Coronavirus outbreaks are being confirmed throughout the state of Texas, but incremental medical resources are being sent to areas in the southwest and Mexico border.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the state has deployed additional medical resources to the cities of El Paso and Lubbock to help manage COVID-19 outbreaks in these communities.
According to the City of Lubbock’s COVID dashboard and El Paso’s dashboard, both cities are reporting additional coronavirus infections, and several COVID-19 fatalities each day.
Texas Activates Overwhelming Resources to Confront Coronavirus Outbreaks
Fewest Influenza Cases Confirmed in Years
The World Health Organization (WHO) new influenza report ‘should be interpreted with caution as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has influenced to varying extents health-seeking behaviors, as well as testing priorities and capacities in Member States.’
The WHO’s Influenza Update Report #380 published on November 9, 2020, says ‘various hygiene and physical distancing measures implemented by Member States to reduce SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus transmission have likely played a role in reducing influenza virus transmission.’
Fewest Influenza Cases Confirmed in Years
The World Health Organization (WHO) new influenza report ‘should be interpreted with caution as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has influenced to varying extents health-seeking behaviors, as well as testing priorities and capacities in Member States.’
The WHO’s Influenza Update Report #380 published on November 9, 2020, says ‘various hygiene and physical distancing measures implemented by Member States to reduce SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus transmission have likely played a role in reducing influenza virus transmission.’
U.S. FDA Offers Guidance to Enhance Diversity in Clinical Trials
The U.S Food and Drug Administration issued final guidance with the agency’s recommendations on designing and executing clinical trials of drugs and biologics that include people with different demographic characteristics and non-demographic characteristics.
Are Pharmacies the Problem or the COVID-19 Vaccination Solution
When New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and others called attention to potential shortcomings in the US government's COVID-19 vaccination plan, he highlighted under-served communities access to pharmacy services.
On November 1, 2020, Governor Cuomo’s press statement “criticized the current federal plan for relying on the existing influenza vaccination infrastructure and private healthcare entities, which have historically resulted in under-vaccination rates and worse health outcomes in communities of color.”
Herpes Vaccine Candidates Have Alternative Approaches
The worldwide need for an effective herpes simplex virus (HSV) vaccine remains a priority because it is a common infection that causes physical and economic disadvantages.
A new study published by Nature on November 6, 2020, reported the recent ‘failure of the subunit gD2 vaccine in a clinical trial demonstrated that new approaches to HSV vaccines are needed, especially those that present multiple HSV antigens.’
New York Lawyers Recommend Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations
The New York State Bar Association passed a resolution urging the state to consider enforcing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination, even if people object for “religious, philosophical or personal reasons.”
Mary Beth Morrissey, chair of the New York Bar association’s Health Law Section’s Task Force on COVID-19, said in a statement on November 7, 2020, “The authority of the state to respond to a public health crisis is well-established in constitutional law.”
More Pharmacies Agree to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced they are including the Good Neighbor Pharmacy and Elevate Provider Network members in the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Strategy for COVID-19 Vaccination.
The Good Neighbor Pharmacy Network, which includes Elevate, represents more than 4,100 independent community pharmacies in the USA.
Swine Flu Confirmed in Alberta
‘A confirmed case of variant influenza A (H1N2)v has been detected in central Alberta. This currently appears to be one isolated case and there is no increased risk to Albertans at this time,’ announced public health leaders.
‘This isn't a common influenza (flu) and isn't known to spread easily from person-to-person.’
‘This is the only influenza case reported in Alberta so far this flu season,’ stated Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta Canada’s chief medical officer of health, and Dr. Keith Lehman, chief provincial veterinarian, in a press statement issued on November 4, 2020.
Caribbean Travelers Gain New Health Safety Tools
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is preparing to launch important initiatives to protect the Region’s tourism sector and safeguard the health and safety of residents and visitors.
The Caribbean Travelers Health Assurance stamp for Healthier Safer Tourism (HST) is a measurable and verifiable recognition award for tourism entities and destinations that are implementing the recommended proactive COVID-19 health monitoring and safety measures.