Oman accelerates vaccination amid rising cases and hospital strain
Oman is increasing its COVID-19 vaccination rate following a surge in cases and hospital pressure, after initially lagging in the Gulf region due to supply issues.
Herald section
The latest health reporting from The Belfast Herald.
Oman is increasing its COVID-19 vaccination rate following a surge in cases and hospital pressure, after initially lagging in the Gulf region due to supply issues.
The Palestinian Authority has cancelled a planned exchange of Pfizer vaccines with Israel, citing that the first batch of doses received were close to expiry and did not meet required standards. The exchange had been announced earlier in the day and involved up to 1.4 million doses.
Papua New Guinea received 146,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from New Zealand through the COVAX initiative, aimed at supporting frontline workers and increasing vaccination coverage amid low uptake.
Kyrgyzstan receives a shipment of 80,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.
Ukraine reported a new single-day record of 76,538 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered on 17 June 2021, surpassing the previous high of 73,376 doses recorded on 29 April 2021.
The UK reported 9,055 new daily cases of COVID-19, the highest since 25 February, alongside nine additional deaths. The figure marks a rise from 7,673 cases and 10 deaths reported the previous day.
South Africa limits indoor gatherings to 50 and outdoor to 100, extends curfew to 4:00 a.m., and restricts alcohol sales to weekdays between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. due to a surge in infections and hospital admissions.
France has initiated a vaccination programme for children aged 12 to 18 using smaller needles to improve safety and reduce discomfort. The move follows the expansion of eligibility to include younger age groups across the EU.