Daily COVID Tracker: Nigeria’s zero deaths streak ends, and US backs vaccine patent waiver

Nigeria recorded 52 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Thursday.

Biden backs waiver for COVID-19 patent

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday backed waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, a move that would allow more countries to manufacture the jabs.

“The Administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for COVID-19 vaccines,” Katherine Tai, Biden trade negotiator, wrote in a statement.

Biden and some world leaders had faced pressure from medical experts and World Health Organisation (WHO) to share technology and rights with vaccines manufacturers in poor and middle-income countries to boost production and speed up the response to the pandemic.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, described the waiver as a “monumental moment” in response to the pandemic.

This is a monumental moment in the fight against #COVID19. The commitment by @POTUS Joe Biden & @USTradeRep @AmbassadorTai to support the waiver of IP protections on vaccines is a powerful example of 🇺🇸 leadership to address global health challenges. pic.twitter.com/3iBt3jfdEr

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— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) May 5, 2021

Moderna vaccine booster increases antibodies against COVID variants

Moderna says early human trial data shows that a third dose of either its current COVID-19 jab or a booster shot increases immunity against variants of COVID-19 first found in Brazil and South Africa.

The booster shots were given to 40 volunteers who had already been vaccinated six to eight months prior.

Blood tests showed that half of the volunteers had a low antibody response against B.1.351 and the P.1 variant first seen in Brazil before they got the booster shot.

Moderna said two weeks after the booster, their antibody levels grew against the “wild type coronavirus” — the variant most common around the world — as well as B.1.351 and P.1.

Nigeria confirms 58 COVID-19 infections

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says the country recorded 52 new cases across six states and the federal capital territory (FCT) on Wednesday.

This is the highest number of new cases recorded this week. The country reported 28 cases on Sunday, 18 infections on Monday while 34 cases were recorded on Tuesday.

The zero deaths streak for seven consecutive days ended, with two new deaths reported on Wednesday. The total number of fatalities now stands at 2,065.

Taraba had the highest number of cases on Wednesday with 18 infections.

However, NCDC said “today’s (Wednesday) report includes data from Taraba state recorded between 22nd April and 4th May, 2021”.

Other states that recorded cases include FCT (9), Rivers (9), Lagos (7), Akwa Ibom (6), Kano (2), and Kaduna (1).

Also, 32 persons were discharged on Wednesday, bringing the total number of recoveries to 155,403.

According to the agency, Nigeria now has 165,273 confirmed cases.

Canada approves Pfizer COVID vaccine for children aged 12-15

Canada has authorised Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for use in children between the age of 12 and 15.

Supriya Sharma, an adviser at the Canadian ministry of health, said the vaccine is safe and effective in the younger age group.

“We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.

Tokyo may extend COVID emergency

The Tokyo metropolitan government is said to be considering extending the ongoing state of emergency to curb the spike in COVID-19 infections.

According to Kyodo news agency, the metropolitan government is expected to make a final decision after hearing opinions from health experts on Thursday.

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA