|
|
|
Whatever you celebrate—Easter, Passover, Ramadan, spring—we hope you enjoyed the weekend and quality time with family and friends. We’re back in action with news on COVID-19 vaccines and biofuels that you might have missed. (537 words, 2 minutes, 41 seconds) |
|
|
|
|
COVID catch-up: booster news and a new breath test |
|
|
Here’s what you need to know as you head back to the office. Americans over 60 should get a second booster,said White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish K. Jha on Fox News Sunday, citing “compelling” data from Israel showing a decrease in infections and deaths from the additional dose.
Vaccines have already prevented 2 million deaths in the U.S.,said a recent study published by the Commonwealth Fund and Yale University. Without the vaccination effort, more than three times as many people in the U.S. would have died from COVID-19.
What about the kids? Pfizer and BioNTech announced results showing high safety, tolerability, and immune response from a booster (third) dose of the vaccine among healthy children ages 5-11. The companies plan to submit a request for emergency use authorization of the third dose. Meanwhile, FDA authorized the first “breath test,” the InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer, which can “rapidly detect five Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in exhaled breath.”
What they’re saying: “Today’s authorization is yet another example of the rapid innovation occurring with diagnostic tests for COVID-19,” said Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., Director of FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ICYMI: EPA to end summer restrictions on E15 |
|
|
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will end summer restrictions on the sales of E15, President Biden announced during a visit to BIO member POET last week—here’s what you need to know.
Why do we need a waiver? “Without this action, E15 cannot be used in most of the country from June 1st to September 15th, and the EPA plans to take final action to issue the emergency waiver closer to June 1st,” said the White House.
It could help ease gas prices: “E15 is about 10 cents a gallon cheaper than E10, and some gas stations offer an even bigger discount than that,” said President Biden.
“And you simply can’t get to net zero by 2050 without biofuels,” he said. The Biden administration set a goal of zero-carbon aviation by 2050, which will require “billions of gallons of sustainable aviation fuel.”
What about a SAF tax credit? President Biden voiced support, saying, “I've proposed a SAF tax credit...to advance cleaner and more sustainable fuels for American aviation.”
What they’re saying: “Bio-feedstocks that can cut carbon, produce food, create domestic jobs, and ensure farmers are maximizing their income,” said Dr. Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo (another BIO member). “The Biden Administration is taking a good step forward.”
What’s next: The announcement comes after bipartisan Members of Congress requested the waiver, as we reported. While allowing greater use of E15 is a positive step, BIO has called for additional support for biofuels, including a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit.
Catch up: Biden announces EPA will allow summer sales of higher-ethanol E15
More reading: Biofuel crops can be grown sustainably on marginal land, study shows
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
