“With an RNA vaccine, it’s very easy to switch,” says Drew Weissman, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania whose early research helped make mRNA vaccines possible. The vaccines contain the genetic instructions for cells in the body to make the spike protein, the part of the virus that invades human cells, helping trigger an immune response so the body is ready to respond if it encounters the actual virus. (Other vaccines, like the one from Johnson & Johnson that is likely to be approved soon, would also be fairly simple to update, though the process would take a few more steps—and thus more time—than the new shots that use mRNA.) … [Read more...] about How easy will it be to update the COVID vaccine if the virus mutates too much?
Can bordetella vaccine cause kennel cough
These invisible, edible biological tags help track down the cause of E. coli outbreaks
Still, for now, there’s a need for a new way to track the outbreaks that are happening, both to help limit illness and to prevent massive amounts of food waste. Aanika is now working to get its technology approved for use in food under the “generally recognized as safe” or GRAS designation and expects approval by the end of the year, at which point it will be ready for the market. “What’s fantastic about this is it’s very usable now,” Bhuyan says. “A lot of synthetic biology stuff is very forward, very out there, and so it’ll take a while. Our technology is actually rather simple.” … [Read more...] about These invisible, edible biological tags help track down the cause of E. coli outbreaks
Chobani offers workers paid time off to get coronavirus vaccines
And as we shift into this next phase—amid a vaccination program that has lagged after missing its target goals for last year, and that recent reports suggest had no real strategy to begin with—some essential businesses are employing new policies to help expedite the process, by making it easier and more beneficial for workers to get inoculated. … [Read more...] about Chobani offers workers paid time off to get coronavirus vaccines
Second stimulus checks will be worth $600: What you need to know
While the new stimulus package agreed to by Congress does include a second round of stimulus checks, this time they will only be worth up to $600 per person instead of the $1,200 maximum value Americans received earlier in the year. Like with the CARES Act that was passed in March, the new stimulus package also includes supplemental weekly federal unemployment benefits, but this time those supplemental benefits are for $300 a week, instead of the previous $600 a week. … [Read more...] about Second stimulus checks will be worth $600: What you need to know
Salvage your health resolutions with these 9 simple moves
Take vision breaks Too much screen time can cause eye issues ranging from strain to dry eyes. McGraw advises her clients to take vision breaks. “I recommend something called the 20-20-20 rule,” she says. “Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. We are so frequently looking at things near to us, that the muscles in our eyes get fatigued and strained.” If you can’t manage every 20 minutes, do this while you’re taking your standing break. … [Read more...] about Salvage your health resolutions with these 9 simple moves
