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A third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19 can “strongly” boost antibodies and provide high protection against the Delta variant, the drugmaker said.
In data released alongside its second-quarter earnings on Wednesday, Pfizer said antibody levels against the Delta variant, in people ages 18 to 55 who receive three doses of the shot, are greater than fivefold those produced after a second dose.
There was even “potential for up to 100-fold increase in Delta neutralisation post-dose three compared to pre-dose three,” the drugmaker said in its report.
In addition, the third or “booster” shot provided high protection against the original coronavirus variant and the Beta strain, first reported in South Africa.
Tailor-made ‘Delta variant vaccine’
Further details from Pfizer were expected at an earnings call with media and analysts later on Wednesday.
Few countries have yet reached the stage where they are ready for third shots of Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca or Moderna to be administered, though some are mixing vaccines for better protection.
In its second-quarter report, Pfizer said it was already in “ongoing discussions with regulatory agencies” about its booster shot, with “potential submission of EUA [emergency use authorisation] application as early as August”.
It also said its first batch of a “Delta variant vaccine” had already been manufactured with “clinical studies to begin in August”, subject to regulatory approval.
In May, Moderna also set out plans for a “variant-specific booster” and made mention of its potential in its successful application to roll out its vaccine in the UAE earlier this month.
Are two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech effective against Delta?
Last week, in a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, British researchers said Pfizer-BioNtech and Oxford-AstraZeneca were both found to be highly effective against the Delta variant.
Two doses of Pfizer offers 88 per cent protection against symptomatic disease caused by the Delta variant, compared with 94 per cent effectiveness against the Alpha variant, after two doses.
Oxford-AstraZeneca’s vaccine was found to be 67 per cent effective against Delta, British researchers said, down from an efficacy rate of about 75 per cent against Alpha.
One vaccine shot not nearly enough
The same study also showed that a single dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca did not provide nearly strong enough protection against Delta.
One dose of Pfizer-BioNTech’s shot was only 36 per cent effective against Delta, and a single shot of AstraZeneca offered only 30 per cent protection.
The study’s authors, from British universities, including Imperial College London, and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, said the “absolute differences in vaccine effectiveness were more marked after the receipt of the first dose”.
AstraZeneca second shot ‘doesn’t cause blood clots’
In other developments on Wednesday, a new study said a second dose of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine does not increase the instances of rare blood clots.
Data published in The Lancet journal found that the estimated rate of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome after the second dose was 2.3 per million in those inoculated.
This is comparable to the typical rate seen in those who have not been vaccinated. The rate after the first dose is 8.1 per million.
The AstraZeneca-led and funded study evaluated reported cases on the drugmaker’s global safety database occurring within 14 days of administration of the first or second dose as of April 30.
The Anglo-Swedish company instigated the research after its University of Oxford-engineered shot suffered reputational damage as a result of the clotting furore, which led several countries to ban the shot completely or make it available only to certain demographic cohorts.
It renamed its Covid-19 vaccine Vaxzevria in Europe as the pharmaceutical company struggled to reassure the public that the drug was safe, but the product itself was unchanged.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Mobile phone packages comparison
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The specs
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
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GAC GS8 Specs
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The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
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BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait