Incidence rate around 100 can be achieved in a short time
- Details
Ireland shows that targeted measures help
"An incidence rate of around 100 per 100,000 citizens per week can be achieved in a short time if the right measures are taken”, says the health spokesperson of the largest group in the European Parliament, Dr med Peter Liese (EPP, Christian democrats) with regards to the developments in Ireland. "Between the mid- and end-October, Ireland had higher infection rates per 100,000 inhabitants than Germany and many other European countries, but has now arrived at an incidence rate of 100.7. This shows that targeted measures can help and improve the situation. Ireland has introduced a level-model.
The highest level has led to a decrease in infections and these measures in place are stricter than those currently applied in many other European countries. Measures include, for example, to limit the capacity of public transport to 25%. People may only meet one household, however, there are exceptions for those who live alone, need help, or when facing isolation. There is a general obligation to stay in home office whenever possible and the following rules apply to schools: schools remain open, but rather strict restrictions apply especially for students in secondary schools: The distance between students' desks is 2m, between students sitting at the same desk is at least 1m. Distancing rules also apply in elementary school, but are less strict.
Read more: Incidence rate around 100 can be achieved in a short time
Third vaccine candidate with high efficacy
- Details
Several approvals possible before the end of the year / AstraZeneca uses well-known technology / Pandemic will lose its horror in spring and may be over in the EU by summer, even more reason to hold out now
The University of Oxford and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca have just presented the results of the efficacy of their corona vaccine candidate. "This is another piece of very good news. The interim results of the studies give us hope that three vaccines will be available very quickly, perhaps as early as this year," said MEP Peter Liese, health policy spokesperson of the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats).
“The efficacy seems to be lower than with Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna but the vaccine still has advantages. AstraZeneca uses a well-known technology, namely a so-called vector vaccine. Here a harmless virus is modified so that it contains parts of the corona virus and thus provokes a vaccination reaction. Although I have great confidence in the projects of BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna, it is nevertheless good that we also have a vaccine candidate that uses a different technique. It may be that the AstraZeneca vaccine is more suitable for certain groups of people and it would certainly be an alternative for people who do not accept the novel m-RNA vaccines. Another advantage is that the vaccine is significantly cheaper than BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna," said the doctor and MEP.
Pharmaceutical strategy of the European Commission important step to be more independent from China and to address future pandemics
- Details
The European Commission published its pharmaceutical strategy today in Brussels. The strategy will contain many legislative and non-legislative actions for the future pharmaceutical policy, including a revision of basic pharmaceutical legislation and the specific regulation on orphan drugs and paediatrics. Due to the current pandemic, action to address this and future pandemics are of course in the focus of the debate.
The health spokesperson of the biggest political group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats) Peter Liese said: “The strategy is important to ensure that our pharmaceutical industry is competitive but moreover that all patients receive the necessary treatment at an affordable price. We need to do a lot for example to make anti-cancer drugs for children more available and affordable. The core of the current debate is how we can be less dependent from China and India when it comes to lifesaving pharmaceuticals. The crisis has shown that the problem that has existed before is getting bigger and bigger.
The next good news: Vaccine from Moderna also seems to be very effective
- Details
Although it is an American company, the vaccine is also produced in Europe / EU has signed a preliminary agreement / Pfizer boss Bourla has to make a statement about his shares in order not to discredit the process / AstraZeneca results expected soon
"This is again very good news", commented MEP and health policy spokesman of the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats) Dr. med Peter Liese on the news that the company Moderna has published results according to which its vaccine is even more effective than the vaccine from BioNTech/Pfizer. The company announced on Monday that they found a result of 94.5% in tests.
"As with BioNTech/Pfizer, this percentage still needs to be studied in detail and we will not have a vaccine until the European Medicines Agency has approved it. However, I expect this to happen in the next few weeks. The Moderna vaccine, although it is developed by an American company, will be partly produced in the EU and it is therefore good that the EU has already concluded preliminary contracts. I also expect the vaccine from the Swedish-British consortium AstraZeneca to be launched on the market in the next few weeks. I expect the results of the research to be published daily. Then we would have three vaccines to choose from already this year and we could start vaccinating risk groups and medical staff in January. All this shows that the EU is on the right track with the support of the companies and the preliminary contracts", Liese said.
Read more: The next good news: Vaccine from Moderna also seems to be very effective