after the US government announced it would no longer enforce a mask mandate on public transport. Reuters
People arrive at a New Jersey transit station after the nationwide public transport mask mandate is repealed. Reuters
People arrive at a New Jersey transit station after the nationwide public transport mask mandate is repealed. Reuters
A healthcare administrator checks paperwork at a mobile Covid-19 testing centre outside Pennsylvania Station in New York City. Reuters
A healthcare administrator checks paperwork at a mobile Covid-19 testing centre outside Pennsylvania Station in New York City. Reuters
A person carries a sign protesting Covid-19 vaccines in Washington. AFP
A person carries a sign protesting Covid-19 vaccines in Washington. AFP
A sign urges passengers to wear masks at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. Bloomberg
A sign urges passengers to wear masks at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. Bloomberg
Travellers wait for transport outside of the Los Angeles International Airport. AP
Travellers wait for transport outside of the Los Angeles International Airport. AP
President Joe Biden receives his second Covid-19 booster shot on March 30, 2022, in Washington. AP
President Joe Biden receives his second Covid-19 booster shot on March 30, 2022, in Washington. AP
A nurse registers people for second booster shots of the Covid-19 vaccine in Waterford, Michigan. Reuters
A nurse registers people for second booster shots of the Covid-19 vaccine in Waterford, Michigan. Reuters
A woman gets a haircut as the indoor mask mandate is temporarily reinstated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Reuters
A woman gets a haircut as the indoor mask mandate is temporarily reinstated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Reuters
Travellers walk to their destinations at the Los Angeles International Airport. AP
Travellers walk to their destinations at the Los Angeles International Airport. AP
A nurse administers a Covid-19 booster vaccination at a clinic in San Rafael, California. AFP
A nurse administers a Covid-19 booster vaccination at a clinic in San Rafael, California. AFP
A medical worker administers Covid-19 tests in Brooklyn, New York. AFP
A medical worker administers Covid-19 tests in Brooklyn, New York. AFP
A Covid-19 testing site stands on a Brooklyn street corner in New York City. AFP
A Covid-19 testing site stands on a Brooklyn street corner in New York City. AFP
US President Joe Biden removes his face mask before delivering remarks at the White House in Washington. Reuters
US President Joe Biden removes his face mask before delivering remarks at the White House in Washington. Reuters

World

US

US FDA advisers recommend Covid-19 vaccines for nation's youngest

Children aged 5 and under will soon be able to receive vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer

AFP

June 15, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

A panel of experts convened by the US Food and Drug Administration recommended the Covid-19 vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech on Wednesday for the nation's youngest children.

Formal authorisations should follow quickly, with the first shots expected by next week after expected approvals by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

“This recommendation does fill a significant unmet need for a really ignored younger population,” said Michael Nelson, a professor of medicine at the University of Virginia.

Prof Nelson was one of the 21 experts who unanimously said the benefits of the Moderna vaccine outweighed the risks.

Opening the meeting, senior FDA scientist Dr Peter Marks said that despite studies showing most children had now been infected with coronavirus, the high rate of hospital admissions among infants, toddlers and young children during last winter's Omicron wave showed the urgent need for vaccination.

“We are dealing with an issue where we have to be careful we don't become numb to the paediatric deaths because of the overwhelming number of older deaths,” Dr Marks said.

The US has recorded 480 Covid-19 deaths in the 0-4 age group so far in the pandemic, official data shows, far higher than even a “terrible flu season”, he said.

As of May, there had been 45,000 hospital admissions in that age group, nearly a quarter of whom required intensive care.

Both vaccines were tested in trials of thousands of children. They were found to bring on similar levels of mild side effects as in older age groups and caused similar levels of antibodies.

Italian sculptor Sergio Furnari poses for pictures in front of 'The Hero Monument' heart sculpture on October 25, 2021, in New York. AP
Italian sculptor Sergio Furnari poses for pictures in front of 'The Hero Monument' heart sculpture on October 25, 2021, in New York. AP
The Washington Monument where US President Joe Biden hosts a memorial to honour those who died from Covid-19 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, January 19, 2021. Reuters
The Washington Monument where US President Joe Biden hosts a memorial to honour those who died from Covid-19 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, January 19, 2021. Reuters
A woman takes selfies with her daughter in front of 'The Hero Monument' in New York. AP
A woman takes selfies with her daughter in front of 'The Hero Monument' in New York. AP
Italian sculptor Sergio Furnari stands next to his car near 'The Hero Monument' sculpture in Manhattan, New York. AP
Italian sculptor Sergio Furnari stands next to his car near 'The Hero Monument' sculpture in Manhattan, New York. AP
Christopher Edwards holds up a memorial to those who died from Covid-19, including his grandmother, Brenda Meadows, in Washington, May 5, 2021. AFP
Christopher Edwards holds up a memorial to those who died from Covid-19, including his grandmother, Brenda Meadows, in Washington, May 5, 2021. AFP
A woman and child look at the 'Naming the Lost Memorials' at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. Reuters
A woman and child look at the 'Naming the Lost Memorials' at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. Reuters
Faces of victims of Covid-19 are projected on to the Brooklyn Bridge on March 14, 2021, in New York. Getty Images via AFP
Faces of victims of Covid-19 are projected on to the Brooklyn Bridge on March 14, 2021, in New York. Getty Images via AFP
Artist Suzanne Firstenberg's temporary art installation, 'In America: Remember' in Washington, September 17, 2021. AP
Artist Suzanne Firstenberg's temporary art installation, 'In America: Remember' in Washington, September 17, 2021. AP
A cyclist rides past the 'In America: Remember' memorial. Reuters
A cyclist rides past the 'In America: Remember' memorial. Reuters
One of the flags that make up the 'In America: Remember' installation. AP
One of the flags that make up the 'In America: Remember' installation. AP
Visitors mourn at the 'In America: Remember' memorial. AP
Visitors mourn at the 'In America: Remember' memorial. AP
The memorial with the Washington Monument in the background. AP
The memorial with the Washington Monument in the background. AP
An aerial view of the memorial. AP
An aerial view of the memorial. AP
A flag with a message for a loved one. AP
A flag with a message for a loved one. AP
The installation consisted of more than 600,000 flags. AP
The installation consisted of more than 600,000 flags. AP
A mourner visits the memorial. AP
A mourner visits the memorial. AP
A visitor sits on a bench near the memorial. AP
A visitor sits on a bench near the memorial. AP
Two people hug as they look at the thousands of white flags. Reuters
Two people hug as they look at the thousands of white flags. Reuters
Part of artist Suzanne Firstenberg's temporary art installation. AP
Part of artist Suzanne Firstenberg's temporary art installation. AP
Hundreds of Covid survivors march across the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, August 7, 2021, in New York. AP
Hundreds of Covid survivors march across the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, August 7, 2021, in New York. AP
A woman holds an image of her husband as hundreds of Covid survivors gather at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn. AP
A woman holds an image of her husband as hundreds of Covid survivors gather at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn. AP
A sign at a Covid survivors' march in New York. AP
A sign at a Covid survivors' march in New York. AP
US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive for a memorial for victims of Covid-19 in Washington. Getty Images / AFP
US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive for a memorial for victims of Covid-19 in Washington. Getty Images / AFP
The Washington Covid-19 Memorial. Photo: National Parks Service
The Washington Covid-19 Memorial. Photo: National Parks Service
The Washington Covid-19 Memorial. Photo: National Parks Service
The Washington Covid-19 Memorial. Photo: National Parks Service

Efficacy against infection was higher for Pfizer, with the company placing it at 80 per cent, compared to Moderna's estimates of 51 per cent for children aged six months to 2 years and 37 per cent for those aged between 2 and 5.

But the Pfizer figure is based on very few cases and is thus considered preliminary.

It also takes three doses to achieve its protection, with the third shot given eight weeks after the second, and 11 weeks after the first.

Moderna's vaccine should provide strong protection against severe disease after two doses, given four weeks apart, and the company is studying a booster that would raise efficacy levels against mild disease.

But Moderna's decision to go with a higher dose is associated with higher levels of fever in reaction to the vaccine compared to Pfizer.

White House officials last week said the distribution of 10 million shots to pharmacies and doctors' offices could begin as soon as June 21.

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The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (53')

Atletico Madrid 1
Griezmann (57')

Red Sparrow

Dir: Francis Lawrence

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons

Three stars

If you go...

Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).

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On Women's Day
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:

Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona

Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate

Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid

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1987

1954

1921

1888

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Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
  1. Steve Baker
  2. Peter Bone
  3. Ben Bradley
  4. Andrew Bridgen
  5. Maria Caulfield​​​​​​​
  6. Simon Clarke 
  7. Philip Davies
  8. Nadine Dorries​​​​​​​
  9. James Duddridge​​​​​​​
  10. Mark Francois 
  11. Chris Green
  12. Adam Holloway
  13. Andrea Jenkyns
  14. Anne-Marie Morris
  15. Sheryll Murray
  16. Jacob Rees-Mogg
  17. Laurence Robertson
  18. Lee Rowley
  19. Henry Smith
  20. Martin Vickers 
  21. John Whittingdale
Results
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Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

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Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

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Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
Second ODI

England 322-7 (50 ovs)
India 236 (50 ovs)

England win by 86 runs

Next match: Tuesday, July 17, Headingley 

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England XI for second Test

Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings, Ben Stokes, Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes (wk), Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Jack Leach, James Anderson

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Saturday  (UAE kick-off times)

Leganes v Getafe (12am)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Levante v Alaves (4pm)

Real Madrid v Sevilla (7pm)

Osasuna v Valladolid (9.30pm)

Sunday

Eibar v Atletico Madrid (12am)

Mallorca v Valencia (3pm)

Real Betis v Real Sociedad (5pm)

Villarreal v Espanyol (7pm)

Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)

Monday

Barcelona v Granada (12am)

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm) 
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm) 
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm) 
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn  (4.30pm) 
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm) 
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)

Sunday, May 17

Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)

Monday, May 18

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)

Updated: June 15, 2022, 9:26 PM`
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