Bank of England keeps interest rate at 0.1% as vaccines aid economic recoveryGDP expected to rise ‘sharply’ in second quarter as lockdown eases, economists say Pfizer-BioNTech seeks full FDA approval for COVID-19 vaccineLike other vaccines available in the U.S., Pfizer-BioNTech have been providing their vaccine under an emergency use authorization. Pope Francis backs waivers on intellectual property rights for vaccinesPope Francis on Saturday supported waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, backing a proposal by U.S. President Joe Biden that has been rebuffed by some European nations, including Germany. Biden talks up benefits of vaccines after new mask guidanceThe U.S. leader urged Americans hesitant to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to reconsider, pointing to new U.S. guidance that inoculated people can socialize outdoors without masks. Irish Olympic team to be vaccinated ahead of GamesThe rescheduled Tokyo Olympics now look certain to go ahead. US birth rate sees biggest fall for nearly 50 yearsThe coronavirus pandemic has accelerated a longer-term trend for women to have fewer children, with the rate dropping to 1.6 per woman New advice on COVID spread puts air quality in the spotlightExperts call for focus on airborne virus spread, with one saying ‘you could be washing your hands until the cows come home and you could still get COVID-19’. Biden promises to share 60 million COVID vaccine doses with hard-hit countriesPresident Biden has promised to ship up to 60 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine to other hard-hit countries, officials said — as India battles a catastrophic surge in infe… Tweaked Moderna vaccine ‘neutralises Covid variants in trials’Limited data from small test trial shows positive results against South Africa and Brazil strains Coronavirus: EU sues AstraZeneca over vaccine delivery delaysThe pharmaceutical giant says the legal action is "without merit" and vows to defend itself.