In new breakthrough, Moderna's Covid vaccine nearly 95% effective

21 Sept 09:02 Key points summarised by AI

Moderna announced its experimental Covid-19 vaccine is 94.5% effective, hailed as "stunningly impressive," marking a second major breakthrough after Pfizer's vaccine, both utilizing new mRNA technology.
The vaccine's high efficacy was determined from a clinical trial involving over 30,000 participants, with 90 of 95 Covid-19 cases occurring in the placebo group.
Crucially, Moderna's vaccine can remain stable at standard refrigerator temperatures (2-8°C) for 30 days, significantly easing distribution logistics compared to Pfizer's requirement for deep-freezing.
Moderna plans to submit applications for emergency approval globally within weeks, anticipating 20 million doses ready for the US by year-end and up to a billion doses globally in 2021.

Bai Lu meet-and-greet cancelled days after China’s safety warning

Yesterday 15:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister announced the government will seek clarification from the Chinese Embassy regarding its recent travel advisory warning Chinese nationals about safety concerns in Thailand.
The travel advisory is anticipated to negatively impact the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, despite recent increases in arrivals.
A meet-and-greet event featuring Chinese actress Bai Lu, a WeTV Global Ambassador, was abruptly cancelled just days after the Chinese Embassy issued its safety warning, though no official reason was provided.
The Chinese Embassy's advisory urged citizens to beware of job scams, fraudulent investments, suspicious travel arrangements, and the risk of illegal detention or being lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Chinese nationals were advised to verify job offers, use legitimate transport, avoid high-risk border areas, protect personal documents, and keep family informed of travel plans.