Britain to cover COVID-19 vaccine side-effects under damages scheme

 Britain will pay individuals who suffer any severe side-effects from COVID-19 vaccines under an existing programme, the government said on Thursday, ahead of a rollout of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine in the country following emergency approval.

COVID-19 will be added as a "precautionary step" to the list of diseases covered for potential liabilities under the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme (VDPS), the Department of Health and Social Care said. It added that vaccines would be deployed only after stringent checks. (bit.ly/3mEuZ3I)

Compensation for any possible side-effects from a COVID-19 vaccine has been the subject of much debate in recent months, as drugmakers and governments around the world have worked in record time to develop and approve vaccines against the illness which has created havoc worldwide.

Britain's VDPS was set up in 1979 and covers victims of side-effects caused by common vaccines, such as those against measles, influenza, smallpox and tetanus. In 2009 the vaccine against the H1N1 swine flu was also briefly added to the list.

Under the scheme, individuals are entitled to a lump sum capped at 120,000 pounds ($161,676) if they can prove to have been seriously disabled as a result of a vaccination.

The scheme is meant to dissuade people from seeking compensation through lengthy and costly court proceedings, but has been criticised for the cap and its restrictive conditions.

“The current scheme is not really adequate for the current situation. If adverse events occur, the route to compensation is too complicated. It would be much better if the government set up a bespoke scheme for COVID-19,” said Duncan Fairgrieve, of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law.

Britain said it would continue to monitor the safety of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine after the country on Wednesday became the first in the Western world to approve a COVID-19 vaccine.

The emergency use authorisation does not include liabilities, however, unlike a conditional approval granted by the European Union.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-vaccines/britain-to-cover-covid-19-vaccine-side-effects-under-damages-scheme-idUSKBN28D2WF

Amgen to host investor event on BiTE platform December 8

 

• Following ASH 2020, Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) will host a webcast for investors on Tuesday, December 8, at 4:00 pm ET on its oncology and hematology programs with a particular focus on its BiTE platform, including late-stage pediatric data on Blincyto (blinatumomab) and the first clinical results on AMG 701.
• https://seekingalpha.com/news/3641518-amgen-to-host-investor-event-on-bite-platform-december-8

Pfizer vaccine supply cut wipes out S&P 500 gains, stimulus optimism

 

• The S&P (SP500) -0.1% went from highs to lows of the day, losing about 50 basis points, after the report that Pfizer would only be able to ship the COVID vaccines originally planned due to supply chain constraints.
• The Nasdaq (COMP) +0.2%, helped by software, and Dow (DJI) +0.3%, boosted by Boeing, fared better.
• The S&P had been rallying towards the close before the Pfizer news hit as the noises out of Washington indicated that a bipartisan $908B COVID relief bill might have a shot if it made it to the president's desk.
• Sen. Lindsey Graham said he supported the bill and had talked to President Trump "extensively" about it. But Sen. Mitch McConnell is still leading to a smaller targeted bill.
• The S&P sectors ended split, with six gaining and five declining.
• Energy (NYSEARCA:XLE) was the leader, with crude futures +0.8% edging up after OPEC+ agreed on a small production hike starting in January. Utilities (NYSEARCA:XLU) was the worst performer.
• Tesla was the lone megacap in the green.
• Rates also dropped on vaccine supply concerns. The 10-year Treasury yield was down four basis points to 0.91%
• https://seekingalpha.com/news/3641508-prizer-vaccine-supply-cut-wipes-out-s-and-p-500-gains-stimulus-optimism

Airports reject vaccine requirement as travel debate intensifies

 Aviation industry opposition to requiring mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for passengers has intensified as impending drug approvals trigger a debate over their role in air travel.

Airports Council International, which represents airports worldwide, joined most airlines in calling for a choice between testing or vaccination, fearing a blanket rule imposing pre-flight inoculation would be as disruptive as quarantines.

Qantas Airways triggered the debate last week when it said a COVID-19 vaccination would be necessary for passengers on its international flights, which remain largely idle because of Australia’s strict border controls.

But other airlines, and now global airports, are worried that waiting for vaccines would bar people from traveling until they are rolled out widely, crippling business in regions, such as Europe that have relatively small domestic aviation markets.

“Just as quarantine effectively halted the industry, a universal requirement for vaccines could do the same,” ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira told Reuters.

“While we welcome the rapid development and deployment of vaccines, there will be a considerable period before they are widely available,” he added.

“The industry cannot wait till vaccination becomes available worldwide. During the transition period, tests and vaccines together will play a key role on the industry recovery.”

Australia has indicated people arriving from abroad will need to be vaccinated or to self-isolate in one of a limited number of hotels.

Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce said the policy could spread to other countries, noting proof of vaccination is already required for yellow fever for some destinations.

“Other governments are moving in that direction,” he told reporters on Thursday.

TESTING OR VACCINES?

But the head of airline trade group IATA, which last week downgraded its financial outlook for the sector as a second wave of COVID-19 cases swept Europe and the United States, believes making vaccines compulsory would not work globally.

Systematic testing is “more critical to reopening borders than the vaccine”, IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac told Reuters.

Shukor Yusof, head of Malaysia-based aviation consultancy Endau Analytics, said Southeast Asian countries would take different approaches on vaccine requirements. Asian countries have some of the lowest case numbers of the novel coronavirus globally.

Taiwan Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said on Wednesday that COVID-19 “passports” to show inoculation and infection history are a good idea, but hard in practice.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called on Thursday for a common set of global recognitions for COVID-19 vaccines.

Some experts say vaccines will be difficult to mandate because of limited supply and a range of quality.

Dr David Freedman, a U.S. infectious diseases specialist, believes more countries will follow Britain’s lead and use testing to reduce quarantine times.

“For the majority of the world’s population, especially in the developing world, it’s going to be years before everybody that wants to fly even has the possibility of getting the vaccine,” said Freedman, a professor at University of Alabama at Birmingham.

As more countries develop vaccines, airlines and governments will need to decide which ones to clear.

“The other issue about mandatory vaccines is going to be well what vaccine did you get?” Freedman said. “Do we trust every vaccine that’s made in the world?”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-airports/airports-reject-vaccine-requirement-as-travel-debate-intensifies-idUSKBN28D2TV

US to disseminate paper reminders about COVID-19 vaccine second dose

 The federal government will provide Americans with paper cards to remind them when to get their second doses of COVID-19 vaccines, Operation Warp Speed COO U.S. Army Gen. Gustave Perna said during a Dec. 3 news briefing.

Mr. Perna, who leads logistical planning for federal COVID-19 vaccine delivery, said the government will send kits to pharmacies and healthcare facilities that are distributing the vaccines. He said the kits will include syringes, needles and paper cards to remind patients when they need to receive their second doses.

Patients will be asked to write down the date they need to return for a follow-up visit on the reminder cards, Mr. Perna said. He also said states and pharmacies will establish their own methods of reminding patients about their second doses.

"At the federal level, we have capability and capacity to send second dose messages out only if and when it's in collaboration with state laws, regulations, and policies," Mr. Perna said.

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/pharmacy/us-to-disseminate-paper-reminders-about-covid-19-vaccine-second-dose.html

Walgreens launches data-driven advertising group

 Walgreens on Dec. 3 launched the Walgreens Advertising Group, a media group focused on maximizing return on investment by extracting personalized insights from first-party data.

The group uses data from more than 9,000 Walgreens stores and more than 100 million loyalty members to generate insights, tailoring them based on specific brand goals and objectives. It also offers creative services and reimbursement optimization and measurement tools.

Walgreens Advertising Group provides closed-loop measurement of customer shopping journeys and connects audiences to advertising platforms on third-party and Walgreens-owned channels. The groups will reach customers through a variety of media, including social, video, digital display, streaming audio and email.

"At Walgreens, we have an unparalleled insight into consumers' needs and shopping preferences when it comes to health and wellness items and everyday needs," Luke Kigel, vice president of Walgreens integrated media and head of Walgreens Advertising Group, said in a news release. "Leveraging advanced technology to unlock the power of our first-party data, we can help brands accelerate ROI by delivering relevant and personalized experiences to their highest value consumers."

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/digital-marketing/walgreens-launches-data-driven-advertising-group.html

Moderna to test COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents

 Moderna said Dec. 2 it plans to conduct clinical trials testing its COVID-19 vaccine's safety and efficacy in children ages 12 to 17.

The drugmaker plans to enroll 3,000 children in the trial. Half of the participants will receive two shots of the vaccine 28 days apart, and the other half will receive placebo shots. 

Moderna became the second drugmaker to submit an application to the FDA for emergency use authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine Nov. 30, ten days after Pfizer had done the same. Pfizer began testing its vaccine in adolescents in October.

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/pharmacy/moderna-to-test-covid-19-vaccine-in-adolescents.html