Ohio Lowering Shot Age to 16; Moderna Doses Kids: Virus Update

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European health ministers are discussing the future of AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid-19 vaccine as a growing list of countries suspended its use to examine side effects.

The European Medicines Agency has reiterated that the benefits of the shot outweigh the risks. Even so, Venezuela said it won’t approve the vaccine, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control is reviewing its guidance.

Germany may extend virus restrictions because of a stubbornly high case rate and the vaccine issues. Meanwhile, the EU is set to start plotting a strategy to gradually lift lockdowns. Moderna Inc. said the first children have been dosed in a pediatric clinical trial of its vaccine.

Key Developments:

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Scotland Eases Restrictions as Cases Drop (10:45 a.m. NY)

Scotland will reopen hairdressers, car showrooms, garden centers and click-and-collect retail services on April 5 after the number of daily cases dropped by 30% over the past three weeks as the country’s vaccination program ramps up. More restrictions will be lifted on April 26, with cafes, restaurants and bars able to cater to people outside and some food served indoors.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament that evidence shows the vaccines are reducing transmission. As part of the U.K. rollout, Scotland has now inoculated about 40% of its adult population. It plans to keep vaccinating about 400,000 people a week into April, she said, with hopes of getting close to a return to normality by June 30.

Ohio to Expand Vaccines to Anyone Over 16 (10:30 a.m. NY)

Ohio will allow all residents age 16 and older to register for the Covid-19 vaccine starting March 29. The state will expand its eligibility to those age 40 and higher on Friday.

Governor Mike DeWine said that the consensus of county health department officials was that the state needs to expand its eligibility more quickly due to a larger amount of supply and the varying levels of vaccine acceptance across the state.

“It’s imperative that we move as quickly as we can,” DeWine said Tuesday during a news conference at a mass-vaccination site at Cleveland State University.

HSBC Closes Main Office in Hong Kong (10 a.m. NY)


HSBC Holdings Plc’s main office in Hong Kong has been closed until further notice after three people working in the building tested positive for Covid-19.

Visitors who stayed at the building for more than two hours between March 2 and 15 would be required to undergo mandatory coronavirus tests, according to an internal memo seen by Bloomberg.

The bank’s iconic main building in Hong Kong is located at 1 Queen’s Road Central.

Austria Calls for EU Correction Mechanism (9:50 a.m. NY)

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called for a “ correction mechanism” of the vaccine distribution in the EU to avoid political tensions in the bloc. Speaking in Vienna alongside the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Slovenia, Kurz said they were already in talks with European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen.

Russia Condemns U.S. for Pressuring Brazil (8:44 a.m. NY)

Russia condemned the U.S. for applying diplomatic pressure on Brazil to reject its Sputnik V vaccine, adding that attempts at political meddling in inoculation campaigns were costing lives.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in its annual report published in January that its Office of Global Affairs sought to persuade Brazil not to allow the Russian vaccine, accusing Moscow of seeking to expand its influence in the Americas to the “detriment of U.S. safety and security.”

Separately, Russia will triple production of Sputnik V in India following a new deal that strengthens Moscow’s pledge to inoculate a 10th of the global population. Gland Pharma Ltd., a Chinese-owned firm, will supply 252 million shots of Sputnik V from the fourth quarter.

AstraZeneca Investors Look Past Vaccine Woes (8 a.m. NY)

AstraZeneca Plc shares posted their biggest gain this year even as European countries suspended use of its vaccine, with investors focusing on its promising lineup of experimental drugs and earnings growth prospects.

JPMorgan to Bring Summer Interns Into Offices (7:45 a.m. NY)

Hundreds of JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s summer interns are set to attend its New York and London offices, according to a person familiar with the plans. Last year, Wall Street’s biggest names delayed, shortened or made virtual their paid summer programs due to the pandemic.

U.S. to Export Shots in ‘Reasonable’ Time (7:15 a.m. NY)

Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, said the U.S. will be able to start exporting vaccines in a “reasonable period of time.”

“It’s not going to happen next week or next month, but it will happen,” Fauci said in an interview with MSNBC.

He cited the country’s contributions to the Covax program, and said the U.S. will be able to give away surplus shots once its population is vaccinated.

Dosing Starts in Moderna Pediatric Study (7 a.m. NY)

Moderna Inc. said the first children have been dosed in a clinical trial of its vaccine in kids from 6 months to less than 12 years old.

The phase 2-phase 3 trial is being conducted in conjunction with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The study is expected to enroll approximately 6,750 participants in the U.S. and Canada.

Hungary Says Passports Shouldn’t Discriminate (6:56 p.m. HK)

Potential vaccine passports for travel in Europe must accept other shots in addition to those approved by the bloc, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told reporters. Such travel permits must acknowledge as valid vaccines cleared by national regulators, he said while speaking in neighboring Serbia. The two neighbors are importing and using Russian and Chinese shots along with those from western drugmakers.

Irish Deputy PM ‘Confident’ on Astra Clearance (6:50 p.m. HK)

European authorities are likely to clear the AstraZeneca vaccine after its review, according to Ireland’s deputy prime minister, Leo Varadkar.

“I would be confident that the EMA, once they’ve considered the data, will most likely allow the vaccine to be cleared again,” Varadkar told Newstalk Radio. “They’ll do that in the next couple of days; that will allow our authorities to follow.”

Ireland is among countries that suspended use of the vaccine on Sunday.

Germany to Extend Restrictions, Report Says (6:35 p.m. HK)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and regional premiers are considering extending most virus restrictions, including the closing of non-essential stores, gyms and hotels, for another four weeks beyond March 28, Business Insider reported.

Due to a stubbornly high infection rate and problems with the AstraZeneca vaccine, officials are also looking at postponing a reopening of outdoor restaurants, theaters, concert halls and cinemas planned for March 22, the magazine said, citing unidentified government sources.

Regional premiers are due to hold talks on Thursday to discuss the next steps, and any changes to strategy would be announced after Merkel hosts the next full meeting of federal and state officials on the pandemic on Monday.

Israel Spent $790 Million on Vaccine Deals (6:20 p.m. HK)

Israel has spent 2.6 billion shekels ($790 million) on coronavirus vaccine deals with pharmaceutical companies, and plans to spend a further 2.5 billion shekels on more doses, officials said. The amounts were detailed as officials from the finance and health ministries appeared before parliament’s finance committee.

Philippines Limits Manila Airport Arrivals (6:16 p.m. HK)

The Philippines will limit foreign arrivals in its main Manila airport to 1,500 passengers a day for a month starting March 18 amid an infection resurgence, the Civil Aeronautics Board said.

Philippine Airlines, in a Facebook post, said it may cancel some international flights. Some passengers will also have to postpone travel to Manila to comply with immigration directives, the carrier said. Most foreigners are still barred from entering the country.

China Embassies Ease Rules for Vaccinated: GT (5:57 p.m. HK)

Chinese embassies in at least 20 countries so far have begun “facilitating” procedures for visa applicants who have been vaccinated, Global Times reported. The measures aim to make it easier for international travelers.

EU Deal to Speed BioNTech-Pfizer Deliveries (5:57 p.m. HK)

An agreement was reached on the accelerated delivery of 10 million doses for the second quarter, the European Commission said in statement. President Ursula von der Leyen said the move gives member states room to maneuver and “possibly fill gaps in deliveries.”

Africa CDC to Review Guidance on Astra Shot (5:18 p.m. HK)

The Africa Centres for Disease Control is reviewing its guidance on the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford.

“The Africa CDC will be convening an emergency meeting this afternoon with all the experts across the continent to look at the data and what we know, and then to provide appropriate guidance to the continent,” Africa CDC Director John Nkengasong said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Tuesday.

Singapore to Open More Vaccination Centers (4:39 p.m. HK)

Singapore will have a total of 40 vaccination centers by mid-April to accelerate the pace of inoculation and plans to offer shots to more segments of the population from next month, the Ministry of Health said Tuesday. The government will consider allowing citizens and permanent residents with “very exceptional circumstances” to get their vaccinations earlier.

Serbia Restores Partial Lockdown (4:34 p.m. HK)

Serbia is closing all non-essential businesses until Monday when the virus measures will be reviewed, Premier Ana Brnabic told reporters in Belgrade. The Balkan country of 7 million people is struggling to contain a rising rate of infections despite having vaccinated more than 1.2 million, including almost 800,000 with two doses.

Namibia Receives First Vaccines (4:03 p.m. HK)

Namibia is receiving its first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines on Tuesday, according to the nation’s health ministry. The 100,000 Sinopharm doses will be administered to health-care workers and the vulnerable.

EU to Lay Out Plan for Lifting Lockdowns (3:23 p.m. HK)

“There is reason to look forward to a substantial reduction in the prevalence of the virus, raising the prospect of a lifting of the restrictions weighing on citizens and the economy alike,” the European Commission will say in a policy document due to be unveiled Wednesday. “EU citizens have good reason to expect the situation to improve,” it will say, according to a draft seen by Bloomberg.

— With assistance by Andreea Papuc, Jason Scott, Jinshan Hong, Robert Jameson, Thomas Kutty Abraham, Go Onomitsu, Claire Che, Muneeza Naqvi, Randy Thanthong-Knight, Anna Edwards, Misha Savic, Kathleen Hunter, Katherine Rizzo, and Rodney Jefferson

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