Middle East

GENEVA, July 15 (Reuters) - Nearly 23 million children missed out on routine vaccinations last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the highest number in more than a decade, fuelling outbreaks of measles, polio and other preventable diseases, U.N. agencies said on Thursday.

Measles, one of the world's most contagious diseases, can be fatal to children under the age of five, especially in African and Asian countries with weak health systems, according to the World Health Organization. Polio can cripple a child for life.

The gap in global vaccination coverage has set up a "perfect storm", leaving more children vulnerable to infectious pathogens just as many countries ease COVID-19 restrictions, the WHO and U.N. Children's Fund said in an annual report.

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Global Covid-19 deaths increase after declining for 9 consecutive weeks, WHO says

Jul

Global Covid-19 deaths increase after declining for 9 consecutive weeks, WHO says Global Covid-19 deaths have increased after declining for nine consecutive weeks, the World Health Organization said in its weekly epidemiological report published Tuesday. By <a href="/profiles/meg-wagner">Meg Wagner</a>, <a href="/profiles/melissa-mahtani">Melissa Mahtani</a>, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, <a href="/profiles/fernando-alfonso-iii">Fernando Alfonso III</a> and <a href="/profiles/veronica-rocha">Veronica Rocha</a>, CNN CNN

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State Department report says predators world wide took advantage of the pandemic lockdowns

Jul

Pandemic Lockdowns Aided Predators Worldwide, Especially Online, U.S. Says The number of cases of online sex exploitation, including of children, appeared to skyrocket last year as people spent more time on computers. By Lara Jakes The New York Times

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OVERVIEW: Australia, U.S. Europe, cruise line

Jun

The Latest: LA County urges indoor masks even if vaccinated LOS ANGELES — Health officials in Los Angeles County are recommending, but not making mandatory that people wear masks indoors in public places regardless of their vaccination status. The recommendation in the nation’s most populous county is aimed at preventing the spread of the highly transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus. AP NEWS

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Israel faces new outbreak of COVID-19 cases, reinstates indoor mask requirements

Jun

JERUSALEM — Israel has been a trailblazer in the post-pandemic world, largely returning to normal in May following one of the world’s fastest vaccination drives.

But dozens of new cases recently emerged at schools in two cities, Modiin and Binyamina, leading to hundreds of people being quarantined. Israel has made 12- to 15-year-olds eligible for vaccination, but many have yet to get shots.

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Doubts raised about Chinese COVID vaccines used in several countries

Jun

They relied on Chinese COVID vaccines. Now they’re battling outbreaks. Recent infections in Mongolia, Bahrain, Chile and the Seychelles suggest that the Chinese vaccines they use may not be very effective at preventing the spread of the coronavirus, particularly the new variants. The Seattle Times

Mongolia promised its people a “COVID-free summer.” Bahrain said there would be a “return to normal life.” The tiny island nation of the Seychelles aimed to jump-start its economy.

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UIPDATE: Israel hopes to restore vaccine echange deal after Palestinians reject initial doses for being too old

Jun

Israel struggles to restore vaccine swap deal after Palestinians reject doses for being too old Some 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine delivered to the West Bank on Friday are headed for the trash because of their imminent expiration. Shira Rubin Washington Post

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Palestinians cancel deal for Israel to supply 1 million COVID vaccines

Jun

Palestinians cancel deal for Israel to supply 1 million COVID vaccines PA claims that expiration date on doses Israel has started to deliver is too close; Israel transferred first 100,000 inoculations on Friday after months of international pressure timesofisrael

The Palestinian Authority on Friday evening dramatically announced that it was canceling a deal in which Israel would supply them with some 1 million Pfizer vaccine doses to help them with their floundering coronavirus vaccination campaign.

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