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J&J delay slows global vaccine rollout

REUTERS
A vial of the Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus disease vaccine is seen at Northwell Health’s South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, New York, US, March 3, 2021. — REUTERS/SHANNON STAPLETON/FILE PHOTO

THE PAUSE in the rollout of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine marks another setback for the world’s inoculation campaign, just as it was picking up speed in Europe and other regions where immunizations have lagged.

The drug maker suspended shots in Europe after US officials urged pausing vaccinations to review rare cases of deadly brain clots, similar to those seen with AstraZeneca Plc’s vaccine. Several countries in Asia were on the verge of deciding whether to approve J&J’s inoculation before the safety issue arose, while Australia had already ruled out any purchases.

In the European Union (EU), which is struggling to quell a fresh wave of the pandemic, the suspension came as the bloc was finally accelerating vaccinations after trailing far behind the US and UK Without J&J’s one-dose shot, it would take until December to inoculate three-quarters of the EU population, according to Airfinity Ltd., a London-based research firm.

The stakes are higher for poorer countries reliant on Covax, a vaccine-access initiative backed by the World Health Organization. The group has an advance purchase agreement for as many as 500 million doses of the J&J shot. The African Union signed a deal last month for 400 million doses this year and next, with deliveries set to start in the third quarter.

“The US doesn’t need J&J’s vaccine, but the rest of the world is in trouble,” said Sam Fazeli, an analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence.

‘ENOUGH DOSES’
The US has enough doses from the Pfizer, Inc.-BioNTech SE alliance and Moderna, Inc. to cover its adult population by July, Mr. Fazeli wrote in a report. “The rest of the world has to weigh opening up its economies versus using vaccines with rare side-effects.”

The US was right to pause its use of the J&J shot after six women developed blood clots in the brain after getting it, Mr. Fazeli said, even though the clots so far have been reported at a rate of one per million vaccinated people. That compares to about one per 100,000 for the Astra vaccine.

At a briefing Tuesday, FDA officials said the length of the pause will depend on what they learn, but they expect it to be a “matter of days.”

While the J&J shot hasn’t been widely used in Asia, that was poised to change. Most places in the region didn’t need vaccinations to protect against the virus since strict social distancing and other mitigation measures kept it firmly in check. The immunizations are critical, however, for reopening to the broader world.

Regulators in New Zealand are slated to decide Thursday on the vaccine, and say they will take the latest information into account. The Philippines was expected to sign with J&J this week, while Thailand approved it for emergency use on March 25. India, facing a mounting outbreak, has said it will fast-track approvals of shots that other countries cleared, including the one from J&J.

South Korea, which granted the company conditional approval last week and has placed the largest order in the region for it, said it will monitor the US suspension and track the shot’s safety. It isn’t expecting shipments until the third quarter. Japan also said it’s gathering information on J&J’s vaccine.

The safety setback could delay delivery of one billion doses of vaccine designated for the region by 2022. The immunizations were pledged at a meeting last month of the “Quad,” made up of the leaders of the US, India, Japan and Australia.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it isn’t clear whether there’s a causal link between the J&J vaccine and the clotting disorder. It began a review of the cases last week and will say more once it finishes the evaluation. About 6.8 million people in the US have received the J&J shot.

The EMA is watching developments closely and is in contact with the FDA, EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said in a Tweet.

After examining the rare cases of clotting in those who received the AstraZeneca shot, the EMA warned last week of a link but said that the vaccine’s benefits still outweigh its risks.

EU countries had expected deliveries of some 55 million J&J doses this quarter. Shortly before the US news, Italy’s pandemic emergency czar General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo had hailed the imminent arrival of the first batch, due Tuesday afternoon at an airport south of Rome.

Italy and other EU countries will now hold onto their doses and use other vaccines until the FDA gives the green light on the J&J shot, according to people familiar with the plans, who asked not to be identified because the discussions aren’t public.

The optics could hardly be worse for EU nations: the arrival of a new vaccine undermined by concerns similar to those that are prompting some Europeans to shun AstraZeneca’s shot. Some EU countries are limiting the Astra vaccine to older people, and should the bloc ultimately restrict the J&J shot to people over 60 it would delay vaccination of three-quarters of the population until mid-November, Airfinity estimates.

The vaccine is under review in the UK but hasn’t been approved there yet. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will evaluate safety reports before making a decision, Siu Ping Lam, director of licensing, said in a statement.

The J&J vaccine, like the one developed by Astra and the University of Oxford, uses an adenovirus to deliver the genetic material into the body to provoke a defense against Covid-19. The Oxford-Astra vaccine uses a chimpanzee adenovirus to achieve the response, while J&J’s is derived from humans. Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine and one from China’s CanSino Biologics, Inc. also rely on that approach.

The clot question has left some buyers wary of adenovirus vaccines altogether. On Tuesday, Australia said it wouldn’t purchase any more of that type of Covid shot, ending talks with J&J over a procurement deal. — Bloomberg

As Biden’s emissaries go to Taiwan, China terms military exercises as ‘combat drills’

REUTERS

BEIJING  — China described its military exercises near Taiwan as “combat drills” on Wednesday, hours before the arrival of senior former US officials in Taipei on a trip to signal President Joseph R. Biden’s commitment to Taiwan and its democracy.

Taiwan has complained over the proximity of repeated Chinese military activity, including fighter jets and bombers entering its air defence zone and a Chinese aircraft carrier exercising off the island, claimed by Beijing.

Twenty-five Chinese air force aircraft including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday, the largest reported incursion by Taipei to date.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said Taiwan’s government and separatists were colluding with “external forces,” seeking provocation and to damage peace and stability. “The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) organizing of actual combat exercises in the Taiwan Strait is a necessary action to address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and to safeguard national sovereignty,” spokesman Ma Xiaoguang said. “It is a solemn response to external forces’ interference and provocations by Taiwan independence” forces, he added.

“The PLA’s military exercises and training operations are sending a signal that our determination to curb Taiwan independence and Taiwan-US collusion is not just talk.”

The United States, which like most countries only officially recognizes China’s government and not Taiwan’s though is Taipei’s strongest international backer, has watched tensions mount with growing alarm.

Former US Senator Chris Dodd and former Deputy Secretaries of State Richard Armitage and James Steinberg arrive in Taiwan later on Wednesday, in what a White House official called a “personal signal” of the president’s commitment to Taiwan and its democracy.

They are due to meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday, on a trip that is further straining Sino-US relations.

Presidential office spokesman Xavier Chang said the trip “again shows the Taiwan-US relationship is rock solid, and is a full expression of cross-party support for Taiwan in the United States”.

Mr. Tsai has repeatedly said Taiwan is an independent country called the Republic of China, its formal name.

Mr. Ma said a meeting with the president “will only exacerbate the tense situation in the Taiwan Strait.

“We resolutely oppose the US’ exaggeration of the so-called ‘Chinese military threat’ argument, and resolutely oppose the US playing the ‘Taiwan card’ and continuing to send wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces,” he added.

“Taiwan independence is a dead end and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party are trying to “use arms to seek independence,” Mr. Ma said.

“That is to drink poison in the hopes of slaking one’s thirst, and will only push Taiwan towards disaster.” — Reuters

The clock is ticking

TOKYO 2020 FB PAGE/UTA MUKUO
ONE hundred days before the start of the Tokyo Olympics, the organizers face a deluge of challenges and growing uncertainty as the pandemic rages. In photo is the new Japan National Stadium. — TOKYO 2020 FB PAGE/UTA MUKUO

Tokyo scrambles to stage pandemic Olympics

TOKYO — When Japan won the bid to host the Olympic Games eight years ago, it billed Tokyo as a reliable and secure location, contrasting it with rivals struggling with finances and political instability.

But 100 days (on Thursday) before the start of the Olympics, the organizers face a deluge of challenges and growing uncertainty as the pandemic rages around the world, affecting decisions on everything from athlete safety to spectator numbers to ticket sales.

The biggest headache is the resurgent coronavirus, with countries like India and Brazil battling new variants and a fresh rise in cases. In Japan, vaccinations have been the slowest among developed economies, as Tokyo has lurched in and out of soft lockdowns. Infections are on the rise, and experts worry the city is on the cusp of an “explosive” jump in cases.

As a result, foreign spectators have been barred, parts of the torch relay have been re-routed, and the organizers are yet to decide what to do with the domestic audience. This has caused major challenges for sports venues and travel agencies, already grappling with restrictions to block the virus.

“The situation is constantly shifting. Even in the last few months, the coronavirus situation has changed massively, and it will continue to do so, and it’s very challenging to continue preparations when we don’t know what the situation will be in the future,” said Hidemasa Nakamura, the top organizing committee official overseeing logistical preparations for the Games.

His team has created the first “playbook” with COVID countermeasures, including rules banning visits to shops and restaurants. If visiting athletes break protocol, it could result in their being barred from competing.

But Nakamura pledged to overcome the challenges as “one team” and told Reuters it was “important to show what we have now, receive feedback, and finalize the playbook step by step, not to have these discussions behind closed doors.”

The next update to the rules is expected this month, he said.

REAL SCRAMBLE
Nakamura said that the summer heat poses another obstacle for Tokyo, and “there will be situations where it’s hard to balance both heat and coronavirus countermeasures,” such as when people in masks queue outside venues.

Tokyo government official Yoichiro Hara, who oversees preparations on public roads around the venues, added that “the symptoms of heat exhaustion can be similar to those of the coronavirus.”

Hara said his team is considering whether medical staff at first aid stations should wear full protective suits, but with the difficulty of gauging the prevalence of the virus in July and no decision yet on the number of spectators, they have been unable to decide on how many stations are needed.

Another challenge is the athletes’ village, expected to house 15,000 people from more than 200 countries to compete in 33 sports at 42 venues. The organizers have planned for 126,000 volunteers to shepherd athletes and spectators around the city.

“The medical system is already under strain. Our local health center can’t possibly take care of those athletes in the village,” said Hideki Hayakawa, director of Olympic coordination unit at Tokyo’s Chuo ward, where the village is located.

Hayakawa said that and other issues are still being negotiated with the Tokyo government.

Some local organizers complain that information from Tokyo has come slowly, and that they learn about key developments from the media. Others, like Mie Watanabe, readying the road race course in Oyama, a city 90 kilometers (56 miles) southwest of Tokyo, worry months of their work could go to waste.

“The fact that we don’t know if roadside spectators will be allowed is a big problem for us — it means some of our preparations won’t be needed,” said Watanabe, listing items such as tents, toilets, and parking spaces.

Organizers in Oyama have set aside money to buy up to 5,000 masks for the onlookers — if they are allowed to gather.

“Once we do find out, it’s going to be a real scramble,” Watanabe said. — Reuters

FIBA Esports Open III to feature 60 national teams

WHEN the third edition of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Esports Open tips off on Friday, April 16, it will feature an expanded field of 60 national teams.

The number is up from the 38 in the previous iteration of the tournament which gathers top esports teams in the world, including from the Philippines.

As in the second FIBA Esports Open, there will be six regional conferences.

Six teams will battle it out in the Southeast Asia, Africa, and Middle East conferences while North & Central America will have eight sides. South America will have seven teams while 27 will play in the Europe Conference.

For the first time, the North & Central America and Europe Conferences will consist of two divisions: Current Generation (PS4) and Next Generation (PS5).

Group stage games are scheduled for Friday and the best-of-three Play-Off series will follow on Saturday and Sunday.

There are three different weekends for the FIBA Esports Open III. Starting the competition off will be the Southeast Asia, Africa, Middle East Conferences on April 16-18, to be followed on April 23-25 by the North & Central America (Current Generation) and Europe (Current Generation).

The Open concludes May 7-9 and will involve North & Central America (Next Gen), Europe (Next Gen) and South America.

The tournament will mark the third straight time that the Philippines will take part in the Open.

Team Philippines, or “E-Gilas,” was among the winners in the first edition of the FIBA Esports Open held in June, ruling the Southeast Asian conference by sweeping Indonesia in their five-game series.

In the second edition in November, it finished runner-up to Australia in the reconfigured Southeast Asia/Oceania conference. The E-Boomers swept the Filipinos in their best-of-three finals.

For the about-to-start tournament, E-Gilas will have to contend against an expanded field which is divided into two groups.

The Philippines is in Group I with Vietnam and Maldives while Group 2 features Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Mongolia.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas officials shared to BusinessWorld that E-Gilas will be composed of “practically the same team” that saw action in the second edition. As part of its preparation, the team has been having “friendlies” with the other countries in the lead-up.

For the Africa Conference, meanwhile, competing are the Ivory Coast, Egypt, Tunisia, Gabon, Togo, and Madagascar.

The Middle East has Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.

North & Central America Current Gen will see Barbados, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Mexico fight it out while in the Next Gen it will be the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.

South America, for its part, has Argentina, Uruguay, Guyana, and Colombia (Group 1) and Brazil, Venezuela, and Chile (Group 2).

Europe Current Gen has Latvia, Ireland, Estonia, and Poland in Group 1, Russia, Ukraine, Andorra, and Armenia in Group 2, Cyprus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, and Iceland in Group 3, and Austria, Lithuania, Montenegro and Portugal in Group 4.

For Europe Next Gen, meanwhile, are Turkey, Switzerland, Denmark, and Slovenia (Group 1), Germany, Spain, Luxembourg, and France (Group 2), and Italy, Great Britain, and Belgium (Group 3).

All games, just like in the previous editions, will be available on FIBA’s digital channels with live content being streamed across Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube channels.

In coming up with the FIBA Esports Open, the world basketball governing body looks to add further dimension to it as an organization while also affording the basketball community more action amid the coronavirus pandemic. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

PRFU’s Milby prioritizes safe return to action

“[WE are working] with government agencies to ensure a safe return to play for all athletes and support role personnel based in the country,” said Philippine Rugby Football Union president Ada Milby as among their thrusts amid the pandemic.

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

WHILE the ongoing pandemic has effectively halted its activities and programs, the local rugby federation remains undeterred, continuously assessing the situation and charting the path to take moving forward, including the safe return to action once allowed.

Speaking to Asia Rugby, the governing body of rugby union in the region, Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) president Ada Milby shared that the forced break they are having is being used to recalibrate their tack and prepare the group and the community for what lies ahead.

“[We are working] with government agencies to ensure a safe return to play for all athletes and support role personnel based in the country,” said Ms. Milby, the first woman to be appointed to the World Rugby Council in 2017.

“We are also using this time to review our governance structures and how to adjust our targets as we’re halfway through our current strategic plan. This allows us to consider new threats and opportunities for the union in how we grow and develop the game,” added the PRFU official, who was elected to her post last December.

In the past years, the sport of rugby has been gaining ground in the country and the PRFU among the best performing sports federations here.

Philippine national rugby teams are having steady success in international tournaments, including winning a gold medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games for the men’s team and silver for the women’s side.

Ms. Milby said the goal for them is to continue the momentum the sports has generated in the country and build on the gains but admitted that the pandemic has made things trickier.

Despite the challenges, the PRFU refuses to be “limited,” finding ways to engage their members while, at the same time, trying to grow the community.

“We are prioritizing engagement in non-conventional ways aimed at retaining our current stakeholders since rugby is about more than sport: it’s about community,” she said.

Zeroing in on her position as head of the PRFU and official in various councils abroad, Ms. Milby considers it as an honor and looking forward to taking on the challenge and doing more for rugby, especially here in the Philippines.

She also takes special pride in it, being a woman at the forefront of the rugby scene, just as she underscored the value of collaboration to achieve success.

“It has been exciting and rewarding,” she said, adding, “I wouldn’t claim any achievement as solely my own because all achievements on any council or committee are a result of the collective effort of the members that sit on them.”

Apart from Ms. Milby, also in the PRFU roster of officials are Rick Santos (secretary-general), William Bailey (treasurer), and Steve Payne, Jaime Urquijo, Timothy Kong, and Maxwell Stewart (board trustees).

PSG knocks holder Bayern out of Champions League to reach semifinals

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN ACADEMY GERMANY FB PAGE
KYLIAN Mbappé and Paris St.-Germain reached the Champions League semifinals after defeating holder Bayern Munich. — PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN ACADEMY GERMANY FB PAGE

PARIS — Paris St.-Germain (PSG) reached the Champions League semifinals despite a 1-0 home defeat by holder Bayern Munich on Tuesday as it progressed on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate result in a thriller that was on a knife edge until the final whistle.

Bayern striker Eric Choupo-Moting scored the only goal before the interval, but it was not enough to overturn the German side’s 3-2 loss in last week’s first leg.

Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG side, which struggled at times in Munich, had the clearest chances but lacked efficiency, with Neymar hitting the woodwork twice and Kylian Mbappé’s speed proving tough to handle but with no end product.

PSG kept its composure in a nerve-wrecking finale to book a last-four spot against Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund, which play on Wednesday, as it aims to reach the final for the second year in a row in its third semifinal appearance.

Bayern eventually paid for the absence of injured talismanic striker Robert Lewandowski and forward Serge Gnabry, who had tested positive for the coronavirus, while PSG managed to live without captain Marquinhos and influential midfielder Marco Verrati.

“Now, we’re in the semifinals and we can dream big,” said Neymar.

Pochettino added: “We were very focused. It was a really tough match — I’m really happy because the players deserve big credit. To win and qualify for the semifinals is an amazing moment for us.”

COUNTER THREAT
PSG’s home form has been a cause for concern this season, but this time, it did not freeze and proved extremely dangerous on the break throughout the match.

Without the injured Marquinhos, Danilo started alongside Presnel Kimpembe in central defense for the French champion while Bayern was also without Leon Goretzka in the midfield.

Bayern applied the pressure early on, but PSG threatened on the counter with Mbappé and Neymar having the early chances in an error-strewn start.

The visitors had their first attempt in the 25th minute when Leroy Sane’s curled short from outside the box went just wide.

PSG came then close on a quick break as Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer denied Neymar in a one-on-one after the Brazilian had been found unmarked by Mbappé.

Neymar was at it again three times in a handful of minutes with a powerful shot that Neuer deflected onto his post, a superb curled effort that crashed against the bar and another attempt that hit the post after he was played through by Mbappé.

But Bayern then went in front as Choupo-Moting headed home after PSG keeper Keylor Navas deflected David Alaba’s shot into the path of the former PSG player, giving the German champions the lead on the night five minutes before the break.

PSG went close again early in the second half when the excellent Ángel Di Maria controlled Mbappé’s cross and sent the ball past a flying Neuer across the goal only for Neymar’s stretch to come up inches short as he tried to slide it home.

Mbappé thought he had equalized in the 78th minute after being played through by Neymar from just inside Bayern’s half, but a VAR review confirmed Italian referee Daniele Orsato’s decision to rule it out for offside.

Flick’s team created danger in the box repeatedly in the closing stages, but the home defense held firm as PSG avenged last year’s 1-0 final defeat by Bayern. — Reuters

Lightweight world championship fight headlines ‘ONE on TNT II’

REIGNING ONE Championship world lightweight champion Christian Lee — ONE CHAMPIONSHIP
REIGNING ONE Championship world lightweight champion Christian Lee defends his title against Timothy Nastyukhin in the headlining fight at “ONE on TNT II” on Thursday in Singapore. — ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

REIGNING ONE Championship world lightweight champion Christian Lee defends his title against Timothy Nastyukhin in the headlining fight at “ONE on TNT II” on Thursday in Singapore.

The second offering of the four-part “ONE on TNT” series of the promotion, the fight will see Mr. Lee (14-3), representing Singapore, make his second title defense this time against number three contender Nastyukhin (14-4) of Russia.

Mr. Lee successfully defended the lightweight title in October last year over Moldovan Iuri Lapicus by way of technical knockout in the opening round.

He won the title in May 2019 over Japanese legend Shinya Aoki.

Looking to seize the title is Mr. Nastyukhin, who is currently riding a two-fight winning streak in ONE. His last victory came over Pieter Buist of The Netherlands last November by unanimous decision.

The other fight in the main card of “ONE on TNT II” is the atomweight muay thai clash of American Janet Todd and Anne Line Hogstad of Norway.

Lead card fights, meanwhile, will have featherweight Shinechagtga Zoltsetseg of Mongolia against Yoshiki Nakahara of Japan, South Korean flyweight Kim Kyu Sung versus Chinese Wang Shuo, and bantamweight Mitchell Chamale (United States/Guatemala) against Shuya Kamikubo (Japan).

The “ONE on TNT” series is a breakthrough offering of ONE Championship which sees its fights shown digitally and on television on prime time in the United States.

“ONE on TNT II” will be shown in the country live on One Sports at 8:30 a.m. with an encore telecast on April 18 at 12 a.m. over TV5. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Kevin Durant, Nets cruise past Timberwolves

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KEVIN Durant led the shorthanded Brooklyn Nets to a comfortable 127-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday in Minneapolis. — BROOKLYN NETS FACEBOOK PAGE

KEVIN Durant scored 31 points on 11-for-15 shooting to lead the shorthanded Brooklyn Nets to a comfortable 127-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday in Minneapolis.

The Nets snapped a five-game losing streak at Minnesota and beat the Timberwolves for the second time in the past 16 days.

The game was played without any fans in attendance at the Target Center after being rescheduled from Monday in the wake of the police shooting of Daunte Wright, which sparked protests around the city of Minneapolis.

In his third game back after missing the previous 23 with a hamstring strain, Durant played 27-plus minutes and led a Nets squad which was without James Harden (right hamstring strain), Kyrie Irving (personal reasons), LaMarcus Aldridge (illness), and Tyler Johnson (right knee soreness).

Brooklyn shot 46-for-91 (50.5%) from the field including 15-for-36 from three-point range and recorded 31 assists, marking its 19th game this season with 30 or more. The Nets cruised from the second quarter on against Minnesota, which was without center Karl-Anthony Towns.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said pregame that Towns opted out of playing on Tuesday to spend time with his family as he mourns the one-year anniversary of his mother’s death as a result of the coronavirus.

Rookie Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 27 points and eight rebounds while D’Angelo Russell finished with 15 points off the bench.

The Nets, who are without Spencer Dinwiddie (partially torn right ACL) likely for the remainder of the regular season, played what became the first of back-to-back games before heading to Philadelphia.

Brooklyn used a 16-1 run to open a 23-point lead to start the second quarter and led by as many as 45 points in the fourth quarter.

Joe Harris scored 23 points and went 5-for-8 from three-point range while Landry Shamet totaled 19 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench. DeAndre Jordan had 13 points and seven rebounds and shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the field.

Brooklyn’s Chris Chiozza left the game after playing 14 minutes with a hand injury. — Reuters

Are China’s COVID shots less effective? Experts size up Sinovac

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

The lower protection rates of China’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have raised concerns about shots that are key to inoculation rollouts from Brazil to Indonesia, especially after their efficacy was questioned by one of the most senior Chinese health officials.

Bloomberg spoke to two experts about the vaccines, zeroing in on the Sinovac Biotech Ltd. shot, which has been the focus of a crisis in confidence after it posted efficacy levels of just above 50% in a final-stage trial in Brazil — the minimum required by leading global drug regulators. Other Chinese immunizations have delivered rates between 66% to 79%, still far below the shots developed by Pfizer Inc., Moderna Inc., and even Russia’s Sputnik vaccine that have logged protection rates of more than 90%.

More than 30 countries have rolled out the Sinovac shot, most of them in the developing world, but also Hong Kong. The vaccine is key to China’s own mammoth push to inoculate 560 million people — 40% of its population — by the end of June.

The good news is the vaccines work extremely well in combating severe COVID-19 infections, according to Fiona Russell from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne and Paul Griffin, a professor from the University of Queensland in Brisbane. Bloomberg asked them key questions about the merits of the Sinovac shot. Their comments have been edited and condensed for brevity.

HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE SINOVAC VACCINE REALLY?
Russell: The Sinovac study was to look at how the vaccine works against the entire range of clinical symptoms, from mild infections to severe ones, including death. The efficacy data of about 50% is for very mild disease, requiring no treatment. For infections requiring some medical intervention, it’s about 84% and for moderate-to-severe COVID cases, it’s 100%.

That’s what you expect from COVID vaccines — higher efficacy against more severe infections and lower against milder ones. From what I can see, it looks like a very worthwhile vaccine. The problem with the data is it didn’t include many old people or many people with co-morbidities.

Griffin: My impression is the efficacy seems likely to be above the minimum threshold set by the World Health Organization but less efficacious than a number of other leading vaccine candidates. While it may be less effective against symptomatic COVID (mild infections), the efficacy in severe cases is very high, which is an incredibly valuable property of any vaccine, including this one.

WHY DOES IT HAVE VARYING EFFICACY RATES IN DIFFERENT STUDIES?
Russell: This has caused a bit of confusion. The trials were done in Brazil, Indonesia, and Turkey. Each of the studies have come with different results. In Brazil, you’ve got the P.1 variant circulating and so potentially the vaccine efficacy may be different due to that. I’m not familiar with what was circulating in Turkey or in Indonesia at the time of the study but that could obviously change the results.

Also, it’s very hard to directly compare results from different trials because they have to be interpreted in the context of the study design. The case definitions — the way a COVID-19 case is identified in a clinical trial — they used were different, so were the endpoints of the studies.

Griffin: This shows how variables in clinical trials can impact the results. Different strains circulating in a nation are a big variable that can alter the efficacy readout. Virus strains are vitally important in determining vaccine efficacy.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE VACCINE?
Russell: The recommended schedule for two doses of the Sinovac shot in the trial was two weeks, though some people spread it longer than that, even one month apart. Theoretically, tweaking the schedule is definitely an option. Mixing vaccines — starting with one type and then boosting it with a different one — is another option but there’s a lot more we need to know about those variations.

Griffin: It’s very likely that the dosing interval is critically important and certainly sounds like it was a variable in Sinovac’s clinical trials as well. We need another clinical trial to ascertain whether adding another booster increases efficacy. In terms of heterologous boosting — using a mix of different vaccines — the research is underway. A lot of people are optimistic but until we have the data, it’s hard to know.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO REACH HERD IMMUNITY WITH SINOVAC?
Russell: That depends on a number of things — the circulating variant, the coverage required and the degree to which the vaccine prevents virus transmission. But we don’t have a lot of data yet on transmission.

Griffin: If we have a less effective vaccine, we are going to need to inoculate more people to achieve that. Its potential to reduce virus transmission is likely to be less too but again, without good data it’s hard to be sure. With very high coverage, even a moderately effective vaccine is perhaps better than a highly effective vaccine with poor coverage. So, it depends on the uptake among other factors.

SHOULD PEOPLE TAKE THE SINOVAC VACCINE?
Russell: I would have no hesitation, provided it secures regulatory authority approval. For protecting people from ending up in hospitals, Sinovac’s shot looks terrific as the efficacy data for preventing hospitalization and death is 100%.

Griffin: Yes. While it may mean that we don’t reduce the cases overall or achieve herd immunity, we will still be successful in reducing severe COVID infections and therefore, the burden on the health care system. If the vaccine is approved by the relevant regulators, then I think we need to have faith that it’s safe and effective in that population.

If there are multiple vaccines available, then people could potentially opt for one that has demonstrated superiority in clinical trials. But if that’s not possible, then having this vaccine is better than not being vaccinated at all. — Bloomberg

GoDaddy launches e-store product for small businesses

GoDaddy

GoDaddy, a domain registrar and web hosting company, launched an e-store product that allows small businesses to create their own virtual storefront and manage all their online needs in one place. 

In a survey conducted by the company on the Filipino entrepreneur, they found that 1 out of 3 businesses was created in response to the pandemic. Sixty percent also said technology is essential in ensuring their ventures weather crises, with 38% looking at getting into e-commerce, and 69% looking to learn more about social media tools. 

“As a brand, we are a one-stop-shop,” said  Tina Shieh, GoDaddy’s marketing director for Asia Pacific. “We have domain services, professional emails, security offers… so customers can better manage all the tools they need in one place.” 

The e-store product features social media integration, support for various payment modes, options for different shipping methods, chat platform integration, SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certification, and built-in marketing tools. It has a customizable drag-and-drop interface that connects to social media pages with single-click buttons. It also has more than 40 payment providers onboard — including Stripe, Square, and PayPal — with alternative payment methods available for cash on delivery and e-wallets.

GoDaddy offers a one-month free trial that doesn’t require credit card information so that customers can figure out what suits their needs and technical skills. 

To protect sellers from bogus buyers, the e-store has a management feature that allows the entry of customer data. Payment providers that have ownership verification can also help minimize fraud.

“Digital strategy is all about omni-channels,” Ms. Shieh said at the launch. “Start with a message you can control, and then consolidate all the components of digital into one platform.” 

GoDaddy E-Store’s starter plan is priced at P795 per month; its premium plan, P1,299 per month. Discounted rates are offered to new customers on the website.

Biden administration proceeding with $23 billion weapon sales to UAE

WASHINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has told Congress it is proceeding with more than $23 billion in weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates, including advanced F-35 aircraft, armed drones and other equipment, congressional aides said on Tuesday.

A State Department spokesperson said the administration would move forward with the proposed sales to the UAE, “even as we continue reviewing details and consulting with Emirati officials” related to the use of the weapons.

The Democratic president’s administration had paused the deals agreed to by former Republican President Donald Trump in order to review them. The sales to the Gulf nation were finalized right before Trump left office.

The Trump administration told Congress in November it had approved the U.S. sale to the UAE as a side deal to the Abraham Accords, a U.S.-brokered agreement in September in which the UAE agreed to normalize relations with Israel.

In the last months of the Trump administration, Israel reached deals with the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco as part of the accords.

The $23.37 billion package contained products from General Atomics, Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Technologies Corp, including 50 F-35 Lighting II aircraft, up to 18 MQ-9B Unmanned Aerial Systems and a package of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions.

 

YEMEN CONFLICT

Some U.S. lawmakers have criticized the UAE for its involvement in the war in Yemen, a conflict considered one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, and worried that the weapons transfers might violate U.S. guarantees that Israel will retain a military advantage in the region.

Israel said it did not object to the sales.

A legislative effort to stop the sales failed in December, as Trump’s fellow Republicans in Congress backed his plans.

The Trump administration then finalized the massive sale to the UAE on Jan. 20, about an hour before Biden was sworn in as president.

The Biden administration announced the review in late January and the UAE said then it had anticipated the review and welcomed joint efforts to de-escalate tensions and for renewed regional dialogue.

The State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday the estimated delivery dates on the UAE sales, if implemented, were for after 2025 or later.

The government anticipated “a robust and sustained dialogue with the UAE” to ensure a stronger security partnership, the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

“We will also continue to reinforce with the UAE and all recipients of U.S. defense articles and services that U.S.-origin defense equipment must be adequately secured and used in a manner that respects human rights and fully complies with the laws of armed conflict,” the statement said.

The Biden administration is also reviewing its policy for military sales to Saudi Arabia, including some Trump-era weapons deals, in light of the Saudi involvement in Yemen and other human rights concerns.

It has not released the results of that review. In February, U.S. officials told Reuters the administration was considering cancelling past deals that posed human rights concerns and limiting future sales to “defensive” weapons. – Reuters

Level up your gaming experience with vivo Y20s [G]

Games provoke various sensations in every stage. During the challenges, players participate with full of excitement and energy. Then marvelous feels would arise when they achieve victory.

Yet in the virtual arena, the electronic device would also have a large impact on the gaming experience. Thus, players expect them to match their abilities for a great sensation in both competing and winning.

Focusing on helping the users take part in different games through an affordable device, global technology company vivo launches the vivo Y20s [G]. This new smartphone is now available for purchase for only P9,999 in select vivo stores and kiosks nationwide and at vivo’s official Lazada and Shopee stores.

Aside from being able to go through the notable gaming features firsthand, customers who will purchase the vivo Y20s [G] until April 15 will get a free True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earphones worth P2,499, which can accompany the users with a good audio experience during the game.

Among the gaming necessities added in vivo Y20s [G], the most advantageous is the inclusion of the MediaTek Helio G80 octa-core gaming processor. It is an ideal feature for mobile gamers since it ensures sustained performance and longer gameplay. 

Moreover, the MediaTek Helio G80 improves several types of gaming by creating a highly responsive user experience, fast artificial intelligence performance, great accuracy in engine positioning, and boosted connectivity for an increased speed response between the smartphone and cell tower.

Users can also have a better game in vivo Y20s [G] with the assistance of Multi-Turbo 3.0. Remarkably, this feature can foresee the system abnormalities caused by third-party applications and solve these problems even before they take place.

Since there is an obvious anticipation of active gaming in this new smartphone, vivo prepared it with HyperEngine Game Technology. It is responsible for accelerating the game load times and fixing latency issues by managing multiple networks.

Additionally, vivo already expected the installations of various gaming programs. Hence, gamers may not find this an issue in vivo Y20s [G]. The smartphone has a capacity of 6GB and 128 GB RAM + ROM to accommodate several digital needs of a gamer.

Speed improvements and generous storage of mobile phones are not the only features that matter in mobile games. The players also look forward to having a prolonged gaming time with good visual quality. Hence, vivo Y20s [G] contains a battery of 5000mAh and 18W fast charging features for an extensive playing time. Also made with a 6.51-inch HD+ display, this smartphone can show an excellent view of the game.

Developed with the gamers in mind, the vivo Y20s [G] can thus provide an efficient virtual involvement in the game. Its distinctive features allow the users to constantly sense the thrill from the start of the game, during the challenges, until the finish line.

To have that optimum gaming experience, along with the free TWS earphones, avail of the vivo Y20s [G] in vivo stores and kiosks nationwide now. Y20s [G] is also available for purchase at vivo’s official Lazada and Shopee stores.

For more details about the vivo Y20s [G], visit www.vivo.com/ph or follow vivo Philippines on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram