Authorisation

The Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) on Monday called on the private-owned laboratories in Nigeria to support the country’s testing capacity for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says the agency has not approved any COVID-19 vaccines.

India’s drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), had recently granted authorisation for the local production and emergency use of two vaccines developed by AstraZeneca with Oxford University (Covishield) and local firm Bharat Biotech (Covaxin).

The French government has defended its coronavirus vaccination policy against criticism that it is going far too slowly, with 516 vaccinations reported in the first week.

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has commended the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, for aiding the speedy removal of a fallen tanker on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The Government of the United Kingdom says it has authorized the second Covid-19 vaccine for use in the UK, allowing a significant expansion of the immunisation programme with hundreds of more vaccination sites opening in the coming weeks and months to protect those most at risk from the virus.

The Federal Government has ordered the closure of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants across the country, just as it reduced the number of guests at weddings, conferences, among others, to 50, following the second wave of COVID-19.

The European Union geared up to launch mass vaccinations against COVID-19 just after Christmas after the shot developed by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech cleared regulatory hurdles on Monday.

Swiss drugs regulator Swissmedic has authorised the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and partner BioNTech, the agency said on Saturday, calling it the world’s first such approval under a standard procedure.

Oil prices dropped on Wednesday on a surprise gain in crude oil inventories in the United States and as investors continued to worry about demand for fuel being squeezed amid tighter lockdowns in Europe to counter the coronavirus pandemic.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn is aiming to have around 60 per cent of the country’s population vaccinated against the coronavirus by the end of summer 2021.

The US public will start receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine from Monday after it was authorised for emergency use, officials say.

Canadian health officials have authorised the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, hailing the development as a “critical milestone” and paving the way for the inoculant to be administered across the country.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday issued a stern warning to land and property permit approving agencies in the state to steer clear of sharp practices, saying that henceforth, any errant officer caught would be sanctioned according to the state property protection law.

The Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine producer by volume, has sought government approval for emergency-use authorisation of the coronavirus vaccine that it has developed in partnership with the University of Oxford and British drugmaker AstraZeneca.

The Naples city council has unanimously approved a resolution that will change the name of Napoli's home stadium from Stadio San Paolo to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has alerted Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, and 190 other countries of threat from organised criminal groups during the upcoming COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, including fake vaccines and the theft of supplies.

Europe’s medicines regulator said Tuesday it would decide by December 29 whether to grant emergency approval to a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Germany’s BioNTech and its US partner Pfizer, ahead of a rival treatment from Moderna.