Global COVID-19 digest: WHO to investigate origins of the pandemic

The group of 26 scientists is from the WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) with expertise in epidemiology, animal health, clinical medicine, virology, and genomics. 

The group will also study the ways to prevent future pandemics. 

“SAGO will advise WHO on the development of a global framework to define and guide studies into the origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential, including SARS-CoV-2,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. 

Overall, the number of weekly deaths continues to decline, reaching its lowest in nearly a year.  But the real number of cases still remains high, he said. 

“Deaths are declining in every region except Europe, where several countries are facing fresh waves of cases and deaths. And of course, deaths are highest in the countries and populations with the least access to vaccines,” he said. 

Addressing the vaccine gap has repeatedly been voiced by world leaders as a priority task to overcome the pandemic. But, according to WHO, 56 countries did not reach the target of vaccinating 10 percent of their populations by the end of September. The majority is in Africa. 

Brazil 

While some countries are struggling to get vaccines, others show reluctance to get a jab. President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro said he would not be vaccinated. 

"I decided not to take the vaccine anymore. I'm seeing new studies, my immunity levels are through the roof. I am going to get the vaccine for what? It would be the same thing as playing $10 in the lottery to win $2. That's out of place," he said, as quoted by CNN. 

Brazil had nearly 21.5 million confirmed cases since the pandemic began, and more than 601,000 coronavirus-related deaths, the second-highest in the world after the United States. Brazil has the highest number of cases along with the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Turkey.

The vaccination rate remains low in Brazil with only 50 percent of the population fully vaccinated against the virus. 

Cuba

Cuba is the world’s leader in terms of total vaccine doses per 100 people. The total vaccine doses, however, do not imply the number of people vaccinated. 

According to Our World in Data, 59.6 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. Cuba uses its own produced vaccines - Abdala, Soberana-2, or Soberana-plus.

The officials in Cuba set a goal to vaccinate 90 percent of its population by December.

As of October 18, there have been 928,684 confirmed cases and 7,994 deaths. 

Germany

Coronavirus tests are no longer be free in Germany from October 11 as part of the effort to encourage more people to vaccinate. 

At the same time, tests will remain free for minors, people from low-income families, and people who need attest to complete quarantine as well as people who have symptoms. 

Germany has so far administered more than 109 million doses. 65.7 percent of the population is fully immunized. 

There have been more than 4.3 million infections and close to 95,000 deaths since the pandemic began.

Kazakhstan 

Kazakhstan will begin revaccinating its citizens in the third decade of November.

People from risk groups  - health workers, teachers, staff of medical and social institutions and closed institutions, employees of the security forces; people over 60 years old; people who have independently tested and have a negative test result for antibodies against coronavirus will be in the first groups for revaccination. 

Based on international experience, it is recommended that an additional dose be given 6 to 9 months after completion of the full course of vaccination against coronavirus. Those who received vaccination with vector vaccines will have revaccination after 9 months with inactivated or m-RNA vaccine.

Persons vaccinated with inactivated vaccines are revaccinated in 6 months with vector or mRNA vaccine, and persons who have been vaccinated with mRNA-vaccine will revaccinate after 6 months with inactivated or vector vaccine.

So far, there have been nearly 920,000 coronavirus cases and 78,004 coronavirus pneumonia cases since the first case was reported in the country in March 2020, according to coronavirus2020.kz. 8 million people received the first dose and close to 7.2 million received the full vaccination course.