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Pfizer COVID-19 shot 91% effective in updated data, protective against South African variant

Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine is around 91% effective at preventing the disease, they said on Thursday, citing updated trial data that included participants inoculated for up to six months.

German health minister confident "enough people" willing to take AZ shot

The AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine's proven effectiveness means there will be no problem finding enough people willing to take it, German Health Minister Jens Spahn said.

Berlin set to impose nighttime ban on gatherings from Friday

BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's capital Berlin is set to impose a nighttime ban on gatherings from Friday and a reduction in children at nursery to from next week try to stop a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, media reported on Thursday.

Japan PM: Olympic torch relay in Osaka has been cancelled

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Thursday the Olympic torch relay scheduled in the city of Osaka has been cancelled amid a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.

India launches biggest vaccination drive yet against a surging coronavirus

India began vaccinating tens of thousands of people above the age of 45 on Thursday in its biggest push yet against a surging coronavirus that has hit the highest daily count since early October, officials said.

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now

Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:

Biden turns to NASCAR, NAACP to convince people to take vaccines

President Joe Biden is enlisting the help of groups as varied as NASCAR and the NAACP as part of a multi-billion dollar effort to convince Americans to take COVID-19 vaccines.

J&J finds problem with COVID vaccine batch; NYTimes says 15 million doses ruined

(Reuters) -Johnson & Johnson said on Wednesday it had found a problem with a batch of the drug substance for its COVID-19 vaccine being produced by Emergent Biosolutions, and said the batch did not advance to the final fill-and-finish stage.

Sweden to offer all adults first COVID shot by Aug 15, later than planned

A shortage of vaccines means Sweden expects to offer all adults a first dose of a vaccine against COVID-19 by August 15, later than its original plan of the end of June, officals said on Thursday.

WHO's Kluge says European COVID-19 vaccine campaign is "unacceptably slow"

Europe's rollout of vaccinations against COVID-19 is "unacceptably slow," the World Health Organization's European head said on Thursday, raising concern that delays in giving shots could prolong the pandemic as cases of variants spread.

Mini-break capital Prague faces tourist-free Easter - again

Jakub Ricica's traditional Czech pub 'Deminka', located just behind the National Museum and a short stroll from dozens of hotels, is a magnet for the flocks of tourists who descend on Prague every year for the Easter break.