Vaccine Guidelines Shift; Macron Tests Positive: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) -- Pfizer Inc. and U.S. drug regulators are revising information for use and monitoring of the company’s Covid-19 vaccine after rare allergic reactions. The U.S hit a record 3,835 deaths on Wednesday.

The U.K. government will extend measures to help businesses and workers through the pandemic. French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for Covid-19. Several European leaders are restricting their movements after contact with Macron.

Vaccinations across the European Union will start “on 27, 28 and 29 December,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. Germany reported over 45,000 cases on Thursday, its biggest-ever jump in infections.

Key Developments:

FDA, Pfizer Revising Covid Vaccine Guidelines on Side Effects (10:32 a.m. NY)

Pfizer Inc. and U.S. drug regulators are revising information for use and monitoring of the company’s Covid-19 vaccine developed with BioNTech SE after rare allergic reactions were seen in some recipients.

The revisions reflect guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for following vaccine recipients and managing potential reactions, Doran Fink, deputy director of FDA’s division of vaccines and related products applications, said Thursday in a meeting of FDA advisers.

The advisory panel meeting, called to consider whether to recommend Moderna Inc.’s coronavirus vaccine for emergency use authorization, began with a focus on the allergic reactions. Two people in Alaska who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine suffered the reactions, which have also seen in vaccine recipients in the U.K.

European Leaders Isolating After Macron Tests Positive (10 a.m. NY)

Leaders from across Europe announced they’re isolating after coming into contact with French President Emmanuel Macron who tested positive for Covid-19.

Macron had shown symptoms of the disease and will isolate for seven days as he continues to work, his office said in a statement on Thursday. An official at the Elysee Palace said the symptoms were mild, but declined to provide details on the circumstances of the infection or where the president will be isolating.

U.K. Extends Wage Support and Business Loans (9:55 a.m. NY)

The U.K. government announced it will extend a package of measures aimed at helping businesses and workers through the pandemic, with support for wages and loans to firms at risk of collapse.

In a series of statements on Thursday, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunakset out his plan to extend the business loans and furlough wage support programs, and announced he will unveil the government’s tax and spending plans at a budget on March 3.

Poland to Impose Quarantine (9:35 a.m. NY)

Poland will close hotels, ski-slopes and shopping malls under the planned quarantine at the turn of the year, as it braces for “tough days and weeks” before the vaccine effect, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said at a news conference in Warsaw. The country will impose a curfew on New Year’s Eve, and wants to put all visitors to Poland after Dec. 28 on a 10-day quarantine.

Iceland’s Herd Immunity Plan Likely Impacted by Vaccine Delay (9:30 a.m. NY)

Iceland’s plan to achieve herd immunity by the end of March will likely be hit by production delays at Covid-19 vaccine supplier Pfizer, the country’s chief epidemiologist warned Thursday. Earlier this month, the Health Ministry said it wanted to vaccinate 75% of Icelanders born in 2005 or earlier by the end of the first quarter. But according to Thorolfiur Gudnason, that target won’t be achieved until the end of next year.

EU Strikes Seventh Vaccine-Supply Deal (6:40 a.m. NY)

The European Commission reached a preliminary agreement with Novavax Inc. for the supply of as many as 200 million doses of any successful Covid-19 vaccine to EU countries. The deal announced in Brussels by the commission, the EU’s executive arm, would offer the possibility to purchase 100 million doses and include an option to buy as many as 100 million more.

The planned contract would mark the commission’s seventh such accord with drug companies on behalf of the 27-nation EU.

Iran Reports Lowest Number of Deaths Since October (5:45 a.m. NY)

Iran’s health ministry reported 7,453 coronavirus cases and 212 deaths overnight, the lowest since Oct. 10. The country has recorded 1,138,530 infections and 53,095 fatalities since the outbreak began. The government also announced it would implement stricter travel restrictions and closures on Saturday and Sunday in anticipation of the upcoming winter solstice holiday.

South Africa Misses Payment Deadline for Vaccine (4:56 p.m. HK)

South Africa, the country hardest hit in Africa by the coronavirus, missed a Dec. 15 deadline to make a deposit to secure vaccines to fight the pathogen, and hasn’t arranged a guarantee to make the full payment. The payment to the Covax program will be made in coming days, according to the Solidarity Fund, a philanthropic organization backed by some of the country’s richest people and biggest companies.

Bulgaria to Keep Partial Lockdown Until End Jan. (4:28 p.m. HK)

The Balkan country, which has one the EU’s highest death rates, will keep restaurants, pubs, night clubs and shopping centers closed but will reopen kindergartens and elementary schools from Jan. 4. Movie theatres and galleries will also reopen with reduced capacity.

Czech Government to Seek Emergency Extension as Cases Soar (4:00 p.m. HK)

The Czech Republic had 8,235 new cases in 24 hours through Wednesday, the highest number since Nov. 11. The government said it would ask parliament to prolong the state of emergency until Jan. 22 after daily new infections in the nation of 10.7 million started to rise since Dec. 7. Authorities have already ordered bars and restaurants to shut, and re-imposed stricter social distancing rules, including curfew, as of Friday.

Denmark Heads Into Lockdown as Covid Cases Hit a Record (3:17 p.m. HK)

Denmark will move into a lockdown over Christmas after the country recorded its highest number of new coronavirus infections since the pandemic hit. Shopping centers will be closed across the country from Thursday, while all school children not doing virtual lessons will be sent home on Monday. From Dec. 25, all shops, except those that sell food and medicine, will be shuttered. The lockdown will last into the first week of the new year.

Support for Sweden’s Top Covid Strategist Is Slumping (3:08 p.m. HK)

Anders Tegnell, Sweden’s state epidemiologist and the country’s main proponent of an anti-lockdown strategy, saw his support slump 13 points in a poll published on Thursday, to 59% of those surveyed. Confidence in his employer, the Swedish Public Health Agency, sank to 52% from 68% in October, according to the poll by Ipsos and Dagens Nyheter. The drop came as a new wave of infections threatens to overwhelm Sweden’s health-care workers.

Germany Records Over 45,000 Cases, Most Ever (2:07 p.m. HK)

Daily virus cases in Germany jumped by 45,113, the most since the start of the pandemic. The number is more than twice the roughly 21,000 recorded the day before. Earlier this week, fatalities also hit a daily record and Chancellor Angela Merkel hinted that a hard shutdown that just took effect will remain in force beyond January.

Tokyo to Report Record of at Least 800 New Cases: NHK (1:30 p.m. HK)

Tokyo will report at least 800 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, a record daily amount, NHK reported, citing a metropolitan government official. That beats the previous record of 678 cases on Dec. 17. The city raised its warning on its medical system to “under strain,” the highest of four levels, for the first time since the alert system was laid out in July.

Fujifilm’s Avigan Virus Study Reported Inconclusive (9:50 a.m. HK)

Japan’s health ministry has found it difficult to reach a conclusion on the effectiveness of Fujifilm Holdings Corp.’s anti-viral drug Avigan in treating Covid-19 patients, according to domestic media reports citing unidentified government sources. Fujifilm’s stock fell as much as 4.2% in Tokyo trading Wednesday on the news. Fujifilm had applied in October to expand usage of Avigan to include treatment for coronavirus in Japan, where the drug is already approved for use against novel influenza. Japan’s health ministry is likely to make the decision on Monday, according to the news reports.

Pence, Biden to Get Vaccine to Build Public Confidence (8:50 a.m. HK)

Vice President Mike Pence will publicly receive the coronavirus vaccine on Friday, and President-elect Joe Biden is expected get vaccinated as soon as next week, amid concern that many Americans may refuse the injection.

Virus Spreads in Canada Oil Patch (7:05 a.m. HK)

Oil workers in Alberta are falling victim to a growing spread of the pandemic in the Canadian province’s remote north, with a Chevron Corp. site among the latest to be struck.

New Zealand to Inoculate Entire Population (4:10 a.m. HK)

New Zealand aims to begin vaccinating its entire population against Covid-19 in the second half of next year in its largest-ever immunization program, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

The government has secured two additional vaccines from pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Novavax and will have enough for all 5 million New Zealanders, Ardern said Thursday in Wellington.

California Shatters Daily Records (3:20 a.m. HK)

California reported a record 53,711 new virus cases and 293 deaths, according to state health department data. The daily case count includes 41,081 newly reported infections -- shattering the prior record by more than 5,000 -- while the remaining reflect a backlog from previous days due to a new processing system, the department said in a statement.

Hospitalizations jumped 4.3% to a record 15,886 patients, reflecting a deepening crisis that threatens a shortage of intensive-care beds and medical staff.

Spain Moves to Tighten Christmas Curbs (2:35 a.m. HK)

Spain granted regional administrations the power to further restrict movement and limit the size of Christmas gatherings, as new cases rose to the highest in almost a month.

“We are concerned by the increase in recent days,” Health Minster Salvador Illa told reporters Wednesday, following a meeting with his counterparts from Spain’s 17 regions. Although gatherings are allowed, Illa said citizens should “stay at home and not move” over the holidays.

Spain reported 6,196 new daily infections, the most since Nov. 19.

Under the existing plan, no more than 10 people will be able to meet for festive celebrations on Dec. 24, Dec. 25., Dec. 31 and New Year’s Day and these gatherings are limited to families. Travel between regions is limited.

NYC Vaccinates 1,600 Medical Workers (12:30 a.m. HK)

About 1,600 health-care workers have been vaccinated in New York City in 48 hours, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.

Two health-care workers at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens were the first public-hospital employees in the city to receive the new Covid-19 vaccine. Elmhurst bore the brunt last spring as the pandemic overwhelmed the city’s medical system and forced a shutdown of non-essential businesses and schools.

The hospital faces another wave with the city’s seven-day average of new cases reaching 2,785 as of Dec. 14.

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