COVID-19 situation update for the EU/EEA and the UK, as of 26 November 2020

COVID-19 situation update for the EU/EEA and the UK: As of 26 November 2020, 12 530 862 cases have been reported in the EU/EEA and the UK: Portugal (274 011)

What you need to know about the pandemic on 26 November

COVID-19: What you need to know about the pandemic on 26 November: Top stories: Germany extends restrictions; South Korea sees cases spike; global cases pass 60 million.

The skill challenges posed by Covid-19

The skill challenges posed by Covid-19: Is Europe ready to invest in its labour force?

The impacts of lockdowns in response to the Covid-19 outbreak have been asymmetric across different economic sectors, depending on the degree of social contact needed to perform the activity but also on the use of technology.[1] The measures being taken to contain the spread of the pandemic are accelerating ongoing transformations in the economy and in labour markets, driven by digitalisation. ‘Pandemic-proof’ digital technologies are poised to take over certain jobs faster and more easily than had previously been the case.[2] Workers laid off in shrinking sectors or whose jobs are threatened by technological advancement and by the pandemic require new opportunities to succeed. Failure to manage transitions towards new sectors or new occupations effectively may lead to a significant increase in long-term unemployment, with broader social consequences.

It is against this background that up- and re-skilling policies are part of the flagship areas recommended by the Commission for national investments and reforms under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). These policies recognise the growing need to adapt and develop (up-skill) workers’ existing skill-sets to meet new challenges, as well as the need to retrain (re-skill) workers for jobs in rising sectors of the economy. More generally, labour market policies play a decisive role in mitigating the threat of human capital deterioration and can avoid frictional unemployment, resulting from sectoral restructuring of the economy, turning into long-term unemployment. National governments are responsible for such policies and their choices will affect employment outcomes.

A Model for a Just COVID-19 Vaccination Program

A Model for a Just COVID-19 Vaccination Program: The pandemic exposed racial injustice in healthcare. Vaccine distribution must not.

E se as pessoas fossem pagas para receber a vacina da covid-19?

E se as pessoas fossem pagas para receber a vacina da covid-19? Caso a vacinação voluntária não seja suficiente para atingir a imunidade de grupo, especialista em ética lança uma proposta: pagar às pessoas para que sejam vacinadas. Mas será esta mesmo uma opção a considerar? 

Quanto ao pagamento, Julian Savulescu diz que seria um trabalho dos economistas torná-lo justo, mas pensa que pequenos incentivos bastariam para mudar o comportamento das pessoas. Sugere ainda que o pagamento possa ser feito financeira e não financeiramente, como poder deixar de usar máscara ou dar compensações no tratamento dos filhos.

Qual é então a grande vantagem desta proposta? “É preferível do que tornar a vacinação obrigatória, o que pode incluir multas ou outros custos”, responde o investigador, adiantando que pode tornar-se uma medida mais barata do que outras alternativas. “As pessoas podem ainda fazer uma escolha livre e, se estão preocupadas com os efeitos da vacina, podem recusar-se a tomá-la.”

COVID vaccine: What vaccines are there? When will they be ready?

COVID vaccine UK: What vaccines are there? When will they be ready? What vaccines are being developed? How effective are they? And how exactly do they work? 

In what order will we get the coronavirus vaccine?

While the government has said the most vulnerable will receive the vaccine first, further details have not been announced. However, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended a priority order, based on who is at the highest risk of death.

Their order is:

• Older adults in a care home and care home workers
• All those aged 80 and over and health and social care workers, though they may move up the list
• Anyone 75 and over
• People aged 70 and over
• All those aged 65 and over
• High-risk adults under 65
• Moderate-risk adults under 65
• All those aged 60 and over
• All those 55 and over
• All those aged 50 and over
• The rest of the population, with priority yet to be determined.

 

Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine

Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine

Foundational Principles for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine

Ethical Principles

• Maximum benefit
• Equal concern
• Mitigation of health inequities

Procedural Principles

• Fairness
• Transparency
• Evidence-based

 FIGURE 3-2 A phased approach to vaccine allocation for COVID-19