Pfizer vaccine possibly strengthened by 8-week gap between jabs

Jul 23 2021

UK researchers have concluded that a longer gap between the first and second doses of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine makes the immune system produce more infection fighting antibodies. The findings, experts say, support the UK’s decision in extending dose intervals from the initial suggestion of three weeks. The UK initially extended the gap to 12 weeks at the end of 2020, but the gap was reduced to around eight weeks as everyone over 18 has now been offered at least the first jab.

Despite the paper being not yet peer reviewed, the initial research suggests that both short and long dosing intervals of the Pfizer vaccine generate strong immune responses overall. Joint chief investigator in the Pitch study Prof Susanna Dunachie stated that two doses were better than one but the interval is somewhat flexible depending on the circumstances. Public Health England showed the Pfizer vaccine is immensely effective at reducing levels of serious disease, hospital admissions and death, even after one dose.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Reuters

Indonesian man with COVID-19 sneaks onto plane disguised as wife

Jul 23 2021

An Indonesian man managed to get onto a domestic flight whilst positive for COVID-19 by disguising himself as his wife. His plan would have been a success if he hadn’t decided to change into his regular clothes midway through the flight. A stewardess raised the alarm after she realised what happened, resulting in the man, whose name has not been revealed, being detained and tested immediately upon landing.

The man allegedly carried his wife’s passport and her negative COVID-19 test result. Wearing a full-face veil known as a niqab to get onto the flight, authorities say they will move to prosecute him as soon as his quarantine ends. Indonesia is currently facing strict travel restrictions after having become the epicentre of the virus in Asia. Registering almost 50,000 cases a day, hospitals have been overwhelmed with patients and a lack of resources.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Aviation Tribune

Malta listed as high-risk for money laundering by UK

Jul 23 2021

Malta has been placed among a list of high-risk countries for money laundering and terrorist financing. Malta was placed on the list along with Haiti, Philippines and South Sudan, as Ghana was removed. The regulations came into force on the 13th of July, with Malta joining the likes of Yemen, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

The regulations concern purposes of enhanced customer due diligence requirements. This follows Malta’s grey-listing by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). This reflects significant deficiencies in Malta’s anti-money laundering and funding of terrorism framework.

With Malta facing increased monitoring, it will need to demonstrate progress on several factors in order to be removed off the grey-list. The government has revealed that an 18-month plan to get off the list is in the works, with the Opposition Party pledging a 3 month plan should it be reelected.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Health Europa

Some countries not recognising J&J vaccine passports issued in Malta

Jul 23 2021

Recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Malta are facing issues in certain EU countries as their certificates are being registered as invalid. The governmental apps used to verify EU digital COVID-19 certificates through QR code scanning in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg are registering the Maltese J&J certificates as invalid. Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna certificates are being accepted however.

Times of Malta reports the experience of several Maltese or foreign nationals inoculated in Malta who reported such experiences. One particular individual, Steve Abela, reported how on his holiday in France earlier this month he was denied access to a bar to watch a football game after his J&J certificated was scanned as invalid.

Checking by scanning his certificate with government applications of three other countries, he realised the document was posing the problem. With France requiring a COVID-19 passport to access a wide range of venues, Abela reported how airports were not checking QR codes but instead did so manually.

Authorities have allegedly been contacted by Abela and others, but no reply was issued. 12 other people reported to Times of Malta with similar issues – revealing how Switzerland’s ‘Certificate Check’, Belgium’s ‘Covid Scan’, and Luxembourg’s ‘CovidCheck.LU’, along with France’s ‘TousAntiCovid’, weren’t recognising Johnson & Johnson certificates.

This poses a problem as, according to the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), around 9,000 people have been given the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Malta.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Open Access Government