Tag: Vaccines

Emergency approval of coronavirus vaccines is not guaranteed, FDA commissioner says

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Emergency approval of coronavirus vaccines is not guaranteed, FDA commissioner says

Career scientists at the FDA are reviewing raw data from the Pfizer and Moderna trials for the first time, investigating any adverse events or side effects that transpired over the course of the trials, different levels of effectiveness among populations and age groups, and whether individuals who were already infected by the coronavirus might have had any unexpected reactions to the vaccine doses.

Hahn said they will also be looking for evidence that the vaccines lead to increased respiratory infections – a concern with vaccines produced for other coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS – and whether the use of a relatively new method of vaccine development, known as messenger RNA technology, poses any significant risks.

Congress returns with virus aid, federal funding unresolved

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Congress returns with virus aid, federal funding unresolved

Before the election, Trump seemed to be focused on a provision that would send another round of $1,200 payments to most Americans. He hasn’t shown a lot of interest in the topic since, apart from stray tweets. But the chief obstacles now appear to be Pelosi’s demand for state and local government aid and McConnell’s demand for a liability shield for businesses reopening during the pandemic.

At stake is funding for vaccines and testing, reopening schools, various economic “stimulus” ideas like another round of “paycheck protection” subsidies for businesses especially hard hit by the pandemic. Failure to pass a measure now would vault the topic to the top of Biden’s legislative agenda next year.