Weekly COVID news at a glance

1.  More Vaccine for Victoria announced

The federal government has announced an extra 100-thousand doses of the Pfizer vaccines for Victoria to meet the high vaccination demand.

Following the recent outbreak in the community, vaccination numbers have increased dramatically leading to long wait times and dwindling supplies of the vaccines.

The new doses will be available to people UNDER 50 and will be delivered over three weeks starting on the 14th of June.

More AstraZeneca shots will also be delivered to GPs to increase inoculations among those aged OVER 50.

2.  Federal in support of a Victoria quarantine facilty

The federal government will support the construction of a purpose-built quarantine hub in Victoria.

The state government prefers the new centre to be built at Mickleham, but Avalon is also a potential site.

The state government proposed the 500-bed facility be built next to an existing quarantine facility for plants and animals.

The state government has also asked the Commonwealth to fund the full 200 million dollars needed for the facility.

Victoria’s Acting Premier James Merlino confirmed that the state has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth over the new centre.

3.  Leaders urge G7 to help vaccinate world’s poorest

More than 100 former prime ministers, presidents and foreign ministers are among 230 prominent figures calling on the leaders of the powerful G7 countries to pay two-thirds of the $66bn (£46.6bn) needed to vaccinate low-income countries against Covid.

A letter seen by the Guardian ahead of the G7 summit to be hosted by Boris Johnson in Cornwall warns that the leaders of the UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada must make 2021 “a turning point in global cooperation”. Fewer than 2% of people in sub-Saharan Africa have been vaccinated against Covid, while the UK has now immunised 70% of its population with at least one dose.

Among the vaccine letter’s signatories are Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, with the two former prime ministers putting aside past differences to join the effort to put pressure on the G7. Brown said the proposal would cost 30p per person per week in the UK “for the best insurance policy in the world”.

Prominent figures who have signed the letter include former UN secretary general Ban-Ki Moon, former Irish president Mary Robinson and taoiseach Bertie Ahern and 15 former African leaders including presidents Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, John Mahama of Ghana and FW de Klerk of South Africa.

4.  Mix and match’ Covid booster jabs may be better

Researchers testing whether second dose of different vaccine could generate stronger immune response.

Four different coronavirus jabs have been approved for use in the UK, with more under regulatory review. While people are currently offered two doses of the same jab, researchers have been exploring whether offering a second dose of a different Covid vaccine could generate a stronger immune response.

A further study has suggested the approach could bring benefits. The research, yet to be peer-reviewed, compared the immune responses of 26 individuals aged 25-46 who were given one dose of the AstraZeneca jab followed by a dose of the Pfizer jab with those given two shots of the latter.

The results suggest those given the mixed regime had an almost four-fold higher median level of neutralising antibodies against the Alpha variant, first detected in Kent, two weeks after their second jab.

While further research is needed among larger groups and participants of different ages, scientists say the findings are encouraging – although not a surprise.

Prof Deenan Pillay, a professor of virology at University College London, said the mix and match approach offered more global flexibility. “We await the results of more pilots. But overall this is good news, since it means that booster doses of vaccine are not limited by supply of one particular vaccine. It also will allow flexibility when considering third booster doses in the future,” he said.

5.  ‘Arsenal’ of vaccines for world from US

/ US President Joe Biden

The United States will provide an “arsenal” of vaccines for the world and will donate 75% of its surplus doses through an international initiative for countries in need, the Biden administration announced 3 June.

The US administration has pledged to donate at least 80 million doses by month’s end, starting with an initial tranche of 25 million. Of those, the White House said about 19 million will go to COVAX – a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access – with approximately 6 million for South and Central America, 7 million for Asia and 5 million for Africa.

“The United States will be the world’s arsenal of vaccines in our shared fight against this virus,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “And we will continue to do all we can to build a world that is safer and more secure against the threat of infectious disease.”

The U.S. will keep 25% of its excess vaccine supply in reserve for emergencies and to share with allies and partners.

The distribution plan will prioritize neighbors in our hemisphere but also India, Southeast Asia and countries where the need is especially dire, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said. Jeff Zients, the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, said U.S. vaccine makers are ramping up production so that additional doses can be provided beyond the 80 million already committed.

6.  Covid for 216 days, develops 32 mutations

A South African woman with advanced HIV carried the coronavirus for 216 days, during which it accumulated 32 mutations, according to a new study.

According to Business Insider, the unnamed 36-year-old woman’s unique Covid situation was the subject of a case study by Tulio de Oliveira, a geneticist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban.

/ Tulio de Oliveira, a geneticist at University of KwaZulu-Nata

The case report, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, said that the coronaviruses gathered 13 mutations to the spike protein, which is known to help the virus escape the immune response and 19 other mutations that could change the way the virus behaves.

Some of the mutations seen in the woman have been previously observed in other known Covid variants, such as:

• The E484K mutation, which is part of the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7, which was first seen in the UK).
• The N510Y mutation, which is part of the Beta variant (B.1.351, which was first seen in South Africa).

It is not yet clear whether the woman’s mutations were passed on to others.