Supreme Court seems likely to preserve access to the abortion medication mifepristone
The Supreme Court seems likely to preserve access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. last year, in the courtโs first abortion case since conservative justices overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago.
FTC warns food industry trade groups and influencers about disclosures on paid social media posts
The Federal Trade Commission says it issued warnings to two food and beverage industry groups, as well as to a dozen online influencers and dieticians for failing to adequately disclose paid social media posts that promoted a sweetener and sugary products.
New Alzheimerโs drug offers hope, yet brings more questions to those looking for answers
A new Alzheimerโs drug with FDA approval is soon hitting the market and is the first with clear-cut evidence that it can slow the disease. But on top of medical questions, there are still some practical questions as well.
Did FDA bungle infant formula recall?
Abbott Nutritionโs manufacturing plant that produced baby formula had a history of safety regulation violations, but it stayed open, a Consumer Reports investigation found. It wasnโt until after a baby died that the company issued a recall. Now, there are questions about whether the FDA could have acted sooner.
Nirenberg, Wolff want feds to help manage, distribute COVID-19 drug remdesivir to Regional Infusion Centers in Texas
Please find attached, a copy of the letter from San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff to HHS Secretary Becerra regarding the request for federal management and distribution of remdesivir for early outpatient treatment to avoid hospitalizations and deaths.
Need for โcheaterโ glasses eliminated by new eye drops
If youโre tired of looking for your โcheatersโ so that you can read instructions, recipes, your cellphone news feed, or just a good book on your bedside table, a solution has now been approved by the FDA in the form of revolutionary eye drops.
FDA warns Curative COVID-19 test may produce false-negative results
To reduce the risk of false-negative results, the FDA says COVID-19 test administrators must perform the test in accordance with its authorization and as described in the FDAโs Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers, which can be accessed by clicking here. A negative result does not exclude the possibility of COVID-19,โ the FDA says on its website. Curative tests are used at a number of the cityโs testing sites. San Antonio Assistant City Manager and interim Metro Health Director Dr. Colleen Bridger said the city testing sites use Curative tests only for symptomatic people. โPer the FDAโs emergency use authorization of these tests, the City has been using Curative tests for symptomatic individuals.
RECALL ROUNDUP: Pet food recalled after 28 dogs die of suspected poisoning
Dog Food RecallSAN ANTONIO โ Certain dry pet foods are under recall after the deaths of at least 28 dogs, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Certain lots of Sportmix dog and cat food may contain potentially deadly levels of aflatoxin, the FDA warned. Midwestern Pet Food, Inc. announced the recall of certain dog and cat food, all with expiration dates of March 2 or 3, 2022. โPets are highly susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning because, unlike people who eat a varied diet, pets generally eat the same food continuously over extended periods of time,โ the FDA said. The investigation into the pet food continues.
โRelievedโ: US health workers start getting COVID-19 vaccine
Relieved,โ said critical case nurse Sandra Lindsay after getting a shot in the arm at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York. Shipments of precious frozen vials of vaccine made by Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech began arriving at hospitals around the country Monday. But we also recognize that this end is in sight,โ said Dr. Chris Dale of Swedish Health Services in Seattle. A wary public will be watching closely to see whether health workers embrace vaccination. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Instituteโs Department of Science Education.
'Healing is coming': US health workers start getting vaccine
โI feel like healing is coming.โWith a countdown of โ3-2-1,โ workers at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center gave initial injections to applause. High-risk health care workers were first in line. It just represents a moral failing,โ said Jennifer Nuzzo, a public health researcher at Johns Hopkins. And later this week, the FDA will decide whether to greenlight the worldโs second rigorously studied COVID-19 vaccine, made by Moderna Inc. โWeโre also in the middle of a surge, and itโs the holidays, and our health care workers have been working at an extraordinary pace,โ said Sue Mashni, chief pharmacy officer at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.
WATCH LIVE: CDC holds virtual meeting on COVID-19 vaccine
Published: December 12, 2020, 11:05 am Updated: December 12, 2020, 11:46 am(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The CDC is holding a virtual meeting Saturday to discuss the recently-approved Covid-19 vaccine. The vaccine received FDA approval Friday night, and will first be distributed to health workers and nursing home residents nationwide. You can watch the live briefing in the video player above.
University Health readies to receive, distribute nearly 6,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine
SAN ANTONIO โ The FDA has officially approved a Covid-19 vaccine for the U.S., as of Friday. University Health in San Antonio is expected to receive nearly 6,000 doses of the vaccine as early as next week. Besides receiving the Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer, University Health is also receiving syringes and other products to prepare for its distribution. Employees who have direct contact with COVID positive patients will be part of the first group that will receive the vaccine. RELATED: US allows emergency COVID-19 vaccine in bid to end pandemic
FDA-approved medical device removes blood clots in FLASH
While blood thinners are often administered to break up the clot, there is one FDA-approved device that surgeons can use for removal. Patients need immediate medical attention to restore blood flow. One FDA approved medical device allows surgeons to thread a catheter into a patientโs pulmonary artery to grab the clot. Early results show the device was safe in 230 patients tested, with few major side effects, and there was an almost immediate improvement in patients. Itโs important to note that Dr. Toma reports no ties to Inari Medical, the company that designed the FlowTriever.
Families hope to reconnect with loved ones living in long-term care facilities after COVID-19 vaccines are distributed
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 13-1 to recommend priority be given to health care workers and those living in long-term care facilities in the first days of any coming vaccination program. Eryn Morris, whose mother is staying in a long-term care facility in Seguin, is hopeful for whatโs to come. โBack in March, they shut all of these facilities down,โ Morris said. โMainly the hospital staff working directly with patients positive or at high risk for COVID-19 and long-term care staff working directly with vulnerable residents and EMS providers and home health care workers as well,โ Kurian said. The CDCโs advisory committee is set to meet again after the FDA announces emergency approval for the vaccine.
Donโt fall for fake vaccine scams, FBI warns
In the coming weeks, FBI special agents want everyone to look out for schemes offering fake vaccines. โThe FBI has been closely following scams connected with the COVID pandemic,โ said FBI Special Agent Michelle Lee. Like Lee, Croft warns about the red flags that may appear through a website, text message, email or a phone call. โI promise you, nobody will ever ask you in advance to pay in advance for a vaccine,โ Croft said. You can report vaccine scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov or your local FBI field office, which can be located at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices.
How new, groundbreaking COVID-19 vaccines will impact cancer care
According to Dr. Amita Patnaik, clinical researcher for the START Center for Cancer Care, the effectiveness of the vaccines is beyond what an annual flu shot can produce. They are called mRNA vaccines, which is a category of treatment that is currently being investigated at the Start Center. โOne of the hallmarks of cancer is the ability of cancers to evade the immune system and to essentially hijack the immune system. So, by giving the vaccine, the hope is that we can get the immune system to recognize those parts of the cancer that may be able to elicit a response that can actually attack the cancer cells,โ Patnaik said. START is looking at two of these mRNA vaccines for cancer, but seeing the preliminary success of the new coronavirus gives huge hope for the future of cancer care.
โWeโre anxiously awaiting for it,โ: Mayor Nirenberg says SA could see coronavirus vaccine in 4 to 6 weeks
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg joined Leading SA on Sunday to discuss the timetable of when a vaccine could become available and what the local distribution plan looks like. โIโm told that, you know, within the next four to six weeks, perhaps we could see some of those initial groups have the vaccine available. โOur hospitals are our providers to go over a distribution plan once that vaccine comes in so we are locked and loaded in terms of being able to distribute the vaccine,โ Nirenberg said. However, the issue right now is that the Alamo City is seeing a significant spike in coronavirus cases. On Friday, city leaders reported 936 new coronavirus cases, and on Saturday, there were 492 more cases.
Who will receive the COVID-19 vaccine first and how will it be distributed?
Every day is another day closer to the approval of a potential COVID-19 vaccine, and one may even be ready for distribution as early as next month. โThe vaccine is being acquired by the federal government in the United States, and those allotments are being distributed to the states,โ Alsip said. โInitially, the vaccine will be distributed by those who receive the allotments, which will be primarily hospitals, public health departments and so forth. It really depends on the distribution of the vaccine, availability and timing.โWhen will we be able to get the vaccine at most pharmacies, like a flu shot? โThe steps used to create these COVID-19 vaccines are the same steps used to other vaccines.
FDA approves COVID-19 drug combination tested by UT Health SA, University Health
SAN ANTONIO โ The FDA has given emergency use approval of a new drug combination for hospitalized COVID-19 patients that was tested in clinical trials in San Antonio. The promising new COVID-19 treatment includes combining the FDA-approved drug, Remdesivir, with inflammatory oral drug baricitinib for patients that need supplemental oxygen, mechanical ventilation or ECMO, according to health officials. The drug combination was tested in clinical trials in San Antonio by UT Health San Antonio and its clinical partner, University Health. However, health professionals are still monitoring the safety and effectiveness of the new drug combination. To learn more about the newly-approved drug combination, visit the FDAโs website here.
FDA recalls 212 โunsafeโ hand sanitizer products
Hand sanitizer was nearly impossible to find at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and now itโs everywhere but is it safe? What kind of hand sanitizer should you use? The names of the recalled products are listed in the document below:What should you do if you experience a problem with a hand sanitizer? Anyone experiencing adverse effects or quality problems due to hand sanitizer is asked to report the issue to the FDAโs MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program. Previously, officials with the FDA have said they were aware of reports of harmful effects associated with the listed hand sanitizer products including adults and children who ingested products contaminated with methanol that led to blindness, hospitalizations and death.
The Latest: S Korea begins stronger limits in some areas
In September, the district reported about 13 new coronavirus cases weekly, mostly involving teachers and staff, when it first opened early childhood education classes. ___ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. โ Five Florida mayors are expressing concern about the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state, and are urging Gov. But the stateโs rolling seven-day average for new coronavirus cases was more than nine times higher Wednesday than it was than when her first order took effect. Officials began instituting local shutdowns in neighborhoods where coronavirus cases were rapidly rising. There were 5,102 cases reported in Minnesota on Wednesday, along with 67 deaths.
โWeโre seeing a positive glimmer of hope,โ: UT Health SA doctor says as Pfizer vaccine inches closer to approval
Dr. Leverence said as for the Alamo City, it could be one of the cities that starts getting the vaccine sooner rather than later. Dr. Leverence said there are five or six other vaccines that are all in phase three trials as well. For the first time, weโre seeing a positive glimmer of hope in regard to this pandemic,โ Dr. Leverence said. So once again, our behavior is definitely playing a role in this,โ Dr. Leverence said. You can watch the full interview with Dr. Leverence in the video player above.
Dozens of spices recalled over salmonella concerns
Two companies have recalled various dried spices because they could be contaminated with salmonella. Sauer Brands recalled certain lots of more than two dozen spices by The Spice Hunter, including organic parsley, organic cinnamon, cilantro, black pepper and more. The companyโs supplier had notified them about the presence of salmonella in some of the organic parsley. Red Monkey Foods also recalled certain spices related to salmonella concerns. RELATED: Saws, bicycles, sports chairs recalled
The 9@9: Election security; Remesivir approved by FDA; Colorado wildfires
The 9@9: Election security; Remesivir approved by FDA; Colorado wildfiresPublished: October 23, 2020, 9:50 amThe 9@9 features some of the biggest stories making headlines at home, around the country and across the globe. Hereโs whatโs trending.
FDA list of recalled hand sanitizers tops 200
SAN ANTONIO โ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use 203 hand sanitizer products as a result of having been deemed potentially unsafe or ineffective. The FDA says the recalled hand sanitizer products are considered unsafe due to methanol contamination or because they contain โconcerningly low levels of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol, which are active ingredients in hand sanitizer products.โSeven new products were added to the list last week. View the full list below or a detailed list which includes information about the manufacturer and reasoning behind a certain product recall on the FDA website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent isopropyl or ethyl alcohol. The FDA is advising consumers not to use the recalled products because methanol - used in fuel, solvents and antifreeze - is poisonous to humans and substantial exposure could โresult in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.โThe investigation by the FDA into the use of methanol in hand sanitizers is ongoing.
Various fresh fruit items sold at Walmart recalled due to listeria concerns
Texas โ Various fresh fruit items sold by Walmart have been voluntarily recalled due to listeria concerns. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted the announcement Saturday and said select stores in nine states, including Texas, are affected by the recall. FDA officials discovered Listeria monocytogenes on equipment used in an area near where the affected products are packaged. โListeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,โ according to the FDA. Product codes of various fresh fruit items affect cut and/or sliced apples, grapes, mangos, pineapples and cantaloupe distributed by Walmart, including those containers labeled โFreshness Guaranteed.โWalmart stores are removing the recalled products from store shelves and Country Fresh has not received any reports of illness, the FDA reported.
Country Fresh recalls watermelon chunks sold in Texas Walmart stores, Racetrac locations
SAN ANTONIO โ Country Fresh is recalling its watermelon chunks due to possible contamination of Listeria monocytogenes, a deadly pathogenic bacteria, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA found the deadly bacteria in the watermelon during a recent inspection. The company ships produce products directly to Walmart and RaceTrac in select stores in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas. The best-if-used by dates are Oct. 2, 3 and 4, 2020 and the SKUs are as follows:Walmart โ Freshness GuaranteedWatermelon 4 x 10 oz โ UPC Code: 681131180672Watermelon 2 x 32 oz โ UPC Code: 681131180672Watermelon Chunks 2 x 42 oz โ UPC Code: 681131180658Watermelon Spears 4 x 16 oz โ UPC Code: 681131180665Summer Blend FTC 4 x 5 oz โ UPC Code: 681131355094RaceTracWatermelon 5.5oz โ UPC Code: 74641000644Melon Trio 5.5oz โ UPC Code: 74641031945For more information on the recall, click here. Related: 185 hand sanitizers recalled after reports of blindness and hospitalizations, FDA report
Researchers create lab-grown protein for more accurate COVID-19 antibody test
A rush to get COVID-19 antibody tests distributed may have set us back in our efforts to accurately test for the virus. In March, the FDA allowed antibody tests to come into the U.S. without review. Test, after test, after test, is failing to accurately test for COVID-19 antibodies. To create an accurate antibody test, you have to create a protein that antibodies will be attracted to. If youโre hospitalized, youโre on ICU, youโre probably going to come out with antibodies,โ Frazer-Abel shared.
185 hand sanitizers recalled after reports of blindness and hospitalizations, FDA report
SAN ANTONIO โ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use 185 hand sanitizer products due to them potentially being unsafe or ineffective. The FDA says the recalled hand sanitizer products are considered unsafe due to methanol contamination or because they contain โconcerningly low levels of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol, which are active ingredients in hand sanitizer products.โThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent isopropyl or ethyl alcohol. FDA officials said they were aware of reports of adverse events associated with the listed hand sanitizer products including adults and children who ingested products contaminated with methanol that led to blindness, hospitalizations and death. New products were added to the list as recently as Tuesday with retail chains like Walmart and Costco having previously issued recalls for unknowingly selling the contaminated products. The investigation by the FDA into the use of methanol in hand sanitizers is ongoing.
Long-awaited new ALS drug shows promise at UT Health San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO โ With so many troubling health concerns during the coronavirus pandemic, UT Health San Antonio has some promising news for those with ALS. Dr. Carlayne Jackson is an ALS specialist and professor of neurology at UT Health San Antonio. Many ALS patients die within two to three years and suffer from a rapid decline in motor function, and currently there are only two other drugs approved by the FDA to treat it. Five of the patients used in the phase two clinical trial were from UT Health San Antonio. One other positive finding according to Jackson is that during Covid-19โฒs use of telemedicine, the most vulnerable ALS patients managed to remain in better contact with their doctors.
176 hand sanitizers recalled after reports of blindness and hospitalizations, FDA reports
SAN ANTONIO โ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use 176 hand sanitizer products due to potential methanol contamination. The FDA says the recalled hand sanitizer products are considered unsafe due to methanol contamination or because they contain โconcerningly low levels of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol, which are active ingredients in hand sanitizer products.โThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent isopropyl or ethyl alcohol. FDA officials said they were aware of reports of adverse events associated with the listed hand sanitizer products including adults and children who ingested products contaminated with methanol that led to blindness, hospitalizations and death. New products were added to the list as recently as Tuesday with retail chains like Walmart and Costco having previously issued recalls for unknowingly selling the contaminated products. The investigation by the FDA into the use of methanol in hand sanitizers is ongoing.