Reps. Pallone, DeGette probe FDA about efforts to maintain food safety and supply
U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) are seeking information from leadership at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the agency’s efforts to maintain food safety and address food supply disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although COVID-19 is not known... Read More »
Rep. Axne tracks more than $9B in COVID-19 response efforts in Iowa with new data tool
Following a response to her request of state and federal agencies to provide a detailed account of COVID-19 response efforts, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne’s (D-IA) has launched a data tracker to provide accountability in the system. Announcing her efforts as a matter of transparency, Axne has now... Read More »
FDA offers SARS-CoV-2 reference panel to better ensure COVID-19 test quality
A new reference panel being offered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposes an additional, independent validation step to guarantee the quality of COVID-19 diagnostic tests. Since COVID-19 reached U.S. shores earlier this year, many tests have arisen to detect its viral cause:... Read More »
Survey examines COVID-19 vaccine expectations
Recent findings from a NORC at the University of Chicago study have determined if a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, 49 percent of respondents said they plan to get vaccinated. The nationwide poll was conducted May 14-18, 2020, via the AmeriSpeak Panel - the probability-based panel of NORC at... Read More »
CBP seizes more than $2.4M worth of alleged methamphetamine
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said Office of Field Operations (OFO) personnel at the Hidalgo International Bridge seized $2,446,000 worth of alleged methamphetamine concealed within a vehicle. On May 23, an officer encountered a brown 1999 Ford F150 pickup driven by a 20-year-old... Read More »
Council of Europe cautions on the need for coordinated response to bioterrorism
The Council of Europe Committee on Counter-Terrorism (CDCT) issued a statement on the importance of a coordinated response to bioterrorism. The committee said that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of modern societies to viral infections. The intentional use of a pathogen or... Read More »
GAO releases report detailing process for developing vaccines
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report detailing the process of developing a COVID-19 vaccine. The United States government is funding multiple efforts to develop vaccines. GAO said it is an expensive, lengthy process that involves a series of steps first to identify... Read More »
Reps. Stefanik, Crow introduce bill to clarify biodefense strategy
U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Jason Crow (D-CO) introduced a bill on May 22 that would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to clarify the national biodefense strategy and implementation plan. The bill, called the RASPP Act (H.B. 6966), follows a Government Accountability... Read More »
Merck announces acquisition, collaboration and vaccine agreements to continue COVID-19 fight
Merck announced a series of actions against COVID-19 this week, joining the fight against the global pandemic through two agreements that further potential vaccines against its viral source, SARS-CoV-2, and a research collaboration intended to create a novel antiviral candidate. “With our... Read More »
Novavax begins clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine candidate
A COVID-19 vaccine candidate created by Novavax, Inc. and supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) began clinical trials this week, with the enrollment of participants in a Phase 1/2 study. The vaccine in question is called NVX-CoV2373, a stable, prefusion protein... Read More »
Social media companies must use AI to thwart extremist content, experts tell congressmen
Social media companies need to step up and use the technology they already have to limit extremist groups from spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories online, experts said Wednesday during a U.S. House Homeland Security Committee virtual forum on extremism during the COVID-19 pandemic.... Read More »
Remdesivir shows improved COVID-19 recovery times in preliminary report
A preliminary report on data from the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine last week, showed positive potential for remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19. The randomized, controlled trial, sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and... Read More »
House Energy and Commerce Leaders request White House COVID-19 vaccine plan
It is past time for a national COVID-19 vaccine plan from the Trump administration, according to House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders so that the country can plan for development, manufacturing, distribution, training, and education linked to these efforts, along with broad vaccine... Read More »
Lawmakers seek Coast Guard preparedness information
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) are seeking information regarding the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) preparedness in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislators recently forwarded correspondence to Admiral Karl Schultz, expressing concern the pandemic could threaten... Read More »