(2021-02-09). Are We Ready For Vaccinating With Sputnik V? counterpunch.org 
Millions of people have died from Covid-19. Many more are infected; many more are at risk. With new variants popping up as the virus mutates, scientists around the world are searching for better protection with different vaccines. As supplies of the approved vaccines become limited, any new vaccine should be universally welcomed. After all, the pandemic has become a global danger. Any new and successful vaccine should be globally welcomed.
(2021-02-09). The Value of Universal Vaccination Is So Great That Even the IMF Is Being Forced to Rethink Its Callousness to the Global South. counterpunch.org The world seems to have turned topsy-turvy when the undisputed voices of global capital start talking about the virtues of "cooperation" among nations and "universal distribution of vaccines" to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its January 2021 report, talks about "strong multilateral cooperation" and "universal distribution of vaccines… at affordable
(2021-02-09). The United States Surpasses 27 Million COVID-19 Cases. telesurenglish.net The United States on Monday confirmed 27,083,278 COVID-19 cases and 464,831 related-deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. | RELATED: | New York remains the country's most affected state by the pandemic with 44,965 deaths, followed by California (44,269), Texas (39,482), Florida (27,815), Pennsylvania (22,443), New Jersey (22,001), and Illinois (21,779). | Other states with a large number of deaths are Michigan (15,863), Georgi…
(2021-02-09). Accelerated Overdose Deaths Linked With COVID-19. jamanetwork.com More than 81‚ÄØ000 people died of drug overdoses in the US between June 2019 and May 2020, a record-breaking number that CDC officials suggested is related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
(2021-02-09). Social Isolation and Loneliness: Imperatives for Health Care in a Post-COVID World. jamanetwork.com The importance of social determinants of health has been gaining traction in the health care sector during the last decade. Social determinants of health have been found to be responsible for 80% to 90% of health outcomes, and an abundance of research has demonstrated that no matter the advancements in medicine and health care, the health of individuals and communities will not improve if these root-cause social factors are not addressed. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is highlighting one of these factors: social isolation.
(2021-02-09). Turkish government prepares to reopen schools as pandemic surges. wsws.org After the government began face-to-face teaching at the end of September, the number of daily COVID-19 cases rose to 30,000.
(2021-02-09). COVID-19 Pandemic, an Opportunity for a More Successful Future for Science and Public Health. jamanetwork.com This Viewpoint suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to build trust in science and update federal agencies to improve public health and poses questions and offers recommendations for consideration.
(2021-02-09). Donning and Doffing—Hiding Cancer Treatment in Plain Sight. jamanetwork.com In this narrative medicine essay an internal medicine hospitalist explores what the new diagnosis of breast cancer means for her professional identity and considers how the COVID-19 pandemic facilitates the hiding of serious illness but also complicates disclosing the news to colleagues and friends.
(2021-02-09). Portland nurses demand COVID-19 protection. workers.org 
Nurses and other health care workers, along with community members, demonstrated in front of Providence Portland Medical Center on Feb. 5, demanding COVID-19 protection and better working conditions. The rally was one day after Providence gave the COVID-19 vaccine — meant for people most at risk — to certain large . . . |
(2021-02-09). Workers Struggles: The Americas. wsws.org Health workers struck and marched February 4 to demand the Bolivian government implement health measures, while 700 warehouse workers in Tolleson, Arizona, have voted by a 98 percent margin to strike over COVID-related health and safety issues.
(2021-02-09). Argentina Allows the Use of India's Covishield Vaccine. telesurenglish.net Argentina's Health Minister Gines Gonzalez on Tuesday authorized the emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccine "Covishield" produced by the Serum Institute of India. | RELATED: | The decision was taken after the National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) evaluated the Covishield clinical trials which showed "no serious adverse events or significant differences in efficacy." | "This vaccine is…
(2021-02-09). Peru Starts Its COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign. telesurenglish.net Peru on Tuesday starts its COVID-19 vaccination campaign in areas of highest epidemiological risk, giving priority to redline health workers. The campaign started after the arrival of the first batch of 300.000 vaccines on Feb 7. | RELATED: | The first health care facilities to receive the doses were the Second May National Hospital and the Archbishop Loayza National Hospital. | "Those working in intensive care units treating…
(2021-02-09). Cuba's COVID-19 Vaccines Serve the People, Not Profits. counterpunch.org 
Cuba's socialist approach to developing vaccines against COVID-19 differs strikingly from that of capitalist nations of the world. Cuba's production of four vaccines is grounded in science and dedicated to saving the lives of all Cubans, and to international solidarity. The New York Times's running report on the world's vaccine programs shows 67 vaccines having
(2021-02-09). Disabled Advocates Demand Better Vaccine Access as They Face Greater Risks of Dying from COVID-19. democracynow.org 
As the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus tops 465,000, we speak with two disability rights activists about growing calls to prioritize giving COVID vaccines to people with physical and mental disabilities. Some states, including California, are failing to prioritize vaccines for people with serious physical or developmental disabilities, even though studies show they are up to three times more likely to die from COVID-19. "I use a ventilator to breathe, and I have respiratory failure," says disabled activist Alice Wong, founder of the Disability Visibility Project and host of the podcast "Disability Visibility…
(2021-02-09). Cuba develops COVID-19 vaccines, takes socialist approach. zcomm.org Socialist Cuba's production of four vaccines is grounded in science, in a dedication to saving the lives of all Cubans, and in international solidarity…
(2021-02-09). Why isn't Australia producing its own COVID-19 vaccine? greenleft.org.au As the debate over the efficacy and availability of various privately marketed anti-COVID vaccines intensifies here and internationally, the time to re-establish our own critical public medical institution is right now, argues Jim McIlroy.
(2021-02-09). Brazil To Assess COVID-19 Vaccination Impacts in a Small Town. telesurenglish.net Brazil's Butantan Institute Director Dimas Covas on Monday announced a clinical study that plans to vaccinate the entire adult population in Sao Paulo State's Serrana municipality to evaluate the epidemiological impact of COVID-19 vaccinations. | RELATED: | The study will begin on Feb. 17 with the vaccination of 30,000 people over 18 years of age, who will be inoculated with the Coronavac vaccine produced in collab…
(2021-02-09). Progressives slam Tory government over disparities in COVID-19 relief. peoplesdispatch.org Research conducted by the Labour Party shows that richer areas in the UK are seeing bigger falls in COVID-19 infection rates following vaccine distribution compared to poorer, working-class areas…
(2021-02-09). Reparations, health care and the pandemic. workers.org 
The late John Conyers — U.S. Representative from Michigan and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus — introduced bill HR 40 back in 1989, titled "Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act." New York City protest, Feb. 3. WW PHOTO: Sara Flounders Conyers said, "African slaves were . . . |
(2021-02-09). The Disarticulation of Pandemic War Propaganda. mintpressnews.com 
A now-deleted Missing from the…
(2021-02-09). South Florida: Capitalists worsen housing crisis during pandemic. liberationnews.org 
Florida tenants are amongst the highest at risk of eviction after years of Republican-controlled legislation stripping tenants of protections.
(2021-02-09). Whites still won't Mask up: Impeach Trump for discouraging Hygiene in a pandemic and killing hundreds of thousands. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — One of Trump's biggest crimes for which he is unlikely ever to be held responsible was just discouraging mask-wearing in the midst of a pandemic of a respiratory disease. He, of course, contracted the disease himself, as did most of his prominent staffers, mainly because they refused to socially distance …
(2021-02-09). Corona and psychology: Fear works against democratic coexistence. indybay.org The current "simultaneous consolidation and weakening of the state" (Nicos Poulantzas) are two sides of the same coin: the rise of the punitive state goes hand in hand with growing social insecurity and disenfranchisement, rather than an increase in rule-breaking and crime. The state authority & police strengthen themselves in pandemic…
(2021-02-09). UBI and Immigrants: Lessons from the Pandemic. realprogressives.org This article was written by This post is part of our Does universal basic income have a role to play in a more just political economy? It is by now fairly well appreciated that, on the level of individual countries, much depends on the framing and design of t…
(2021-02-09). Statewide day of action demands single-payer healthcare for California. liberationnews.org 
The Peace & Freedom Party endorsed a statewide day of action on Saturday, February 6th, organized by the California Nurses Association, demanding a single-payer "CalCare" health system.
(2021-02-09). Start of Sputnik V vaccination campaign brings hope to Iran. laprensalatina.com Tehran, Feb 9 (efe-epa).- Iran on Tuesday started the immunization program against Covid-19 using the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine in what was a major step toward containing a pandemic that has hit the country hard with more than 1.4 million cases and 58,000 deaths reported so far. This long-awaited step took place before a large …
(2021-02-09). Lazio, leading Italy's vaccine roll-out. laprensalatina.com Rome, Feb 9 (efe-epa).- The Italian region of Lazio, home to the capital Rome, is leading the Covid-19 vaccination race in the country and has already started vaccinating people over 80. The push to vaccinate the senior age group in the region began Monday, a week after the system to make an appointment was launched. …
(2021-02-09). Iran begins Covid-19 vaccination campaign, says state media. middleeasteye.net 
Iran begins Covid-19 vaccination campaign, says state media | Last week the health ministry announced it bought two million doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine | Tue, 02/09/2021 – 07: 24 | A member of staff holds a vial of the Iranian-made "Razi Cov Pars" coronavirus vaccine during an unveiling ceremony at the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute in the city of Karaj in the northern A…
(2021-02-09). Pandemic Response Inherited From Trump Was "More Dire" Than Biden Thought. truthout.org 
President Joe Biden appeared in his first network television interview with CBS News since taking office, and provided insight into the COVID-19 pandemic plan his administration inherited from the Trump administration. | In the interview with Norah O'Donnell, she asked if the Super Bowl would have a full stadium next year. | "It's my hope and expectation if we're able to put together and make up for all the lost time in fighting COVID that's occurred," Biden said, indicating that the Trump adminis…
(2021-02-09). Total reports $7.2 billion annual loss in 2020. yenisafak.com The company also recorded a fourth-quarter 2020 income of $891 million, posting a 66% fall from fourth-quarter 2019 earnings of $2.6 billion.The company's CEO Patrick Pouyanne said the fourth-quarter results rebounded from the previous quarter thanks to strong OPEC discipline. Nonetheless, the outcome was still affected by low demand and high inventories.The oil environment remains uncertain and dependent on the recovery of global demand, the company said, stressing that the COVID-19 pandemic is still exerting pressure on oil prices.Total's oil production in 2020 decreased 9% year-on-year to almost 1.3 million ba…
(2021-02-09). No sign COVID spread in Wuhan before Dec 2019: WHO. yenisafak.com A team of international experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and China on Tuesday said there is insufficient evidence that the coronavirus had spread in Wuhan before December 2019.Addressing a virtual news conference in Wuhan city of China, the Chinese team leader Dr. Liang Wannian said: "The discovery of viral sequence of coronavirus suggests the virus originated from the zoonotic transmission, but the host is yet to be identified.""There is insufficient evidence that SARS-COV-2 [COVID-19] had spread in Wuhan before December 2019," he said and added: "There is no indication."The 17-member WHO team on…
(2021-02-09). Iran COVID-19 update: 7,640 cases, 89 deaths in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 09 (MNA) — The Iranian Health Ministry has confirmed 7,640 COVID-19 infections and 89 deaths due to the disease in the past 24 hours.
(2021-02-09). Nationwide COVID vaccination commenced in Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 09 (MNA) — Iran started nationwide COVID-19 vaccination using the Sputnik V vaccine on Tuesday.
(2021-02-09). Fear of Covid-19 no longer petrifies 1 in 3 Americans, but indecision about how to move forward does. rt.com 
Americans have finally begun easing out of the pandemic-induced phobias that sent them scurrying underground nearly a year ago. However, few seem to agree on how to come out of hibernation, with many waiting for an official "OK." | One in three Americans no longer believes returning to their pre-coronavirus existence poses a 'moderate or large risk', according to an
(2021-02-09). Activist accuses Avon and Somerset police of unlawful arrest, detention and discrimination. thecanary.co On 25 January, Avon and Somerset police arrested literary activist Ros Martin outside Bristol magistrates court for damage to the pavement by chalking and a breach of coronavirus (Covid-19) regulations. Martin has made a number of complaints to the police force for what she believes is "unlawful arrest, detention & discriminatory treatment". Her case reflects widespread issues of police disregarding people's health, using coronavirus regulations to clamp down on protest, and institutionalised racism in the Avon and Somerset police force. | Blatant disregard for safety during a pandemic: | While taking her…
(2021-02-09). Learn lessons from lack of diversity in pandemic messaging, says Black professor. thecanary.co A more diverse line-up of experts should have been prominent throughout the pandemic to help promote coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines, a professor has said. | Shift: | Professor Geoff Palmer, of Heriot-Watt University, said Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) experts should have been standing alongside prime minister Boris Johnson to speak about the virus from the beginning, and insisted lessons must be learned. Palmer, Scotland's first Black professor, said that while there has been a "slight shift" in the right direction, he thinks "it's a little bit late". | The professor emeritus in the School of…
(2021-02-09). COVID-19 'extremely unlikely' to have come from a lab, experts say. news.un.org The virus that causes COVID-19 probably jumped from animals to humans and is "extremely unlikely" to have come from a laboratory, the head of an international team investigating the origins of the disease said on Tuesday.
(2021-02-09). Safer Internet Day: Prioritize and protect child well-being online. news.un.org Although millions of boys and girls worldwide have relied on the internet to play, socialize and learn during the COVID-19 pandemic, time online can also expose them to online sexual exploitation, cyberbullying and other risks, the head of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
(2021-02-09). Headlines for February 9, 2021. democracynow.org Second Impeachment Trial of Donald J. Trump Opens in the Senate, Georgia's Secretary of State to Probe Trump's Efforts to Overturn 2020 Election, U.S. Mulls Plan to Require Negative COVID-19 Test for Domestic Airline Passengers, Texas GOP Rep. Ron Wright Dies After 18-Day Battle with COVID-19, FEMA to Pay Low-Income Families Up to $7,000 for Funeral and Burial Costs During Pandemic, New York Nursing Home Residents Got Experimental COVID-19 Treatments Without Families' Knowledge, Senate Confirms Denis McDonough to Lead Department of Veterans Affairs, Haitian Asylum Seekers, Including Children, Deported Despite Bid…
(2021-02-09). WHO says coronavirus spread 'extremely unlikely' from Wuhan lab. laprensalatina.com Beijing, Feb 9 (efe-epa).- The head of a team of global scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said it was "extremely unlikely" that the coronavirus may have spread from a lab in the central Chinese city of Wuhan where the virus was first detected last year. Ben Embarek told reporters that the …
(2021-02-09). Egypt opens Gaza crossing in both directions. yenisafak.com Egypt on Tuesday opened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for the movement of travelers in both directions, according to the Hamas-run Interior Ministry.A ministry statement said that "passenger buses began to leave the crossing, while returnees will arrive at noon".It is unclear how many days the crossing will remain open.Palestinian factions are currently holding dialogue in Cairo on preparations for elections.Last week, Egypt opened the crossing for four days in both directions.Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in March, Egypt and Hamas agreed to close the crossing. The terminal was sp…
(2021-02-09). The soup kitchen providing for a town with 93% unemployment. laprensalatina.com The Compassionate Hearts soup kitchen provides food aid for many residents of Touws River in South Africa, which has a 93% unemployment rate, according to humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers Foundation. During the lockdowns for the pandemic, the majority of the town's residents have become unemployed with what few businesses existed now closed. The …
(2021-02-09). Global semiconductor chip shortage hits car sales. yenisafak.com Honda Motor Co. had set a target of 4.6 million sales until March this year.The shortage of the chips is mainly attributed to boost in sales of smartphones, game consoles, smart TVs, and laptops triggered by global lockdown during the pandemic which forced people to stay home.Also, restrictions imposed by former US President Donald Trump's administration on China's chipmakers have fueled the demand for semiconductor chips.The global chip shortage has led many industrialized countries to reach out to Taiwan for chip supplies. The US, Germany, and Japan have recently urged Taipei to increase the chip production.Tai…
(2021-02-09). Brazil's disastrous pandemic response. greenleft.org.au Ever since the first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection was
(2021-02-09). Turkish medical tech firm ventures into orthopedics. yenisafak.com Turkey-based international medical technology firm RD Global Invamed has completed the buying of orthopedic implant manufacturer Prosim to expand its global operations."The company has expanded its scope by adding orthopedics to its expertise," it said in a statement on Tuesday. It is already working in areas such as cardiovascular surgery, vascular surgery, and oncology.Last September, RD Global Invamed was selected as the leading medical device manufacturer in the field of vascular surgery for 2020 by Global Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, a global information sharing platform, the press release added.With the late…
(2021-02-09). Democrats Disarm Themselves Before Trump's Senate Impeachment Trial. zcomm.org If the Democrats do not go full throttle in this trial — this last clear chance to exercise the Constitution against Tyrant Trump — they will be remembered as profiles of infamy…
(2021-02-09). Algorithmic Stewardship in Health Care. jamanetwork.com To the Editor The Viewpoint by Ms Eaneff and colleagues proposed the role of stewardship for predictive algorithms by benchmarking to best practices from other clinical areas of medicine. In our opinion, to ensure the equality and safety of predictive algorithms, the health system could also learn from the high standards in other industries in which quality control and supervision of predictive algorithms are well established.
(2021-02-09). Big Oil spent $10 lobbying CA officials as oil production well permits doubled in 2020. indybay.org The inordinate influence by Big Oil on California politicians and regulators has resulted in widespread air, ground and water pollution with huge health impacts on mostly Black and Brown communities living near oil and gas wells.
(2021-02-09). Cancer Care Under the Biden Administration. jamanetwork.com This Viewpoint evaluates Biden's health care proposals to help reduce the cost burden on patients with cancer should they be enacted legislatively.
(2021-02-09). Bicuspid Aortic Valve—A Common Form of Structural Heart Disease. jamanetwork.com By the ninth week of human embryonic development, many of the unique anatomical structures of the heart have appeared, including the semilunar valves. The aortic valve is derived from an endocardial outflow tract cushion, and in most instances the valve consists of 3 nearly identical leaflets, or cusps.