Coronavirus live news: North Korea rejects Covax offer; Australia secures vaccine swap with UK | World news

Covid jab tech will assist struggle most cancers

Scientists have been speaking this morning concerning the information that the know-how behind the Covid vaccine might assist struggle Most cancers.

Researchers have designed a two-dose vaccine they hope can goal tumours in people. With a purpose to create the remedy, scientists designed their vaccine to focus on proteins which might be current on the floor of many sorts of most cancers cells.

When examined in mice, the vaccine elevated the numbers of anti-tumour T cells that assault cancerous growths, serving to to extend survival charges.

The workforce at Oxford College now have the go-ahead to do human trials.

Prof Benoit Van den Eynde advised Sky Information: “The vaccine know-how based mostly on viral vector is extraordinarily highly effective. In recent times we’ve got had a brand new strategy to deal with most cancers … immunotherapy … it has had outstanding outcomes. However some sufferers immune system doesn’t reply. So … the thought right here is to make use of a vaccine based mostly on the Oxford know-how to essentially to show the immune system methods to recognise most cancers cells.”

Colleges in France reopened to 12 million college students this week with all kids over the age of six sporting masks. Related Press stories this morning that the measures are seen as key to conserving faculties open.

The vaccine is on the market in France to over 12s, with consent wanted from one mum or dad for below 16s. The vaccination programme goes properly, with greater than 63% of youngsters aged 12-17 having obtained not less than one shot, and 47% absolutely vaccinated.

In French major faculties, if one little one checks constructive for the virus, the category closes for seven days. In center and excessive faculties, kids who take a look at constructive and those that aren’t vaccinated and have been in touch with them will likely be positioned into isolation for not less than one week. These absolutely vaccinated will likely be allowed to maintain going to highschool.

France is among the international locations world wide that has maintained the very best fee of in-person courses through the Covid-19 disaster. The nation closed its faculties fully or partially for 12 weeks between March 2020 and July this yr, in contrast with 38 weeks in neighbouring Germany and 58 weeks within the US, based on Unesco figures.

Dad and mom consent might be required for 12-15s to have jab

The Instances is reporting this morning that folks might want to give their written permission for below 15s to get the Covid vaccination. Earlier options had been that kids would have the ability to resolve for themselves in the event that they needed the jab.

The event is reported to be a part of makes an attempt to convey dad and mom onboard with the plans to vaccinate youthful teenagers. Sajid Javid, the well being secretary, is alleged to needs faculties to comply with procedures used for routine childhood immunisation programmes. This could imply faculties sending out consent varieties and never vaccinating except they’re returned.

The Instances quotes Prof Helen Bedford of the Royal Faculty of Paediatrics and Little one Well being saying that this was more likely to defuse the potential for rows, with nurses phoning dad and mom who didn’t return varieties to debate considerations. She says: “In follow, most [vaccinations] are given by college nurses and it’s most unlikely, if you realize for sure the mum or dad doesn’t need it, that you’d go forward.”

A choice is but to be made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on whether or not kids aged 12-15 will likely be vaccinated.

That’s it from me, Helen Livingstone for right now. I’m handing over to my UK colleague, Harriet Grant.

Earlier than I’m going, right here’s a quick roundup of Covid-related information from the previous 24 hours:

• Australia has secured 4m doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines in a swap take care of Britain, the prime minister Scott Morrison has stated, as he makes an attempt to persuade states and territories to stay to a nationwide reopening plan.

• New Zealand has reported 28 new circumstances of coronavirus locally, a drop of 21 in contrast with the day gone by, in an “encouraging” signal that the nation’s lockdown is working, deputy prime minister Grant Robertson has stated.

• The US plans to speculate $3bn (£2.2bn) within the vaccine provide chain because it continues to work to place the US as a number one provider of vaccines for the world, Reuters stories.

• The European Union has agreed to ship thousands and thousands of coronavirus vaccine doses made in South Africa again to the continent, AFP stories.

• Schoolchildren in France returned from their summer season holidays to be advised to get vaccinated by headteachers and the French president Emmanuel Macron.

India has reported 45,352 new Covid-19 circumstances previously 24 hours, the well being ministry stated on Friday, with 366 deaths.

Complete infections have now risen to 32.9 million and deaths to 439,895.

In case you missed it, Guardian Australia has been operating a brand new sequence that goals to provide a voice to folks from all walks of life who’re adapting to altering circumstances within the coronavirus pandemic. On this newest dispatch, reporter Mostafa Rachwani spoke to a grocery store supervisor and a postman:

North Korean chief Kim Jong-un has ordered officers to wage a harder epidemic prevention marketing campaign in “our model” after he turned down some international Covid-19 vaccines supplied through the UN-backed immunisation program, based on the Related Press.

Throughout a Politburo assembly on Thursday, Kim stated officers should “keep in mind that tightening epidemic prevention is the duty of paramount significance which should not be loosened even a second”, the official Korean Central Information Company reported on Friday.

KCNA stated Kim “known as for absolutely offering materials and technical means needed for strengthening epidemic prevention, enhancing the skilled {qualifications} and roles of the officers within the subject of epidemic prevention and additional rounding off our model epidemic prevention system.”

Kim had beforehand known as for North Koreans to brace for extended Covid-19 restrictions, indicating the nation’s borders would keep closed regardless of worsening financial and meals situations.

Because the begin of the pandemic, North Korea has used robust quarantines and border closures to forestall outbreaks, although its declare to be solely virus-free is extensively doubted.

Australia has secured 4m doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines in a swap take care of Britain, prime minister Scott Morrison has stated, as he tries to hurry up the nation’s re-opening efforts.

“The aircraft is on the tarmac now. Will probably be leaving tomorrow … it will allow us to convey ahead considerably the chance for Australia to open up once more,” Morrison advised reporters in Canberra, days after asserting a smaller vaccine swap settlement with Singapore.

Morrison has been criticised for failing to initially safe an satisfactory provide of vaccines and for a gradual roll out which has seen preliminary vaccination targets delayed by months.

State governments say their vaccination programmes are being hindered by an absence of provide of the Pfizer vaccine wanted to inoculate the youthful inhabitants.

The announcement got here because the state of New South Wales, of which Sydney is the capital, reported its worst day of the pandemic, with a report 1,431 circumstances and 12 new deaths.

State premier Gladys Berejiklian warned residents to brace for a spike in numbers as the following two weeks would “more likely to be our worst by way of the variety of circumstances”.

Whats up and welcome to the Guardian’s rolling protection of the coronavirus pandemic with me, Helen Livingstone.

North Korean chief Kim Jong-un has ordered officers to wage a harder epidemic prevention marketing campaign in “our model” after he turned down some international Covid-19 vaccines supplied through the UN-backed immunisation program.

Australia has secured 4m doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines in a swap take care of Britain, the prime minister Scott Morrison has stated, as he makes an attempt to persuade states and territories to stay to a nationwide reopening plan.

Right here’s what else has been occurring over the previous 24 hours:

• New Zealand has reported 28 new circumstances of coronavirus locally, a drop of 21 in contrast with the day gone by, in an “encouraging” signal that the nation’s lockdown is working, deputy prime minister Grant Robertson has stated.

• The US plans to speculate $3bn (£2.2bn) within the vaccine provide chain because it continues to work to place america as a number one provider of vaccines for the world, Reuters stories.

• The European Union has agreed to ship thousands and thousands of coronavirus vaccine doses made in South Africa again to the continent, AFP stories.

• Schoolchildren in France returned from their summer season holidays to be advised to get vaccinated by headteachers and the French president Emmanuel Macron.