COVID-19 Vaccine Update – Vaccination Rates and COVID-19 numbers

Vaccination Rates

As at 15^th January 2021, the U.S had administered the largest number of doses worldwide, totaling 12,962,550.

While leading by doses administered, vaccinations per 100 remained particularly low at 3.95 doses. This was up from just 2.44 doses per 100 people as at 12^th January, however.

Leading the charge by vaccination rate continued to be Israel with a rate of 24.24 per 100 people as at 15^th January.

The U.A.E remained in 2^nd place, with a vaccination rate of 15.50 doses per 100 people.

While Bahrain ranked 3^rd, with a rate of 8.28 doses per 100, the figures from the UK were also impressive.

As at 15^th January, the UK had recorded a vaccination rate of 5.51 doses per 100 people.

Totaling 3,678,180 vaccines, the rate was up from 2.99 doses per 100 as at 12^th January. The figures reflected the British Government’s vaccination drive in a bid to bring the pandemic under control.

For the EU, the numbers were marginally better but certainly not at levels needed to ease lockdown measures.

Amongst the 4 worst affected member states, Italy continued to lead the way with a vaccination rate of 1.66 doses per 100.

Spain and Germany were aligned with rates of 1.66 and 1.65 per 100. France, however, continued to trail, with a vaccination rate of just 0.60 doses per 100 people.

For a full breakdown of vaccination rates by country, please visit Bloomberg Vaccination Tracker page here.

The Latest COVID-19 Numbers

At the time of writing, there were a total of 94,324,566 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 2,108,103 related deaths.

By geography, the U.S had reported 24,102,429 cases and 401,856 COVID-19 related deaths.

India reported 10,543,659 cases, with Brazil reporting 8,394,253 cases.

Sitting behind Russia (3,520,531) remained the UK (3,316,019).

France (2,872,941), Italy (2,352,423), Spain (2,252,164), and Germany (2,023,802) reported a combined 9,501,330 cases.

Looking Ahead

With new COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, COVID-19 vaccine supply and vaccination rates will remain key areas of focus near-term.

New variants of the coronavirus are being identified across the globe, with each more virulent than the original strain.

The new strains have added further pressure on governments to take more aggressive steps to combat the pandemic.

Supply remains a constraint for many countries, however, which could lead to extended lockdown measures.

For the EU that trails the UK and the U.S, approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine would ease the strain.

Last week, news hit the wires that AstraZeneca had submitted a request to the EMA for conditional marketing authorization.

According to the EMA website, an opinion could be issued by 29^th January during the meeting of the EMA’s scientific committee for human medicines (“CHMP”).

The EMA has caveated, however, that data submitted on the quality, safety, and efficacy of the vaccine must be sufficiently robust and complete.

Upon a CHMP recommendation, the European Commission would then fast track its decision-making process. The time lines suggest that the AstraZeneca vaccine would be available for use across the EU by mid-February.

With Pfizer Inc. supply to the EU reportedly coming up short of expectations, AstraZeneca will need to make up the shortfall.

The EU has a contract with AstraZeneca to purchase up to 400 million doses of its vaccine.