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The Star | Malaysia News: National, Regional and World News

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Get the latest Malaysia news stories and opinions with focus on National, Regional, Sarawak and World News, as well as reports from Parliament and Court.

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https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/05/02/hong-kong-records-hottest-april-in-at-least-140-years

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HONG KONG: Hong Kong last month recorded its hottest April since meteorological records began in 1884, according to the city's weather observatory.

Last month's average temperature of 26.4 degrees Celsius (79.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in Hong Kong made it "the warmest April" since records began 140 years ago, the observatory said on Wednesday.

"Summer is not yet here but April was already record-breakingly hot," the observatory announced on social media.

The subtropical Chinese city has faced extreme heat in recent years, with dozens of high-temperature records, including daily and monthly highs, set annually since 2019, observatory data showed.

On April 27, Hong Kong also set daily temperature records for April, including the highest daily average of 28.8, and the highest daily low of 27.7.

In contrast, between 1991 and 2020, the average daily temperature in April was between 21.1 and 25.6.

The record-warm April this year came after an "exceptionally warm" winter from December to February, and a "much warmer than usual" March, with the observatory expecting "above normal" temperatures throughout 2024.

Hong Kong's labour department on Wednesday updated its three-tier warning system for heat stress at work, pegging it to the observatory's hot weather alerts and doubling the minimum duration of a heat advisory from 30 minutes to one hour.

The system mandates rest periods or suspension of work depending on temperature levels and types of work.

Hong Kong has not included heatstroke as a work-related injury in its laws despite reports of people dying from the illness while working in sizzling summer heat.

The labour department's heat stress warning system was rolled out last year. Critics said it adopted an overly high threshold for issuing warnings and could not hold non-complying employers legally liable.

Globally, scientists warn extreme heat will become more frequent and intense because of human-induced climate change.- AFP

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Hong Kong records hottest April in at least 140 years

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HONG KONG: Hong Kong last month recorded its hottest April since meteorological records began in 1884, according to the city's weather observatory.

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https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/01/sabah-sarawak-to-increase-maternity-and-paternity-leave-says-anwar

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https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-kfc-closures-boycott-gaza-conflict-4302296

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KUALA LUMPUR: More than 100 outlets of fast-food company Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Malaysia have been "temporarily closed" amid a months-long economic boycott linked to the conflict in Gaza.

Chinese-daily Nanyang Siau Pau reported that 108 outlets of the American chain had ceased operations. Kelantan state was the worst hit, with nearly 80 per cent of their stores, or up to 21 outlets, affected.

According to the report, based on information from Google Maps, 15 stores in Johor were also temporarily shut, as well as 11 stores each in Selangor and Kedah, 10 stores in Terengganu, 10 stores in Pahang, nine stores in Perak, six stores in Negeri Sembilan, two stores in Perlis, two stores in Melaka, five stores in Penang, three stores in Kuala Lumpur, two in Sarawak and one in Sabah.

QSR Brands - which owns and operates KFC across Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Cambodia - said that in response to challenging economic conditions, it had taken proactive measures to temporarily close outlets as a means to manage increasing business costs and focus on high-engagement trade zones.

In a statement on Apr 29, they said that employees from affected outlets were offered the opportunity to relocate to busier operating stores as part of the company's re-optimisation efforts.

"As a company that has been serving Malaysians for over 50 years, the focus remains on providing quality products and services to customers, while contributing positively to the Malaysian economy through job security for 18,000 team members in Malaysia, of which, approximately 85 per cent are Muslims," they said.

They however did not disclose the number of outlets or number of workers that were affected.

According to the QSR website, there are over 600 KFC outlets in Malaysia, with the first outlet opening in Kuala Lumpur back in 1973.

Checks by CNA on three outlets within a 5km radius in Shah Alam, Selangor, found two outlets with "closed" signs while the other outlet was open but empty.

Sunway University economics professor Yeah Kim Leng said that the country was now seeing greater adverse impacts of the boycotts, which started in October, saying that they impacted employment as well as the supply chains of these restaurants.

"Of course it is the right of consumers, but we have to be mindful that these boycotts have greater negative effects on the economy rather than the intended purpose," he told CNA.

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Malaysia's KFC closes over 100 outlets amid boycotts linked to Gaza conflict

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The US chain's owner, QSR brands, said in a statement that the decision was a response to "challenging economic conditions" and that affected employees had been offered the opportunity to relocate to busier stores.

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INTERACTIVE: More than half of Malaysia’s children at risk of obesity | The Star
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/03/interactive-more-than-half-of-malaysias-children-at-risk-of-obesity

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https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/05/02/three-flights-from-changi-cancelled-due-to-volcanic-activity-on-mount-ruang

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Nursing shortage to hit 60% by 2030, says Dzulkefly

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The health minister says the country is facing an acute shortage of nurses, adding that they are as important as doctors and specialists.

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The FC Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich warned today ahead of the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid that the Merengue team is "always dangerous", but noted that the Bavarians also don't need to "hide".

"We know that Real Madrid has a lot of experience and that they have won many matches because of it. Maybe they didn't always have the best team, but they have progressed because they believed in their strength and knew their qualities," Kimmich said at a press conference.

Furthermore, he stated that they have the ability to "defeat any opponent" and "always bounce back".

However, FC Bayern also doesn't need to "shy away", as they have also had two good games against Arsenal.

"What we need to do is take risks and have the courage to attack," said the co-captain, even though it has been a season of "ups and downs" for Bayern.

"I am optimistic. We can enter the match with confidence in ourselves," he assured.

"I am extremely excited. I think all football fans in Europe are. It's a cool feeling to play the semifinal against Real Madrid," Kimmich emphasized.

Regarding tensions between coach Thomas Tuchel and Bayern's honorary president Uli Hoeneß, he indicated that it "doesn't affect" the players. "The focus is clear, and we are right to concentrate," he said.

He also had words for his teammate Jamal Musiala, who he said was almost "a kid" when he joined the team and has now been "growing as a person" and "becoming a man".

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Joshua Kimmich Urges not To Underestimate Real Madrid

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The FC Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich warned today ahead of the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid that the Merengue team is "always dangerous", but noted that the Bavarians also don't need to "hide".

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https://community.thriveglobal.com/why-should-we-be-kind-to-others/

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https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2024/05/03/how-to-teach-your-teens-about-money

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We all need it to survive, so it’s best that you inculcate good financial habits in your children from young.

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https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2024/05/03/how-to-teach-your-teens-about-money

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Google appears to be rolling out "audio emojis" to its phone users.

Some Google Pixel phone owners are noticing an option to send a reaction while on a call.

"I was on the phone and saw a new button come up... "Audio Emoji"??? I had to call my brother to test it out!" said one X user.

An accompanying video shows the feature in action. The "audio emoji" option swipes up to reveal six familiar emojis: laughing, clapping, celebrating, a drum, crying and... the poo emoji.

When a user taps the emojis, they play a corresponding sound down the phone.

Some of the matching sounds are obvious - clapping is clapping, laughing is laughing, the drum makes a 'badum tish' sound. And, somewhat inevitably, the poo emoji makes a fart noise.

The update, which appears to just be being tested as it isn't rolled out to all users, has been met with mixed reactions.

"Did anyone ask for this? No. Am I still gonna use it? Yes," said one Reddit user. Others were less entertained.

"If you ask me, they should focus on improving things," one person posted on X.

"Imagine you are calling your friend after getting fired and talking to him about the stress you are going through, and suddenly, your friend starts playing weird audio emoji sounds," another posted on Reddit.
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One Reddit user, SohipX, did have an idea of how to put the poo emoji to good use.

"The fart sound is a great idea... I could use it with scam calls!"

Sky News has approached Google for more information.

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Google appears to add 'audio emoji' feature - including a fart button

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Google Pixel phone users are noticing a new feature that allows them to fart, laugh and clap down the phone. The "audio emojis" are getting a mixed reaction.

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https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/663547

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The Health Ministry is urging the public to be on alert for heat-related illnesses amid the ongoing heatwave in some parts of the country.

Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said the ministry has recorded five such cases so far including one death...

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MOH urges public to stay alert during heatwave

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UPDATED 9.53PM | Prolonged exposure to hot weather can be detrimental, Health DG says.

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Good facilities, clean beaches a draw for tourists

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PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is a popular place for tourists looking to stay at beachfront hotels and islands, but to get more visitors, local authorities and lodging operators need to do more, especially providing better facilities and ensuring the beaches are kept clean.

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#Showbiz: 'Sheriff' highest-grossing film of 2024 with RM35.3 million in 11 days
https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2024/04/1044506/showbiz-sheriff-highest-grossing-film-2024-rm353-million-11-days

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TheSmartLocal Malaysia - Travel, Lifestyle, Culture & Language Guide

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Man scared of needles on TikTok video goes viral

With over five million people fully vaccinated, Malaysia is well on its way to achieving herd immunity against Covid-19 as we see more people coming forward to get vaccinated, including those who suffer from trypanophobia or fear of needles.

Just a few days ago, a funny video capturing the reaction of a man who is scared of needles at a vaccination centre has caught the attention of Malaysians on social media.

Man with needle phobia at Covid-19 vaccination centre

Image credit: @xapijie

Two days ago, on 25th July 2021, TikTok user @xapijie posted a video capturing the reaction of a man with needle phobia getting vaccinated for Covid-19. In the video, which lasted a minute and 28 seconds, a young man can be seen getting ready for his injection. A company of other men, presumably his friends or colleagues, were also present, besides the staff at the vaccination centre.

The video starts with the man sitting on a chair with his left sleeve rolled up to prepare for vaccination. As the nurse approaches him with the needle, the man starts to get uncomfortable and looks for someone to hold onto due to his needle phobia. His friends and others in the video can be seen laughing at his reaction throughout the inoculation process.

Image credit: ERA (Malaysia)

Knowing that he is afraid of the needle, the other men in the video then helped him by holding onto his right hand and upper left arm. Another man embraced his neck to ensure he looks away from the needle when the nurse injects it.

With the help of three men, the nurse then proceeds to vaccinate the patient. As he gets injected, the man who's scared of needles also screamed until the nurse completes the jab.

Since its posting, the viral video has garnered a lot of attention on social media. It now has over 1.4 million views on TikTok, with more than 100,000 likes and 8,000 comments. The original video posted on TikTok is also being shared across other social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

Netizens find the video funny and have shared similar experiences involving friends and family members in the comment section.

Man with needle phobia on TikTok video goes viral

While the video is indeed amusing, we sympathise with those who suffer from trypanophobia or fear of needles. The courage of this man who wanted to get vaccinated despite his phobia is praiseworthy. And we hope that he will inspire more people, whether or not they have trypanophobia, to get vaccinated too to help Malaysia achieve herd immunity as soon as possible.

Read more here:
Cover image adapted from: ERA (Malaysia) and ERA (Malaysia)

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Man Scared Of Needles Goes Viral On TikTok For Getting Help From Friends To Get Vaccinated Successfully

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A Malaysian man who is scared of needles gets help from friends at a Covid-19 vaccination centre to successfully complete his injection.

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Malaysia make it to semi-finals of Thomas Cup

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National side awaits winner of China-India match in last four.

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https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/other/piglet-and-kitten-meet-for-first-time-their-response-leaves-everyone-speechless/ar-AA1o2QwC?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=ACTS&cvid=03790e790fd04866af8efe454defb32f&ei=32

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Malaysia is ranked 5th happiest in the world; no it's 8th; no wait, it's 59th

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Three studies on happiness in the world give three different rankings for Malaysia and I feel miserable trying to decide which to believe.

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https://www.newsarawaktribune.com.my/notorious-samarahan-traffic-jam-makes-unwelcome-return/

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Notorious Samarahan Traffic Jam Makes Unwelcome Return | New Sarawak Tribune

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KUCHING: Less than two weeks after the temporary alternate road to Jalan Stutong was opened to relieve traffic congestion along the Kuching-Samarahan

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Welcome to Caruso's family restaurant! We are an authentic Italian restaurant, bringing the incredible tastes of Sicily right to your neighborhood. Our menu offers a tantalizing array of original and cultivating Italian cuisine, hand-crafted daily in our humble kitchen. To us, the most precious memories in life aren't remembered in your head. They're remembered in your stomach. Dine with us today!

Our menu? Certainly. Go ahead and click on "Menu" in the upper left hand of the page here. Under that incredibly zoomed-in picture of a fork dangling some pasta, you'll see the word "Menu." You find it? Now, click on that. Voila! Fusilli al Pesto and Shrimp. Gnocchi with Truffle Burrata. Rigatoni with Lobster Bisque. Looks pretty good, right?

This is our catering menu. None of that is offered in person at our restaurant. We at Caruso's only serve this menu for parties of over 500.

So, are you ready to go ahead and reserve a table for this Friday? Do we smell a date night in the air?

Our menu? Menu.... Oh, the "menu"! Yes, sorry, didn't follow what you meant at first. We can't remember the last time someone actually asked for that. Most people just trust us because we are good, honest, hard-working people, but sure, if you don't want to believe in a small family-owned restaurant, let's get you to the menu!

Okay, click on the "Home" tab at the top of your page. Do you see that haphazardly cropped picture of red wine being poured into a dirty wine glass? To the right of that, in a font that is the exact same color as the background of our website, are the words "Dinner Menu." Go ahead and click on that.

This takes you to a PDF of a QR code from 2014. Do me a favor and scan that QR code. Like what you see? Yes, that is a blurry, black-and-white picture of the great matriarch of our restaurant, Mama Caruso!

We at Caruso's believe our customers must understand the origin of all the incredible food they are about to eat. In this picture, Mama Caruso is cooking her legendary lasagna. It's her secret recipe, developed over seven generations and perfected into a sensational, creamy, and delectable dish. I think you'd enjoy it. Dio mio, every single person who has ever tasted it has gotten everything they've ever wanted in life!

The lasagna is not on our menu. Mama Caruso died at the running of the bulls. She was watching from the safety of the stands and the excitement was too much for her and she choked on a corndog she was eating. The lasagna recipe died with her. So it's not on our menu.

Can I go ahead and put you down for a table for two this Friday night? We have live music on Fridays!

Here you go again about this menu thing. We at Caruso's are getting a little tired of your constant questions about the "menu" and "what food we serve" at our "restaurant." Most folks are sold on the atmosphere and culturally rich backstory, but guess you're only coming to our restaurant for the food? The food here is good, we promise. Isn't that good enough for you?

Alright, fine. Let's just go to the menu.

Open a new window in Internet Explorer. You can't use Google Chrome or Safari or your computer will shut down permanently. Go to Bing. Type "food" into Bing. There's going to be a blog post on page 17 of the search results titled, "Come see how I Eat, Shit and Pray" written by a user called Sir Eats-A-Lot. It's a 10,000-word blog post about how this guy ate poutine in Québec and now has a "calling to embrace every moment left for him in life." Scroll through every word of the post until you reach the comments section. Comment "MENU" in all caps. Immediately, Sir Eats-A-Lot will respond with three different links. Disregard the first two links, they are just slideshows of pictures of poutine he ate in Québec. Click on the third link. This takes you to a gif of Mario flying through the sky as a raccoon. When he's dressed like this, he's called Tanooki Mario.

We at Caruso's fucking love this shit. Tanooki Mario is what it's all about.

Scratch Tanooki Mario's tail with your mouse and this will bring you to a dark web chess match set up on a Bulgarian internet server. Go to the chat box and challenge a warrior by the name of Ronan the Barbarian to a game of chess.

We at Caruso's have never beaten Ronan the Barbarian at online chess. We would be shocked if you did.

However, if by some grace of God, you defeat Ronan the Barbarian at chess, your computer will automatically reload and bring you back to the Tannucci's restaurant home page. From there, click on the tab that reads, "DO NOT ENTER" in the top right-hand corner of the website. And at last, you have arrived.

Fusilli al Pesto and Shrimp. Gnocchi with Truffle Burrata. Rigatoni with Lobster Bisque. It's our catering menu again.

We at Caruso's have absolutely no idea where we put our menu.
Related

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The Restaurant Website That Makes It Impossible to Find Its Menu

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Our menu? Menu.... Oh, the menu! Yes, sorry, didn't follow what you meant at first. We can't remember the last time someone actually asked for that.

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"The most important ingredient in all vaccines is trust."

Barry Bloom, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

An important indicator of government competence is responsiveness to people's needs, as demonstrated by the provision of high quality goods and servicesrequired by the population. The development of several effective COVID‑19 vaccines in less than a year is an impressive demonstration of the ability of public authorities to stimulate scientific R&D efforts in the direction of the greater good, and an exemplar of the benefits of international co‑operation between public and private stakeholders.

However, in order to promote public trust in these products, it is essential that governments demonstrate that no quality or safety standards were compromised for the sake of speedy development and approval processes. As with other medical goods, COVID‑19 vaccines have been, and are continuing to be developed, evaluated and approved in accordance with existing regulatory guidelines and legal requirements (EMA, 2020[11]). They are initially tested in the laboratory (in pre‑clinical studies), and then in clinical trials involving human volunteers. 1 These trials are intended to confirm how the vaccines work and importantly, elucidate their safety and protective efficacy. In more usual circumstances, developing new vaccines can be a lengthy process, with the different phases of development undertaken sequentially. In the case of COVID‑19, a number of factors contributed to significant acceleration of both the development of vaccines, and of the chances of successful candidates (see Box 2). Regulatory evaluation and authorisation processes were also accelerated, in part through rolling review of data as they became available, and through the use of emergency procedures that enable the acceptance of more preliminary evidence in circumstances of significant unmet need or public emergency.

Ongoing surveillance for the potential emergence of adverse effects is also essential to support public trust, using well-developed pharmacovigilance systems to track problems or adverse reactions not detected in the clinical trials. With the rollout of COVID‑19 vaccines, stringent regulatory authorities (e.g. FDA, EMA) 2 are expanding their vaccine monitoring procedures and publishing regular safety updates. 3 As the recent controversies about the safety of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine highlight, authorities face a number of complex challenges in communicating about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, and promoting and preserving public trust in the vaccines as they are rolled out, particularly in a context of health emergencies (see Box 3).

However, while the handling of these issues presents an opportunity to highlight to the public that pharmacovigilance systems work, it is important to ensure that communication regarding potential safety signals are handled with both transparency and care. Communication needs to be balanced and contextualised, to clearly convey what is and is not known, and to avoid reinforcing hesitant people's cognitive biases, and it should ideally be informed by the expertise of behavioural scientists and risk communication experts. In particular, confirmation bias (i.e. the tendency to select information that reinforces people's beliefs) and negativity bias (i.e. the tendency of negative feelings and information to have a greater effect on people than positive or neutral ones) should be carefully addressed. For example, a study of parents' attitudes while searching information online about vaccines showed that people tend to select belief-consistent information and tend to rate this information as more credible, useful and convincing (Meppelinka et al., 2019[12]).

While it is clear that the development of COVID‑19 vaccines has been a remarkable success story, much still needs to be done to engender trust in the vaccination programmes that deliver them. In addition to ensuring the effectiveness of the vaccine and the integrity of the development, evaluation and monitoring processes, governments must also demonstrate their capacity to procure vaccine supplies, and to design and deliver effective and inclusive vaccination campaigns.

To ensure timely delivery, governments need to establish policies and infrastructure for distributing, storing and administering vaccines across their jurisdictions. A recent report to the European Economic Area (EEA) indicated that most EEA countries intended to utilise existing vaccination infrastructure, while only a few had plans to procure additional equipment to ensure the correct storage of vaccines (ECDC, 2020[13]). However, in many jurisdictions current infrastructure and supplies may not be adequate to ensure a swift vaccination campaign, particularly when considering the particular transport and storage requirements of certain vaccines (e.g. very strict cold-chain maintenance). In fact, there is already evidence that some countries are struggling to maintain their planned timetables.

Co‑ordination, involvement in decision-making, alignment of actions, and transfer of resources across levels of government together contribute to effective and inclusive vaccine policy. For example, Spain designed a national vaccination strategy steered by the Inter-territorial Council of the National Health System (ICNHS), a collegiate body in which the Minister of Health participates together with the health advisors of the autonomous communities and cities. 4 In the United States, each State orders doses from the Vaccine Tracking System, up to a limit decided at the federal level. 5 Central governments also need to ensure that subnational authorities have sufficient funding and capacity to procure the necessary quantities of ancillary products such as syringes and gloves (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2020[14]).

Strengthening control mechanisms between national government entities, being each branch responsible for its actions towards the others, and moving beyond emergency rules will help increase support for vaccine policies seen as transparent, balanced and inclusive.

To address this disincentive, the US Government introduced the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Programme in 1986 to protect vaccine manufacturers from litigation that could threaten the continued development and manufacture of vaccines, and to provide compensation for injures arising from adverse events following routine vaccinations. 7 Later, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act of 2005 established a framework to deal with liability and compensation for injuries associated with vaccines and other countermeasures during the period of a declared pandemic or other public health emergency. Subsequently, in 2006 the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations began advocating for broader indemnification provisions for vaccine‑related adverse events in the context of pandemic responses (Halabi, Heinrich and Omer, 2020[15]). Outside the United States, it has been reported that in its bilateral contracts, AstraZeneca has been granted protection against legal claims arising from its vaccine products in several countries. 8

While 20 four countries currently have no-fault vaccine‑injury compensation systems for routine immunisation(Mungwira et al., 2020[16]), the World Health Organization recently agreed to underwrite a no-fault compensation plan for claims of serious side effects in 92 poorer countries due to receive COVID‑19 vaccines via the COVAX sharing scheme. 9 Vaccine injury compensation schemes that provide concomitant indemnification of vaccine manufacturers reduce, by design, the financial risks for manufacturers. These can, however, also be perceived as reducing the accountability of manufacturers with regard to the safety of their vaccines, and the rationale therefore needs to be conveyed carefully, particularly among population groups already sceptical about vaccine safety and effectiveness.

Since the beginning of the COVID crisis, governments have had to make quick decisions and implement many unplanned measures to protect communities at risk. In the first months, the widespread use of direct awards as an exceptional measure to procure goods, services and works has drawn attention to potential integrity risks, most notably fraud and corruption, that could seriously weaken the effectiveness of government action if not correctly mitigated. Some instances of irregularities and allegations of corruption in the purchasing and supply of medicines have been reported, as well as other types of misbehaviours such as health professionals stockpiling medications, and a variety of online scams (OECD, 2020[13]). Yet there has been little discussion on specific integrity risks related to the development and distribution of vaccines, 10 and how these could affect people's trust in, and the effectiveness of, government vaccination strategies.

Public integrity refers to the consistent alignment of, and adherence to, shared ethical values, principles and norms for upholding and prioritising the public interest over private interests in the public sector (OECD, 2017[14]). Integrity is a core institutional value and driver of trust. According to the OECD Trust Framework, the manner in which public institutions conduct themselves and the degree to which they can be trusted to safeguard the public interest play a key role in influencing the level of trust in them (OECD, 2017[5]). In the context of vaccine development, four main integrity issues are critical for governments in building and enhancing trust.

The need to protect public health and ensure public service continuity has rendered public procurement a key priority for governments in developing their responses to the COVID‑19 crisis. 11 The health emergency has prompted governments to make massive investments in R&D, and commit immense sums to the procurement of vaccines, treatments and diagnostics, both at the multilateral level (through the WHO ACT-Accelerator) and domestically. Although complete and accurate data are not yet available, governments of OECD countries have provided at least USD 13 billion in direct funding for R&D and building of manufacturing capacity for COVID‑19 vaccines. This does not include additional billions allocated to advance purchase commitments for vaccines, and broader funding to prop up health systems, procure necessary supplies, and develop other health technologies to respond to the pandemic. Even larger sums - in the trillions of US dollars - have been allocated by governments to compensate for lost income and support struggling sectors of the economy. Such measures were taken very rapidly as the crisis unfolded in the first half of 2020.

Despite the rapid pace of the response, integrity and accountability safeguardsmust be observed when mobilising such exceptional public funds, to enhance trust and ensure that funds are allocated in the public's best interests. While the majority of OECD Governments had the necessary legal frameworks in place for emergency public procurement, they had to balance the need to procure large volumes of goods and services quickly, frequently from suppliers with whom they had not previously worked, and with the increased commercial and propriety risks associated with emergency procurement. In Canada, for example, emergency regulations allow direct procurement from non-prequalified suppliers (in the face of the pandemic, the government simply asked the private sector who could provide products such as facemasks, disinfectants, etc.). All decisions were documented, however, can be legally challenged, and are subject to audit. In the United States, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 stipulates that the allocation of public funds to research and development of vaccines, and products developed with certain funds must be made available at a "fair and reasonable" price.

While these rapid procurement activities secured unprecedented volumes of essential supplies, the use of direct awards meant absence of competition in procurement, which is a crucial aspect in maintaining citizens' and business' trust in these processes. Without competition in the procurement process, in order to maintain the integrity of the purchasing activities, public buyers need to provide clear documentation on how they have considered and managed potential conflicts of interest or bias in their procurement decisions and actions, publish their contract awards and contracts in a timely manner, and document due diligence checks carried out on suppliers and associated parties. The US Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, composed of independent inspectors, was created by the CARES Act to audit spending related to the response to COVID‑19 to increase accountability and identify waste, and to investigate fraud and abuse in spending specifically related to the response to the coronavirus crisis. 12

While the pandemic highlighted a number of procurement risks and associated mitigation measures, targeted efforts to increase a risk-based approach to public procurement existed prior to the crisis. Initially focusing on integrity threats, growing attention has been directed in recent years to tackle other risks that could significantly affect the outcome and impact of public procurement processes, including operational, financial, reputational, social and environmental and other contextual risks (OECD, 2019[17]). The current exceptional circumstances of the pandemic also present an opportunity for international organisations and governments to permanently strengthen integrity and accountability safeguards and promote comprehensive risk management approaches within public procurement.

The second integrity issue in relation to COVID‑19 vaccines relates to interactions between public officials and other actors. Stakeholders who participate in policy making processes, including representatives from the private sector and interest groups, can bring valuable insights to the policy debate. However, it is important to establish clear standards regarding the manner in which private interests influence and interact with policy makers, and to promote openness, integrity and fairness in order to maintain public trust. Otherwise there is a risk that some interests may have undue influence over the decision-making process and capture policies, to the detriment of the public interest.

A study of interest representation during COVID‑19 found that lobbying activities increased during the crisis - especially concerning economic rescue packages - and that some actors enjoyed access advantages (Junk et al., 2020[18]). Such an environment can favour stakeholders and sectoral interests with experienced and well-funded representatives, 13 who already have access to key decision-makers and are able to sustain long-established relationships through phone calls, or other digital means. 14

Recognising that using ethical principles to guide decision-making can enhance trust and solidarity and strengthen legitimacy and acceptability of measures to respond to the pandemic, in March 2020 the Irish Government developed an ethics framework for decision-making. The framework establishes ethical principles for decisions, and procedural values to guide the manner in which those decisions are made. Among the principles, fairness, for example, requires that resource allocation decisions are not made arbitrarily, and underscores that a fair decision is one that gives people an equal chance of benefiting from health care resources. Further, responsibility as a procedural value highlights that there should be an opportunity to revisit and revise decisions as new information becomes available, as well as mechanisms to address disputes and complaints. Additionally, in order to promote transparency and timely accountability in lobbying activities, the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada ordered all COVID‑19 related activities to have digital tags, and included a keyword search capability in an online register of lobbyists, thereby facilitating timely scrutiny of the information by the public. 15

Another element in building trust in vaccination strategies is ensuring transparency and integrity in special advisory bodies 16 (such as scientific committees) (OECD, 2014[19]). Many governments have established such entities to inform public decision-making in responding to the pandemic. There is some evidence that various industry sectors may engage with these bodies in order to influence regulatory processes, for example, by developing programmes " ostensibly intended to tackle health problems arising from the products they manufacture or distribute" (Mindell et al., 2012[20]). For example, in the aftermath of the 2009 swine flu (A(H1N1) pandemic, scientific and public debates prompted accusations of commercial bias and that some governments and public institutions were misled into stockpiling a drug with limited efficacy. An analysis of how the Danish group of experts developed the plan to tackle the swine flu pandemic showed that they were lobbied by the industry directly and more subtly (Vilhelmsson and Mulinari, 2017[21]). Recent investigations have shown that following reports of shortages in the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands and Poland, the EU purchased and stockpiled a significant quantity of antivirals, despite limited evidence of their effectiveness (Hordijk and Patnaik, 2020[22]). In general, advisory activities are excluded from influence frameworks. For example, only seven OECD countries made information publicly available on agendas, minutes and participants in advisory bodies in 2014, and in 2019 only 47% of OECD countries required public disclosure of the members of advisory bodies involved in regulatory processes at the national level (OECD, 2014[19]). 17 However, the European Commission Advisory Panel on COVID‑19 is an example of a higher standard of transparency in the current pandemic. The group's agenda and meeting reports are published online, thus supporting accountability to the public. In addition, minutes of meetings, participant submissions, and any external contributions received can be made available on request. The Advisory Committee of Immunization Practice (ACIP) in the United States, which develops recommendations on how to use vaccines, is another example of transparency. All discussions are streamed live and public comment is invited. 18

More generally, some studies underline the positive role of "operational transparency" - when governments and public agencies disclose information regarding the way they work and the reasons for some decisions - in enhancing people's trust in the processes and outcomes of public policies (Buell, 2019[23]) Accordingnly, raising awareness of the vaccine approval procedures followed by international and national regulatory bodies can contribute to ehancing trust in vaccines.

Lastly, governments need to ensure that information about, andresults of research into treatments and vaccines are communicated transparently and comprehensively. In the COVID‑19 vaccine development process several companies published their clinical trial protocols, but the results of key trials were initially communicated in headlines and via press releases, 19 with little detail, prompting speculation 20 prior to publication and peer review about the underlying data. In addition, to date the rapid authorisations of vaccines by stringent regulators have been made mainly under emergency protocols, potentially creating perceptions that the assessments involved less than usual rigour, 21 or were based on preliminary or incomplete data 22 (See Box 2 above on how regulatory authorisation was expedited while safeguarding safety standards). The transition of these products to full authorisation, the peer-reviewed publication both of the results to date and of long term follow-up of subjects in ongoing clinical trials, and complete transparency of post-marketing data from Phase IV trials, routinely-collected datasets, and active and passive pharmacovigilance, should be paramount.

This degree of transparency was not always the norm prior to the COVID‑19 pandemic. Several studies have shown that bio-pharmaceutical industry-funded clinical research is often subject to significant publication bias, favouring studies with positive results, as well as cherry-picking of evidence and marketing spin. (Smith, 2005[24]; Lundh et al., 2017[25]). However, since 2015, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has instituted a policy of increasing transparency, publishing all clinical trial data submitted in pharmaceutical companies' regulatory submissions and assessed by its Committee for Human Medicinal Products (CHMP). In addition, for each submission the EMA publishes a European public assessment report on its website, providing the CHMP assessment of the data. During the COVID‑19 crisis, regulatory authorities also instituted 'exceptional transparency' measures in the assessment of COVID‑19 vaccines. For example, the EMA has published key documents following vaccine authorisation, including the complete version of the risk management plan and the vaccine clinical trial data reviewed in support of the authorisation. 23

In addition to ensuring transparency of clinical trial data, it is critical to try to avoid, or where unavoidable, manage, conflicts of interest between the different parties (e.g. researchers, pharmaceutical companies, governments) involved in vaccine development, as well as to strengthen the independence of researchers through funding and oversight mechanisms that insulate them from political and economic pressures. To that end, transparency requirements, together with clear institutional policies on industry sponsorship and conflicts of interest, are needed to preserve research integrity and independence.

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) maintains a database containing a registry of clinical trials where the public can access a list of clinical studies specifically related to COVID‑19. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires scientists and organisations that provide inputs to their processes to disclose their revenue sources and funding (Bowers and Cohen, 2018[26]). Additionally, professional and industry associations have developed voluntary measures. For example, the American Psychiatric Association published a policy in 2007 requiring individuals involved in clinical trials, or in the revision of diagnosis and treatment protocols for mental disorders, to disclose any relationships with industry within three calendar years of their appointment, with updates to be provided annually for the duration of their participation (Wheeler and Cosgrove, 2013[27]). In 2016, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) implemented a voluntary code 24 similar to that of the Physician Payment Sunshine Act in the United States. The latter requires medical product manufacturers to disclose to the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) any payments or other transfers of value made to physicians or teaching hospitals , 25which are then published on a public website. 26

Open government refers to a culture of governance that promotes the principles of transparency, integrity, accountability, and stakeholder participation, in support of democracy and inclusive growth (OECD, 2017[28]). Evidence from previous studies shows that in countries where low levels of openness were widely perceived by the public, increasing openness was a significant driver of institutional trust (OECD/KDI, 2018[10]). In the context of the COVID‑19 pandemic and vaccination campaigns, four actions are identified to ensure that government's actions are open to public scrutiny, and that public institutions engage with the population, especially those segments that are most hesitant to be vaccinated.

The COVID‑19 pandemic has highlighted how a lack of clear information and timely data can cause uncertainty in decision-making and foster mistrust in the population. Ensuring the availability of timely and granular open source data on key issues, such as the number of people vaccinated, the number of doses administered, geographical coverage, and the number of people experiencing adverse reactions, will facilitate data analysis and dissemination in online trackers, news sites, etc.

Proactively releasing information that is up-to-date, reliable and easy to understand about procurement and funding of vaccines, in compliance with access to information laws, is also crucial for people outside government to have confidence in the effectiveness of government vaccination strategies and policies. However, supply contracts and the information therein contained, including delivery commitments, have generally remained confidential. Only very limited details about the procurement of vaccines were initially released by national authorities, with little or no disclosure of prices, delivery schedules and other contractual terms, or the financing of R&D, all of which are issues of public interest.

While some contracts were eventually published, these were heavily redacted, and only released after repeated requests by civil society organisations, or following disputes between governments and manufacturers over the timing, magnitude and nature of delivery commitments. 27 The absence of reliable and readily accessible information can leave much scope for speculation, false claims and controversies. Ultimately, it can also lead to an erosion of trust if there is a perception among the public, whether justified or not, that information is deliberately being obscured or withheld in order to evade accountability. The proactive release of all non-commercially sensitive details of contracts with vaccine manufacturers, on the other hand, could not only help to build trust, but also reduce the burden that governments and the judiciary system are facing with increased volumes of access to information requests (UNESCO, 2020[29]).

Since its onset, the COVID‑19 pandemic has been accompanied by an 'infodemic' (WHO, 2020[30]) - an overabundance of information, whether accurate or not. Addressing it with determination is also crucial to enhancing trust.

Most of the problematic content circulated online (generally through social media) is based on manipulations of facts and unproven scientific theories. Scope for the dissemination of such content was opened by governments who, faced with scant and evolving scientific evidence, did not communicate decisively at the start of the pandemic (OECD, 2020[31]).The mere fact of being exposed to 'science in the making', with evolving knowledge, and being exposed to debates in disciplines (e.g. epidemiology) that most people were not exposed to before the pandemic, can contribute to increase vaccine hesitancy due to lack of understanding. Cognitive overload is also a problem. As new information is being generated and disseminated at a fast pace, people can be overwhelmed and left unable to distil the most important principles that could guide their behaviour.

Social media platform algorithms tend to prompt users to consume content that is similar to what they have previously viewed, which may help create echo chambers. In non-moderated social media, even though the volume of content about COVID‑19 from unreliable sources was relatively smaller than the content from reliable sources, the volume of reactions (e.g. likes, comments) to the former was larger (Cinelli et al., 2020[32]).Several social media companies have reinforced their moderation policies, including removing misinformation 28 in 2020. Nevertheless, the majority of them do not have clear definitions of the types of content that need to be removed, 29 and few of them report how they perform content moderation or how users can contribute to it. More transparency would be needed regarding the activities of lobbyists and other actors seeking to influence national affairs on social media. The majority of governments have not established definitions of disinformation and misinformation, which would enhance a consistent content moderation policy across media platforms (OECD, forthcoming[2]).

Effective and authoritative public communication can contribute to increased trust. Governments need to ensure that the public is able to access timely and accurate information from trusted sources about why vaccination is the only realistic means of achieving herd immunity in the medium term, and which is essential for the safe reopening of our societies and economies. For example, Belgium has delegated the task of delivering daily briefs to citizens to its crisis centre and scientific experts 30 Governments can also learn from each other through sharing good communication practices. As part of its G7 Presidency, the UK Government, intends to launch a Global Vaccine Confidence Campaign to address health misinformation and build vaccine confidence through a comprehensive approach ( Box 4).

However, governments should also be open about residual uncertainties when communicating, given that omitting important pieces of information can foster distrust among the public once new evidence becomes available. Indeed, recent research shows that communicating uncertainty in news articles only produces a small decrease in trust in the numbers being reported and in the source of information (van der Bles et al., 202[34]).

Efforts to increase people's ability to detect misinformation and their media and scientific literacy can contribute to reducing the uncertainty that drives vaccine hesitancy. Some countries, (e.g. Spain 31) have begun monitoring disinformation campaigns in a systematic way, and have implemented action plans or laws in response. France, for example, passed a law against the manipulation of information in 2018. 32 Other approaches include toolkits to help citizens detect false information. Other countries have created educational materials about disinformation. The Danish health authority has published a video on its website providing guidance on how to detect fake news, including, for example, by verifying whether it comes from an authoritative source and whether it is published in multiple outlets. 33 'Pre‑bunking' (also known as 'social inoculation') - exposing audiences to small doses of misinformation to explain their flawed reasoning - can help hesitant people overcome their fears about the COVID‑19 vaccine (OECD, 2020[31]). Together with the University of Cambridge, the UK Government has developed "Go Viral!", 34 a game to expose people to and educate them about the techniques used for spreading misinformation on social media.

Effective communication also entails sound knowledge of the various audiences (e.g. media consumption, languages spoken), partnerships with community leaders and subnational governments to overcome barriers to information, and empathy (OECD, 2020[31]; OECD, 2020[35]). In many countries ethnic minorities are reported to be more vaccine hesitant. Moreover, a recent study showed that, in Ireland and the United Kingdom, population groups that are resistant to taking vaccines against COVID‑19 resort to social media as a source of information more than vaccine‑accepting segments, and have lower levels of trust in information coming from news agencies, government agencies and health care professionals. People who are unwilling to be vaccinated were also found to hold stronger religious beliefs (Murphy et al., 2021[36]).

Various strategies can be effective in stimulating demand for vaccination among hesitant population groups (see, for example, Evans and French (2021[37])), many of which are already being used by some governments in OECD countries. In Israel, the Ministry of Health launched a public relations campaign to encourage vaccination among ultra‑orthodox Jewish communities. Religious leaders of some of these groups communicated the importance of being vaccinated to their members, including sharing pictures of their own vaccinations. In the United Kingdom, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport launched a campaign to tackle false vaccine information shared amongst ethnic minority communities, providing a toolkit with content designed to be shared via WhatsApp and Facebook community groups, as well as Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. The campaign is fronted by trusted local community figures such as religious leaders, clinicians and others who provide simple tips on how to spot misinformation and what to do to stop its spread in short, shareable videos. 35 Box 5 provides other examples of good practices in public communications by governments.

The OECD has facilitated a number of in-depth conversations on the role of communication and government efforts to build trust in vaccines, with an OECD Forum Series event 36 exploring the importance of effective communication to tackle the "infodemic" and a high-level event 37 taking stock the challenges posed by misinformation in the covid context and providing an opportunity for participants to share experiences and communication good practices.

Governments need to listen to people's concerns and the reasons why they do not trust the approved vaccines against COVID‑19, and cater to their need for reassurance. While vaccine hesitancy is characterised by mistrust in experts (Stecula, Kuru and Jamieson, 2020[39]), this is unrelated to their competence or technical knowledge of the subject, but rather to perceptions that experts do not act in good faith (Eiser et al., 2009[40]). For this reason, one‑way communication about the benefits of vaccination will not suffice in convincing people to modify their views. Instead, allowing vaccine‑hesitant people to express their views, expressing empathy, and dealing with resistance without antagonism, are effective ways of promoting behaviour change (Gagneur et al., 2018[41]). Following this approach, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council of France produced a website 38 to ask citizens about the reasons why they are or are not willing to be vaccinated.

To sustain or restore confidence in vaccines, a thorough understanding is needed of each citizen's specific vaccine concerns, historical experiences, religious or political affiliation, and socio-economic status. For example, in the United States, African-Americans are less willing to be vaccinated than other groups (Reiter, Pennell and Katz, 2020[42]).This distrust may be linked to personal or vicarious, negative experiences with the health care system and other public services, as well as current and historical abuses of power (e.g. lack of informed consent) towards these groups. Evidence shows that African-Americans tend to experience lower communication quality (such as information-giving and participatory decision-making) with physicians, especially with non-African American physicians. (Johnson Shen et al., 2018[43]). Underprivileged groups are also more exposed to COVID‑19 because of their living conditions and/or occupations (which may prevent them from isolating at home or sustaining effective social distancing in the workplace), and have less access to safety nets should they become severely ill (OECD, 2020[44]). More generally, these population groups also tend to have poorer access to health care, which contributes to the limited impact of existing recommendations. Another example is low MMR coverage in minority populations of London boroughs. 39 All of these factors combined contribute to scepticism about government recommendations. This calls specifically for engagement of the communities in the development and implementation of public health strategies addressing their needs as well as for broadening of all of the governmental services involved.

Clearly explained and communicated decisions about vaccination strategies are also necessary to increase vaccination acceptance. Demand for COVID‑19 vaccines will continue to exceed supply for several months (OECD, 2021[1]). Many countries must therefore prioritise the administration of limited vaccine stocks. Clarity in how these decisions are made is essential to gaining the public's trust in government action. For instance, health workers and workers in essential services are particularly exposed as they are at the 'frontline' of the fight against the pandemic. Also, the elderly and people with co-morbidities have higher probability of developing severe forms of the disease, and these groups have seen much higher mortality rates than the rest of the population. It is widely recognised that immunising these groups first would contribute to alleviating pressure on health systems. Communication efforts on why these two groups are in almost all countries seen as priority population would facilitate acceptance and foster trust in intentions.

Successful vaccination campaigns require extensive and well-managed community engagement. All population groups need to be involved in the design and implementation of grassroots initiatives that will build trust in vaccines, and strengthen relationships between communities and their governments, particularly for marginalised or underserved segments of the population. 40 In the case of COVID‑19, this requires a specific emphasis on addressing issues of concern regarding the speed of development and of approval of the vaccines (see Box 2).

Governments can partner with, and support community organisations in order to leverage existing structures to vaccinate the population, achieve a clearer understanding of barriers and enablers to vaccination for specific communities, and empower community leaders, who are better positioned to instil confidence in vaccines. Employers (Milkman et al., 2011[45]), co-workers (Chapman and Coups, 1999[46]), and family members and friends (Takahashi et al., 2003[47]) play an important role in influenza vaccination uptake in adults. Physician recommendation has also consistently shown to increase vaccination rates for other diseases (Brewer and Fazekas, 2007[48]). The Rapid Community Assessment, developed by the American Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, provides health officials with five‑steps guidance to assess what communities think about COVID‑19 vaccines, identify community leaders and trusted messengers, and prioritise potential intervention strategies to increase confidence in and uptake of COVID‑19 vaccine (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021[49]).

When done appropriately, community engagement increases the likelihood that communities lead on issues that affect them, use services, and build resilience. Community engagement expands the influence of local actors, facilitates access to and understanding of information, enables and promotes the right to provide feedback on the received services, and builds on existing local capacities. In the United States, recent pilot programmes in California offer relevant lessons in the value of community engagement (Mondal, 2021[50]). For example, a longitudinal cohort study that began in 1999 as an examination of the effects of pesticide use on farmworkers across California's Central Valley recently shifted to investigating the impacts of COVID‑19. In its latest report, researchers found that in October 2021, 20% were SARS‑CoV‑2 antibody positive, but as many as half expressed reluctance to accept a COVID‑19 vaccine, as they did not trust the government. Investigators quickly realised that building trust in vaccination among the cohort would require inclusive community participation.

There is an expectation that the more the public are involved in decisions regarding the approval and delivery of vaccines, the more likely they will accept vaccination. Deliberative democracy 41 is gaining traction as a way of addressing pressing policy problems, in areas such as urban planning, health and environment (OECD, 2020[51]). These processes are generally successful when they are asked to address moral dilemmas (such as whether to implement 'vaccine passports') and given sufficient time to weigh arguments and evidence. For example, in the case of Scotland, a citizens' panel was set up to evaluate the governments' response to COVID‑19, weighing evidence from experts in fields ranging from epidemiology to law and economy, and provide a report to the Parliament's COVID‑19 committee. 42

Consulting and engaging citizens and local communities will also help to develop the vaccination strategy most adapted to the local context, thus overcoming some of the logistical challenges and vaccination hesitancy. For example, Canada's COVID‑19 immunisation plan involves collaboration between the Federal Government; the provinces; the territories; First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders; and municipal governments, among others. 43 The United Kingdom's COVID‑19 vaccine delivery plan takes a local, community-led approach, with partnerships between national government, local authorities, national health system, local directors of public health, local health and well-being boards, voluntary, and community and faith sectors. 44

Fairness as a dimension of public trust refers to the consistent treatment of citizens and business by governments, and the pursuit of progress for the benefit of society as a whole. As such it is a hallmark of human behaviour that underlies social cohesion. 45 Individuals or organisations that feel unfairly treated may decide not to co‑operate even if the consequences are not in their interest (Giacalone and Greenberg, 1997[52]); (Lind et al., 2000[53])). Conversely, when citizens feel fairly treated they are generally more willing to incur costs for the greater good - provided they feel confident that others are doing the same (Lunn, 2014[54]). Whether individuals or organisations, including governments, are perceived as behaving fairly is thus a key determinant of their trustworthiness. COVID‑19 vaccines are perceived to be goods that, once available to most people, will allow an eventual return to some level of normalcy. People therefore expect that vaccines and their benefits be distributed fairly. Specific to COVID‑19 vaccines, there are two dimensions of fairness to be addressed: first, fairness in allocation within countries, and second, fairness in access globally.

Because of vaccine manufacturing constraints, COVID‑19 vaccination programmes are being done in phases, with populations prioritised according to their risk and with highest priority accorded to frontline health workers, the elderly, and others at risk of more severe disease in most countries. In stratifying populations governments must ensure they manage public expectations and explain not only why it is fair but also why prioritising specific population groups is both efficient and essential to bringing the acute phase of the pandemic under control.

Ensuring that the vaccine is accessible to everyone and that no geographic, cultural, social, ethnic or financial factors lead to exclusion or delay in vaccinating some groups, are other key elements of fairness that will contribute to increase trust in vaccines and immunisation programmes. Communities must be engaged using culturally and linguistically inclusive approaches to disseminate key messages. For example, recent data from the United Kingdom show that willingness to be vaccinated among minority ethnic communities is significantly lower than in the broader population (Robertson, 2021[55]; ONS, 2021[56]). In the United States, 23 states currently publish vaccination statistics disaggregated by race with uneven results. In Virginia, for example, African-Americans represent 19% of residents (and account for 21% of the state's COVID‑19 cases and 24% of its deaths), but have received only 12% of vaccines administered in the state thus far. 46 But some states, such as Colorado, are taking actions to increase equitable distribution, with the objective of reaching racial and ethnic minorities and rural residents who typically have poorer access to health care. The authorities plan to send 40% of their vaccine doses to local public health agencies and safety net clinics, and 15% to "equity clinics" located in underserved areas. 47 California took similar steps, announcing that 40% of its vaccine allocation would be directed to 446 communities in the bottom quartile of the state's Healthy Places Index. 48

For minorities, among whom trust has been eroded by discrimination, under-representation in health research and vaccine trials, and negative experiences within culturally insensitive health care systems, mistrust is likely to be amplified. In order to address this issue in the United Kingdom, local NHS authorities have received extra financial support to boost uptake of COVID‑19 vaccine in ethnic minorities and marginalised and underserved communities, including through targeted community engagement. 49 In addition, the Community Champions Program allocated 23 million GBP to councils and voluntary groups to expand COVID communications with at-risk groups. 50 The pandemic has also severely affected people experiencing homelessness, for whom isolating, regular hand-washing, and social distancing are all the more challenging. For this reason, Denmark has begun to include them in its priority populations. 51 Similar actions are being taken by municipalities in the US city of Detroit, and in parts of Montreal in Canada. In Austria and the United Kingdom, people experiencing homelessness are now part of priority groups who benefit from tailored vaccination invitations 52.

However, in addition to considerations of fairness in prioritising certain population groups within countries, as noted above, governments also need to explain why it makes sense to distribute vaccines fairly at a global level. A needs-based global allocation rather than "our country first" approaches are not only fairer, but also the most efficient way to bring the pandemic under control, reopen societies, and rebuild the global economy (OECD, 2021[1]). Flows of people and goods from one country to another cannot be fully interrupted, and will continue to be conduits for the transmission of infection. Furthermore, as long as active transmission continues somewhere in the world, the risk of emergence of a viral variants will persist, potentially jeopardising the entire global immunisation effort.

Accordingly, putting in place mechanisms to ensure that vaccines reach all countries, and prioritising their administration in locations of greatest need, will be important to achieving a global recovery (OECD, 2021[1]). Explaining this rationale effectively - that vaccine nationalism will ultimately be self-defeating as it will hinder the revival of the global economy, and that it is not only a matter of fairness, but also a question of efficiency in bringing about the end of the pandemic - will be critical in maintaining trust, particularly where governments choose to donate vaccine or re‑prioritise access.

a member of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), being the European Commission, the US Food and Drug Administration and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan also represented by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency; or

an ICH observer, being the European Free Trade Association, as represented by Swissmedic, and Health Canada; or

a regulatory authority associated with an ICH member through a legally-binding, mutual recognition agreement, including Australia, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway."

See: WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations Fifty-first report (Technical Report Series, No. 1003, 2017)

← 13. See, for example, Olson (2020[57]) on corporate lobbying and conflicts of interest during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Wouters et al. (2020[58]) provide background on lobbying by the bio-pharmaceutical industry, which includes vaccine manufacturers.

← 29. A recent report by the OECD on approaches to terrorist and violent extremist content (TVEC) in online content-sharing services shows that the majority of platforms ban such content to a certain extent, the majority do not have a definition of TVEC and only five companies produce reports about how they moderate and remove such content (OECD, 2020[60]).

This paper is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and the arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD member countries.

This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.

The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.

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Enhancing public trust in COVID-19 vaccination: The role of governments

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While the rapid development of vaccines against COVID‑19 is an extraordinary achievement, successfully vaccinating the global population presents many challenges, from production to distribution, deployment, and importantly, acceptance. Trust in the vaccines is vital, and is critically dependant on the ability of governments to communicate the benefits of vaccination, and to deliver the vaccines safely and effectively.

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https://www.usnews.com/news/offbeat/articles/2023-09-04/fish-with-a-funny-float-gets-a-ct-scan-at-the-denver-zoo

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Creating fake news to sow chaos is nothing to be proud of | New Straits Times

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Some people use technology to insult other people's beliefs and values. Such provocations can raise tensions among communities.

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TheSmartLocal Malaysia - Travel, Lifestyle, Culture & Language Guide

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Man carries king-sized mattress on his head

Foreign workers aren't always fully appreciated by Malaysians due to existing stigmas in our community. But despite the challenging circumstances many of them face, they have always shown themselves to be hard workers with sometimes downright impressive physical abilities.

Take this man for example, who impressively carried a king-sized mattress on his head without any hands, while the rest of us can barely balance a book - let alone a piece of furniture - on our heads.

Balancing skills on point
Video credit: 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians
On 16th March 2022, the Facebook page, 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians shared a short, 9-second video of a man transporting a massive mattress on foot. It has since caught the attention of many Malaysians online.

Most of us know that carrying a mattress can be incredibly challenging. A king-sized mattress is frankly quite impossible for a single person to carry on their own. But the man in the video, who appears to be a foreign worker, could be seen walking across a street while perfectly balancing a large mattress on his head.

Video credit:我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians
Though the mattress was bouncing animatedly due to his quick steps, he never lost his stride or used his hands to support it in any way - showing great physical strength, agility and balancing skills.

The exact location of the incident is not known. However, it seems to have taken place somewhere in Malaysia as local cars such as a Myvi, Proton Saga and Axia can clearly be seen in the background of the video.

Netizens amazed at his balancing skills

Since its posting, the video has garnered over 50,000 views, more than 1,000 reactions and 250 shares. Netizens have been leaving comments praising the man's ability to carry the mattress on his own.

Image credit: 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians

Netizen Jae Dee is among those who complimented the man's strong neck and spine structure that allowed him to balance the mattress effortlessly on his head. They commented, "Strong neck and spine. See how straight they are, unlike many of us with bad posture and tech neck for meddling our phones the whole day".

Image credit: 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians

Meanwhile, Jeffery Tang Kiat Hui and Farish Akmal admitted that it's not easy for a single person to carry a mattress of such a size, and that it usually requires two people.

Image credit: 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians

There are also some others who left funny comments on the video such as "fast delivery", presumably because the man was moving quickly while carrying the mattress. Some also called him a "Grab tilam", among others - likely due to how efficient he was.

Man carries king-sized mattress on his head

Most of us will not hesitate to call on our friends or family members to help us move large objects such as a mattress. But this man showed us all who is boss by carrying one on his head like it's no big deal in the video, providing us all with a dose of much-needed humour.

All jokes aside, despite the frequent judgments that foreign labourers face, this man is a great example of how capable they are - hence we should never underestimate anyone by their looks or where they came from.

We hope through this video, Malaysians can develop a more positive mindset towards foreign workers.

Read more here:
Cover image adapted from: 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians and 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians

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Man Carries King-sized Mattress On His Head Hands-free, Amazes Netizens With His Balancing Skills

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A foreign man carries a king-sized mattress on his head along a street in Malaysia without using his hands.

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-THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, especially for university students who use it for both social and academic purposes. However, the pervasive presence of social media can have detrimental effects on students’ well-being and academic performance.

Social media can effect on student academic performance.This is because of excessive use of social media can harm student productivity , especially their time management. This make students spend more time scrolling through feeds instead of studying.

Secondly , social media also can effect student's mental health. This is because social media platforms can become breeding grounds for cyberbullying, online harrasment and negative comments. This can impact student's self esteem and mental health well being.

Conclusion ,while it can facilitate communication and access to educational resources, it also has the potential to disrupt academic focus and contribute to mental health issues. The persuasive argument against social media’s negative effects highlights the need for a strategic approach to its use.

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NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Social media is a topic of controversy today, many feel it’s a boon, but a majority think it is a curse. It has especially become crucial in the lives of university students in conducting their studies, knowing where classes are or even communicating with students from other faculties. Knowing fully well that if social media is not used properly, university students may fall into the dark side of social media.

Firstly, social media addiction or excessive use is a serious issue that can disrupt university students’ lives. Addiction is when someone feels compelled to use social media excessively, even if it interferes with their daily activities or relationships. Excessive use of social media can lead to negative effects on mental health, including increased stress, anxiety, and depression.

Secondly, cyberbullying and online dangers are significant threats to university students in today’s digital age. Cyberbullying, online predators, scams, and exposure to inappropriate content can lead to emotional distress, physical harm, and legal consequences for students. These risks can cause severe consequences, including anxiety, depression, and decreased academic performance.

In conclusion, social media has taken a toll on university students mental health and overall academic performance. Therefore, it is essential for university students to take action into their own hands by taking proactive measures to promote online safety use in their daily routine.

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Social media has been widely use by the society around the globe. One of the most prominent users of social media are university students. This interactive platform has helped thousands of student academically and increased their personal appeal. However, there are the pros and cons of the uses of social media among university student.

Social media can be helpful in times of when university students wants to connect with each other to discuss academically. This platform had enabled students to connect with peers for group projects, share resources, and seek help with coursework. There are hundreds of educational apps that had been widely used, among them are Google Classroom. Google classroom allow students to share their notes and planning regarding tests, exams or any other related coursework.

Although social media had contributed postiviely to university student, this platform can be harmful to them in some way. For instance, with the use of social media university students are more prone to cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is one of the major concerns worldwide that happens on social media a lot to manipulate, humiliate and cause harm to another person online. It has become the reason students are getting mentally tortured and emotionally unwell.

In conclusion, social media has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is important for students to use social media in a responsible and balanced manner to avoid the negative effects and take advantage of the positive ones.

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Social media were often be used by university students. It is not a strange things anymore if we saw students always on their phone the whole time. Social media could be beneficial and bad at the same time.

Firstly, the benefit of social media is entertainment. University student can relieve stress. Usually stress can from a lot of assignments and packed schedules. For example, apps that often be used are Tiktok, Instagram, Youtube and more.

However, the excessive used of socia media could be bad. Most of university students used social media as a distraction. This will affect their study and mental health because excessive used of social media could bring many bad effect such as insomnia or most commonly sleeping pattern.

In conclusion, social media have both positive and negative effect on university students. Therefore, as a university students, we need to know how to arrange our time of using social media.

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Nowadays, many students using social media for study but students misuse of social media that could lead to negative impact on students live. In this essay, we will explore negative impact of social media to university students.

Firstly, heavy use of social media can contribute to mental health. For example, feelings of anxiety, depression and loneliness among students. The pressure to curate a perfect online persona and the constant comparison to others can be detrimental to mental well-being.

Second, social media platforms can be a breeding ground for cyberbullying. Students may experience harassment, online threats, or humiliation, which can have severe emotional consequences.

In conclusion, students must know how to limit their screentime, like only use for important work only. Other than that, interact with nature rather than scrolling on your phone to release stress.

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The effects of social media to university students.

Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of people around the world using platforms like Whats-app, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay connected with others and access information. However, while social media has many benefits, it can also negatively affect mental health and well-being in student.

Firstly, one of the main negative effects of social media is distracting student academic performance in university. This is because they spend their long hours on social media which causes lack of time management in their studies and they don’t even focus on their study.According to the outcome, students’ academic performance is affected the more they use social media.

Apart from that, students may take the advantage to plagiarism and academic dishonesty. This is because the convenience of social media has made it easier than ever for students to copy and paste information from online sources without properly citing their sources.

To sum up, social media has brought many negative effects that cannot be ignored. This negative effects include academic performance distractions and plagiarism. Therefore, it is crucial to understand this negative effects and take steps to mitigate them. Students should strive to use social media positively promoting mental health and well being as well as creating a safe and healthy society.

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Nowadays , social media is important among the university student . It offers many positive impacts on their academic and personal lives . Here are two positive effect of social media among the student .

Firstly , social media is one of the best way to stay connected with their family and friends . It can be essential for student that study away from home such as the overseas . The result reveal that the use of social media sites has a significant impact on family and friend relationships

Other than that , social media can be an excellent way for student to learn new things through social media . Many educational account on social media share information about different topics , such as history , science and current history. It is also a great place for students to find mentors and training programs to learn new skills and take steps toward future career goals

In conclusion , social media is an amazing tool for students, but it is essential to use it wisely. Responsible and moderate use of social media is important for students .

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Social media has become a most inseparable part of young adults’ lives with the rapid development of information and communication technology. The social media has several positive effects on University student.

One of them are social media platforms allow students to connect with peers, friends, and like-minded individuals. It enables the formation of online communities where students can share experiences, seek support, and foster a sense of belonging. Online support groups and mental health communities can offer solace, encouragement, and resources for coping with various challenges.

Besides that, social media serves as a vast source of information, empowering students with knowledge and resources related to mental health. Universities often share valuable content, including self-help tips, coping strategies, and awareness campaigns. Access to such information can increase mental health literacy and encourage students to seek professional help when needed.

In conclusion, social media has become an influential force in the lives of university students worldwide. University students must approach social media mindfully.

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BENEFITS OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

Social media has 62.3% of the world's population users and 28.68 million Malaysian are part of it. When it come to social media, people always look on the bad side of it but what about the good side? So in this essay, we will only focus on the benefits of social media.

Firstly, it enhances learning and education. Social media impacts education by providing access to diverse educational resources such as educational apps. For example, YouTube. YouTube has more than 2.70 billion monthly active users as of 2024. Via YouTube, university students can finds video that suit with their preferred way of learning, making it easier to understand and retain information. One of the most educational YouTube channel is Khan Academy. The channel providing some of the most in-depth videos about certain theories for maths, science, computing and economics.

Next, university students can make interaction between friends and family. Social media app such as WhatsApp has it own function for people to interact with their loves one. For university student who is study abroad from their family they can use the app to make a video call to their family and friends. They also can easily use social media for study purpose. For example, they can their knowledge and also assignment especially for the group work. It is because the app allows more than one participant in one call.

In conclusion, social media has many benefits for university students as long as they use it wisely.