(2020-11-17). "No End in Sight": 9 Months into Pandemic, Nurses Are Tired, Demoralized & Still Lack Adequate PPE. democracynow.org 
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its ninth month, a new report by National Nurses United, the largest nurses' union in the United States, finds hospitals are still failing to provide adequate PPE and are unprepared as the surge is expected to get worse during the flu season. Nurses also report mental health struggles related to the pandemic. The union estimates at least 2,000 frontline healthcare workers have died due to COVID-19, with nurses of color accounting for half of those deaths, even though they're less than a quarter of the workforce. Jean Ross, president of National Nurses United, says the lack of prepa…
(2020-11-17). With COVID Vaccines on the Horizon, U.S. Urged to Help Ensure Equitable Distribution Across Globe. democracynow.org 
As the U.S. COVID-19 death toll nears 250,000, drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna have both announced promising vaccine trial results showing over 90% effectiveness in preventing illness. But officials and health experts warn widespread distribution of a vaccine for the coronavirus — which has killed 1.2 million people across the globe — will be tremendously difficult to store and distribute. Vaccine researcher Dr. Saad Omer calls the recent news "reassuring" but says drugmakers need to be much more transparent about their data and issue more than just press releases. "There should be a little bit more det…
(2020-11-17). Covid in Lebanon: Minister's 'let women cook' in lockdown comment causes uproar. middleeasteye.net 
Covid in Lebanon: Minister's 'let women cook' in lockdown comment causes uproar | Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi also said women 'too timid' to be prime minister, sparking widespread backlash | Tue, 11/17/2020 – 12: 51 | Mohammed Fahmi has come under fire for his comments (Reuters) | Social media users in Lebanon have organised a campaign challenging controversial comments made by caretaker Interior Minis…
(2020-11-17). Assessing Alternative Payment Models. jamanetwork.com To the Editor Dr Navathe and colleagues suggested that alternative payment models have played a key role in slowing the growth of US health care spending despite evidence indicating they have limited effect. They posited that the true effect of alternative payment models has been underestimated in individual evaluations because these models have been compared with a declining spending baseline.
(2020-11-17). Partnership to Make 120 Million COVID-19 Rapid Tests Available. jamanetwork.com A global partnership plans to make 120 million coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapid antigen tests available in low- and middle-income countries, according to an announcement from the World Health Organization's (WHO) Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator.
(2020-11-17). UN releases $100 million to guard against famine. news.un.org The United Nations released $100 million of emergency funding on Tuesday to stave off the risk of famine in seven countries most at risk from a hunger epidemic fueled by conflict, economic decline, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.
(2020-11-17). The COVID-19 Vaccine. The Imposition of Compulsory Vaccination with a Biometric Health Passport? globalresearch.ca The COVID-19 vaccine… Is this THE final goal of this crisis, to impose a compulsory vaccination on everyone, with a biometric health passport and without it, the impossibility to move, to buy, to eat? The near future will tell.
(2020-11-17). Hospitals Are Still Unprepared and Lack PPE After 9 Months of Pandemic. truthout.org As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its ninth month, a new report by National Nurses United, the largest nurses' union in the United States, finds hospitals are still failing to provide adequate PPE and are unprepared as the surge is expected to get worse during the flu season. Nurses also report mental health struggles related to the pandemic. The union estimates at least 2,000 frontline healthcare workers have died due to COVID-19, with nurses of color accounting for half of those deaths, even though th…
(2020-11-17). Global Mental Health Services Are Collapsing as Demand Grows. jamanetwork.com The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted mental health, neurological, and substance abuse services in 93% of 130 countries surveyed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
(2020-11-17). Union lawsuit wins UK workers right to picket during lockdown. peoplesdispatch.org During the proceedings in a lawsuit filed by Unite union against police and health authorities for threatening workers on strike, the UK government confirmed that workers on lawful industrial action have the right to picket their workplace during the COVID-19 lockdown…
(2020-11-17). Fauci Calls for Unified, Federal Approach to Tackling COVID. truthout.org Anthony Fauci, current director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and a member of the White House's coronavirus task force, called on the federal government to take a more uniform approach to combating the pandemic, rather than relying on each state to come up with their own statewide plans or regulations. | "We need some fundamental public health measures that everyone should be adhering to, not a disjointed, 'One state says one thing, the other state says another thing,'" <...
(2020-11-17). Video: The COVID Cult. "The Greatest Public Health Fiasco in World History" globalresearch.ca This is the greatest public health fiasco in the history of the world, and the media has distorted it so badly, that much of the general public is celebrating villains and hissing at heroes. And, even — perversely enough — …
(2020-11-17). New partnership to boost maternal and newborn health in East and Southern Africa. news.un.org Some 10,000 health workers will be trained to support mothers and newborns in Africa through a partnership between the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, and Laerdal Global Health, the non-profit arm of a Norwegian company that provides innovative training, educational and therapy solutions for emergency medical care and patient safety.
(2020-11-17). Former Pfizer Vice-President Dr. Michael Yeadon Questions Company's Vaccine 'Breakthrough' Spin. globalresearch.ca Yesterday Pfizer announced to much media fanfare that it has a breakthrough in the search for a reliable COVID-19 vaccine claiming studies showed it can prevent 90% of people contracting the virus. But respected former vice-president of Pfizer, Dr. Michael …
(2020-11-17). Q&A: Encouraging responsible behaviour during the COVID-19 'infodemic'. imperial.ac.uk How can public health messaging cut through the flood of information and encourage responsible behaviour?>
(2020-11-17). Vaccines give us light at end of the tunnel, Neil Ferguson tells Paris Forum. imperial.ac.uk Imperial's Professor Neil Ferguson says that the promise of effective COVID-19 vaccines is very encouraging but we may need restrictions until then.
(2020-11-17). Meeting of Coronavirus Combat Headquarters in Isfahan. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 17 (MNA) — The meeting of Coronavirus Combat and Prevention Headquarters was held in the presence of Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences on Tuesday.
(2020-11-17). Poorer Countries May Have to Wait Years for a COVID Vaccine. truthout.org A COVID-19 vaccine appears to be on the way, raising plenty of questions about how much vaccines will cost and who get will get them first. | On Monday, Moderna announced initial results from a clinical trial showing that its
(2020-11-17). Workers Struggles: The Americas. wsws.org Doctors in Buenos Aires are set to strike November 17 over an insufficient pay offer while health care workers in Chile struck November 12 and 13 demanding upgrades to the system.
(2020-11-16). Cuba Could be on the Brink of a Revolutionary COVID Vaccine, But US Sanctions Are Slowing It Down. mintpressnews.com Cuba is already a medical powerhouse, and if it can successfully navigate the minefield of US sanctions, it could supply much of Latin America with a COVID vaccine.
(2020-11-16). Cuba Could be on the Brink of a Revolutionary COVID Vaccine, But US Sanctions Are Slowing It Down. thealtworld.com Cuba is already a medical powerhouse, and if it can successfully navigate the minefield of US sanctions, it could supply much of Latin America with a COVID vaccine. | MPN— Cuba has announced positive and promising results for a number of separate COVID-19 vaccines it is currently developing, but U.S. sanctions against the small island nation are hampering the development and rollout of the potentially life-saving treatments. | Two candidates, named Sovereign 1 and Sovereign 2, have generated antibodies blocking infection in animals and are showing similarly encouraging signs on tests on human subjects. Meanw…
(2020-11-16). EU Extends Sanctions Against Venezuela. venezuelanalysis.com The extension comes as the country continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, with Maduro securing 10 million Sputnik V vaccine doses.
(2020-11-16). Lowering the Bar on Success: Megan McArdle on Drug Development. counterpunch.org 
Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle was anxious to tell readers that drug development in the pandemic has been a great success story. After all, look at all the treatments we have, and now it appears that Pfizer/BioNtech have developed a highly effective vaccine. What could be better than that? Well, first we need a bit
(2020-11-16). Biden says 'ONLY REASON' Americans question Covid-19 vaccines is Trump. rt.com 
Saying he would personally take a coronavirus vaccine if Dr. Anthony Fauci and its makers told him it was safe, Democrat Joe Biden claimed the only reason Americans would distrust the jab is — President Donald Trump. | "I wouldn't hesitate to get the vaccine, if in fact Dr. Fauci [and Moderna or Pfizer] conclude it's safe," Biden said on Monday in Wilmington, Delaware, addressing the media who have anointed him president-elect. | Pfizer announced a "90 percent effective" jab last week, followed by Moderna's
(2020-11-16). Hang on to your joystick: Gaming is GOOD for mental health, Oxford study claims. rt.com 
Whether it's Minecraft or Call of Duty, an Oxford University study says gaming may not be a time-wasting pastime but could in fact boost your well-being. This is according to data gathered with the help of gaming companies. | The team at the university's Oxford Internet Institute looked at some 3,200 gamers in the UK, US and Canada, who were playing Animal Crossing by Nintendo and Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville by Electronic Arts. | They presented their results in a
(2020-11-16). Politicians are parasites feeding off corporations. Enough is enough. thecanary.co 
Boom. Bam. You know who it is. Yung Drilly, aka Drillminister — writing for
(2020-11-16). The Imperative To Achieve National Improved Medicare For All. dissidentvoice.org 
NOTE: The Kevin Zeese Emerging Activists Fund is accepting applicants for an unrestricted grant of $20,000 until December 13, 2020. Learn more at PopularResistance.org/kevin-zeese/. And join us for a webinar with Venezuelan social movements on November 18 to hear about their upcoming elections and how we can support their struggle against US intervention. Details at …
(2020-11-16). COVID-19 Pandemic May 'Effectively' End in 2021 if Vaccines Live Up to Early Data – Former FDA Head. sputniknews.com Pharmaceutical company Moderna revealed Monday that their vaccine candidate has a near 95% efficacy in curbing the spread of COVID-19. The revelation is based on interim data analysis of their 30,000-strong phase three trial.
(2020-11-16). Australia: Obstetricians at Sydney's Blacktown Hospital threaten to resign amid the deaths of four babies in 18 months. wsws.org Doctors take a stand as understaffing crisis highlights the fragility of the public health system even without a COVID-19 resurgence.
(2020-11-16). Moderna Must Share Technology to Ensure Vaccine Breakthrough Is Not Limited to Rich Countries. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-11-16). 'It Should Belong to Humanity': Funded by Public, Promising Moderna Results Bolster Global Call for #PeoplesVaccine. commondreams.org "It's time for companies to live up to their human rights responsibilities and ensure the widest possible access to their innovations." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-11-16). 2021 Declared International Year of Health and Care Workers. telesurenglish.net The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday that 2021 was designated as the International Year of Health and Care Workers, "recognizing the dedication and sacrifice of the millions of health and care workers at the forefront of the Covid-19 pandemic." | RELATED: | The WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said via Twitter that he was "very pleased to see the decision to designate next year as…
(2020-11-16). No time for complacency as COVID-19 cases surge: WHO chief. news.un.org Despite encouraging news about COVID-19 vaccines and cautious optimism over potential new tools against the disease, "this is not the time for complacency," the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday during his latest press briefing in Geneva.
(2020-11-16). WHO rolls out plan to rid world of cervical cancer, saving millions of lives. news.un.org The World Health Organization (WHO) set out a strategy on Tuesday for eliminating cervical cancer, which would avoid the death of an estimated five million women and girls from the disease, by 2050.
(2020-11-16). US Biotech Moderna Says Its COVID-19 Vaccine is Highly Effective. telesurenglish.net U.S. biotechnology company Moderna Monday announced that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which is currently in phase three of clinical trials, showed a vaccine efficacy of 94.5 percent. | The pharmaceutical company based in Massachusetts detailed that 30,000 people participated in the clinical trials of the vaccine candidate, whose designated name is mRNA-1273. | According to the press release, there are no si…
(2020-11-16). Study Detailing 'Scandalous' Hospital Price-Gouging During Pandemic Proves Medicare for All Urgently Needed. commondreams.org With hospitalizations due to Covid-19 infections surging across the country, new analysis released Monday by the nation's largest nurses' union reveals that thousands of coronavirus patients are among the Americans who could soon be hit with "scandalous" gouging of prices for healthcare services. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-11-16). WHO: Health Systems Collapsing in Latam Amid COVID-19 Pandemic. telesurenglish.net The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday that the COVID-19 pandemic is collapsing the health systems in the Americas and Europe, as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warns of more outbreaks across the region. | RELATED: | "Particularly in Europe and the Americas, health workers and health systems are being pushed to the breaking point," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom. The official e…
(2020-11-16). Moderna Vaccine Belongs to the People. commondreams.org ______________________________…