Coronavirus Updates

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer vaccine against the coronavirus for emergency use for children ages 12 to 15. Monday’s approval means that middle school students could be vaccinated in time for the opening of schools in the fall. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss whether to recommend the shot for 12- to 15-year-olds. A vote is scheduled to tale place following the meeting. Shots could be offered as soon as CDC adopts the FDA recommendation.

Iran will ban local travel in the run-up to and throughout the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday. The ban comes as the country works to emerge from a fourth coronavirus wave. Travel will be banned beginning on Tuesday, the day before the start of the three-day holiday. The ban will end on Saturday at noon. Violators will be fined, though the fines are not high and many may decide to travel anyway, according to Al Jazeera.

The World Health Organization approved emergency use of China’s Sinopharm vaccine against the coronavirus. Friday’s decision is the first approval for a Chinese vaccine. The approval could mean that Sinopharm will join the vaccines distributed though the COVAX program to provide vaccines to poorer countries.

The United States says it will support a World Trade Organization proposal to waive intellectual-property protections for vaccines against the coronavirus, a plan opposed by drugmakers. The purpose of the waiver is to increase global supply of vaccines and help get those vaccines to poor nations. Drugmakers say that few countries have the ability to produce the vaccines and that there is a limited global supply of the materials needed to produce them, Al Jazeera reported.

Saudi Arabia is considering restricting the annual hajj pilgrimage to Saudi nationals and residents who have been vaccinated against or recovered from the coronavirus, Reuters reported citing two sources familiar with the discussion. It would be the second year in a row that Muslims from overseas would be prevented from the pilgrimage. No final decision has been made, however.

Stores, restaurants and entertainment venues in Egypt will be required to close by 9 p.m. for two weeks to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly also announced in a televised address on Wednesday that beaches and parks will be completely closed May 12-16, Reuters reported. The closures will affect the final days of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan and the Eid celebrations that follow and come amid a steady rise of coronavirus cased in Egypt over the last several weeks.

Canada’s health regulator has authorized Pfizer’s vaccine against the coronavirus for ages 12 to 16, The Associated Press reports, citing a person familiar with the decision. An official announcement is expected soon.

Israel’s Health Ministry announced Wednesday that the Green Pass proving one is vaccinated against or recovered from the coronavirus will be valid until the end of 2021. Israelis who have a Green Pass can gain access to special events and venues, including restaurants and sports events. The ministry called on Israelis to continue to wear masks indoors and to social distance. The ministry also is working to determine when to give a vaccine booster shot.

Venezuela is set to begin clinical trials of Abdala, a coronavirus vaccine from Cuba. The trials are set to be completed in July with first results published a month later. During the trial, Venezuela will produce in its national vaccine laboratory enough vaccine doses for four million people, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado told state media on Monday.

Jordan will require a negative PCR test and an additional test upon arrival in the country for travelers coming through two reopened border posts it closed nine months ago due to the coronavirus. Jordan on Monday opened two border crossings, the Jabar crossing with Syria and the Al-Omari crossing with Saudi Arabia. The number of people to pass through the crossings will be strictly limited.