Oxford scientists expect COVID-19 vaccine data by Christmas

Nov 20 2020

LONDON | University of Oxford scientists expect to report results from the late-stage trials of their COVID-19 vaccine by Christmas, a key researcher said Thursday as he discussed the team’s latest findings. Dr. Andrew Pollard, an expert in pediatric infection and immunity at Oxford, said research was slowed by low infection rates over the summer, but the Phase III trials are now accumulating the data needed to report results as a renewed surge of the pandemic hits countries around the world. Oxford is developing its vaccine in conjunction with the drugmaker AstraZeneca.

Source: Sentinel COlorado

Are We Getting Closer to a Herpes Vaccine?

Nov 20 2020

MONDAY, Nov. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists are reporting early success with an experimental herpes vaccine that uses a genetically modified version of the virus. The gene edit prevents the virus from performing its normal evasive maneuver: hiding out in nervous system cells in order to elude the immune system.

Source: US News

CO-mmunity Corps Blog Series: A Tale of Two Drive Thru Vaccination Clinics

Nov 20 2020

The CO-mmunity Corps blog series highlights the incredible work that members of the CO-mmunity Corps (Immunize Colorado’s AmeriCorps VISTA program) are doing across Colorado to build capacity for immunization programs. On August 3rd, I started my first day as an Immunization Outreach and Education Coordinator at Jefferson County Public Health, the county agency that provides public health services to a large area just east of Denver, Colorado that includes urban, suburban, rural and mountain communities. Its almost 800 square miles is home to close to 600,00 diverse residents. I was placed at the Jefferson County Public Health department by Immunize Colorado to provide a year of national service through the AmeriCorps VISTA program.

Source: Team Vaccine

“We need to rebuild trust”: Colorado’s push for widespread COVID-19 vaccine acceptance

Nov 20 2020

DENVER (KDVR) — President-Elect Joe Biden and his scientific advisors want to meet with vaccine firms to move forward with distribution plans. It comes after Pfizer announced major progress with its COVID-19 vaccine that could be available by the end of the year. Historically, Colorado has some of the lowest vaccination rates in the county. The organization Immunize Colorado tells FOX31 just a few years ago, Colorado was last among the states for measles vaccinations.

Source: KDVR

Pfizer and BioNTech apply for clearance of their coronavirus vaccine amid historic scientific gains and horrific pandemic spread

Nov 20 2020

Pfizer filed for emergency authorization for its coronavirus vaccine Friday, capping a two-week period marked by blockbuster scientific advances against the pandemic but also by its ghastly toll: an additional 1.9 million people diagnosed with covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, and more than 16,000 deaths. A record 196,000 cases of coronavirus were recorded in the United States on Friday alone. California set a new single-day high, surpassing a record from July 22. Also hitting a new high for the first time since late July was Louisiana, which reported 4,743 new cases.

Source: WP

A cervical cancer-free future: First-ever global commitment to eliminate a cancer

Nov 19 2020

WHO‘s Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, launched today, outlines three key steps: vaccination, screening and treatment. Successful implementation of all three could reduce more than 40% of new cases of the disease and 5 million related deaths by 2050. Today’s development represents a historic milestone because it marks the first time that 194 countries commit to eliminating cancer - following adoption of a resolution at this year’s World Health Assembly.

Source: WHO

Speed of COVID vaccine testing did not compromise safety, Fauci says

Nov 19 2020

Moderna and Pfizer both recently announced that their coronavirus vaccines were around 95% effective in preventing COVID-19. Just one year ago, not a single person knew that the novel coronavirus existed. This incredible speed in vaccine development is unprecedented. But it did not compromise the safety of the vaccine or the scientific integrity of the process, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said during a White House Briefing on Thursday (Nov. 19).

Source: Live Science

Vaccine rumours debunked: Microchips, 'altered DNA' and more

Nov 19 2020

Bill Gates was trending on Twitter this week following the vaccine announcement. The billionaire founder of Microsoft has been the subject of many false rumours during the pandemic. He's been targeted because of his philanthropic work in public health and vaccine development.

Source: BBC

Why Does Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Need To Be Kept Colder Than Antarctica?

Nov 19 2020

Two drugmakers, Pfizer and Moderna, have announced promising interim results for their vaccine candidates, raising hopes in the U.S. and abroad that the end of the pandemic may be in sight. But, if and when the vaccines are authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, distributing them presents a daunting challenge.

Source: NPR

Op-Ed: Why all 50 states need to allow teens to get vaccinated without parental consent

Nov 19 2020

Long before Americans began clamoring for a novel coronavirus vaccine, a collection of teenagers across the nation was embarking on a quest for vaccination — by posing questions on Reddit. Teenagers with “anti-vax” parents were, and still are, desperately trying to figure out how to get vaccinated, but outdated laws in many states deny them agency.

Source: LA Times