Volume 21 Issue 559- December 3, 2021 - Rabi ul Thani 28, 1443 H, $1 www.miraclenews.com BC, CANADA First Muslim
Biweekly & Bilingual
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Steps Of Wealth Distribution Update on Micron Teenage brains can’t tell what’s not?
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hold items to Afghan PICS Society’s Gurpurab Day Radiothon Latest update on current storm and B.C.
NCOCapproves booster shot for health Airport COVID-19 testing for travellers 15-year-old Michigan teen charged in Oxford H.Sch
B.C. kids aged 5 to 11 can now get vaccinated. Here’s what you need to know
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he first group of 5- to 11-yearchildren in B.C. can now be immunized against COVID-19. B.C. is the last province to start administering vaccines to kids because of distribution challenges linked to the recent flooding and distances to various corners of the province. Here is what you need to know if you want to get your child vaccinated or if haven’t yet made up your mind. How many kids are eligible to get the shot? Approximately 350,000 children aged five to 11 are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 pediatric vaccine, with the youngest kids being eligible on or after their fifth birthday. Is the pediatric vaccine different than the one for those 12 and older? The pediatric vaccine is a smaller dose. During dosing studies, vaccine manufacturer Pfizer compared the adult dose, which is 30 micrograms,
to various smaller doses. It concluded that one-third of an adult dose, or 10 micrograms, gave just as strong an immune response in younger children as the adult formulation. Who approved the vaccine for children? Health Canada reviewed the research provided by Pfizer. The independent regulator’s responsibility was to review safety data on how well the vaccine works in children that age and to review the manufacturing data. “This rigorous and independent review really can give us confidence that, as it’s approved by Health Canada, it is safe for use, and we can trust that in our children,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a news conference last week. Public health officials have said kids are less likely to get severely ill from COVID. To be Continued at page 6
Omicron: New variant ‘not a cause for panic’, says Biden
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S president urges people to get vaccinated amid global concern over new strain WHO says poses ‘very high’ risk. Joe Biden has urged Americans to get COVID-19 jabs amid global alarm over the new Omicron coronavirus variant, but the US president says the strain should be considered a “cause for concern, not a cause for panic”. In remarks delivered at the White House on Monday, Biden said top United States health officials are consulting with leading vaccine makers and preparing for possible updates to account for Omi-
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cron’s mutations. But he stressed that the US was in a good position to control Omicron’s potential spread without having to resort to lockdowns or more travel bans for now – beyond restrictions already imposed on eight southern African countries. “This variant is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic,” he said. “If you are vaccinated, but still worried about the new variant, get your booster. If you aren’t vaccinated, get that shot. Go get that first shot.” New COVID-19 variant: What we know about Omicron To be Continued at page 6
November inflation hits 11.5pc, highest in 20 months
SLAMABAD: An upward swing in consumer prices continued in November as inflation edged up to 11.5 per cent from 9.2pc, the highest increase noted in the past 20 months influenced by a record hike in fuel prices last month, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data showed on Tuesday. The massive rupee depreciation fuelled import-led inflation. Inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to its highest level in 20 months — the period when global oil prices kept rising steadily undermining earlier gains. At the same time, prices of fresh vegetables, fruits and meat have also posted a persistent increase in major urban and rural centres. The average inflation during the July-November period rose to 9.32pc on a yearly basis. Inflation had started declining after surging
to 12.4pc in February 2020, mainly driven by a drop in prices of agricultural products. The trend is reversing now on the back of a rise in prices of petroleum products. In 2020-21, annual CPI inflation was recorded at 8.90pc against 10.74pc the preceding year. The monthly outlook report of finance ministry
shows Pakistan’s inflation rate is driven by demand factors, international commodity prices, exchange rate, seasonal factors and economic agents’ expectations concerning the future developments of these indicators. Year-on-year (YoY) inflation is marginally increased in the last two months. Going forward, this increase in inflation may be tempered by the seasonal profile whose contribution was positive in October but is usually about neutral in November. Besides government policy, administrative and relief measures may support to ease out the inflationary pressures. However, the prices of crude oil along with all other energy inputs are on the rise due to increasing global demand in post-Covid scenarios. Also, a rise in freight charges have made interna To be Continued at page 6