Here are this week’s Covid-19 vulnerability trends. Vulnerability increased slightly in eastern Europe and the Caribbean, with some improvements in South America, Syria, Tunisia, and Uganda.
| Increased Vulnerability Index Values | Decreased Vulnerability Index Values |
|---|---|
| Cuba | Argentina |
| Hungary | Colombia |
| Mongolia | Syria |
| Poland | Tunisia |
| St. Lucia | Uganda |
| Zambia |
The Vulnerability Index was developed by combining the following seven variables:
- Number of hospital beds per 1000 persons
- Proportion of population over age 60
- Number of Covid-19 cases
- Prevalence of tuberculosis
- Prevalence of HIV
- Prevalence of diabetes
- Prevalence of moderate to severe food insecurity
Latest international Covid-19 headlines:
- The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines seem to be far less effective against the South Africa variant (B.1.351) than expected. This variant is thought to be spreading rapidly across southern Africa, and has already been found as far away as Hawaii. The variant is 50% more transmissible and may make herd immunity more challenging to reach. – The Hill
- Ivory Coast and Ghana will began mass vaccination drives last week through the supply of vaccine they have respectively received from COVAX. – BBC
- Brazil is an “explosive breeding ground” for the P.1 variant of Covid-19. P.1 is more transmissible and can re-infect those recovering from a previous bout of Covid. Last week, the research institute Fiocruz noted that P.1 has become the dominant strain in the six out of eight Brazilian states it studied. They have called the situation an “atomic bomb.” – Washington Post
- 21% of Chile’s population has received the first dose of vaccine; while 3% have received the second. – The Economist
- Colombia was the first country in Latin America last week to receive vaccine from the COVAX program. – Miami Herald
- Israel has been using almost exclusively the Pfizer vaccine and is leading the world in terms of proportion of the population vaccinated, with 57% having received the 1st dose, and 43% the second. Of those vaccinated, a new study shows that fewer than 1% test positive; and only 0.2% develop symptoms. – The Times of Israel
- India’s Bharat Biotech developed vaccine, COVAXIN, has been shown to be 81% effective. India hopes to vaccinate 300 million people by July but is not on track yet to meet the target. – NPR
- Moldova has become the first country in Europe to receive vaccine through COVAX. – CNN
