OVERVIEW: international developments on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE said on Monday their COVID-19 vaccine induced a robust immune response in 5- to 11-year-olds, and they plan to ask for regulatory authorization as soon as possible to use the shot in children in that age range in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. Reuters Reuters

Sept 23 (Reuters) - The United States, Japan and Italy have pledged more shots to the rest of the world after leaders from developing nations warned that vaccine hoarding could lead to the emergence of more coronavirus variants. read more

* Ukraine tightened lockdown curbs, restricting large events and occupancy at gyms, cinemas and cultural sites, after a recent steady increase in new infections, as the country plans compulsory vaccinations for some jobs including employees of state institutions and local governments. read more

* Russian travel agencies are selling package tours for Russians to receive foreign vaccines abroad amid frustration among some that domestically produced shots have not been approved internationally. read more

* New Zealand's prime minister said the country should aim for a 90%-plus rate of inoculation, and could drop strict lockdown measures once enough people were vaccinated. read more

* Moderna (MRNA.O) Chief Executive Stéphane Bancel thinks the pandemic could be over in a year as increased vaccine production ensures global supplies, he told the Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung. read more

* Chinese vaccine developer Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise plans to start a large trial for its nasal spray-based vaccine candidate next month, a clinical trial registration record showed. read more

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