AstraZeneca claims higher antibody response against omicron with booster dose

AstraZeneca said on Thursday that there was a higher antibody response against the omicron COVID-19 variant when its vaccine was given as a third booster dose.

The claim comes after new data from trials showed efficacy against the newer form of COVID-19 and previous variants including beta, delta, alpha and gamma.

Developing

Pandemic experts express concern over avian influenza spread to humans

The ongoing global spread of “bird flu” infections to mammals including humans is a significant public health concern, senior UN medics said on Thursday, as they announced new measures to tackle airborne diseases.

Health

Violations of women’s reproductive health rights trigger rise in preventable deaths

African women are 130 times more likely to die due to pregnancy or childbirth complications than women in Europe and Northern America, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA) said in a new report published on Wednesday.

Health

Nigeria first country to introduce ‘revolutionary’ meningitis vaccine

Nigeria has become the first country to roll out a “revolutionary” five-in-one vaccine against meningitis, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement on Friday.