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An laboratory workers uses medical equipment in a laboratory

US halt $500m in mRNA vaccine research, RFK says

US President Donald Trump's administration has announced it would terminate 22 federal contracts for mRNA-based vaccines, questioning the safety of a technology credited with helping end the Covid pandemic and saving millions of lives.

US • 06 Aug

A sign in a pharmacy advertises the COVID-19 vaccine in New York City

US ends case against doctor over Covid vaccine scheme

US Attorney General Pam Bondi has said she had ordered charges to be dropped against a doctor accused of destroying Covid-19 jabs and issuing fake vaccination certificates.

US • 13 Jul

HSE apologises after girl immunised with used needle

The HSE has apologised to and compensated a 13-year-old girl who was given a Covid-19 vaccination with an already used needle.

Courts • 23 Jun

In March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared a global pandemic

People asked to share their pandemic experience

The independent Expert Evaluation of Ireland's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has today launched a public consultation phase.

Health • 22 May

The deal was adopted following three years of negotiations

WHO members adopt global pandemic accord

Members of the World Health Organization have adopted an agreement to better prepare for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to Covid-19, but the absence of the US cast doubt on the treaty's effectiveness.

World • 20 May

Donald Trump signed an executive order in February halting federal funds for schools and universities that impose coronavirus vaccine mandates

White House pushes lab leak on revamped Covid site

The White House has unveiled a revamped Covid-19 website that promoted the contentious theory that the virus leaked from a Chinese laboratory, framing it as the pandemic's "true origins."

US • 19 Apr

The HSE said it is aimed at those most at risk of severe illness

HSE opens spring Covid-19 booster vaccination programme

A spring Covid-19 booster vaccination programme for vulnerable groups has started.

Health • 03 Apr

The survey also found that 61% of women said they wash their hands more often than before Covid-19

Fewer shake hands, junk food consumption up after Covid

The Central Statistics Office has published a survey detailing the long-term social impacts of the pandemic experience and the restrictions associated with Covid-19 five years on.

Coronavirus • 26 Mar

Ireland saw over one million confirmed cases of Covid-19

Looking back five years on from the first cases of Covid

Five years since the first cases of Covid-19 here, and it feels like that time and place was another country.

Health • 18 Mar

Lydia Fischer Dooley has been trying to cope with symptoms of Long Covid for several years

'Upside down turning of life' - coping with Long Covid

Five years on from the first cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, many people are living with Long Covid, a group of health problems that persist after initial infection.

Health • 18 Mar

The WHO's announcement spurred countries around the world into action

Five years since WHO's Covid call shook world into action

Five years ago, the World Health Organization announced Covid-19 had become a pandemic - a moment when the world finally woke up to the unfolding disaster.

Coronavirus • 11 Mar

Teachers' perceptions were gathered in an online survey

Difference in skills of children since pandemic - study

Children who began school this year may be encountering more difficulties and be less prepared compared to those born before the pandemic, the findings of a study from Mary Immaculate College suggest.

Education • 10 Mar

Kevin Foley has recommended the €500 payment to each of the workers concerned.

Company recommended to make Covid payments to cleaners

The Labour Court has recommended that cleaning and security services group, Bidvest Noonan pay out €26,000 in special Covid-19 recognition payments to a 52 strong group of hospital cleaners.

Business • 14 Feb

Ryanair had launched over 20 lawsuits against the European Commission for approving billions of euros in state aid to airlines during Covid, saying the support gave those carriers an unfair advantage

Ryanair loses EU court battle over aid to Portugal's TAP

Ryanair has lost a case at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over its complaint about Portugal's bail-out of the airline TAP during the Covid pandemic.

Business • 05 Feb

The HSPC figures show Covid-19, RSV and flu cases are all trending downwards

Flu, RSV and Covid-19 cases trending downwards - HPSC

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has reported a further reduction in cases of flu, the Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Covid-19.

Ireland • 30 Jan

Data from the early days of the pandemic was uploaded by Chinese scientists to an international database in 2023

China defends Covid-19 data-sharing as WHO seeks access

China has shared the most Covid-19 data and research results in the international community, its foreign ministry has said, after the World Health Organization repeated its call for more information and access.

Coronavirus • 31 Dec 24

Researchers from across the UK, led by experts from University College London, examined data on thousands of older children and teenagers

Most teenagers with long Covid 'will recover' - study

Some teenagers have suffered from long Covid for more than two years, researchers have found.

Coronavirus • 04 Dec 24

The Covid-19 world public health emergency officially ended at the start of May 2023

Can the Covid-19 review provide the answers?

The long-promised examination of the State's response to the Covid-19 pandemic is finally due to start in a few weeks.

Analysis and Comment • 04 Nov 24

'What the Government is proposing does not have the confidence of many bereaved families', Mary Lou McDonald said (file image)

Govt's Covid review 'late-in-the-day and weak' - McDonald

Taoiseach Simon Harris has defended the planned evaluation of the State's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, with Opposition parties expressing concern it will require powers of compellability to get closure and transparency.

Health • 31 Oct 24

Professor Anne Scott was confirmed as the review chair at the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Pic: University of Galway)

Cabinet signs off on 'evaluation' of Covid-19 response

An examination of the State's response to the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to begin its work in the coming weeks, after the cabinet signed off on its terms of reference.

Coronavirus • 31 Oct 24

Michael McBride said it would be for the inquiry to determine if he got all the decisions right

NI Covid shielding advice 'could have been more nuanced'

Initial messaging around shielding at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic could have been more nuanced, Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride has said.

Ulster • 24 Sep 24

One theory is that the virus leaked from a Wuhan lab, while the other is that people caught Covid from an infected animal at a local market

Study reinforces theory Covid emerged at Chinese market

A study on the origin of Covid-19 has provided new evidence supporting the theory that humans first caught the virus from infected animals at a Chinese market in late 2019.

Coronavirus • 19 Sep 24

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he would like to see the measures introduced 'before the autumn restart of the Dáil in mid-September

Tánaiste wants Covid inquiry plan published by September

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said he wants to see a Covid inquiry plan published and officials appointed to the inquiry before the Dáil returns in September.

Ireland • 19 Jul 24

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that 'this is not a failure' (file pic)

Talks on global pandemic agreement end without deal

Negotiations on a landmark global agreement on handling future pandemics have ended without a deal being finalised, but countries voiced their desire to keep pushing for an accord.

Health • 24 May 24

The company said it would proceed to withdraw the vaccine Vaxzevria's marketing authorisations within Europe

AstraZeneca withdraws Covid jab 'for commercial reasons'

Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has said it was withdrawing its Covid-19 vaccine Vaxzevria, one of the first produced in the deadly pandemic, citing "commercial reasons" following a slump in demand.

Coronavirus • 08 May 24

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