BlackMask Breaking News

Reuters) -Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE on Tuesday filed an application with U.S. regulators seeking emergency use authorization for a second booster shot of their COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 65 and older. The submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration includes data collected in Israel, where a second booster is authorized for many people over age 18.

An analysis of data from over a million adults 60 years and older showed rates of confirmed infections and severe illness were lower among individuals who received an additional booster dose of the vaccine administered at least four months after an initial booster (third) dose compared to those who received only one booster dose, the companies said.

The news was first reported by the Washington Post https://wapo.st/3i7nJwO earlier on Tuesday. U.S. health officials including top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci have raised the prospects of a fourth shot many times, suggesting one might be needed for older people and to prepare for the possibility of another surge of cases. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data has shown that vaccine efficacy wanes over time and that third shots help restore that efficacy, but it has not released comprehensive data based on age or health status. Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla has several times in the past week told reporters that a fourth dose of the vaccine will be needed to offset waning protection gained with the third shot. He told the Washington Post last week that data suggests a fourth dose dramatically improves protection against the dominant Omicron variant of the virus compared to the third dose after three-to-six months. Israel in late January said a fourth dose doubled protection against infection and increased protection against severe disease by 3 to 5 times compared to those who had received three shots, based on health ministry data. That analysis was more favorable than a small study of Israeli healthcare workers. When given at least four months after the third shot, a fourth dose was 30% effective against infection for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 11% for the Moderna Inc vaccine. “The elderly and immunocompromised are the groups that would benefit the most from additional boost,” said Dan Barouch, a Harvard vaccine researcher. “I think the data is supportive, but the benefits appear to be relatively small.” Pfizer is looking at how a fourth dose performs in its own study of about 600 people. It and Moderna are betting additional booster doses will be needed for new virus variants that emerge. While COVID cases are in retreat in the United State and much of the world, infections are rising in China as the Omicron variant spreads. In the UK and Europe, there has been a reversal in the downward trend of COVID cases as economies have opened up and a second version of Omicron circulates. Pfizer last month said eventual 2022 sales of its COVID-19 vaccine may not top its current forecast of $32 billion, a 13% decline from 2021 levels. Separately, the FDA plans to convene its expert advisory panel in early April to consider whether there should be an October or November campaign to encourage some or all adults to get additional boosters, and whether the shots should be the same as current vaccines or be retooled to counter new variants, the Washington Post reported, citing a federal official.

There’s arguably never a good time for the COVID-19 pandemic to make a comeback but the surging cases in China over the weekend come at a moment when the global economy could do without another layer of stress to its already stretched supply chains. This morning, Chinese stocks fell as domestic COVID-19 cases jumped to a two-year high, prompting Beijing’s technology and financial hubs to impose restrictions. How severe the outbreak will prove and how much pain it will bring to the global economy is anyone’s guess, but the economic fallout of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is already taking a heavy toll. Taiwanese chipmaker Foxconn confirmed on Monday it has halted work at the company’s factories in the Chinese city of Shenzhen due to a recently implemented total coronavirus-related lockdown. The restrictions are set to last for six days, and are expected to prompt worldwide disruptions to supply chains due to Shenzhen hosting over 30 Taiwanese tech companies. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng plunged more than 5% or 1,000 points on Monday following the news of restrictions. NN: As usual the world is sleeping. China is experiencing the next wave… As I warned the 5th wave is coming to the udervaccinated near you. China and Hong Kong confirm my worst fears lockdowns are here afain. Get your booster shot do not be a fool. It ain’t over… And as far as the RNA vaccine makers making billions… SO! They have saved countless lives. And sure they will make billions more on the boosters,,, SO!

LONDON (Reuters) – Russia said on Sunday that it was counting on China to help it withstand the blow to its economy from Western sanctions, which it said had frozen nearly half of its gold and foreign currency reserves.

“We have part of our gold and foreign exchange reserves in the Chinese currency, in yuan. And we see what pressure is being exerted by Western countries on China in order to limit mutual trade with China. Of course, there is pressure to limit access to those reserves,” Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said.

“But I think that our partnership with China will still allow us to maintain the cooperation that we have achieved, and not only maintain, but also increase it in an environment where Western markets are closing.” Western countries have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia’s corporate and financial system since it invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it calls a special military operation. Siluanov’s comments in a TV interview marked the clearest statement yet from Moscow that it will seek help from China to cushion the impact. The two countries have tightened cooperation in recent times as both have come under strong Western pressure over human rights and a raft of other issues. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing on Feb. 4 and announced a strategic partnership they said was aimed at countering the influence of the United States, describing it as a friendship with no limits. The sanctions on Russian reserves have become one of the most painful measures for the Russian economy. A month ago, Siluanov said Russia would be able to withstand sanctions thanks to abundant reserves and was even considering offering Eurobonds to foreign investors once the market volatility subsides. On Sunday he said the sanctions had frozen around $300 billion out of $640 billion that Russia had in its gold and forex reserves. Siluanov also said Russia will fulfil its state debt obligations and will pay roubles to its debt holders until the state reserves are unfrozen. NN: Look Russia has oil, gas and strategic metals the world has to have. Prices are at records.  All Russia has to do is offer a discount for payment in cash, gold, trade goods or crypto. Sanctions do not work…… Especially in products people want… Look at the drug trade if you want proof

Russian missiles struck a military center in western Ukraine near Poland as bombing of major cities intensified and Moscow warned that convoys of military aid from the West are “legitimate targets.” The Russian military continues to target sites ringed around Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and fierce fighting has been reported. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukraine has all basic food products for coming months and banned or restricted exports of essential foods.  Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said talks with Moscow show signs of becoming more substantive, and one of his top advisers said that “continuous” discussions with Russia are under way by video. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with his French and German counterparts after they spoke earlier with Zelenskiy.

Eight missiles hit the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in the Lviv region of western Ukraine, near the Polish border, the city’s mayor Andriy Sadovy said on Telegram. See the regional administration’s statement. It comes after Russia threatened to target foreign military aid coming into Ukraine. Ukraine has all basic food products for coming months and the government has banned or restricted the export of essential foods such as wheat, buckwheat, meat, eggs, oil and sugar, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. Ukraine has gas reserves of about 9.5 billion cubic meters, he said, with gas imports continuing to flow from Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. The government recently submitted a draft law to reduce an excise tax on fuel and the VAT rate from 20% to 7% to stabilize prices and prevent shortages. The Cabinet is also considering a reduction in VAT to 0% if the logistical expenses of fuel suppliers continue to grow. The government is in talks with global companies on gasoline and diesel fuel supplies. Currently, four nuclear power plants, all hydro power plants and thermal power plants are running in Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has also agreed on additional coal supplies by rail from Poland. NN: A Nobel effort BUT all is for nothing… Giving the Ukrainians hand held pop guns may look good on CNN,,,,, BUT they are severely limited weapons as to fire power,  range and altitude. They need rockets and rocket launchers and cruise missle,s…… Air support and NATO fire powered which was promised to them when they gave up their Nukes. They will not even give them obsolete Migs’s.. Watch what they do not what they say. NATO and the US is throwing Ukraine to the Russian wolves

Two weeks since Russia began Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II, businesses across the continent are already in varying stages of despair at the consequences on livelihoods. A crisis of human suffering in Ukraine, whose wider economic impact prompted European Central Bank officials to quicken their withdrawal from stimulus this week, is affecting prosperity from the farmlands of Spain to the euro zone’s manufacturing core in Germany and France. Surging energy costs are the central complaint, though disrupted supply chains, sanctions and worries about a looming demand drop are also weighing on enterprises. The abrupt shock of war nearby, combined with broad effects and an uncertain duration, will pile pressure on governments to cushion the blow as well as testing their resolve to confront Russia.  The root of the difficulty is the European Union’s reliance on Ukraine for over half its supply of corn, a key source of feed for pigs. With farmers unable to access fields, analysts are slashing outlooks for crops and exports there by as much as a third, sending prices to the highest in about a decade. Other economic disruption is being inflicted by the geography of the crisis. In Germany, the heartland of the euro-zone economy, Porsche AG stopped production of its Taycan electric car in Stuttgart because it lacks cable trees made in Ukraine. Meanwhile its parent, Volkswagen AG, has halted exports to Russia and stopped production at an auto factory in Kaluga outside Moscow. Most onerous is the energy impact. If current prices persist, the extra cost of importing gas and oil will amount to an income shock of 550 billion euros ($605 billion) or 4.5% of annual gross domestic product, according to JPMorgan economist Greg Fuzesi. Goldman Sachs now reckons inflation will reach toward 8% and the euro zone will suffer a contraction in the second quarter.