Kyrgyzstan to hold Phase 3 trials of Turkey's Covid jab – latest updates

Sunday, September 12, 2021

Turkey's homegrown jab to be tested in Kyrgyzstan

Trials of Turkey’s domestic Covid-19 vaccine will also be conducted in Kyrgyzstan, the Turkish vice president has announced.

Fuat Oktay, who returned from a visit to Kyrgyzstan this week, said Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has given his nod for Phase 3 trials of the Turkovac jab in the Central Asian country.

“We are continuously striving to offer our domestic vaccine for the benefit of all humanity, not just our own nation,” Oktay said, adding that he had extensive discussions with Japarov on the matter.

“Negotiations are also ongoing with many countries, particularly Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Argentina, Colombia and Poland, for Phase 3 trials of our vaccine.”

The inactive vaccine, jointly developed by the Turkish Health Ministry, Health Institutes of Turkey, and the Erciyes University, has successfully gone through Phase 1 and 2 trials in Turkey.

Italy reports 34 deaths, 4,664 new cases
Italy has reported 34 coronavirus-related deaths against 57 the day before, the health ministry said, while daily new infections stood at 4,664.

Turkey administers over 101.74M vaccine

Turkey has administered over 101.74 million coronavirus vaccine jabs since the country launched an immunization drive in January, according to the latest figures.

Over 51.53 million people have gotten their first Covid-19 vaccine dose, while more than 40.3 million are fully vaccinated, the Health Ministry said.

Separately, the ministry reported 21,352 new coronavirus cases, while as many as 243 more people lost their fight against the disease in the last 24 hours.

More than 50% of Japan's population vaccinated

Japan's government says more than 50 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated.

Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is in charge of Covid-19 measures, told NHK public television’s weekly talk show that about 60 percent of the population is expected to be fully vaccinated by the end of September, on par with current levels in Europe.

Uganda faces 'epidemic' of teenage pregnancies during pandemic

Government officials and experts have shown concern at the rising cases of teenage pregnancies in the landlocked East African country of Uganda during the Covid-related restrictions.

Education officer Nelson Ayo claimed that over 90,000 girls under 18 have got pregnant during the period when they were not going to school.

Education Minister Janet Museveni urged parents to guard their daughters.

“I will not get tired of reminding you (parents) to always keep an eye on your children so that they do not get pregnant during this lockdown,” she said.

UK records 56 deaths, 29,173 new cases

UK has reported 56 new deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test, down from 156 a day earlier, and 29,173 new cases, again lower than the 29,547 recorded the day before.

Bangladesh schools reopen after 18-month shutdown

Children in Bangladesh flooded back into classrooms as schools reopened after 18 months, one of the world's longest coronavirus shutdowns.

The resumption came after UNICEF warned that prolonged school closures during the Covid-19 crisis were worsening inequities for millions of children across South Asia.

In the capital Dhaka, students at one school were welcomed with flowers and sweets, and told to wear masks and sanitise their hands. Some hugged each other in excitement.

Merkel urges Germans to get jab

Chancellor Angela Merkel has implored Germans to make use of a week-long Covid-19 vaccination campaign in which people can get a free jab at mosques, shops and football pitches.

"Never was it simpler to get a vaccination. Never has it been quicker," Merkel said in her weekly podcast, adding people could get a dose without an appointment on public transport and at places of worship and sports facilities.

Chinese city with coronavirus outbreak stops buses, trains

A city in southern China that is trying to contain a coronavirus outbreak told the public not to leave town, suspended bus and train service and closed cinemas, bars and other facilities.

Anyone who needs to leave Putian, a city of 2.9 million people in Fujian province south of Shanghai, for an essential trip must have proof of a negative coronavirus test within the past 48 hours, the city government announced.

In Putian, 19 new infections that were believed to have been acquired locally were reported in the 24 hours, according to the National Health Commission. One was reported in Quanzhou, also in Fujian.

Meanwhile, China has administered a total of 2.143 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines, data from the National Health Commission showed.

Russia sees more than 18,500 cases

Russia has reported 18,554 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours. 

The daily death toll surged to 788, official data showed.

Russian authorities blame the spread of the more contagious Delta variant and a low vaccination rate for the third wave of coronavirus infections, which peaked in July.

India reports 338 new deaths

India has recorded 28,591 new Covid-19 cases and 338 deaths in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.

Infections have risen to 33.23 million and deaths to 4,42,655, it said.

No more Covid-19 lockdowns, UK minister suggests

British Health Minister Sajid Javid has said he did not expect the country to see any more lockdowns to fight the Covid-19 crisis and ruled out the use of vaccine passports to allow people to attend mass events.

"I am not anticipating any more lockdowns. I think it would be irresponsible for any health minister around the world to take everything off the table but I just don't see how we get to another lockdown," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr show.

Asked about so-called Covid passports, Javid added: "What I can say is that we've looked at it properly and whilst we should keep it in reserve as a potential option, I am pleased to say we will not going be going ahead with plans for vaccine passports."

Australia's Queensland avoids Covid-19 lockdown as cases dip in Victoria

Queensland, Australia's third most populous state, said it does not need to order a lockdown after it detected zero infections in the past 24 hours.

The state on Saturday reported five cases, with state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warning that a lockdown could be needed to stop the spread of the virus.

Australia's second most populous state said daily Covid-19 infections fell slightly.

Victoria state said it recorded 392 infections in the past 24 hours, down slightly on the 450 cases recorded one day earlier.

Brazil registers 712 more deaths

Brazil has reported 14,335 new coronavirus cases and 712 additional deaths in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said.

More than 585,000 people have died from the virus in Brazil, with nearly 21 million cases, the ministry says.

Mexico records 675 more deaths

Mexico has recorded 12,511 confirmed coronavirus cases and 675 more fatalities from the virus, according to Health Ministry data, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Latin American nation to 3,506,743 and the overall death toll to 267,524.