Global Fund gets powerful help with $18 billion funding goal NEW YORK (AP) — The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria will get some high-powered help this week to reach its $18 billion goal to fund another three years to slow the spread of these diseases. AP NEWS

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GAVI financing to allow for immediate funds for next pandemic Global vaccine alliance GAVI has set up financial instruments that will allow the group to immediately access pledged donor funding if it needs to buy vaccines for future pandemics, Chief Executive Seth Berkley told Reuters. Michael Erman Reuters

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Is the Covid-19 pandemic over? The answer is more art than science Experts say there are no accepted metrics or defined international rules that tell us when we can call the code on the Covid pandemic. In reality, things are much more ephemeral. Helen Branswell STAT

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OECD: Russia war, virus and climate hurting world's poorest WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia's war against Ukraine, the lingering coronavirus pandemic and the damage of climate change are putting intense pressure on the world's poorest, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development warned Monday. AP NEWS

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Anger in China after 27 people killed in Covid quarantine bus crash Tragedy in Guizhou province became a lightning rod for social media criticism of zero-Covid policy before posts were shut down the Guardian

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Best to get new booster before Halloween, White House COVID coordinator Dr. Jha says Ideal to get the updated COVID vaccine between mid-September and mid-October, Dr. Ashish Jha said, and no later than the end of October. ABC News ABC News

To optimize protection ahead of another pandemic winter, White House COVID coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said Friday people should consider getting the newly-updated COVID-19 booster before Halloween.

Biden says 'the pandemic is over' even as death toll, costs mount U.S. President Joe Biden said in an interview aired on Sunday that "the pandemic is over," even though the country continues to grapple with coronavirus infections that kill hundreds of Americans daily. Trevor Hunnicutt Reuters

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Donated COVID drugs start flowing to poor nations — but can’t meet demand Nature - Pilot schemes will explore test-and-treat logistics, amid efforts to bolster meagre supplies to low- and middle-income countries. Ledford, Heidi nature

A programme to bring oral COVID-19 antivirals to low- and middle-income countries has launched with an initial donation of 100,000 courses of treatment, to be distributed in 9 sub-Saharan African countries and Laos.

Scientists debate how lethal COVID is. Some say it's now less risky than flu They argue the threat posed by COVID has lessened because of preexisting immunity and access to treatment. Plus, some deaths may be incorrectly blamed on COVID. Others caution it's too soon to tell. NPR.org

...there's still plenty of differing views on this topic. While the threat from COVID-19 may be approaching the peril the flu poses, skeptics doubt it's hit that point yet.

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