RNA vaccines

The European Commission has granted approval for the Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5-adapted COVID-19 vaccine, a groundbreaking step in the fight against the ever-evolving pandemic. Developed by Novavax, this marks the first protein-based vaccine tailored to address the unique challenges posed by the autumn-winter season.

EU regulators have recommended authorizing an updated Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech which targets the dominant XBB.1.5 variant of Omicron, putting it on track to become the third adapted shot  by the two companies to be approved in the bloc.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) recommend considering a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 60 to 79 years and those in a state of health that makes them exposed to a high risk of acute diseases.

With COVID-19 numbers rising again, Health Ministry opened up booster shot appointments in an effort to increase dropping the number of infections.

One of BioNTech, Sinovac or Turkovac vaccines can be chosen for the booster shot, which will be the sixth dose for those aged 65 and over and also those in risky groups.

Australia will offer a fourth Covid-19 vaccine to everyone over 30, health authorities said Thursday, as hospitals bulge with patients in a winter wave of infections.

The government said it is recommending a fourth jab for over 50s -- but also offering it to everyone over 30 despite benefits to the younger age group being unclear.

With the number of weekly coronavirus infections, which was 26,635 last week, having surpassed 57,000, experts once again warn citizens to get their booster shots if six to eight months have passed since the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"The new wave of the spread of covid in the world has already begun". This was stated by the CEO of Pfizer Albert Bourla in an interview with the newspaper "The Jerusalem Post".

A total of 7,556 COVID-19 cases were reported in Turkey between June 6 and 12, the Health Ministry said in its weekly coronavirus statistics. 

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca had previously announced that the ministry would stop publishing daily statistics after the number of cases started to decline.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has shown hints that the end of the coronavirus pandemic is nearing while visiting tradesmen in the southeastern province of Adıyaman unmasked and shaking hands with them.

"We are going back to our old days when measures or curbs did not exist," Koca said on April 25.

Preclinical data on the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine developed at MedUni Vienna show that it is effective against all known variants of SARS-CoV-2, including Omicron - even in individuals who have not yet developed immunity to SARS-CoV-2 as result of vaccination (unresponsive cases). The survey data was recently published in the leading journal Allergy.