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COVID-19, flu, and RSV are here—but for the first winter ever, we have vaccines for all three. Meanwhile, USDA has awarded $19 million in grants to boost biofuels. (417 words, 2 minutes, 5 seconds) |
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Respiratory virus season is here – but so are vaccines |
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It’s shaping up to be a rough year for COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Fortunately, this is the first winter with vaccines and immunizations available for all three.
How bad is it? This year’s COVID surge is the second highest after Omicron in 2021-22, and there have been an estimated 14–26 million U.S. flu cases, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We’re midway through a January RSV surge following a mid-November surge.
RSV can be deadly for seniors, “resulting in approximately 60,000–160,000 hospitalizations and 6,000–10,000 deaths annually among adults aged ≥65 years,” CDC warns.
The better news: Two RSV vaccines were approved last year, GSK’s Arexvy and Pfizer’s Abrysvo; most insurance plans cover them without a copay.
RSV also threatens the youngest patients: “Approximately 40,000 infants are hospitalized due to RSV annually,” a 2022 study notes.
Immunization options for infants approved last year include Pfizer’s Abrysvo, which can be given to mothers during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy to protect newborns, as well as a pediatric monoclonal antibody (Sanofi’s Beyfortus).
The bottom line: Vulnerable patients can be protected against RSV (and other respiratory diseases). Get your shots!
More Health News:
MarketWatch (Opinion): How government meddling could end a golden age for life-changing new drugs
“Price controls could force many biotech companies to shutter research on vital medicines,” writes BIO CEO Rachel King. |
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USDA grants $19M to expand use of biofuels |
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced $19 million in grants to support the development of biofuel infrastructure in 22 states.
Why it matters: Biofuels reduce carbon emissions.
Biofuels have new support: The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program to grant projects enabling the use of biofuels for road vehicles—gasoline blended with ethanol and biodiesel. Other programs support sustainable aviation fuels.
The latest grants: The USDA’s seven latest grants will build hundreds of filling stations and several biofuel storage tanks. Examples of projects include: - $5 million for Casey’s, funding ethanol blend fuel dispensers at 111 fueling stations in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota, increasing annual supply by 50 million gallons.
- $200,000 for Piasa Enterprises in Illinois to install two 30,000-gallon biodiesel storage tanks at their Hartford distribution center, increasing biodiesel by 2 million gallons annually.
Could more support be coming? The stopgap spending bill passed yesterday continues current funding for biofuels. Several proposals for a new five-year Farm Bill, which awaits passage, contain even more support for biofuels. |
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