To speed up access to COVID-19 vaccinations in the developing world, on the eve of the new year, the UN health agency approved Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine for emergency use.

Regulatory experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) from around the world and UN agency’s own teams reviewed the data on the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and found on Thursday that it met WHO’s must-have criteria for safety and efficacy – with its benefits offsetting any potential risks.

“This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to COVID-19 vaccines,” said Dr. Mariângela Simão, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products.

“But I want to emphasise the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere.”

A UN statement said the move opens the door for countries to expedite their own regulatory approval processes to import and administer the vaccine.

It also enables UNICEF and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) to procure the vaccine for distribution to countries in need.

The statement said at the same time, WHO is encouraging more developers to come forward for review and assessment to satisfy the critical supply for all countries globally to stem the pandemic.

“WHO and our partners are working night and day to evaluate other vaccines that have reached safety and efficacy standards,” said Dr. Simão.

The statement said drawing from WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) population prioritization  recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, which were issued in September, the group will convene on 5 January to formulate vaccine specific policies and recommendations.

Meanwhile, WHO is working with regional partners to advise national health authorities about the two-dose shot and its anticipated benefits.

WHO, with the GAVI Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), are spearheading a global effort called COVAX to secure the equitable distribution of vaccines to all countries and not just to wealthy nations. (PANA/NAN)

By Harrison Arubu

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday issued a proclamation extending the suspension of issuance of work visas and green cards.

Trump imposed the measures in April and June to protect job opportunities for American workers amid a rise in unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proclamation came hours before the president’s executive order on the immigration restrictions was set to expire.

The order will now expire at the end of March, extending into the first term in office  of President-elect Joe Biden, who has vowed to reverse Trump’s immigration policies.

The proclamation said allowing immigrant workers into the country would “pose a risk of displacing and disadvantaging U.S. workers during the economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak”.

“The effects of COVID-19 on the United States labour market and on the health of American communities is a matter of ongoing national concern.

“And the considerations present in Proclamations 10014 and 10052 have not been eliminated,” Trump wrote in the proclamation.

The president first imposed the restrictions on the issuance of green cards for immigrants in April, and expanded it in June to limit several other work visas.

They include new H-1B tech worker visas, H-2B seasonal worker visas, certain J work and education exchange visitor visas and L executive transfer visas.

The proclamation said the recent surge in COVID-19 cases had surpassed previous highs in June.

This, in addition to implementation of pandemic-related restrictions, has placed further strain on U.S. businesses, it said.

“The effect of recently approved vaccines and other treatments has not yet been fully realised for the U.S. labor market.

“While the November overall unemployment rate in the United States of 6.7 per cent reflects a marked decline from its April high, there were still 9,834,000 fewer seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in November than in February of 2020,” the proclamation added.

The order applies only to foreigners who are currently outside the U.S. and do not yet have permission to enter.

Those who already have permanent residency are not affected, and there are exceptions for certain people, including spouses and children of U.S. citizens. (NAN)

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement comes into effect on January 1, 2021, but Zambia is one of the 21 countries that have not yet deposited their instruments of ratification.

Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Christopher Yaluma, disclosed at a media briefing in Lusaka on Thursday that the official launch of the AfCFTA will take place at a virtue event which will be graced by the African Union (AU) Chairperson, South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, and Ghana President, Nana Akuffo Addo.

Yaluma, however, disclosed that among the 55 Member States, Zambia is one of the 21 countries that have not yet deposited their instruments of ratification.

According to the Minister, the country has been given Cabinet approval to ratify the agreement but that it is currently under consideration by parliament for approval.

Yaluma revealed that Zambia became a signatory to the framework agreement establishing the AfCFTA since February 10, 2019.

He explained that the launch entails that AU Member States will now trade with each other across regional blocks under a single preferential trading regime.

The Minister noted that the establishment of the AfCFTA is part of the AU’s wide agenda to boost intra Africa trade and contribute to the attainment of the envisioned Africa in line with the vision 2063.

“I take this opportunity to signal the launch of the start of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement scheduled to commence on January 1st, 2021. The launch of the start of trading under AfCFTA is a culmination of years of intense negotiations by AU Member States, work which is still going on,” Yaluma stated.

The AfCFTA was officially launched on March 21, 2018, in Kigali, Rwanda. As of December 2020, 54 AU Member States had signed the AfCFTA agreement. (PANA/NAN)