Health
FDA eases Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shipping, storage temperatures
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Thursday it is allowing more flexible shipping and storage temperatures for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. The change permits transportation and two-week storage at -25 degrees Celsius to -15 degrees Celsius, which is often found in pharmaceutical freezers and refrigerators.
Ontario man fined $3.8K at land border crossing amid confusion over who's 'essential'
News/Canada/Windsor: An Ontario man who says he normally has no problem crossing the Windsor-Detroit border for work was surprised to learn this week he's subject to new rules — because, he was told, he doesn't cross every day.
Black scientists around the world are calling for action, equality and representation
Radio/Quirks & Quarks: After a woman walking in Central Park falsely accused a Black man of assaulting her, social media erupted in support of the scientist who was simply birdwatching causing anger, outrage — and action. Now, Black scientists from around the world are taking part, promoting their work and calling for change.
The human side of healing: How seeing loved ones helps COVID-19 patients
News/Health: COVID-19 restrictions are keeping many patients isolated in the hospital, but a new study is highlighting what doctors, patients and families have seen: being near loved ones can play a role in healing — specifically around a common brain dysfunction that comes with COVID-19.
Dr. Bonnie Henry 'taken aback' by fierce RCMP union criticism of her comments on police reform
News/Canada/British Columbia: “There was absolutely no criticism at all of anything that front-line police officers are doing and the misinterpretation of that is something I regret,” Dr. Henry told reporters.
'No evidence' NYC coronavirus variant impacts vaccines, causes severe illness: official
New York City health officials on Thursday said there is no evidence showing the newly reported variant, B.1.526, is driving trajectory of infections, reduces vaccine efficacy or results in more severe illness.
Inside the ER in Laval, Que., one of the worst hit cities in Canada
News/Canada/Montreal: For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Laval's Cité-de-la-Santé hospital gave CBC News exclusive access inside the ER to see how it works and the precautions it has put in place to keep everyone safe.
California halts shared COVID-19 vaccine codes system after misuse
California is revamping its plan to help essential workers and seniors in underserved communities get coronavirus vaccinations after officials learned that appointment access codes were leaked to people who were not eligible for the shots.
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine 94% effective in real-world conditions: study
A coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech showed to drop symptomatic COVID-19 by 94%, per new research out of Israel. The peer-reviewed results offer a first look at effectiveness in real-world conditions, and showed consistency with high 95% vaccine efficacy reported during clinical trials.
Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Thursday
News/World: The director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning it would be a "fatal mistake" if the developed world takes the attitude of "we'll vaccinate our people, and people in other parts of the world can take care of their own."
