US President Joe Biden has received his third corona vaccination. “I know I don’t look like that, but I’m over 65 years old,” the 78-year-old joked at the White House while getting vaccinated on camera. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved corona booster vaccinations with the agent from Biontech / Pfizer for the elderly and high-risk groups last week. The second vaccination must have been at least six months ago.
His 70-year-old wife Jill will also get the third shot, Biden said. “I want to make it clear that booster vaccinations are important, but the most important thing is that more people are vaccinated.” The vaccination campaign in the USA has clearly lost momentum in the past few months. So far, 55.3 percent of the population of around 330 million people there have been fully vaccinated. (27.09.2021)
Study: Due to Corona, life expectancy is falling more sharply than it has been since the Second World War
In the wake of the corona pandemic, according to a study, life expectancy in many countries has fallen more sharply than it has been in Western Europe since the Second World War. In some countries, the progress of the past few years has been ruined in a short time, report researchers at the Leverhulme Center for Demographic Science at the University of Oxford International Journal of Epidemiology. The decline in men was therefore greater than in women.
For the study, the scientists examined data from 29 countries, most of them from Europe, including Germany, as well as Chile and the USA. In 2020, life expectancy fell in 27 of these countries and by at least half a year in 22 countries. “In Western European countries such as Spain, England and Wales, Italy, Belgium, such a decline in life expectancy in a single year at the time of birth was last observed during World War II,” said co-author José Manuel Aburto.
Life expectancy of men fell the most in the US – 2.2 years compared to 2019. In the US, the rise in working-age mortality under 60 is particularly noteworthy, said co-author Ridhi Kashyap. In most European countries, on the other hand, mortality among those over 60 has increased in particular. A study in the British Medical Journal pointed out the drastically reduced life expectancy in the USA.
Life expectancy is the age a newborn is likely to reach if the death toll continues to develop as it did when it was born. According to the Federal Statistical Office, life expectancy in Germany in August 2021 was 78.6 years for boys and 83.4 years for girls. It was also known that in 2020 mortality increased compared to 2019, especially for men and women over the age of 75.
RKI reports a slightly increased incidence
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports 3022 new positive tests. That is 714 fewer than on Saturday a week ago, when 3736 new infections were reported. The seven-day incidence increases slightly to 61.7 from 61.4 the previous day. Ten other people died related to the virus. This increases the number of reported deaths to 93,403 within 24 hours. In total, more than 4.19 million corona tests have so far been positive in Germany. (09/27/21)
Development Minister: Preventing disadvantages in poor countries
Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) warns of increasing disadvantages in poor countries when it comes to corona vaccines. “Rich countries bought additional vaccines from the world market in order to make third-party vaccinations possible, while over 90 percent of Africans did not even have the first vaccination,” says the CSU politician of the Funke media group, according to a preliminary report. One must prevent the poorer countries from being further disadvantaged. Müller affirmed: “We must not get into a situation in which the rich countries are buying empty the market and hoarding vaccines, while nothing is left for the poor countries.”
The goal of the international vaccine initiative Covax of making two billion vaccine doses available to people in poor countries by the end of the year can no longer be achieved, said Müller. So far, Covax has only distributed over 300 million vaccine doses. Vaccine shipments to Africa are expected to be 25 percent lower than expected by the end of the year. This is mainly due to a lack of supplies.
The vaccine donations from the rich countries must now be made quickly, demanded Müller. The EU states have promised 248 million cans, but have only given 20 million cans so far. “Worldwide there are 100 million cans that are about to expire and need to be vaccinated quickly,” warned the minister.
Müller also made the manufacturers responsible, who would have to change their delivery policy. “It would be absolutely unacceptable if vaccines were kept extra scarce. Or contractually promised doses were postponed to Covax in order to deliver to richer countries instead,” he emphasized. “Manufacturers should finally prefer Covax for deliveries.” (09/26/21)
Berlin techno club Berghain reopens
Berlin’s nightlife is getting one of its internationally celebrated highlights back. The Berghain wants to reopen. On its homepage the techno club, which resides in a former district heating plant, announced its first “club night” for the Saturday of the coming weekend (October 2nd). On the following Saturdays too, the techno club wants to unlock its entrance, which is regularly besieged by long lines. If you want to get in, you have to be vaccinated against Corona or have recovered from Covid-19 (2G). “We’re looking forward to our first club night after almost 19 months,” said the page. “Let the bass kick, see you on the dance floor!”
In August, the Berlin administrative court overturned the general ban on commercial dance events in closed rooms. It argued that unrestricted openings were still not allowed against the background of the corona pandemic, but events should only be allowed for vaccinated and recovered people. (25.09.2021)
Masks should be compulsory in the car first aid kit
In the future, it will be mandatory to take masks with you in the car. The Federal Ministry of Transport took note of the inclusion of the two face masks in the draft to amend standard sheet DIN 13164, supported by the Federal Association of Medical Technology, and welcomed the planned implementation of the standard change as soon as possible. A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Transport announced this to the Evangelical Press Service on request. The Federal Ministry of Transport intends to then adopt the change in standards with the next change in the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations, it said. At first she had Rheinische Post reported about it. The regulation is expected to take effect in the coming year.
Accordingly, the masks are to be added to the prescribed contents of the first-aid kit in cars, trucks and buses, the newspaper wrote. Anyone who then did not add two masks to the first-aid kit would face a fine. So far, according to the catalog of fines, five euros are due if the first aid kit is incomplete. (25.09.2021)