As the world moves closer to one or more potential COVID-19 vaccines, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has formed a collaborative effort to monitor the emergence of new COVID-19 viral strains and evaluate any impacts they may have on those candidates. Other coalition members include the GISAID Initiative, Public Health England, and the [...]
Designers of COVID-19 vaccines appear to have made a spectacularly successful bet. When devising a vaccine against a virus, scientists choose ways to mimic it that they hope will safely teach the immune system how to defeat the foreign invader. For COVID-19, most developers gambled on spike, the protein that allows SARS-CoV-2 to dock onto [...]
Signs posted at the entrance to the grocery store in northwest Montana told customers to wear a mask. Public health officials in Flathead County urged the same. Coronavirus infection rates here are among the highest in the state. Infection rates in the state are among the highest in the United States. And still, Craig Mann walked [...]
As COVID-19 deaths topped 250,000 today, the White House coronavirus task force signaled that the nation’s pandemic situation is worsening, with more overrun hospitals and deaths potentially approaching 2,000 a day in the lead-up to Christmas—unless strong mitigation measures are taken. Meanwhile, the global COVID-19 total topped 56 million today, as Europe’s cases slowed but its [...]
A report released yesterday by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) says supply chain issues could interfere with a smooth rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine and that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should disclose scientific review of vaccine and drug efficacy and safety data when issuing emergency use authorizations (EUAs). The report states that Operation Warp [...]
Today marks the end of the 11th Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after causing 119 confirmed cases, 11 probable ones (130 cases total), and 55 deaths (42.3% of all cases), according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since beginning in the country’s western province of Equateur on Jun 1, the outbreak [...]
(BOSTON) – CARB-X is awarding up to US$2.42 million to Clarametyx Biosciences, based in Columbus, Ohio, USA, to develop a new treatment for serious bacterial biofilm infections, including those such as pneumonia caused by antibiotic-resistant ESKAPE pathogens and polymicrobial biofilms. Clarametyx will be eligible for an additional $11.85 million in non-dilutive funding from CARB-X if project [...]
CHICAGO – Millions of children have missed routine vaccinations this year, causing a precipitous drop in immunizations that threatens to leave communities throughout the U.S. at risk of losing protection against highly contagious diseases, including measles, whooping cough and polio, according to new data from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA). As the COVID-19 pandemic prompted Americans [...]
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Nov. 5, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued 204 citations arising from inspections for violations relating to the pandemic, resulting in proposed penalties totaling nearly $2.9 million. iStock, RgStudio Read more… The post OSHA issues nearly $2.9M in COVID-19 [...]
South Australia began one of the world’s toughest lockdowns Thursday with even outdoor exercise and dog-walking banned as the state tries to contain a cluster of Covid-19 infections. For six days, only one person from a household will be allowed to leave home each day, and only for essential reasons, authorities said. Schools, universities, cafes and [...]
