Severe Allergic Reactions Reported After Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccinations
Last week the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a strong warning to those who have a history of significant allergic reactions to medicines, foods or vaccines or who carry an epi-pen that they may be at increased individual risk for suffering a serious allergic reaction after receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 […]
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 […]
Pfizer CEO Sells Stock Same Day Positive Results of COVID-19 Vaccine Announced
Story Highlights On Nov. 9, 2020, Pfizer released preliminary Phase 3 clinical trial data indicating that its experimental mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is 90 percent effective, triggering a big surge in stock price. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla immediately sold 60 percent of his company stock, realizing a gain of $5.6 million in what the company called […]
How COVID-19 Vaccine Trials are Designed
There’s been a lot of talk lately about whether or not the fast-tracked COVID-19 vaccine will in fact be safe and effective. While vaccine makers insist that any vaccine reaching the market will have undergone rigorous testing, the way trial protocols are designed suggests these vaccines may leave a lot to be desired. As reported1 by […]
AAP Wants Children Enrolled in COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is asking federal officials to include children in COVID-19 vaccine trials.1 On September 29, 2020, Sara Goza, MD, president of the AAP, wrote a letter addressed to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Steven Hahn, MD stating, […]
Rapid Tests for Coronavirus Raise Concerns Over Accuracy
On Mar. 27, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to pharmaceutical and medical devices company Abbott Laboratories, Inc. of Abbott Park, Illinois for a rapid diagnostic test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus known as ID NOW.1 2 3 “We know how important it is to get point-of-care tests out […]