WTO considers IP waivers for COVID vaccines; West Bank ICUs are full. (Photo: Getty Images)

Geneva, March 10 (RHC)-- Members of the World Trade Organization are meeting to discuss a waiver on intellectual property rights related to COVID vaccines.  The People’s Vaccine Alliance says that while rich countries are vaccinating one person every second, the majority of poorer nations have yet to administer a single shot.

COVID deaths in Brazil continue to spike, with nearly 2,000 fatalities reported Tuesday, its highest daily toll since the start of the pandemic.

As Israel moves to further open up -- having vaccinated some 80% of its adult population -- hospitals and intensive care units in parts of the occupied West Bank are at capacity with COVID-19 patients. 

Israel started vaccinating Palestinians working in Israel and in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank this week -- more than two months after launching its vaccination campaign for Israelis.