The Galerie des Pêcheurs is hosting a retrospective photo exhibition of the Principality’s 24 most emblematic photos of the past year.
Photo: Direction de la Communication, Stéphane Danna
New exhibit shares Monaco’s most symbolic photos of 2021
Day: 8 January 2022
Waste reduction nets installed in Fontvieille
Photo source: Direction de l’Aménagement Urbain/DAU
February signalled for new Novavax vaccine
The new Novavax Covid vaccine, which doesn’t use RNA technology and was recently approved by the European Union, could be ready for use in France “at the beginning of February”.
According to a statement by the French Health Ministry, the new inoculation, created by American drug manufacturer Novavax, will most likely be an option in the country by next month, subject to approvals by the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS). The decision is set to be delivered within days, says the ministry.
This is the fifth vaccine to be approved by the EU’s health regulatory agency.
France is set to receive 3.2 million doses in the first quarter of this year and has asked for the same number to be delivered in the second quarter. Though the vaccines are due at the end of January, the ministry has said that “signals indicate that there could be delays”.
At the moment, the only two vaccines in circulation in France are the ones using messenger RNA technology, namely Pfizer and Moderna. The country drifted away from the other approved vaccines, Janssen and AstraZeneca, after controversies made people reluctant to receive them last year.
The Novavax jab, which involves two doses to be taken 21 days apart, does not use messenger RNA technology but what is known as a subunit vaccine. Sold under the moniker Nuvaxovid, the vaccine contains a component of the virus introduced to the body to trigger an immune response.
Novavax explains it saying, “NVX-CoV2373 is a protein-based vaccine engineered from the genetic sequence of the first strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 disease. NVX-CoV2373 was created using Novavax’s recombinant nanoparticle technology to generate antigen derived from the coronavirus spike (S) protein and is formulated with Novavax patented saponin-based Matrix-M™ adjuvant to enhance the immune response and stimulate high levels of neutralizing antibodies. NVX-CoV2373 contains purified protein antigen and can neither replicate, nor can it cause Covid-19.”
Other vaccines already use this same technology to excellent effect, including against pertussis, meningococcal meningitis, and hepatitis B. It is hoped that these successes will convince unvaccinated people who have been reluctant to take the messenger RNA jabs.
Based on clinical trials in the UK with 14,039 participants, the Novovax vaccine received an overall 89.7% efficacy rate. The notable side effects are considered short-lived and mild to moderate, and include headache, pain at the injection site, fatigue and muscle pain.
The Monaco government is yet to announce if and when it will make the Novavax vaccine available to the population.
Latest figures from IMSEE show that in the Principality of Monaco, 69,008 Covid vaccinations have been administered as of 2nd January 2022. Residents account for 21,696 first doses, 21,592 second doses and 11,478 boosters. This gives the country a 67.8% full vaccination coverage rate.
Those 75 and older achieved the highest vaccination rates with 93.3% being jabbed. The 12- to 17-year-olds are the lowest at 41.9%, followed by the 18 to 34 age bracket, at 56.2%.
A total of 11,779 French residents have been vaccinated in Monaco, while 253 Italian nationals have taken advantage of Monaco’s free vaccination for employees.
Photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash
Mandatory health pass for more workers, shorter self-isolation periods
Faced with an “explosion” in the number of Covid-19 cases, the Prince’s Government is readjusting some restrictions, including an extension of the mandatory health pass for workers in more sectors.
The government announced late Friday that it is strengthening some measures in an effort to slow the rapid spread of the virus throughout the Principality and help ease mounting pressure on the hospital system.
From 17th January until at least the end of February, all staff in professions that “are crucial to the functioning of the State” must have a valid health pass in order to work. This includes workers in both public and private sectors such as administration, justice, security, banking, transport, and cleaning.
A valid health pass shows full vaccination status, recovery from the virus, or a negative Covid test.
Meanwhile, from Saturday 8th January, capacity limits have been reduced in restaurants, with the number of diners allowed per table down from 12 to eight people. Table spacing of 1.5 metres is once again necessary.
Capacity at large venues has also been reduced to a limit of 2,000 people, and the consumption of food and drink is prohibited in these venues, meaning masks must be worn at all times.
The government has also reduced the duration of isolation for people who test positive for Covid to the following:
Positive case: seven days isolation plus reinforced social distancing for four days after leaving isolation.
Low-risk vaccinated or unvaccinated contact cases: No isolation, PCR or antigen test needed on day two of contact, self-tests recommended on day four and day six. Reinforced social distancing for seven days after contact.
Non-vaccinated high-risk contact case: Isolation for seven days plus a PCR or antigen test on day seven.
Contact case living in the same space as a positive case: Isolation seven days, PCR or antigen test on day seven, and social distancing for four days.
An additional 127 people tested positive for Covid in Monaco on Friday 7th January. The Princess Grace Hospital Centre is caring for 40 Covid patients, including 14 residents, while there are five non-residents in critical care in ICU.
The Home Monitoring Centre is following an additional 372 positive residents.
According to the latest IMSEE figures, 67.8% of the eligible population of Monaco, or those aged over 12, is vaccinated.
The incidence rate on 2nd January was 1,270.
Photo source: Unsplash
Nantes v ASM match preview: “Control the controllable”
Philippe Clement’s first match as AS Monaco coach comes on Sunday in Nantes. Following his introduction as manager on Wednesday, the Belgian once again faced the media on Friday.
Clement’s preparation for his first match has been far from ideal. Last week saw seven players ruled out with Covid, and they have gradually re-started training this week. Many first-team players are therefore at different phases in their rehabilitation.
Clement told Monaco Life that he couldn’t say how many players he would be without for the fixture. “I honestly can’t say at the moment. I hope that as many of them are back as quickly as possible, but I can’t say for now.” Monaco Life was present at the training centre on Friday and can confirm that first-string players Benoit Badiashile, Sofiane Diop and Jean Lucas all trained on Friday.
Aleksandr Golovin and Myron Boadu were present at the morning session, but were not involved with group training, whilst Axel Disasi and Youssouf Fofana had their own training session in the afternoon. Captain Wissam Ben Yedder was also absent, as Clement added that some players were suffering from little niggles.
It remains to be seen who will be fit in time for the match, but Clement wanted to focus on his job, saying, “I want to control the controllable.” He told Monaco life that this could mean giving the chance to some of the more youthful members of the squad. “There is a lot of young talent here, within the core group and also within the second team. This week we were without many core players, so because of that there is a possibility for the younger players.”
A win for Nantes would put them above Monaco in the Ligue 1 table, and they coming into the fixture in good form, having won their last five games in all competition, keeping four clean sheets in the process. They will, however, be without Wylan Cyprien and Moses Simon for the fixture, both of whom have been crucial to their recent run of form.
Clement will be hoping that, despite a short and disrupted preparation, he can get his reign off to a successful start at the Beaujoire Stadium on Sunday.