Health News Roundup: Merck says deal signed with Singapore on COVID-19 antiviral pill; Slovakia's daily COVID cases jump to highest since March and more

Germany had always secured access to effective COVID-19 treatments early, minister Jens Spahn told a news conference, when asked whether the country would seek to buy Merck's molnupiravir, which has shown promise in a trial. Unvaccinated federal workers in Canada will be put on unpaid leave - Globe and Mail Federal employees in Canada who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have not obtained medical exemptions will be forced to take unpaid leave, the Globe and Mail reported, citing sources.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Merck says deal signed with Singapore on COVID-19 antiviral pill

Merck announced on Wednesday a supply and purchase agreement that will provide Singapore with access to its experimental oral COVID-19 antiviral drug, the latest Asian country to try to snap up supplies. Molnupiravir is designed to introduce errors into the genetic code of the virus and would be the first oral antiviral medication for COVID-19. Merck is seeking approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the pill.

Slovakia's daily COVID cases jump to highest since March

Slovakia reported 1,971 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the highest daily tally since March 23, amid a surge of infections largely among unvaccinated people. The health ministry said three-quarters of the cases confirmed by PCR testing were among people who had not been vaccinated.

German to weigh need to purchase Merck & co's COVID-19 drug

Germany will hold talks on whether it needs to make bulk purchases of Merck & Co's promising drug candidate for the treatment of COVID-19, its health minister said on Wednesday. Germany had always secured access to effective COVID-19 treatments early, minister Jens Spahn told a news conference, when asked whether the country would seek to buy Merck's molnupiravir, which has shown promise in a trial.

Unvaccinated federal workers in Canada will be put on unpaid leave - Globe and Mail

Federal employees in Canada who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have not obtained medical exemptions will be forced to take unpaid leave, the Globe and Mail reported, citing sources. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will unveil requirements of a new vaccine mandate on Wednesday, the paper reported, adding that Trudeau will also announce when a vaccine mandate will take effect for travelers on domestic flights, inter-provincial trains and cruise ships.

A Chilean tree holds hope for new vaccines - if supplies last

Down a dusty farm track in Chilean wine country, behind a wooden gate wrapped in chains, forestry experts are nursing a plantation of saplings whose bark holds the promise of potent vaccines. Quillay trees, technically known as Quillaja saponaria, are rare evergreens native to Chile that have long been used by the indigenous Mapuche people to make soap and medicine. In recent years, they have also been used to make a highly successful vaccine against shingles and the world’s first malaria vaccine, as well as foaming agents for products in the food, beverage and mining industries.

Pfizer study to vaccinate whole Brazilian town against COVID

Pfizer Inc will study the effectiveness of its vaccine against COVID-19 by inoculating the whole population over the age of 12 in a town in southern Brazil, the company said on Wednesday. The study will be conducted in Toledo, population 143,000, in the west of Parana state, together with Brazil's National Vaccination Program, local health authorities, a hospital and the federal university.

Sweden pauses use of Moderna COVID vaccine for younger age groups

Sweden will pause the use of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for people born 1991 and later after reports of possible rare side effects, such as myocarditis, the Swedish health agency said on Wednesday. The health agency said data pointed to an increase of myocarditis and pericarditis among youths and young adults that had been vaccinated.

Illinois toddler fights for his life as COVID transmission rages

When her two-year-old started feeling sick early last week, Tiffany Jackson didn't think it might be COVID-19. No one else in the family was sick. Adrian James just had a bit of a cough. She gave him cough syrup and put a humidifier in his room.

Poland's daily COVID-19 cases up by 70% past in week - deputy minister

Poland's daily COVID-19 cases have risen by around 70% in the past week to over 2,000, a government official said on Wednesday, warning the country that a fourth wave of the outbreak is gathering pace. Poland's health service was stretched to its limits in the spring by a third wave of the pandemic that saw daily cases exceed 35,000, but authorities believe vaccinations will help control the number of infections this autumn.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)