Japan Approves Pfizer Vaccine; EU Curevac Review: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) -- A Japanese panel signed off on the approval of Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE’s coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, according to broadcaster NHK, paving the way for the nation to launch an inoculation effort.

The European Union’s drugs regulator started an early review of CureVac NV’s experimental Covid-19 vaccine, potentially accelerating its path to the market. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen admitted that mistakes were made during the rollout process of vaccines to the European Union.

Australia’s second-most populous state will enter a five-day lockdown after a spike in cases, with movements in Victoria to be restricted from late Friday night. Iran’s coronavirus cases surpassed 1.5 million on Friday. U.S. hospitalizations for the coronavirus plunged about 16% so far in February, dropping to the lowest since mid-November.

Key Developments:

Subscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloomberg’s Prognosis team here. Click CVID on the terminal for global data on cases and deaths.

Japan Panel Signs Off on Approval of Pfizer Vaccine, NHK Says (6:06 a.m. NY)

A Japanese panel signed off on the approval of Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE’s coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, according to broadcaster NHK, paving the way for the nation to launch an inoculation effort that has faced criticism for being one of the last among developed countries.

The nod from the Ministry of Health’s advisory Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council late Friday sets the stage for the government to give official approval of the shot as early as Feb. 14. It will be Japan’s first approval of a Covid-19 vaccine. The government received its first shipment of Pfizer’s shot on Friday, and inoculations could begin by the middle of the week, according to domestic media reports.

Microsoft System Blamed for N.J. Vaccine-Booking Glitches (6 a.m. NY)

Five weeks of stumbles by Microsoft Corp. on New Jersey’s Covid-19 vaccine-booking software have left the state pushing for daily fixes on almost every part of the system and doubting it will ever operate as intended, according to members of Governor Phil Murphy’s administration.

Czechs Warn of ‘Chaos’ After Lawmakers Ease Virus Lockdown (5:55 a.m. NY)

Czech lawmakers rejected a government request to extend the state of emergency beyond this week, scrapping some lockdown measures as the country struggles to contain one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Europe. The vote late Thursday means the state won’t be able to keep shops and services closed, and won’t be able to limit public gatherings.

European Regulator Starts Review of CureVac’s Vaccine (5:33 a.m. NY)

The European Union’s drugs regulator started an early review of CureVac NV’s experimental Covid-19 vaccine, potentially accelerating its path to the market.

A European Medicines Agency committee initiated the rolling review based on preliminary trial results that show promise in combating the coronavirus, according to a statement Friday. The regulator said it will evaluate further findings until enough evidence is available for approval.

Iran Cases Top 1.5 Million, Get Second Vaccine Shipment (6:25 p.m. HK)

Iran’s coronavirus cases surpassed 1.5 million on Friday, with the Health Ministry reporting 7,298 new infections and 58 deaths overnight. The country has recorded some 1,503,753 cases and 58,809 fatalities so far, per official figures.

Iran received a second shipment of the Sputnik V vaccines from Russia on Friday. The two countries have further agreed to begin joint production of the Sputnik jab, according to Iran’s ambassador to Russia. Officials have also said Tehran is in talks with China and India to import vaccines before the start of the new Iranian calendar year on March 20.

EU Made Mistakes in Vaccine Rollout, Commission President Says (6:23 p.m. HK)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen admitted that mistakes were made during the rollout process of vaccines to the European Union. The Commission underestimated issues with the possibility to scale up the vaccine manufacturing process, von der Leyen said during a press conference.

Referring to the bloc’s given up attempt to invoke export controls to Northern Ireland, she said “we shouldn’t even have thought about article 16. But in the end, the result was a good one.” Von der Leyen stressed that “in general whatever happens in this Commission, I take the full responsibility.” Looking forward, she expects “successes and delays” in the further distribution of vaccines, adding that the time in the regulatory process to approve vaccines could still be reduced.

Swedish Outbreak Forces Northvolt to Cut Factory Staffing (6 p.m. HK)

An outbreak of Covid-19 has forced battery-cell producer Northvolt AB to reduce staffing at the construction site of its first large-scale factory in Skelleftea, Sweden. The privately-held company will temporarily halve the number of workers at the site to about 500 as a result of the virus, spokesman Jesper Wigardt confirmed by phone.

Poland Reports 6,379 More Covid Cases (5:43 p.m. HK)

Poland registered 6,379 new Covid cases in last 24 hours versus 7,008 the day before, according to Health Ministry. The country reported 247 new deaths, versus 456 deaths previous day.

Montenegro Approves Russia’s Sputnik V Vaccine (5:08 p.m. HK)

Montenegro and St. Vincent and the Grenadines approved Russian-developed vaccine for use, bringing total number of countries that have authorized it to 26, Russian Direct Investment Fund says in statement.

Hungary Seeks 20% Vaccination Rate by April (3:23 p.m. HK)

Hungary seeks to vaccinate 2 million people by Easter with the help of Chinese-developed shots, according to Premier Viktor Orban.

The nation will be able to counter a projected increase in infection rates with the accelerated inoculation process that has benefited from purchases that circumvent joint European Union procurements, Orban said on public radio Friday. Hungary is set to receive 500,000 shots from Sinopharm next week. The vaccine trajectory means the country won’t need to tighten lockdown measures, Orban said.

Switzerland Targets Vaccinations of High-Risk Groups by End of April, Newspaper Says (2:47 p.m. HK)

Switzerland aims to have vaccinated all high-risk people against Covid-19 by the end of April, newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reported citing a Federal Office of Public Health spokeswoman.

That’s a two-month delay compared with the government’s previously announced target. Like many European countries, Switzerland’s vaccine campaign has been slow on the rollout due to supply shortages and bureaucratic snafus.

Singapore to Vaccinate Elders From Feb. 22, Straits Times Says (12:39 p.m. HK)

Singapore will start vaccinating the city-state’s seniors starting Feb. 22, Straits Times reported, citing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The move comes after Singapore carried out a monthlong pilot program where seniors age 70 and above at two areas received their jabs from Jan. 27, the report said. The multi-ministry task force will soon announce more details and the schedule of these vaccinations, it said. Lee reiterated that Singapore’s goal is to get the country vaccinated by the third quarter or at the latest by the end of this year.

U.S. House Panel Approves Funding for Covid-19 Vaccines, Testing (12:31 p.m. HK)

The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved more than $46 billion for Covid-19 testing and $20 billion to expand vaccine distribution as part of House Democrats’ $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

Legislation, approved by a vote of 31-25, will now advance to House floor with a vote possible during the week of Feb. 22.

Philippines to Soon Allow Cinemas, Theme Parks to Resume (11:50 a.m. HK)

The Philippines will soon allow cinemas, theme parks and conferences to resume as it seeks to further reopen an economy that suffered a record contraction last year.

It will also expand the seating capacity of religious gatherings to a maximum of 50% from the current 30% starting Feb. 15, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement on Friday. President Rodrigo Duterte is worried about the economy and aims for an immediate recovery, Roque said earlier this week.

Australia’s Victoria State to Enter 5-Day Lockdown on Outbreak (10:20 a.m. HK)

Australia’s Victoria state will enter a snap five-day lockdown from midnight after an outbreak of the virulent U.K. strain of the coronavirus from a quarantine hotel spread.

Residents must stay home except for essential shopping, care, exercise and work. Supermarkets will remain open but other retailers, gyms and entertainment venues will close. The Australian Open will continue without spectators.

“We must assume that there are further cases in the community than we have positive results for, and that it is moving at a velocity that has not been seen anywhere in our country over the course of these last 12 months,” state Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Friday.

Why the Mutated Coronavirus Variants Are So Worrisome: QuickTake

Venezuela Seeks $300 Million Fund for Covid-19 Vaccines, Maduro Says (8:39 a.m. HK)

Venezuela is seeking to create a $300 million fund for Covid-19 vaccines, President Nicolas Maduro said on state television.

The government is seeking a “practical and effective agreement” to create the fund with the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization, he said.

Japan Seeks to Keep Virus Emergency in Place for 10 Regions (8:19 a.m. HK)

Japanese Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told a government advisory panel that it’s necessary to maintain a state of emergency for 10 areas of the country, including Tokyo and Osaka.

Nishimura said the medical system is still under strain and the number of elderly people with infections isn’t dropping.

Common Blood Thinner Reduces Risk of Covid-19 Hospital Deaths (8:01 a.m. HK)

Blood-thinning drugs reduced the risk of death from Covid-19 in a new study, pointing to one more promising tool as physicians scour their medicine cabinets for treatments to blunt the pandemic.

About 14% of patients who were given anticoagulants within 24 hours of hospital admission died from the coronavirus, compared with 19% of those who didn’t, according to a study published Friday in the British Medical Journal. The patients were treated with heparin, an injected blood-thinner sold by generic-drug makers including Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

The study is based on observation, which means the results need to be confirmed by clinical trials and some are underway, the scientists said.

U.K. Ministers to Discuss Vaccine, Testing Certificates, Sky Says (8:00 a.m. HK)

U.K. ministers will discuss a Cabinet Office proposal to create vaccine and testing certificates for when international travel is able to resume, Sky News reported, citing an unidentified government official and briefing paper.

The Department of Transport would draw up plans for a certificate infrastructure and the Foreign Office will help design the international certificate system, Sky said. Formal engagement with other countries and international organizations will also begin with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to sign off on the proposal ahead of a meeting with other ministers.

U.S. Hospitalizations Lowest Since November (7:05 a.m. HK)

U.S. hospitalizations for the coronavirus plunged about 16% so far in February, dropping to the lowest since mid-November, data from the Department of Health and Human Services show. The number of Covid-19 in-patients fell to 82,064 as Feb. 10, an average reduction of 1,709 a day since Feb. 1. Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, California and Ohio led the declines. Hospitalizations in New York increased 6% to 8,754 over the nine-day period, with Covid-19 cases accounting for about 18% of in-patients. Covid cases account for 19% of hospital patients in California and Georgia, HHS data show.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.