Reports vary, WHO says COVID trending down as UK approves another booster by Pfizer/BioNtech

By Dana Malcolm and Deandrea Hamilton

Editorial Staff

November 14, 2022 – Global covid-19 cases are on a downward trend according to the World Health Organization with some of the lowest numbers this year, the number of new weekly cases decreased by 15 per cent during the week of 31 October to 6 November 2022, as compared to the previous week, with over 2.1 million new cases reported.

The number of new weekly deaths decreased by 10 percent, as compared to the previous week, with about 9,400 fatalities reported.

Scientists and doctors think an overactive flu season may affect numbers though, and are warning people to continue with their preventative measures including hand washing.

The Turks and Caicos‘ Ministry of Health has informed it is trying to source by bivalent vaccines that fight not only the original strain of COVID-19 but also the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5.

While the TCI goes without this ‘omicron’ blocking booster option, the UK last week announced approval of a second booster of Bivalent vaccine.

“Approval has today been granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for a Pfizer/BioNTech ‘bivalent’ Covid vaccine that targets both the Original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants.  The updated booster vaccine is the second bivalent vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech to receive MHRA approval, after it was found to meet the UK regulator’s standards of safety, quality and effectiveness,” said the UK government last Wednesday.

The notice explained:  “The vaccine has been approved for use as a booster dose in individuals aged 12 years and above. This decision has been endorsed by the Commission on Human Medicines, after a careful review of the evidence.”

Some countries are reporting sharp increases in Covid-19 as the seasons turn; one expert in Australia surmised, “”All of our early indicators over the last week or so have demonstrated that case numbers are rising,” said Professor Paul Kelly, Chief Medical Officer in speaking to the ABC.

“It is probably related to these couple of new variants that we are now seeing in Australia that have been seen around the world.  They are still in a minority, but they are more transmissible.  So it’s likely that people will become infected, maybe re-infected.”