The world’s first nasal spray coronavirus vaccine has been registered in Russia, the Health Ministry said in a statement on Friday. “The Russian Health Ministry has registered the nasal spray form of the Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V) coronavirus vaccine developed by the Health Ministry’s Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology,” the statement reads. According to the ministry, the vaccine consists of two components based on type 16 and type 5 adenovirus vectors. The two doses will be administered at an interval of three weeks. This kind of vaccination creates mucosal immunity against the coronavirus within the respiratory tract. “The use
Malacañang has renewed its call on Congress to heed the Duterte administration’s request for the immediate passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill. Acting Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Undersecretary Michel Kristian Ablan appealed anew, as he admitted the “most challenging” part of implementing FOI is “convincing legislators to pass the [proposed] FOI law.” “Pass the FOI law now,” Ablan, who concurrently serves as FOI program director, said in his “Just So You Know” vlog uploaded on the FOI Philippines’ official Facebook page, when asked about his message to Congress. Quizzed as to why the long-overdue FOI bill needs
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday urged France to continue diplomatic efforts with Russia to enforce its planned humanitarian corridors after Moscow’s evacuation plan failed to let civilians out of the besieged city of Mariupol. “The initiative of France on humanitarian corridors from Mariupol must be implemented,” Zelenskyy told French President Emmanuel Macron in the latest phone call, according to his tweet. He also discussed the negotiation process with Russia and “the course and prospects of the importance of security guarantees.” Officials from the French Presidency told BFMTV news that Zelenskyy also appealed to Macron to work with Moscow for
The Ukrainian parliament passed a law banning the use of Russian military symbols Z and V. Russia was recognized as a “terrorist country” under the law passed by parliament’s deputies on April 1, according to Ukraine’s Servant of the People party. Nikita Poturayev, one of the deputies who prepared the law, argued that propaganda in the act of aggression against Ukraine is completely prohibited. During the Russia-Ukraine war, Z and V have been seen on Russian tanks and armored vehicles. The Russian war against Ukraine, which started Feb. 24, has met international outrage, with the European Union, the US, and
A series of combat operations by troops under the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division this week resulted in the surrender of an 18-year-old female New People’s Army (NPA) rebel and the recovery of 10 firearms. On March 30, an encounter occurred between elements of the 8th Infantry Battalion (IB), 403 Brigade (Bde) and five communist guerrillas in Sitio Bendum, Barangay Busdi in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon saw the seizure of one M16 rifle, assorted medicines, and food supplies. The day before, a 10-minute gun battle happened between troops of the 36th Infantry Battalion (under the operational control of the 901Bde) and
_:The Department of Health (DOH) is studying proposals to include booster doses in the country’s primary vaccine series. Once approved, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said this would require Filipinos to get a booster to have a fully vaccinated status, which is often required before a person can travel and physically report to work. “We recognize that boosters are very important, kasalukuyang tayong nire-review kung pwede nang i-include ang booster or third dose as part of primary series (we are currently reviewing proposals if we can include the booster or third dose as part of primary series),” she said in a
