Brazil Halts and Re-Starts Phase 3 Clinical Trials of Chinese COVID-19 Vaccine
Brazil briefly stopped clinical trials of CoronaVac, the Chinese-made experimental vaccine for COVID-19, after a death among trial participants was reported on Nov 9, 2020. The Bhutantan Institute in San Paulo, Brazil had been conducting Phase 3 trials with more than 10,000 volunteers when the study was halted.1 However, within days, Bhutantan officials announced they […]
Ticketmaster Walks Back Plans to Require COVID-19 Testing or Vaccination
On Nov. 11, 2020, Billboard magazine reported that Ticketmaster, the world’s largest ticket agency, revealed it wants to require proof that ticket purchasers have tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus within 24-72 hours before attending an event or have received a COVID-19 vaccine with a year of the event.1 This would mean that gone are […]
Another Shot at a Vaccine for Lyme Disease
The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has provided the University of Maryland with a $3.5 million dollar grant to develop a vaccine for Lyme disease.1 Principal investigators Utal Pal, PhD, professor at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Matthias Schnell, PhD, director […]
COVID-19 Lockdowns in New York: A Matter of Religious Freedom?
On Oct. 7, 2020, Harold Tischler, an Orthodox Jewish activist was arrested and charged with inciting a riot and the unlawful imprisonment of Jacob Korbluh, a journalist, during a protest in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Tischler, an activist, radio talk show host and candidate for Brooklyn City Council is known for speaking out against the COVID-19 […]
Federal Bill Proposes COVID–19 Testing, Tracing and Quarantine of Americans
July 4, 2020 marks the 244th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. With much of the country still shut down, large gatherings banned and “non-essential” businesses closed with required masking indoors and outdoors in some states, it is hard to imagine firework displays, neighborhood barbeques and other annual Independence Day traditions being […]
Allergy Risks Increase as FDA Changes Food Labeling Requirements During COVID-19 Pandemic
Opinion | On May 22, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public comment providing new guidance that will relax the labeling requirements on packaged food to allow food companies more flexibility during the COVD-19 pandemic. Companies selling food are now allowed to make minor changes to the formulation of food products […]