Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Canada May Begin Reopening Border With US On June 22
The mayors of Canadian border cities say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau鈥檚 government has signaled it could start easing Covid-19 restrictions at the Canada-U.S. frontier on June 22 if the country鈥檚 vaccination campaign stays on its current trajectory. Jim Diodati, mayor of Niagara Falls, Ontario, told POLITICO that Public Safety Minister Bill Blair delivered the message during a recent virtual meeting of border mayors from the province. (Blatchford, 6/7)
U.S. biotech Moderna filed Monday data for an EU conditional marketing authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents aged 12 to 18. It鈥檚 the second COVID-19 vaccine maker to apply for a license in children in the EU after BioNTech/Pfizer, whose mRNA vaccine was approved for adolescents on May 28. (Collis, 6/7)
World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called on coronavirus vaccine manufacturers to give half their doses to Covax, the initiative to distribute vaccines equitably, as part of a push to inoculate 30 percent of the world鈥檚 population by Dec. 31. 鈥淪haring vaccines now is essential for ending the acute phase of the pandemic,鈥 he told reporters Monday. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 also clear that in an emergency, low-income countries cannot rely solely on imports of vaccines from wealthier nations.鈥 (Ang, 6/8)
India鈥檚 federal government will provide free coronavirus shots to any adult starting later this month and take back control of the country鈥檚 vaccination drive, marred by delays and shortages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Monday. The changes reverse a policy launched in April which tasked states and the private sector with vaccinating those between the ages of 18 and 44. The federal government will now procure 75% of all vaccines directly from the manufacturers and provide them to the states for free, while the remaining 25% will be purchased by the private sector. (Saaliq, 6/7)
In other global developments 鈥
Roads were being closed off Tuesday around Tokyo Olympic venues, including the new $1.4 billion National Stadium where the opening ceremony is set for July 23. This is a clear sign that Tokyo Olympic planners and the International Olympic Committee are moving forward despite public opposition, warnings about the risks of the games becoming a spreader event, and Tokyo and other parts of Japan being under a state of emergency until June 20. (Wade and Komiya, 6/8)
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization for the World Health Organization (WHO) formally supports the use of Johnson & Johnson's two-dose Ebola vaccine regimen, Zabdeno (Ad26.ZEBOV) and Mvabea (MVA-BN-Filo), both during outbreaks for individuals at risk for Ebola exposure and before outbreaks for first responders, according to a press release today from Johnson & Johnson. (6/7)
A Bozeman (Montana)-based performer and nonprofit leader with a penchant for red noses has partnered with a land mine safety group to create videos, GIFs and games to educate children on the dangers of landmines. Naomi Shafer, a Bozeman resident and executive director of Clowns Without Borders, is part of an international team of performers and educators creating landmine safety videos in four countries. Clowns Without Borders, a nonprofit that performs in refugee camps, conflict zones and natural disaster sites around the world, is working with the Mines Advisory Group to create online content to reach audiences after in-person events were halted due to the pandemic. (6/6)