"This will go down in history as one of science and medical research's greatest achievements"

Eric Topol on Twitter: This will go down in history as one of science and medical research's greatest achievements. Perhaps the most impressive.

A tribute to some of the doctors who died from COVID-19

A tribute to some of the doctors who died from COVID-19: The global COVID-19 death toll stands at more than 1·3 million. Among the lives lost have been those of health-care workers, who have had crucial roles throughout the response and continue to serve at the front lines. At the outset of the pandemic, doctors warned of the potential implications of the virus. As the virus spread, many doctors provided treatment for a disease they little understood, while others contributed to accelerated research on potential treatments and vaccines. And as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened worldwide, health professionals worked tirelessly to provide care for patients—some even emerged from retirement to provide assistance.

It is not possible to honour all of the health workers who have died from COVID-19, but in telling the stories of a few of the health professionals from different specialties and various countries who lost their lives to the disease, these short obituaries serve as a tribute to the many other health workers who have died in the pandemic. These lives are also a reminder of the ongoing dedication and service of those who continue to care for patients at a time when COVID-19 cases and deaths are increasing in many countries.

Is emergency use authorization the best way to get a COVID-19 vaccine to the public?

Is emergency use authorization the best way to get a COVID-19 vaccine to the public? Emergency use authorization could allow a vaccine to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control relatively quickly.

But there are also significant disadvantages to using the emergency use authorization as the legal basis for approving a COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use. Most such authorizations issued for drug and biological products (a category which doesn’t include medical devices such as diagnostic kits and ventilators) have involved post-exposure prophylaxis or treatments. But vaccines have quite different medical purposes compared to treatments for someone exposed to anthrax or to nerve agents. With vaccination, healthy people take a risk to prevent the possibility of future sickness. “Therapeutics are given to people who are sick, maybe even in life-threatening situations,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in October. “Vaccines are given to people who are, in general, healthy but may be at risk for life-threatening complications.”

COVID-19 situation update for the EU/EEA and the UK, as of 30 November 2020

COVID-19 situation update for the EU/EEA and the UK: As of 30 November 2020, 13 123 678 cases have been reported in the EU/EEA and the UK: Portugal (294 799). 

As of 30 November 2020, 321 998 deaths have been reported in the EU/EEA and the UK: Portugal (4 427)

What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 30 November

COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 30 November: Top stories: WHO warning on malaria; New York schools to reopen; Indonesia reports record daily rise in cases.