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 FDA panel sets stage for Moderna vaccine authorization
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will "rapidly" work
towards granting emergency approval of Moderna's vaccine candidate,
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said on Thursday.
A panel of outside advisers to the FDA overwhelmingly endorsed the
emergency use of Moderna's vaccine, virtually assuring a second
option for protecting against COVID-19.
Sydney virus cluster grows
Christmas travel plans for thousands of Australians were thrown into
chaos on Friday when states and territories imposed border
restrictions after 28 COVID-19 cases were detected in Sydney, with
fears infections could spread citywide.
Around a quarter of a million people in Sydney's northern beaches,
where the cases have been found, have been told to stay home and
wear masks if in other venues.
"Everyone in greater Sydney needs to be on high alert," New South
Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian told a news conference on
Friday in announcing 10 new cases.
No post-pandemic normal in France before autumn 2021
France is unlikely to return to normal life before autumn next year
as it could take longer than initially envisioned to roll out
vaccines, a senior government scientific adviser said on Friday.
"Vaccines are a major source of hope but if you look at the
vaccination capabilities that we will have in France and elsewhere
in Europe, we will need time," immunologist Jean-François Delfraissy
told BFM television.
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 Delfraissy estimated there were
22 million people in France more vulnerable than
others and that it could take until May to
vaccinate them all, before shots could be rolled
out to others.
New English lockdown can't be ruled out,
minister suggests
A new national lockdown in England cannot be
ruled out after Christmas, British schools
minister Nick Gibb said on Friday, although he
stressed that the current regional "tiered"
system of restrictions was effective.
Northern Ireland and Wales have both outlined
plans to head back into lockdown after
Christmas, raising suggestions that England
might follow suit.
Gibb told Sky News that "nothing is ruled out of
course as we tackle this pandemic" but added
that the tier system is very effective.
Six South Koreans die of COVID awaiting hospital
beds
Six people suffering from COVID-19 have died in
South Korea this month while waiting for
hospital beds and hundreds can not get admitted
as surging infections overload the health
system, officials and media said on Friday.
South Korea reported 1,062 new cases on Friday,
its second-highest ever daily tally, as the
government agonised over tighter restrictions
and warned businesses it was unacceptable to try
to dodge shut-down orders.
(Compiled by Linda Noakes; Editing by Frances
Kerry)
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