Chemical Market Reports

Elizabeth Moseley

The CDC Claims Slow Vaccine Coverage In Rural Areas Might Defer The Efforts To End The Pandemic

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A new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that the rate of hospitalization and death due to COVID19 is much higher in rural areas of the US. The vaccine coverage in the countryside as well is lagging behind cities. The director of the CDC Rochelle Walensky has said that nearly 60 percent of people who are 18 years or above have been vaccinated at least with the first dose of the vaccine in the US. She has said that it is a landmark achievement for the country. On the other hand, health experts have said that the country requires vaccinating at least 70 to 85 percent of its population to achieve herd immunity. In such a case, rural America is far behind, said the experts. As per the report, in the first week of April, the vaccine coverage in rural areas of the US has been around 39 percent as compared to 46 percent vaccine coverage in urban areas of the US. The data has been taken from the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Experts have said that COVID cases in rural counties have been quite higher as compared to urban cities in September 2020. The officials of the CDC have said that making vaccine available to people who are living in rural areas of the US is quite hard. They have said that around 80 percent of such people from rural America reside in regions that are nominated as medically underserved by the US government. Experts have said that easy access to health care is quite hard for people living in these areas.

Health experts have said that vaccine hesitancy as well is a big problem in rural counties of the US. A survey that has been done by the Kaiser Family Foundation has found that there has been a persistent resistance to the COVID19 vaccine in rural areas of the US. In the survey, around 3 out of 10 people have said that they will not take the COVID19 vaccine. The percentage of vaccine hesitancy is greater in rural areas as compared to urban or suburban areas, said the experts. The officials from the agency have said that people who are living in rural areas are more susceptible to COVID19 due to lack of access to health care than people who reside in urban areas. Experts have said that people who are living in rural areas are identified with more underlying health issues as well. A handful of people living in rural counties have medical insurance. Over the last century, people have been moving from rural areas to big cities but still, around 60 million people reside in rural areas of the US. It constitutes around a fifth of the US population. Many health experts have said that if low vaccine coverage in rural areas remains like this, it will surely derail the country’s effort to put an end to the COVID19 pandemic. The report has clearly said that as people from rural areas are at a higher risk of severe COVID19 disease and death, the disparity between the vaccine coverage in urban and rural areas of the country might have a negative impact on efforts to stop the spread of the virus.

The officials from the CDC have said that public health leaders need to join forces with doctors and health influencers in rural areas to address the issue of vaccine hesitancy and equal vaccine access. It will motivate people to take the COVID19 vaccine. The CDC director Rochelle Walensky has said that the agency is committed to reaching out to every corner of the US and will work towards bridging these gaps. Walensky has said that crucial to make efforts to make vaccine coverage equal regardless of where people live in rural areas or urban areas. She has said that the government’s vaccination and testing effort in association with the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Alabama National Guard at Talladega Superspeedway is the latest example of such efforts. The senior advisor from the White House COVID19 Response Team, Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith has said that such efforts are known to make a difference. Around 51 percent of people from black and other ethnic groups have been vaccinated in the past two weeks in the US. These communities account for 40 percent of the general population of the US. The Biden government has been pushing through to get more federal vaccination sites online that are run by Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and to make vaccines available in the community health centers of the federal government. With this effort, many people of color have been able to get the COVID19 vaccine.

Amazon Won’t Have To Pay USD 300 Million Tax Bill As It Wins Case Against EU Regulators

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In a major victory for Amazon, the European Union’s second-highest court has ruled that the e-commerce giant need not to pay USD 300 million or 250 million euros in the tax bills. The General Court rejected the European Commission order that asked Amazon to pay the amount as taxes to Luxembourg. It must be noted that Amazon has its European headquarters in Luxembourg and the court is also based there. The court rejected claims made by EU regulators that the US tech giant had a selective advantage in the tax deal. “The regulator failed to prove to the requisite legal standard that US company had any illegal tax advantage,” the court concluded.

In a statement issued after the court ruling, Amazon said that the court’s decision proves their stand that they followed all applicable laws and didn’t get any special treatment. “The court’s decision is in line with our long-standing position. European subsidiary of our company abided by all the laws and received no special treatment. We are happy that the General Court has made this clear. Now we can focus on providing services to our customers across Europe.” The case dates back to 2014. The European Commission investigation had concluded that the country granted undue tax advantage to Amazon that benefited the company to the tune of USD 300 million. The case was spearheaded by European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager.

Vestager said that Amazon was allowed to pay substantially less tax than its competitors. “Because of illegal tax benefits, almost three-quarters of profits of the US company was taxed. In other words, Amazon paid four times less tax than other businesses,” Vestager had said in 2017. She then ordered Luxembourg to recover the money. Two years later, the European Commission launched a formal antitrust investigation against the company. The EU said that Amazon distorted competition rules in online retail markets. But the ruling of the General Court comes as a blow to Vestager. It must be noted that the General Court last year rejected an order that asked Apple to pay USD 15 billion in tax to Ireland.

Apple Grants Access To Private iPad Camera API To Zoom

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Popular video conferencing platform Zoom has gained a competitive advantage in the market over its rivals. It has now got access to a private iPad camera API. The access was granted by Apple at a time when Zoom-like platforms are reporting a surge in users’ pool. The permission to enter a non-public iPad digital camera API will allow Zoom to use the camera during the Split View multitasking of the iPad. Zoom has now become the only platform other than FaceTime to use multitasking. FaceTime is a videotelephony service developed by Apple. The iPad Split View multitasking feature gives Zoom an additional advantage over competitors. The feature allows users to access the notes app, Twitter, and others during a call.

To get access to API, Apple needs to give an entitlement. It is just a privilege that grants support to execute specific capabilities. The iPhone maker provides public documentation. It also provides for requesting access to entitlements. Notably, there is no public process available for now to request a specific API. Also, there is nothing available in documents by Apple in the public domain about the entitlement. It remains unclear why did Apple grant access only to Zoom for this feature. The company, however, said that it treats developers equally. Notably, Apple had initially granted Hulu access to API before it was built-in to App Store.

The latest access granted by Apple will help Zoom to be in a position to get additional benefits over rivals. This privilege was earlier reserved for the FaceTime app. It is believed that Zoom had interactions with Apple over the latest entitlement. This will permit Zoom to make most of the iPad Break up View performance. Apple had in April announced a new feature called Center Stage. This feature is, however, available on the M1 iPad Pro only. It lets video calling apps take advantage of it subject to approval from their respective developers. The Center Stage feature allows the Ultra-Wide front camera to track the movement of the user, if any, during a video conferencing and position him/her accordingly in the frame.

NASA’s Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Heard Humming Ahead Of Fifth Test Flight

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The Mars helicopter has added a new chapter to human’s efforts to explore the planet. The helicopter was designed by NASA. It is named Ingenuity. The helicopter was sent to Mars along with the Perseverance rover. NASA has now released an audio clip of Ingenuity humming in the thin air of Mars. The clip was released just before Ingenuity’s fifth test flight on the planet. The low hum is coming from the spinning blades. The blades complete more than 2,500 revolutions every minute. The blades are barely audible. It only sounds like a far-away mosquito flying. The mini-helicopter has so far performed four test flights. The helicopter weighs 1.8 kg.

The low hum is because of the distance between the Perseverance rover’s microphone and the helicopter. Ingenuity was more than 260 feet far from the rover. Mars’ rumbling wind gusts also obstructed the helicopter’s sound from reaching the microphone. NASA scientists used technology to isolate the helicopter’s sound so that it can be heard. The sound of the helicopter’s blades was recorded on April 30 during Ingenuity’s fourth test flight. Ingenuity is the first helicopter by any space agency to fly in the Martian atmosphere. It arrived at the Red Planet on February 18, attached to the belly of Perseverance. Ingenuity performed the first flight on April 19. The agency named the site of its takeoff and landing as Wright Brothers Field.

NASA invested USD 85 million in developing the technology. It is the first every scientific equipment by the agency to fly in another world. NASA expected that the mission will last for not more than one month, but it extended the mission’s duration by one month. The agency will fly the helicopter multiple times to demonstrate the technology. Ingenuity’s success is will redefine the scientific approach for Mars exploration. NASA’s latest Mars probe will look for signs of microbial life on the planet. It said that Perseverance has completed the first phase. It will now start hunting for rocks on Mars with signs of microscopic life. It will collect sore samples that will return to Earth in the future.

Novavax’s Covid-19 Candidate Works Against South African Variant

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The Covid-19 vaccine developed by Novavax is one of the many drugs that have raised hopes during the difficult times. The vaccine has suggested 100 percent result during the clinical trial. The drug is effective against the South African variant of the virus. Novavax is a biotechnology firm. It is based in Maryland in the US. It has developed a vaccine that is effective against the B1351 variant. The variant in the question was identified in the African continent. According to the findings of the Phase 2b trial, the vaccine protects against severe infection caused by the African variant. The placebo-controlled trial was conducted by Wits VIDA in South Africa itself. The vaccine develops immunity in healthy adults to fight against the virus.

During the initial phase, Novavax vaccine showed an overall efficacy of 49 percent. In healthy adults without HIV, its efficacy was found to be 60 percent. In the subsequent complete analysis, it showed an efficacy of 55 percent. According to the guidelines set by the WHO, vaccine that shows an efficacy rate of minimum 50 percent can be allowed for use. The drug regulators of respective countries can grant approval. At 90 days of follow-up among placebo recipients, it was found that the illness rate in seronegative participants was 8 percent. The same was found to be 5.9 percent in seropositive participants. The findings make a compelling case for using Novavax in areas where the B1351 variant is dominant. The variant is mostly found in the southern region of Africa.

Novavax’s Covid vaccine also cuts the risk of mild infection by the virus. Besides, it also guards against severe infection. Novavax’s vaccine candidate is called NVX-CoV2373. It gives protection against SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 causes Covid infection. It is a protein-based vaccine. The biotechnology firm said that NVX-CoV2373 is engineered from the genetic sequence of the first strain of the virus. It is one of two vaccines that are undergoing trials in South Africa. The company said that it will soon apply with the FDA seeking emergency use authorization in America. Meanwhile, the phase-3 trial being conducted in the UK indicated that the vaccine is 96.4 percent effective against the original Covid strain.

Vaccinated People With Previous Infection Might Be Immune To Various Variants Of COVID19 Virus

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Experts from the US have done a study to understand the efficiency of the first generation vaccines in preventing different variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They have enrolled people who have been infected with the virus in the past in their study. The SARS-CoV-2 virus leads to COVID19 disease. The virus has claimed the lives of around 3.91 million people across the world. The virus continues to be a threat to global health. The team of experts has tested the levels of neutralizing antibodies against different strains of the virus before and after two doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine in ten people who have been diagnosed with the disease before vaccination. Experts have compared neutralizing titers with the neutralizing titers of people who have not been infected with the virus before vaccination. Scientists from Oregon Health and Science University in Portland have shown that vaccination has been able to shoot up pre-existing levels of antibodies by 10 fold in people who have been infected earlier as compared to people who have not been diagnosed with the disease. The spike protein in the SARS-CoV-2 virus helps it to infect host cells. The spike protein attaches to the human host cell receptor angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2 (ACE2) through its receptor-binding domain (RBD). RBD is the main target point of neutralizing antibodies that are developed after an infection or vaccination.

The study has shown that vaccination has shot up the level of neutralizing antibodies in people who have been infected earlier against the original strain and three other strains of the virus. Experts have seen that neutralizing titers in people with past infection have been five times higher against the B.1.1.7 strain that has been found in the UK for the first time. Neutralizing titers in people with past infection have been more than six times higher against the B.1.351 strain that has been found in South Africa. It has been more than four times potent against the strain that has been found in Brazil known as P.1. Since the COVID19 pandemic has started in 2019, many experts have come up with a wide range of vaccines that can protect people against the deadly virus. These vaccines have been proven to be effective in their clinical trials. These vaccines have been approved for emergency use in many countries.

With the large fraction of many communities gaining natural immunity against the virus via prior infection, the vaccination plans have raised the odds that a high level of herd immunity might be achieved soon. However, the surfacing of various strains of concern (VOCs) of the virus has created a doubt in experts’ minds. These strains have spike mutations that can shoot up the binding ability of the virus to host cells and its ability to spread. Experts have noted that there has been no major change between the post-vaccination neutralizing antibody titers against the B.1.351 variant of the virus in people who have been diagnosed with the disease earlier and those against the original strain in people who have not been infected ever. The study has shown that the first generation COVID19 vaccines have been quite effective against some deadly strains of the virus when it has been given after the first infection.

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger Says Chip Shortage Likely To Persist For At Least ‘Couple Of Years’

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A wide range of industries is facing a shortage of semiconductors and the problem is likely to persist for at least a ‘couple of years’, said new Chief Executive Officer of Intel Corp. Pat Gelsinger. Looking at the concerns of the auto industry over the chip shortage, Intel is reworking some of it factories to ramp up production. In an interview with a news channel, Gelsinger said that it will take several months before the supply strain even starts to begin easing. “We will take a couple of years to catch up the surge in the demand across every aspect of the business,” the CEO said.

Demand for semiconductors increased suddenly in 2020 as consumers started looking for home gadgets during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. But chipmakers struggled to meet the increase in demand as because of shuttered plants. There are some other factors as well that have contributed to it. Several companies are of the view that the supply constraints will continue for much of 2021. The global shortage of chips has brought the manufacturers in limelight. They are on top of the political agenda as several industries are struggling to meet their demands of the semiconductor shortage. Biden administration has already stated that they are ready to extend all kinds of support to address the shortage.

Gelsinger said that Intel is the only company that manufactures high-end cutting-edge chips. The lockdown had dwindled the dominance of the United States in the industry. So much so that the manufacturing has reduced to 12 per cent from 37 per cent. The semiconductor shortage has hit a wide array of industries. One of the worst affected is auto industry that has already flagged production cuts and lost revenue. All the big auto manufactures have announced the cut. Recently, Ford said that the shortage will reduce production by 1.1 million vehicles. Apple also said that the supply constraints are impacting sales of Macs and iPads.

Super Group Agrees To Go Public Via Merger With Sports Entertainment Acquisition Corp

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Online gaming company and sports betting company Super Group have agreed to go public in a USD 4.75 million merger deal with Sports Entertainment Acquisition Corp through a special purpose acquisition company or SPAC. The management team of the SPAC is led by John Collins and Eric Grubman. The other sponsors are PJT Partners, and Timothy Goodell, Wall Street veteran Chris Shumway. As part of the deal, Super Group will purchase Digital Gaming Corp. With the acquisition, the company will get access to markets in 10 US states. These states will include New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Colorado.

The combined value of the companies after the merger will be around USD 4.75 billion. It will then aim at the multi-billion-dollar betting sports market of the United States. The market is only getting bigger with more and more states legalizing it. According to a forecast of Super Group, it is looking at USD 1.5 billion this year in net gaming revenue. The company is also targeting the market outside the United States. It already has a significant presence overseas with licensed in around 23 global jurisdictions. This is why John Collins once stated that the company doesn’t need to be a leader in the US market in order to stay profitable and grow at the desired rate.

“The group currently has more than 3,500 employees around the world. They are working in over a dozen offices globally. The group has a real operating scale and has a substantial market share in data science and technology. When this is combined with over 20 years of business experience, the group gets real confidence about making an impact in new markets,” Collins said. According to the company, it will be not only debt-free at closing but also have USD 200 million in cash on this balance sheet. The combined company will have Eric Grubman as the chairman and Collins will serve as a member its board.

Instagram Brings New Tool Hidden Words To Curb Abuse, Hate Speech In DMs

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Curbing the spread of hate speech and misinformation on social media platforms is a critical challenge for governments worldwide. Social media giants have introduced multiple tools to check the menace. However, there is much more required to be done to combat hate speech and abuse. Instagram has said that it is rolling out a new feature that will mainly shield people from abuse in direct messages. The popular photo-sharing app had received several complaints on abuse in DMs. The company said that the new feature comes with the ability to prevent a blocked account from contacting the victim from a new account. The Facebook-owned platform had in past reported that blocked users create new accounts to circumvent policy that prevents them from contacting another user.

Instagram in a blog post said that the new feature is specially designed to protect users from offensive or abusive DM requests. Earlier in February, Instagram brought an update to check abuse and hate speech on the platform. It added penalties for those sending abusive DMs. Instagram said that it wants nobody to experience such an experience. It, however, admitted that battling abuse and hate speech is a complex challenge. It added that although several steps are being taken to combat it, it is very difficult to eliminate it completely. DMs on Instagram are private conversations. It doesn’t look for hate speech proactively in the similar capacity it does anywhere.

Instagram said that when the new tool is turned on, it will filter DM requests automatically. The algorithm will filter requests after analyzing offensive words, phrases, and emojis in the DMs. Once filtered, users will not get to see such requests. The tool has been developed with a focus on eliminating DM requests containing hate speech and abuse. Users can turn off the tool. The new tool is called Hidden Words. Instagram has added the tool in a dedicated section under the Privacy Settings option. According to Instagram’s claim, it acted against more than 6 million hate speeches including in direct messages between July and September last year. Instagram said that it will bring more controls to combat abuse on the platform.

Google Earth’s Latest Feature Let Users See Climate Change Impact Over Past Four Decades

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Google Earth has added a new feature that allows users to have a look at the effect of climate change over the past 37 years. The latest feature, called Timelapse, provides visual evidence of impact on the earth because of climate change. Timelapse is eye-opening visual evidence that has changed static images of the platform into a dynamic 4D experience. Users can see how ice caps are melting, glaciers are receding, and the impact of urbanisation and wildfires on agriculture. 24 million satellite photos have been compiled for this Timelapse. These images are from the year 1984 to 2020.

Google said that the entire effort took two million processing hours which was spread across thousands of machines in Google Cloud. The tech giant worked in collaboration with the US space agency NASA along with several other organisations for this project. It also took support from the United States Geological Survey’s Landsat program, Carnegie Mellon University’s CREATE Lab and the European Union’s Copernicus program and its Sentinel satellites. They all joined hands to create this amazing Timelapse. Users can easily explore Timelapse in Google Earth. They simply have to type any location into the search bar. Whether it is the location close to their neighborhood or any landmark, Timelapse will show the impact of climate change over the years.

According to Google, Timelapse has been created by removing elements such as clouds and shadows from all the images since 1984. They are then computed into a single pixel for every location. The ultimate stitching resulted in a timelapse video. For example, it is possible to South Korea’s man-made beach in Busan, shifting of Cape Cod coast towards the south and even agricultural growth in the middle of Saudi Arabia’s desert. Google Earth director Rebecca Moore said that Timelapse shows what words cannot express. “Visual evidence is always better than what we say and communicate. Words cannot communicate complex issues,” Moore said in the blog post.

Experts Say Modified COVID19 Vaccines Are Required To Kill New Strains Of Coronavirus Within A Year

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A survey that has been conducted by epidemiologists, virologists, and infectious disease experts has revealed that the first generation COVID19 vaccines might turn ineffective against new strains of coronavirus within a year or less. Therefore, there is a need for newly formulated COVID19 vaccines. Scientists have been saying that the vaccination effort across the world is required to defuse the threat of COVID19. They have said that it might be due to variations of the virus that are more contagious, lethal, and less vulnerable to vaccines. Such varied strains of the virus have been circulating across the world. People’ Vaccine Alliance that is a union of groups such as Amnesty International, Oxfam, and UNAIDS has carried out this survey.

It includes 77 scientists from 28 countries. Around one-third of the participants have said that a new vaccine might be needed within nine months or less. Nearly two-thirds of respondents from the survey have said that the first generation vaccines might be effective only for a year or less. As per the survey, around 88 percent of participants have said that vaccine-resistant mutants have been emerging due to constant low vaccine coverage in many countries. These respondents work in illustrious institutes such as John Hopkins, Yale, Imperial College, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the University of Edinburgh.

Dr. Gregg Gonsalves, who is an associate professor of epidemiology at Yale University, has said that new mutations of the virus emerge every day. At times, they find a forte that makes them stronger than their predecessors. He has said that these strains can spread more effectively and possibly evade immune responses to past variants. Dr. Gregg Gonsalves has said that until the whole world is vaccinated, the entire playing field is left open for more and more mutations that can lead to variants, which have the capacity to evade existing COVID19 vaccines. Experts will need booster shots to deal with these variants.

The participants of the survey have said that the currently available lot of COVID19 shots that have been approved by the governments so far are a blend of new and old technologies. They have said that companies like Pfizer- BioNtech and Moderna have used mRNA technology to develop their COVID19 vaccines. These vaccines can be modified within weeks or months. However, manufacturing glitches are always a potential issue. Health experts have said that these vaccines are not accessible to poor countries as they are highly expensive. These vaccines have arduous temperature storage constraints as well.

Rich countries like the US and UK have vaccinated nearly more than a quarter of their populations with one dose of one of these vaccines. On one hand, these countries have already procured hundreds of millions of supplies of these vaccines. On the other hand, countries such as South Africa and Thailand have not been able to obtain shots for even 1 percent of their populations. Some nations have not even started vaccinating their citizens with the first dose of the COVID19 vaccine.  Experts have said that Covax, which is a global vaccine initiative coalition that aims at defying so-called vaccine nationalism, has been trying to supply vaccines to at least 27 percent of the population of low-income nations in 2021.

The survey has noted that the urgency of rich countries to inoculate their citizens is not seen worldwide. Rich countries are planning to vaccinate their adult population by this summer. The head of inequality policy at Oxfam and the chairperson of People’s Vaccine Alliance, Max Lawson has said that although Covax is trying to manage vaccines for 27 percent of populations of poor countries by the end of this year, it might not be good enough. He has been requesting the manufacturers of COVID19 vaccines to openly share the technology and intellectual property of their products to increase the production of the vaccine across the world.

Therefore, poor countries as well have a sufficient supply to vaccinate their populations. Health experts have said that COVID19 vaccine developers should keep the ambitious global goal in mind. They have said that at this time, the goal seems to be lost. The respondents of the survey have said that health officials and governments should understand that limited vaccination can be quite dangerous in the future.

Health Experts Warn Against Some Strange Side Effects After COVID19 Vaccination

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An increasing number of people are being vaccinated against COVID19 as the vaccine program is being rolled out at a  rapid speed in the US. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that more than 51 million people in the US have been vaccinated with full two doses of the vaccine for COVID19. The CDC data has revealed that around 93 million people have been given the first dose of the vaccine. However, this means that more people are dealing with side effects that are linked to COVID19 vaccines. Most of these side effects are mild and fade away with time but health experts are worried about more serious adverse reactions. An adverse reaction of COVID19 vaccines is swelling that can take place in three particular areas of the body such as lips, eyes, and tongue. Experts have said that some COVID19 vaccine side effects make people feel a little low.

However, these side effects can be dealt with by resting up, staying hydrated, and using mild over-the-counter painkillers. An allergic reaction can also be seen in few small numbers of cases, said the experts. Now experts from the Mayo Clinic have warned people against some of the adverse side effects. They have said that people should be alert if they notice continuous shortness of breath or panting, redness, or swelling in parts of the body other than the limb where the shot has been given.

Experts have said that if people experience swelling on their lips, eyes, or tongue, they should immediately contact their health care provider. The CDC officials have said that it can be an adverse reaction to the vaccine. They have said that in severe cases treatment with epinephrine or hospitalization might be needed. The CDC has said that people should be monitored for 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine to determine if patients have a quick reaction to the vaccine.

The agency has said that if people notice such a reaction, they should get in touch with their doctor and refrain from getting the second dose of the vaccine. If this reaction has surfaced after getting the mRNA vaccines like Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna, people should not receive either of these vaccines, said the agency. A report from the CDC has shown that an instant reaction takes place within four hours of getting the shot. It includes symptoms such as hives, swelling, and panting, which is known as respiratory distress as well.

Experts have said that after people with such reactions contact their health care provider, they might be referred to allergies and immunology specialists for more care and advice. The CDC has reported that some people who have been vaccinated against COVID19 have been found to have red, itchy swollen, or painful rashes at the injection site. Experts have informed that the rash, which has been termed as COVID arm, can surface more than a week after the vaccination. As per the reports, most of the time, the COVID arm has been seen in people who have been vaccinated with the COVID19 vaccine that is developed by Moderna, therefore many people call it the Moderna arm.

Esther Freeman, the director at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston has said that people who are vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine have been having such skin reactions at least 8 days after the vaccination, which is very surprising. She has said that few people who have been vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine as well have developed these delayed rashes. However, the CDC officials have said that these rashes are not severe allergic reactions like the swelling of eyes, lips, and tongue. Therefore, people with these rashes should receive the second dose of the vaccine.  Health experts have said that most of the people who have been vaccinated with mRNA vaccines might be dealing with these side effects. They have said that these adverse reactions indicate that the body is responding to the vaccine.

These side effects show that the immune system is learning to recognize the pathogen and fight it next it tries to infect the body. As per the experts, people might suffer some usual side effects that indicate that the body is building up immunity against the virus. These side effects might impact people’s ability to do daily tasks; however, they should fade away in a few days. On the other hand, some people do not have any side effects after the vaccination. Some of the most commonly seen side effects of COVID19 vaccines are pain and rashes at the injection site, chills, fever, headache, muscle ache, tiredness, nausea, and fatigue.

State Officials Report Incidents of Rabbit Ebola For The First Time In Idaho

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Health experts have warned that a destructive disease, which is often referred to as Rabbit Ebola has been discovered in Idaho for the first time. Idaho state officials have advised domestic rabbit owners to follow precautionary measures to keep their pets safe. Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a lethal disease that easily transmits among rabbits, said the experts. However, it does not infect humans, livestock, or other species of pets. The officials have confirmed that two jackrabbits have been found dead near the Boise Airport. The animals have been found to be infected with RHD. The Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) in New York has conducted the test on dead animals. The animals have been sent for initial testing before being sent to the FADDL for verification. A veterinarian from Idaho State, Dr. Scott Leibsle has said that domestic rabbit owners need to reduce the interaction of their pets with wild rabbits, they need to disinfect their boots and coveralls and wash their hands before and after interacting with their rabbits. Experts have said that infected rabbits often show only one symptom of the disease, which is sudden death. Other common symptoms of the disease are bloody nose, dullness, and loss of appetite, said the experts.

Health officials have said that the RHD virus can live on clothing and corpses for months. The virus can easily spread via fleas, flies, and mosquitoes. Dr. Scott Leibsle has said that people should never handle a dead rabbit on their own if they find it in the wild. He has said that people should immediately call Idaho Fish & Games if they find a dead rabbit. The officials have said that if any domestic rabbit is suspected of being infected with the RHD virus, owners should immediately isolate the animal. Owners of infected domestic rabbits should directly inform their veterinary doctor and Idaho State Department of Agriculture. However, Dr. Scott Leibsle has said that if rabbits recover and survive the disease, they might be the potential carriers of the virus and can infect others as well. The animals who survive the disease are considered a potential risk for continued shedding and spread of the virus, said the experts.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture has not issued any orders to euthanize the animals that are infected with the virus neither the officials have asked to cancel the rabbit show as of now. A vaccine for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is available in the US but it is not easy to get. This vaccine needs to be brought from Europe after obtaining permission from the federal regulators. Dr. Scott Leibsle has said that domestic rabbit owners who want to get their pets vaccinated should form a group, get in touch with a veterinarian, who is eager to try and import the vaccine. He has said that after this he can work with the veterinarian to obtain required permission from the authorities to import a bulk of shipment of vaccine to the state.

Democratic Party Leader Bill Nelson Nominated To Head NASA, Senate Approval Awaited

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NASA’s long wait for a new administrator is set to end. The agency is finally getting a new head. President Joe Biden has nominated Bill Nelson for the role. Nelson will serve as the 14th administrator of the space agency. Nelson is a former Senator. He is also a one-time astronaut. He is seen as a moderate Democrat. His nomination has invited bipartisan praise. Nelson, 78, will take charge once the nomination is confirmed in the Senate. Nelson thanked Biden for showing trust in him. The former Senator said that he was honored to be nominated for the role. He promised to lead the agency and Americans into an exciting future. White House in a statement said that no one can think of anyone other than Nelson to head the agency.

White House added that every particular of space and the science-related law has Nelson’s imprint. He served as a Senator until 2019 since 2001 from Florida. In 1986, Nelson traveled into space. He was a Payload Specialist. He flew on a Columbia space shuttle. With this, he became the second sitting Congress member to travel into space. Former NASA chief Jim Bridenstine appointed Nelson to the agency’s Advisory Council in 2019. As the NASA administrator, he will succeed Bridenstine. Bridenstine resigned from the chair in January soon after Biden took over as the President. Bridenstine, a member of the Republican Party, was appointed to the post in April 2018 by then President Donald Trump.

The post of NASA administrator was lying vacant since Bridenstine’s exit. The delay in the appointment of a NASA chief had raised apprehensions over the goal of the Artemis program. Acting NASA administrator Steve Jurczyk welcomed Nelson’s nomination. He said that the agency is pleased to see that Nelson has been nominated as the 14th Administrator. Nelson is known for advancing the country’s position in the human exploration of space. Steve said that agency looks forward to working under Nelson’s leadership. NASA will carry out critical missions including the Moon missions under his guidance. Steve is confident that the Senate will approve Nelson’s nomination.

Google Rolls Out Dark Mode Theme For Google Maps On Android Globally

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The dark mode theme is becoming very popular. Search engine giant Google is also adding support for the dark mode to its apps and services. The company has announced that the theme is now available for Google Maps on Android. It said that a full-fledged dark mode feature is being rolled out for users worldwide. Google started testing the dark mode in September last year. The company tested the feature with a limited number of users to iron out the issues. Google introduced dark mode theme for Maps on iOS in February but it was delayed for Android.

Google said that the dark mode has numerous benefits. It gives a soothing view because of the low contrast. The theme also saves battery and enhances its performance. Google said downloading the latest update of the app on Android devices is necessary to get access to the feature. The latest version that is available for download is 10.61.2. The company has added the dark mode support in this version. Users are given options to turn on and off the feature. One has to go to the profile option in Google Maps and then look for theme settings. Now search for the configuration and enable the dark mode.

As the name suggests, the dark mode theme will convert the display into a dark color. It will make it easier for users to read texts. Google first launched the dark mode theme in 2018 on Google Maps. But it was restricted for navigation purposes. The company delayed the feature’s expansion on the app. Additionally, Google has added a new tool for Android devices. It is called Password Checkup. The company said that the feature is integrated into smartphones. Devices running Android 9 and above version will get the feature in-built. Using Password Checkup will ensure the security of users’ passwords. Google will warn users in case of a compromised password. The feature will curb incidents of breaches. Users can manually review saved passwords and perform a checkup.

Moderna Inoculates The First Lot Of Children In The Second Phase Of Pediatric COVID19 Vaccine Trial

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The first lot of children has been vaccinated with the first dose of the COVID19 vaccine in the second phase of Moderna’s pediatric COVID19 vaccine trial. The clinical trial of children’s COVID19 vaccine is known as KidCOVE Study of mRNA 1273. The trial will include around 6750 children from the US and Canada, who are in the age range of 6 months to 11 years. Moderna has divided this clinical trial into two parts. In the first part of the clinical trial, children will be given different doses of the vaccine. Experts have said that kids in the age group of 6 months to 11 years will be given two doses of the Cambridge-based Moderna vaccine candidate for COVID19 in the gap of 28 days at either a 25 or a 50 or a 100-microgram level. Children who are in the age group of 2 to 11 years will be given two doses of the vaccine about 28 days apart at either a 50 or a 100-microgram level. As per the officials, the outcomes of the first part will help them identify which dose will be used in the second part of the clinical trial.

The second part of the clinical trial will include those children as well who are given a saline placebo, which does not have any effect. Experts have said that the children will be followed for 12 months after the second shot of the vaccine. Moderna is conducting these trials to determine whether its vaccine will provide enough immunity to kids against the COVID19 if they are exposed to the virus or contract the disease. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel has said that they are thrilled to start the 2/3 study of mRNA-1273 on healthy kids in the US and Canada. He has said that the findings of the pediatric trial will help experts to assess the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the COVID19 vaccine in the young age population. The company has joined hands with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority at the US Department of Health and Human Services for the study.

The officials of the company have said that the primary findings of the phase three COVE study of mRNA-1273 in adult people who have been in the age group of 18 years and above have encouraged them to conduct the pediatric trial. As Moderna is testing its COVID19 vaccine on children, Pfizer and BioNTech as well have started testing its COVID19 vaccine on children. Johnson & Johnson as well has declared its plan to launch a study to test its one-shot COVID19 vaccine on young people in the age group of 12 to 18 years. In December, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the emergency use of Moderna’s COVID19 vaccine for adults and the COVID19 vaccine which has been developed by Pfizer-BioNTech for people who are in the age range of 16 years and above. In the month of February, The FDA has approved the emergency use of a one-shot vaccine, which has been developed by Johnson & Johnson.

Apple To Discontinue Full-Size HomePod Four Years After Launch, Shifts Focus On Mini

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Tech giant Apple has decided to discontinue the HomePod speaker. The full-size speaker will soon be out of the market. The product is famous among music lovers. It is touted as the perfect speaker for music enthusiasts. It allowed music lovers to explore a variety of aural entertainment. The HomePod was announced by Apple in 2017. The company will not focus on promoting the HomePod mini. The device has garnered public attention and has been a huge success in the market. Apple in a statement said that the full-size speaker will be available till its supplies last. The gadget will be available via Apple Retail Stores, Apple Online Store till the supply ends. It will also be available through Apple’s authorized resellers.

The company will provide software updates, technical support, and hardware services to HomePod customers via Apple Care. The decision to discontinue the original HomePod comes in the backdrop of a fall in the sales of the gadget. The HomePod mini was launched late last year. According to Apple, the HomePod mini has been a hit since its launch. The device comes in two colors white and grey. Apple said that it works effortlessly with iPhone and other company devices. The company said that it also workers perfectly with Apply TV. It elevates the sound and plays music from a Mac and more. The HomePod mini uses a full-range driver. The speaker deepens bass and offers high frequencies.

According to Apple’s website, the HomePod mini comes with a three-microphone array. It enhances the experience of music lovers by offering quality and impressive sound and services. It has smart home capabilities. The company said that it has built-in privacy and security. It works smoothly with Apple products. Besides listening to music, the smart speaker makes it easy to answer calls. The device has innovative technologies and advanced software. It comes with a new Intercom feature. This lets users in a home connect with each other. Apple said that the HomePod mini takes the sound to the next level.

Facebook Revokes Ban On Political Ads After Four Months

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Social media giant Facebook has announced to change a key policy related to the advertisement. The company has revoked the ban on political ads. It said that political and social issues ads will be allowed on the platform from March 4. These ads will, however, require verification. They will also need to display a disclaimer. It should tell users that messages in the ads are paid for by’ a specific group or person. Facebook banned political ads in November 2020. Such ads were barred from the platform to check the spread of misinformation during the Presidential election in the United States. Facebook said that it took the feedback of users into account before resuming political ads.

Facebook said that the public feedback helped the company to understand more about such ads. The company will keep a close watch on such ads. It will introduce changes if there are scope and merit. Notably, there is no mechanism available to fact-check political ads on Facebook. This is one of the reasons why the company often faces criticism for its policies regarding political ads. The ban on ads also came close on the heels of confusions that were created by then President Donald Trump who used social media platforms to publicly fight the results. Around a Senate runoff in Georgia in January, Facebook had allowed some political ads. But soon it re-imposed the ban.

According to Facebook, political ads on the platform make a very small part of its business model. The ban also helped in addressing concerns that candidates could influence or mislead the voters about the Presidential election to swing the outcomes. Facebook said that it will store the content of ads in its library. By doing this, the company said that it will become easy for researchers and others to view the ads. Earlier, search engine giant Google also announced to lift the ban on political ads. Both Facebook and Google dominate the digital advertising sector worldwide. Google too had suspended political ads to check the flow of misinformation involving the elections.

Luxury Giant LVMH Buys 50 Per Cent Stake In Jay-Z’s Champagne Brand

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Luxury goods conglomerate LVMH has purchased a 50 percent stake in Armand de Brignac, a champagne brand owned by Shwan ‘Jay-Z’ Carter. The champagne brand is also famous as ‘Ace of Spades.’ The terms of the deal have not been made public and therefore it is not how much the French conglomerate has paid for the deal. The deal has been signed at a time when LUMH is working on diversifying its offering. According to reports, the value of half of the champagne brand was valued at around USD 250 million in 2018. The company has been criticized for the lack of diversity by many.

Reports suggest that the deal between the hip-hop mogul and the luxury brand happened ‘very naturally’ and the two brands are eager to work together. They will now work to find ways to promote the brand among other luxe champagnes like Veuve Clicquot, Dom Pérignon, and Krug. But the path is going to be tough as they deal comes a time when the champagne industry is going through one of its toughest times. This is because there has been a huge fall in demand for the drink because of the decline in events and celebrations. Most of the restaurants and event destinations have suffered a huge blow because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which directly affected the sales of the drinks.

Meanwhile, LVMH signed start tennis player Naomi Osaka as its new brand ambassador. Osaka was in limelight during the US Open as he extended support to the Black Lives Matter protests. The protest had started over the summer. The company has also signed skateboarder Lucien Clark for skate shoes and apparel. LVMH has been trying to associate with Black celebs for quite some time. Last year, it signed singer Rihanna on Fenty Fashion House. She was the first black woman to be associated with the luxury brand. However, Fenty Fashion House was discontinued recently. However, LVMH said that it will continue to support the other products of the Fenty empire. The focus will be now more on beauty and skincare items along with lingerie lines.

First Mars Sample Collect Mission By NASA Nears Red Planet, To Land At Jezero Crater

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The Mars sample collection mission by NASA is set to arrive at the Red Planet. The space agency said that its Perseverance rover will land on the planet on February 18. Perseverance was launched in July 2020. It nears touchdown after traveling 300 million miles from Earth in over seven months. It is the first mission by NASA to collect Mars samples. The rover will collect broken rock and dust. NASA said that the rover will land at Jezero Crater. Scientists believe that the crater was once flooded with water. Past studies indicated that life may have developed in the crater. There is a high probability that clays contain a rich fan-delta deposit.

NASA said that Perseverance is the most sophisticated rover it has launched ever. The Jezero crater is 28 miles wide. It is full of hazards. The site is said to be a dangerous place to make a soft landing. The rover’s objective is to characterize the Red Planet’s geology and its past climate. The data collected will pave the way for human exploration. NASA said that the lander vision system will be activated to identify where the rover can make a safe landing. The system will allow the rover to determine its position on the surface. The agency expects a soft landing as experts had conducted extensive testing of the rover’s landing both in the laboratory and in the field with an ambiance similar to the crater.

NASA said that a team will be monitoring everything when the rover lands. The team will check the camera’s power and ensure that data is flowing as planned. Experts will keep a close watch on the health of the rover’s system. Meanwhile, NASA said that the rover’s entry into the Martian atmosphere, its descent, and landing will be telecast live. The agency said that the live coverage and landing commentary will be available on the NASA TV Public Channel and its official website. People can also watch it live on the NASA App, NASA’s YouTube channel, and other social media networks.

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