HHS buys 1.2 million flu vaccine doses from abroad
Dec 7, 2004 (CIDRAP News) – The federal government is buying 1.2 million doses of flu vaccine made in Germany to augment the strained US supply, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today.HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announced the purchase of the vaccine, made by GlaxoSmithKline, at a news teleconference. “We’ll have it available this month,” he said. “This will allow us to get more vaccine into the hands of those who need it most.”Because the vaccine is not licensed in the United States and licensing is a lengthy process, it will be used under “investigational new drug” (IND) rules, Thompson said. That means people will have to sign a consent form acknowledging their awareness of possible risks before getting a shot. But Thompson and Lester Crawford, acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said the vaccine is safe.The vaccine, called Fluarix, is used in 30 countries. The FDA reviewed GlaxoSmithKline’s manufacturing processes and inspected the plant that makes the vaccine before HHS decided to buy it, Thompson said.The consent form will explain “what the public should expect in terms of risk,” said Crawford. “What the public should know at this point is that the vaccine is not investigational because we have real questions about it, but because the company elected not to enter the US market last year, so they didn’t apply for approval.” He called the probability of safety problems with the vaccine “very low indeed.”Thompson said GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to supply up to 4 million doses to the US under IND rules, but he didn’t predict how many doses HHS might buy beyond the initial 1.2 million.The 1.2 million doses will increase the total US supply for this season to slightly more than 62 million doses, which includes about 58 million doses from Aventis Pasteur and 3 million doses of MedImmune’s FluMist, Thompson said.Thompson said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will distribute the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine doses where they are needed and will release a distribution plan in a few days. The company is charging HHS about $7 per dose, but there will be some additional costs for distribution, he said.GlaxoSmithKline said the IND rules provide that the vaccine can be given to people at least 3 years old who qualify for vaccination under the current US guidelines, which reserve the shots for people in high-risk groups.Another foreign firm viewed as a potential supplier of flu vaccine to the United States, Canada’s ID Biomedical, announced today that it must save its remaining doses for Canada, according to a Canadian Press (CP) report. HHS officials had previously said they were considering buying 1.2 million doses from the Vancouver, B.C., company.The company said it was selling the doses on the Canadian market at the request of the government, according to the CP report. The story said reports of the US vaccine shortage spurred an unusual Canadian demand for flu shots earlier this fall, sparking fears of a shortage in Canada.At the news conference, Crawford acknowledged the ID Biomedical announcement but said the FDA was still discussing the possibility of buying some vaccine from the company. The CP report said FDA officials spent a week inspecting the firm’s vaccine plant in Ste.-Foy, Que.Crawford also said that two companies have announced this week that they want to enter the US flu vaccine market, one as early as 2005 and the other by 2007. This year Aventis Pasteur and MedImmune are the only companies providing licensed flu vaccines in the US. California-based Chiron Corp. was to have supplied up to 48 million doses before contamination problems at the company’s plant in Liverpool, England, prompted British authorities to shut down the plant, triggering the American vaccine shortage.Crawford didn’t name the two companies planning to enter the market, but ID Biomedical yesterday announced a long-term agreement to sell flu vaccine to three US wholesalers, starting as early as next year, depending on licensing of the vaccine. The company said the agreement covers at least 8 years. The firm’s production capacity in 2005 will be about 22 million doses, officials said.GlaxoSmithKline, in a news release about the sale of doses to HHS, said it has “a long-term strategy” to seek FDA licensing of Fluarix.In other comments, Crawford said the FDA has been reviewing proposals by Illinois, New Mexico, and New York City to buy a total of 750,000 doses of non-US-licensed flu vaccine made abroad by Aventis. “By the end of the week we expect to have gotten through all of the information,” but he didn’t predict whether the FDA will approve the plans.
May 1, 2006 (CIDRAP News) – An Indonesian man whose death was attributed to H5N1 avian influenza will bring Indonesia’s death toll from the virus to 25, if his case is confirmed outside the country.The man reportedly had come into contact with his neighbor’s infected chickens in Tangerang, 25 miles west of Jakarta, according to a CNN.com story on Apr 28.Samples from the man tested positive for H5N1 in an Indonesian laboratory, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Confirmatory testing is under way at a World Health Organization (WHO) reference lab in Hong Kong.The WHO has confirmed 32 human cases, with 24 deaths, from H5N1 in Indonesia.Elsewhere, the Wall Street Journal Asia said on Apr 27 that local health officials in China had failed to report possible human cases of avian flu to the central government, according to an Apr 29 Reuters report. The same issue has been raised elsewhere.But the Chinese government denied the allegation. “The release of information has been timely, open and transparent,” Health Ministry spokesman Mao Qun’an told Reuters.In addition, Chinese officials involved with tracking and stemming the spread of the virus among birds have established a quarantine zone in the Qinghai region in north-central China, according to BBC News online. A wild goose found dead in the region tested positive for H5N1.The virus so far has not been found in domestic poultry around Qinghai, according to an AP story today.The region is a major stopover point for migratory birds, and thousands of migratory birds died in an H5N1 outbreak at the Qinghai Lake wildlife sanctuary last year. The H5N1 virus later found in two people in Turkey was virtually identical to bird samples obtained in Qinghai, according to a statement in the AP story attributed to the WHO.
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An Instagram post dated March 21 depicts a lavish wedding party with the groom wearing a police uniform and the bride wearing a sequin dress and tiara. A handful of police officers were also seen performing a saber arch behind the couple. National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis had issued an edict on March 19 banning mass gatherings such as social meetings, workshops, music festivals, carnivals, sports events, fairs, mass protests and family receptions in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.Yusri said that a Jakarta Police internal affairs division launched an investigation into the photo and concluded that Fahrul had breached the edict.“The edict does not only apply to the general public, our members have to comply with it as well,” Yusri said. “If police officers disobey the edict, they have to be ready to face the consequences.”Critics also pointed out that Fahrul’s wedding went ahead despite police having dispersed hundreds of similar events since the edict was issued. According to police data, officers dispersed up to 1,371 gatherings nationwide from March 19 to 26, including wedding receptions.The police also said they would press charges against those who persist in gathering in large numbers despite the warnings. Violators could face up to 16 months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to Rp 900,000 (US$56.25). The Jakarta Police have dismissed Comr. Fahrul Sudiana from his position as Kembangan police chief, after he held a wedding reception at a five-star hotel despite a National Police edict banning mass gatherings to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.“Based on the Jakarta Police chief’s request, the former Kembangan Police head has been transferred as a policy analyst starting from Thursday,” Yusri said in a statement on Thursday.Fahrul’s dismissal comes after photos of the wedding, which was held on March 21, went viral on social media over the past few days, with many criticizing the police officer’s apparent hypocrisy. Dua tipe polisi saat COVID-19 🤔 pic.twitter.com/js1pGxshqV— txtdarikulitinta (@riotuasikal) March 31, 2020
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He said that person was currently under investigation by the police’s internal affairs division (Propam).”The head of the bureau made the travel letter on his own initiative,” Argo said as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday. “If the investigation proved his involvement, he would be dismissed from his position.”Read also: House mulls creating special committee to probe failure to detect fugitive Djoko Tjandra’s returnDjoko, a convict in a high-profile Bank Bali corruption case, has remained at large for more than a decade ever since he fled to Papua New Guinea following his conviction in June 2009. He reportedly returned to Indonesia without being detected by the Immigration Office and filed a review of his case in early June.He reportedly obtained an e-ID card from the South Grogol subdistrict in Jakarta on June 8 and a passport on June 27. However, his whereabouts now remain unknown to the authorities.Bareskrim chief Insp. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo said earlier on Wednesday that he had ordered the Propam to investigate the matter upon learning about the allegations, adding that he would take stern measures against the person involved in the case.House of Representatives deputy speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad also called on the police to check the validity of the letter. “We must confirm whether the letter was true, which institution and who is responsible for the issuance of the letter,” the Gerindra Party politician told The Jakarta Post.Topics : The National Police have launched an investigation into a police general at the Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) who reportedly issued a letter for fugitive and graft convict Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra that allowed him to travel within the country. The case first came to light after watchdog Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) reported that the head of the Civil Servant Investigator Supervisory and Coordination Bureau at Bareskrim, Brig. Gen. Prasetyo Utomo, had signed a travel letter on June 18, allowing Djoko to fly from Jakarta to Pontianak in West Kalimantan on June 19 and return on June 22 in his capacity as a consultant.National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Argo Yuwono admitted on Wednesday that the travel letter was issued by a police general and head of a bureau within the force, although he stopped short of mentioning the person’s name.
Gabriel Martinelli has impressed in his debut season at Arsenal (Picture: Getty)Arsenal star David Luiz has revealed he was blown away by Gabriel Martinelli after his first training session with the Gunners.The defender arrived at the Emirates on deadline day last summer when the Gunners snapped him up from Chelsea in an £8million deal.Martinelli signed for the club earlier that summer after Arsenal won the race to sign the Brazilian wonderkid from Ituano.Despite being compatriots, Luiz said he knew little about Martinelli before the pair trained with one another.ADVERTISEMENTHowever, he was left in no doubt about the striker’s quality after seeing him up close. David Luiz was speaking to Ian Wright (Picture: Youtube)‘No, I didn’t know him to be honest no,’ Luiz told Ian Wright.‘I heard some things about a little boy in Ituano because i know Juninho Paulista and he’s from his club.‘After that i say okay. When i saw him I say ‘woah’.‘Not just as the talent as a footballer but his mentality. He wants to improve, he wants to learn. he knows he has the opportunity of his life. ‘He wants to change his status, he wants to be part of the team, part of the lcub. This is very important for players today.’AdvertisementAdvertisementMore: FootballRio Ferdinand urges Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to drop Manchester United starChelsea defender Fikayo Tomori reveals why he made U-turn over transfer deadline day moveMikel Arteta rates Thomas Partey’s chances of making his Arsenal debut vs Man CityLuiz’s move to Arsenal was motivated by the fact that he’d worked with Unai Emery before at Paris Saint-Germain.However, the pair didn’t see eye-to-eye at the Emirates and Luiz’s form has improved considerably since Mikel Arteta’s arrival.The Gunners are likely to trigger a one-year extension clause in Luiz’s contract to keep him at the club for a further 12 months.MORE: Manchester United ready to hijack Arsenal’s move for Dayot Upamecano Metro Sport ReporterTuesday 14 Apr 2020 10:15 pmShare this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messengerShare this with Share this article via emailShare this article via flipboardCopy link113Shares David Luiz reveals what shocked him about Gabriel Martinelli after first training session at Arsenal Comment Advertisement Advertisement
April 03, 2017 Governor Wolf Tours District 1199C Breslin Learning Center, Discusses Apprenticeships as Career Pathways Jobs That Pay, Press Release, Workforce Development Philadelphia, PA – Today, Governor Wolf visited the District 1199C Training & Operating Fund’s Breslin Learning Center to experience how the center links classroom training with real health care jobs that take low- and middle-wage workers onto a career path of success. Following the tour, Governor Wolf hosted a roundtable discussion on apprenticeships with students, employers, and community partners.“Apprenticeship programs such as the ones at District 1199C are providing access to career pathways in healthcare and human services for incumbent workers and job seekers through education, training and work-based learning,” Governor Wolf said. “What better way to connect people to jobs that pay than integrating employer needs with worker training.”District 1199C’s founding principles, in place since its inception in 1974, focus on the very core of apprenticeships: meeting the needs of workers and employers, a commitment to lifelong learning and a career path, and work-based education, or earn-while-you-learn.The Learning Center’s focus on health care is particularly important as Pennsylvania’s population ages and there is an increased need for in-home caregivers, nurses’ aides and nurses, among other health care workers.“Much like 1199C, I see the need for aligning workforce programs, including apprenticeships, with the needs of employers,” Governor Wolf said. “That is why I have included an apprenticeship grant program in my 2017-18 budget.Funded with revenue recovered by the Department of Community and Economic Development from companies that fail to live up to previous commitments made when they received state assistance, businesses can seek grant funding of up to $2,000 for each apprentice employed pursuant to an apprenticeship agreement registered with the Office of Apprenticeship in the United States Department of Labor.The grant program – both for those leaving the K-12 education system and those transitioning into a new industry sector – can receive training aligned to business workforce needs, so workers are not training just to train, but have a job, a career path established.“District 1199C is pleased to welcome Governor Wolf to its Breslin Learning Center today,” Henry Nicholas, president of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, AFSCME, and chairman of the District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund said. “The governor understands the importance of apprenticeships as a strong and solid career pathway into a secure future for low-wage workers. It was a pleasure to show off our health care training facility and for Governor Wolf to meet some of our student apprentices.”Created in 1974 by collective bargaining agreements between District 1199C of the National Union of Hospital & Health Care Employees (NUHHCE) and 11 Philadelphia hospitals, the District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund has grown to include more than 50 acute care hospitals, long term care and behavioral health facilities, and homecare agencies. A uniquely designed labor management partnership, the Training Fund broke new ground at its founding with a commitment to serve both union members and the community – a commitment it has honored and grown over the last four decades, serving more than 100,000 Delaware Valley students.Today, the Training Fund serves over 4,000 students annually at the 35,000-square foot Breslin Learning Center in Center City Philadelphia. The Training Fund’s student-centered approach to education and training incorporates individualized career coaching and case management to help individuals obtain the educational credentials and professional certifications they will need to achieve their academic and career goals.
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RESAVER, the recently launched pan-European pension project for researchers, is tendering for investment managers for the cross-border IORP it is setting up, according to an EU tender notice.The tender is being conducted using the competitive dialogue process, and is being managed by Aon Belgium, which won a four-year contract to provide support services to the project at the beginning of this year.RESAVER, or the Retirement Savings Vehicle for European Research Institutions, is now inviting expressions of interest from companies interested in tendering to provide pension fund investment services to “a second-pillar occupational DC pension multi-country IORP registered in Belgium”. The contract is proposed to last for five years, with the possibility of extending it to eight years. On the basis of the responses to the pre-qualification questionnaires, RESAVER will shortlist at least three applicants to take part in the dialogue stage.Aon said it was not looking for creative solutions at this stage but was at the dialogue stage instead.To achieve economies of scale, Aon said it was intended that RESAVER Insurance would offer the same investment funds to insurance participants as were offered to IORP participants.It said both the RESAVER IORP and RESAVER Insurance vehicles would have to offer “a comprehensive range of investment funds (…) to support the project multi-country, multi-vehicle, multi-currency specificities”.Since the project is starting from scratch, the investment solution must be suitable for any size of assets, it said, which will involve keeping the organisation simple at the beginning, with only a few investment options.At the same time, the organisation will have to be ready to change in the future, when assets under management and number of participants have grown.RESAVER is also tendering for administration services, as well as custody and audit services.The deadline for requests to participate is 2 November 2015 at 5pm, and decisions on the contracts to be awarded are to be made by 28 January 2016.The costs of setting up the IORP are being covered by the European Commission. Aon has said it will take 15 years for the fund to finance itself.
Natural gas sales rise Russia’s largest independent natural gas producer Novatek reported a rise in its profit for the second quarter and the first six months of this year.Profit for the second quarter increased to 32 billion Russian rubles ($508.9 million) from 3.2 billion Russian rubles reported in the corresponding quarter in 2017.Profit for the first six months of 2018, increased 1.2 percent to 75.2 billion Russian rubles from 74.2 billion Russian rubles in 2017.Revenues for the second quarter jumped 52 percent to 195.8 billion Russian rubles while the first half of the year revenue stood at 375.2 billion Russian rubles, 32.4 percent.The increase in revenue was largely due to the production launch of the first liquefaction train at the Yamal LNG plant at the end of 2017, as well as an increase in average realized liquids and natural gas prices. In the second quarter and the first half of 2018, our natural gas sales volumes totaled 15.1 billion and 35.4 billion cubic meters (bcm), representing increases of 5.3 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods in 2017.The increase was due to the commencement of sales of LNG purchased from Yamal LNG to international markets from December 2017 and an increase in volumes sold in Russia.As at the end of the second quarter of 2018, Novatek’s cumulative natural gas inventory balances mainly in the underground gas storage facilities, the gas transmission system and own pipeline infrastructure totaled 1.3 bcm as compared to 0.6 bcm at the end of the second quarter of 2017.