- Marco Cavaleri, head of strategy for health threats and vaccines at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), said the region’s recent uptake of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses has been “rather disappointing”.
- The European average rate of booster vaccination was only 29% in the groups classified as most at risk.
- Although there hasn’t been a significant increase in COVID-19 case rates in recent weeks, Cavaleri said that could change in the colder winter months. Reuters writes.
- Related: Don’t use these 5 non-cost-effective COVID treatments, including Merck and Gilead antivirals, says Britain’s NICE.
- Data from the World Health Organization showed that 724,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the EU last week, down 11% from the previous week.
- Weekly cases hit 1.5 million as experts warned of a new wave of COVID-19 in early October.
- Cavaleri added that available antibody treatments are no longer effective against new subvariants.
- The EMA intends to issue new guidelines for healthcare providers on the subject of such treatments, he said.
- At a December meeting with the FDA and other international experts, the EU regulator would discuss the issue, including the design of clinical trials for next-generation treatments.
- Pfizer Inc PFE has shown efficacy against all COVID-19 variants and subvariants. But instant access to Paxlovid remains a problem in the EU.
- Photo by Johannes from Pixabay
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