China's Covid-19 vaccines using the inactivated virus can be upgraded to cope with new variants in about two months, according to a Chinese medical expert.
Shao Yiming, a scientist with the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention agency, was speaking to the Global Times, in a report published on Tuesday.
There are concerns that vaccines developed over the past year may be less effective again new variants of Covid-19 discovered recently in the UK and South Africa.
Biotech company Moderna said on Monday it would test a new booster shot aimed at the South African variant, after concluding the antibody response could be diminished.
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A medical worker collects a swab sample from a woman during a Covid-19 test in Bekasi, Indonesia. Reuters -

A man shows his disposable gloves on a street in Bangkok, Thailand. AFP -

A healthcare worker takes a nose swab for an attendee's Covid-19 antigen rapid test before a conference held by the Institute of Policy Studies at Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre in Singapore. Reuters -

A biochemist works on a XAV-19 anti-Covid treatment as part of a clinical trial run at the Xenothera Biotech laboratory at Nantes University Hospital in western France. AFP -

Students at a school where a Covid-19 cluster broke out, get on a bus to head to a makeshift clinic, in Daejeon, South Korea. EPA -

A group of young people hold a coronavirus-themed board during the Republic Day celebrations in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad. AFP -

People sit in a bus as lantern decorations are reflected on a window ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday in Beijing, China. Reuters -

Signs encouraging preventative measures against the spread of Covid-19 are seen in Del Mar, California, USA. Bloomberg -

The Smoothie King Center arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, is sanitised after players from both New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs tested positive for Covid-19. Reuters -

People stand at the Odaiba waterfront as the Olympic rings are seen in the background in Tokyo. AP Photo -

A woman walks under decorative umbrellas in Taguig, Philippines. AP Photo -

Healthcare workers look out to the Mediterranean sea outside the Hospital Del Mar in Barcelona. AFP
Vaccines from Sinovac Biotech and China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) are being used in China and overseas. The Sinopharm vaccine is approved for use in the UAE.
These vaccines contain the inactivated virus that cannot replicate in human cells.
The neutralising ability of antibodies induced by Chinese vaccines, which were developed in accordance with the variant spreading in Wuhan city in late 2019, appeared weaker against recently discovered variants in the UK and South Africa, the Global Times quoted Mr Shao as saying.
He cited studies by Chinese vaccine companies and labs.
The redesign of inactivated Covid-19 vaccines could take longer than for vaccines based on mRNA technology, which does not require cultivating and inactivating the virus, according to Mr Shao, who participates in technical reviews of China's Covid-19 vaccines.
The mRNA technology is used in vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.
The Global Times is published by the People's Daily, the official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party.
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
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