Experimental Vaccine Shows Encouraging Results
TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Maryland-based Novavax said Tuesday that preliminary trials of an experimental coronavirus vaccine were promising.
In one study, 56 people made high levels of antibodies against COVID-19 with no adverse side effects. In a second study, the vaccine protected monkeys from COVID-19 infection.
It’s not possible to compare the data from clinical trials of different vaccines, but John Moore, a virologist at Weill Cornell Medicine who was not involved in the studies, told The New York Times that these results were the most impressive he’d seen.
“This is the first one I’m looking at and saying, ‘Yeah, I’d take that,'” Moore said.
Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Columbia University, told the Times that these were “encouraging preliminary results.” But she cautioned that it’s not possible to know if the vaccine is safe and effective until larger studies are done.
In its 33-year history, Novavax has never had a vaccine on the market, but it has received $1.6 billion in federal funding for vaccine development. If the vaccine is effective, the company said it can make 100 million doses by the beginning of 2021 — enough to inoculate 50 million people with the required two doses.
This vaccine is one of more than two dozen vaccines that are now being tested, the Times reported.
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Company Recalls Tainted Onions
Thomson International Inc. is recalling red, yellow, white and sweet yellow onions that have been linked with an outbreak of salmonella.
The recall, announced Tuesday, is for onions shipped from May 1 until now.
The onions were sent to wholesalers, restaurants and retailers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.
The onions were labeled Thomson Premium, TLC Thomson International, Tender Loving Care, El Competitor, Hartley’s Best, Onions 52, Majestic, Imperial Fresh, Kroger, Utah Onions and Food Lion.
These onions should not be eaten, sold or served, the company said. If you cannot tell if an onion is from Thomson, you should throw it out and contaminated surfaces should be disinfected.
The current salmonella outbreak has caused nearly 400 illnesses and nearly 60 hospitalizations.
Consumers with questions may contact the company by calling Kim Earnshaw at 661-845-1111.
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