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BioNTech said its quarterly net profit dropped to €502m, down from €3.7 billion a year earlier

BioNTech broadens scope as Covid shot sales slide

Germany's BioNTech, Pfizer's partner on Covid-19 vaccines, said today its first-quarter net income plunged on lower demand for the shots as it widens its work on cancer and other diseases.

Business • 08 May 23

Stephen Donnelly said around half the people with Covid in hospital have had the second booster

Three quarters of people in hospital with Covid over 65

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said that three out of four patients in hospital with Covid-19 now are over 65 years of age.

Coronavirus • 11 Jul 22

A nurse hands out information after vaccinating a member of the public in their car
in New Zealand (File image)

Research claims Covid jab 'saved 20m lives in a year'

Around 20 million lives around the world were saved thanks to the Covid-19 jabs in the first year of the vaccine programme, according to new estimates.

World • 24 Jun 22

The booster plan has been accelerated (File: RollingNews.ie)

What you need to know about the booster campaign

The accelerated Covid-19 booster vaccination plan is complex, with many moving parts - here is what you need to know.

Coronavirus • 16 Dec 21

Distribution of the vaccine dose for children will begin earlier

EU launch of vaccine for children brought forward

The European Union roll-out of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for five to 11-year-olds will begin on 13 December, a week earlier than previously planned, Germany's health ministry has said.

Coronavirus • 01 Dec 21

AstraZeneca reports $1.05 billion in Covid-19 vaccine sales for the third quarter

AstraZeneca makes over $1 billion in Q3 vaccine sales

AstraZeneca has today posted $1.05 billion in Covid-19 vaccine sales for the third quarter and the not-for-profit vaccine added one cent to profit in the period.

Business • 12 Nov 21

Tony Holohan said research data has shown that 1 in 4 people who attended hospitality venues last weekend were not asked for their Covid cert.

Covid-19 circuit breaker not under discussion - Holohan

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has said additional or wider public health measures are not being contemplated at the moment and a Covid-19 circuit breaker is not under discussion.

Coronavirus • 03 Nov 21

Pfizer said it is on track to deliver 2.3 billion doses of the Covid vaccine, out of the roughly 3 billion it plans to make this year

Pfizer raises Covid vaccine sales forecast to $36bn

Pfizer has today forecast better-than-expected $29 billion in sales from its Covid-19 vaccine for 2022 and said t was seeking to sign more deals with countries for the shot that it has developed with German partner BioNTech.

Business • 02 Nov 21

Sanofi is hoping for a comeback after losing ground in the Covid-19 jab race

Sanofi raises 2021 profit guidance again after Q3 beat

French drugmaker Sanofi has today again raised its profit guidance for 2021 as its blockbuster eczema drug Dupixent and flu vaccines helped it beat market forecasts in the third quarter.

Business • 28 Oct 21

J&J has stuck to its Covid-19 vaccine sales target of $2.5 billion as it works through production challenges that have resulted in delays

J&J keeps vaccine sales outlook unchanged

Johnson & Johnson has today raised its annual adjusted profit forecast, but stuck to its Covid-19 vaccine sales target of $2.5 billion as it works through production challenges that have resulted in delays.

Business • 19 Oct 21

Nicki Minaj's tweet has caused some controversy

White House offers to talk to Minaj about vaccines

The White House is willing to set up a call for rapper Nicki Minaj about the safety and effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccine after she said she wanted to do more research on vaccines before getting one.

Coronavirus • 16 Sep 21

Protection with Pfizer jab decreased to 74% after five to six months

Study suggests vaccine protection wanes after 6 months

The protection provided by two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines starts to wane within six months, new research suggests.

Coronavirus • 25 Aug 21

Study examined efficacy of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines in the UK

UK study shows vaccine efficacy weakens under Delta

A British public health study has found that protection from either of the two most commonly used Covid-19 vaccines against the now prevalent Delta variant of the coronavirus weakens within three months.

Coronavirus • 19 Aug 21

Less than 10% of respondents said they plan to make vaccines mandatory for staff

Vaccine status issue may delay some offices reopening

Legal restrictions that prevent employers from finding out the coronavirus vaccine status of employees risk delaying the re-opening of offices and are costing businesses money, new research has found.

Business • 19 Aug 21

HSE will not look for bank details to register a vaccine appointment

Warning issued over vaccine appointment scam

People are being urged to ignore text messages claiming to offer Covid-19 vaccine appointments, which ask for credit or debit card details to complete the booking.

Coronavirus • 30 Jul 21

Two mRNA vaccines have been approved for use in this age group

Govt approves Covid vaccines for 12-15 year-olds

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has confirmed that the Covid-19 vaccination programme will be extended to all those aged 12 to 15.

Coronavirus • 27 Jul 21

Orla Hogan, Ali O'Mara, Brina Cullen, Anna Killeen, Una O'Huadhaigh as a group of brides-to-be outside Government Buildings

Wedding numbers rise to 100 after 5 August

The number of people permitted to attend weddings will rise to 100 after 5 August, according to Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.

Coronavirus • 27 Jul 21

Italians attend a vaccination centre in Rome to receive the Covid-19 jab

More than half of European adults fully vaccinated

The EU has said 200 million Europeans had been fully vaccinated, more than half of the adult population but still short of a 70% target it had set for the summer.

Coronavirus • 22 Jul 21

Pfizer/BioNTech believe a third dose may be needed 6 to 12 months after full vaccination

WHO says more data needed over Covid booster plans

The World Health Organization has said it was not clear whether Covid-19 booster vaccines will be needed to maintain protection, until further data is collected.

Coronavirus • 09 Jul 21

Russia's black market for falsified vaccine certificates is flourishing

Moscow police investigate fake vaccine certificates

Moscow police said they have launched dozens of criminal probes to crack down on fake inoculation certificates, as vaccine scepticism remains stubbornly high in Russia despite soaring infection rates.

Coronavirus • 08 Jul 21

US authorities say the Delta variant is poised to become the country's dominant strain

US Covid cases hit new plateau as Delta variant rises

After declining fast for two months, the rate of Covid infections in the United States has leveled off since mid-June thanks to localized spikes in under-vaccinated regions of the country, data showed Monday.

World • 28 Jun 21

Tánaiste says people who are not fully vaccinated can travel, but will need a Digitial Covid Cert

Govt travel policy differs from CMO's advice - Varadkar

The Tánaiste has said that people who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can travel abroad, but they will need the Digital Covid Certificate and negative PCR tests before they return to Ireland.

Coronavirus • 20 Jun 21

The Houston Methodist Hospital system suspended 178 employees without pay last week over their refusal to get vaccinated

US hospital workers' court action over vaccine fails

A US judge has thrown out a lawsuit by more than 100 employees of one of Texas's largest hospitals, who sued after being required to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

World • 14 Jun 21

The EU at the end of March let the term to order 100 million extra doses of the J&J vaccine lapse

EU decides against option to buy 100m J&J doses

The European Union decided not to take up an option to buy 100 million doses of the Johnson &Johnson (Janssen) Covid-19 vaccine and is considering donating another 100 million optional shots, if ordered, European officials said.

Coronavirus • 10 Jun 21

APC said it will spend €8m on the building of new lab space at the firm's existing headquarters in Dublin's Cherrywood

APC to create 120 Dublin jobs in vaccines push

120 jobs have been announced for Dublin by Irish pharmaceutical research and development firm APC as part of plans to develop and manufacture Covid vaccines and advanced therapeutics here.

Business • 10 Jun 21