40 Percent of U.S. Marines Opting Out of COVID-19 Vaccination

Story Highlights Among U.S. military forces, the rate of refusal for the experimental COVID-19 vaccines is reportedly at about 33 percent but may be higher. A new report shows that the number of Marines declining COVID-19 vaccinations may be closer to 40 percent. To date, the military cannot mandate COVID-19 vaccinations because the FDA only […]
Minority Populations Targeted for Early COVID-19 Vaccination

Story Highlights Minority populations including Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 in the U.S., with evidence indicating they have a higher risk of being infected and/or are at an increased risk of serious disease and death from the infection. Many agencies, public figures and states are advocating that such at-risk […]
Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 Vaccine Approved for Pregnant Women in Israel

Story Highlights The World Health Organization issued a Jan. 26, 2021 statement recommending that pregnant women should not be vaccinated with Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, approved for use under emergency authorization, citing a lack of data in pregnancy. Previously, most countries were in agreement with that opinion, but Israel is now recommending that pregnant women should […]
South African Variant of SARS-CoV-2 Virus May Evade Vaccines

Story Highlights A highly transmissible new strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been identified in South Africa and has now spread to at least eight other countries including the U.K., Switzerland, Finland, Japan, Australia, Zambia, France and South Korea. The mutations of the new strain represent significant changes to key structures involved […]
Biologists Report Chemical Compounds in Some Foods May Affect Replication of Coronavirus

Story Highlights Plant biologists at North Carolina State University have found that chemical compounds in some foods may affect the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to bind to and replicate in human cells. Using both computer simulations and in vitro laboratory testing, the researchers were able to demonstrate that muscadine grape cultivars, green tea, cacao […]
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 […]
Scientists and Doctors Call for Return to Normal Life in The Great Barrington Declaration

Story Highlights On Oct. 6, 2020, an international group of scientists, doctors and other medical professionals issued a petition, The Great Barrington Declaration (GBD), challenging the wisdom of current restrictive public health strategies employed by governments for addressing COVID-19. The GBD signatories called for “focused protection” that commits resources to protecting vulnerable populations, allowing most […]
Brazilian Doctor Dies Participating in AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trial

Story Highlights A COVID-19 vaccine trial participant, who was a physician working with COVID-19 patients at hospitals in Brazil, has reportedly died from coronavirus infection complications. It has not been confirmed, but sources indicate the victim was given the trial “placebo” (a meningococcal vaccine) and not the experimental AZD1222 vaccine developed by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca […]
Johnson & Johnson Pauses Phase 3 COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Following ‘Unexplained Illness’

Story Highlights Weeks after Johnson & Johnson announced that their experimental COVID-19 vaccine was in final, Phase 3 testing, the company has paused the study to evaluate an unexplained illness in a study participant. AstraZeneca’s late-stage vaccine trial is also still on pause in the U.S. after two cases of a neurological illness arose in […]
What Does Zinc Bring to the Table?

Story Highlights Zinc is a trace element necessary for human health and has many important benefits including anti-inflammatory properties and powerful immune system support. It has long been used to reduce the duration and severity of the common cold, which is generally caused by coronaviruses. Zinc is not made by or stored in the body […]