U.S. Clears J&J Vaccine; Indonesia Drive-Thru Jabs: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) --

Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine was cleared for use in the U.S., making a third shot available that could plug gaps in the nation’s immunization campaign as concern grows over an influx of virus variants. The development was warmly welcomed by a slew of state governors.

Vaccination drives are gaining traction across the Asia Pacific. Thailand began its inoculation program on Sunday; Australia received 300,000 doses of the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 shot; and ride-hailing giant Grab Holdings Inc. is setting up drive-thru injection services in Indonesia.

The U.K. will create a 5 billion-pound ($7 billion) grant program to help businesses that have been hit by the pandemic, with plans to be announced on Wednesday. Australia’s government is considering measures to support firms like Qantas Airways Ltd. once a wage-subsidy program expires.

Key Developments:

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UAE Campaign Highlighted by Sinopharm (12:43 p.m. HK)

A mass-vaccination program using Sinopharm shots has significantly cut hospitalization rates in the United Arab Emirates, according to China National Biotec Group Co., a unit of Sinopharm. China National Biotech cited remarks from Dr. Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee, who also said in an online forum that there were no intensive-care admissions or mortalities among those vaccinated.

U.K. Like a ‘Coiled Spring,’ Top Chef Says (12:02 p.m. HK)

The U.K. economy will make a strong rebound as anti-virus curbs are lifted, according to Clare Smyth, the first British woman to be awarded three Michelin stars in her own right. “People have saved a lot of money this year and they want to spend it,” Smyth said. The government plans to ease restrictions from May 17, paving the way for restaurants to welcome diners back. “I am extremely optimistic,” Smyth said. “The economy is like a coiled spring.”

Grab Drive-Thru Jabs for Indonesia Campaign (11:36 a.m. HK)

Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing giant Grab Holdings Inc. is setting up drive-thru vaccination services across Indonesia to help the nation inoculate more than 180 million people against Covid-19. The program, undertaken in coordination with the government, started on Sunday on the resort island of Bali, with about 3,000 people working in the tourism industry present to receive their first jab. Indonesia has made it mandatory for eligible citizens to take a shot.

Australia Receives AstraZeneca Shots (10:48 a.m. HK)

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 300,000 doses of the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca Plc vaccine arrived in Sydney on Sunday.

AstraZeneca’s shot was the second vaccine approved for use in Australia, after rigorous testing to ensure it was safe, effective and manufactured to a very high standard, Morrison said. The vaccine will now undergo further batch testing, with the rollout across the country due to start on March 8.

“We will now be able to scale up the vaccination rollout to our priority groups, including our most vulnerable Australians and to our frontline border and health workers,” the prime minister said.

A further 50 million vaccines will be manufactured onshore and 1 million of these doses will be delivered each week from late March.

Australia Weighs Aid for Hard-Hit Airlines (10:19 a.m. HK)

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he’s considering moves to aid firms like Qantas Airways Ltd. and others that are still struggling with the fallout from the pandemic once a local wage-subsidy program expires next month.

While the domestic market is set to improve as vaccines are rolled out and state borders don’t shut as frequently, international borders “are remaining closed, effectively, for some time because obviously the world is still grappling with the virus,” Frydenberg told Sky News on Sunday.

Thailand Starts Vaccination Drive (9:45 a.m. HK)

Thailand began its inoculation program with a group of healthcare workers receiving the Sinovac Biotech vaccine on Sunday. Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy aims to inoculate 50% of its population by the end of this year to help reopen borders and revive its hard-hit tourism industry.

“Today’s event is to assure the public about the safety of the vaccine,” said Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, who was not inoculated as earlier planned because the Sinovac shot is not recommended locally for people of his age.

Governors Praise J&J Decision, Await Shots (8:55 a.m. HK)

U.S. governors, who have been at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19, began sending in praise for the approval of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine on Saturday. Many states have complained that they do not have enough vaccine and will be able to deliver many more shots into arms. And they have been touting to eager residents the arrival of the J&J vaccine.

On Twitter, California Governor Gavin Newsom called it “excellent news” and said the state expected to receive 380,000 doses “as early as this week.” Governor Brian Kemp said Georgia was set to receive 83,000 in the first week.

Meat Giant to Offer Jabs for Workers (8:54 a.m. HK)

The world’s largest meat packer, JBS SA, will offer vaccines to about 8,500 workers at its American subsidiaries. Employees of JBS USA and Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., the U.S.’s second-largest chicken producer, will be offered the shot in eight states. The industry has been hit hard by the virus, with thousands of employees infected. The disruptions were so significant that many U.S. plants were last year forced to close, fueling concerns about meat shortages.

J&J Vaccine Cleared for Use in U.S. (7:19 a.m. HK)

Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine was cleared for use in the U.S., making a third shot available that could plug gaps in the nation’s immunization campaign as concern grows over an influx of virus variants.

The Food and Drug Administration said Saturday it had granted an emergency-use authorization for the single-dose vaccine for people 18 and older.

The decision comes after the U.S. hit a sad milestone with 500,000 Americans dead from the virus, and at a time when health officials are raising alarms that recent declines in the number of new cases may be stalling.

U.K. Aims $7 Billion at Struggling Firms (5:42 p.m. NY)

The U.K. is set to create a 5 billion-pound ($7 billion) grant program to help businesses that have been hard hit by the pandemic.

The “Restart” program will mostly apply to retail, hospitality and leisure -- the industries impacted most by the series of lockdowns imposed in the last year. The plan will be announced Wednesday as part of the release of the national budget, according to a statement from the Treasury department.

Brasilia Heads for Lockdown (5:03 p.m. NY)

Brasilia will enter a broad lockdown on Sunday after Covid-19 patients brought the Brazilian capital’s hospitals to breaking point. With 98% of beds in intensive-care units occupied, Federal District Governor Ibaneis Rocha decreed the 15 days of restrictions almost a year after Brasilia first entered a lockdown. It’s a sign that the pandemic is worsening again in Brazil, which never imposed a national lockdown and has the second-most Covid-19 deaths.

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