We’re on #TeamVaccines

We have two safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines making their way across the United States—and the Biden administration aims to distribute as many as 1.5 million doses per day. But with vaccine hesitancy as high as 35% in some parts of the country, we need to make sure people will take them. Here’s how the international biopharmaceutical industry is taking this on.

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) kicked off #TeamVaccines—a year-long digital campaign to emphasize vaccine safety and efficacy.

The campaign introduces the public to the people behind the vaccines—“because if we don’t tell our story, no one else will,” says the press release.

IFPMA “soft launched” the campaign yesterday with posts on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn; the website will officially launch in mid-February. Watch for biopharmaceutical employees’ stories and 30+ FAQs from trusted medical and scientific resources, with content translated into Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Japanese. 

With vaccine development moving so quickly, it is easy to understand why some people are asking whether a vaccine for COVID-19 will be safe and effective, as we explain on COVIDVaccineFacts.org, which provides scientific and evidence-based information related to vaccine development. 

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the gold standard in the world for regulating pharmaceuticals,” BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath previously said. “The corona vaccine has been developed under more scrutiny than any other drug development process in history.”

So, share why you’re #TeamVaccines—and visit www.COVIDVaccineFacts.org to learn more about vaccine safety and the development process.

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Business Insider takes a look at an innovative company that’s turning avocado pits into bioplastic—and how this biotechnology can help us clean up the planet.

What is bioplastic? It’s a plastic alternative made from biological substances rather than petroleum, explains Business Insider. (Check out our infographic to learn more.)

Biotech company BIOFASE developed a process to transform inedible avocado waste into a malleable bioplastic that’s ideal for making things like restaurant containers and coffee lids.  

With three facilities across Mexico, BIOFASE is producing 130 tons of bioplastic each month—the equivalent to the conventional plastic waste produced by 13,000 Americans, says Business Insider.

While we still have “a long way to go” before we can replace conventional plastic entirely, bioplastic is already being used on a small scale in food service and preparation.

As one example, BIO member Danimer Scientific is a Georgia biotech that’s the first to market a biodegradable biopolymer that dissolves in soil, freshwater and seawater, and even home compost bins. 

And it’s ready for a lot of practical solutions—like biodegradable water bottles, straws, produce bags, even snack bags developed in partnership with PepsiCo.

Danimer’s Chief Marketing Officer Scott Tuten recently joined the I AM BIO Podcast to talk about the technology and what’s next for bioplastic. Listen at www.bio.org/podcast or anywhere you get your podcasts including Apple, Google, and Spotify.

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President Biden’s Tuesday: Yesterday, he signed an executive order that will “close loopholes” in “Buy America” provisions, says NPR. At 12:30 PM ET, Domestic Policy Adviser Susan Rice will join a press briefing. At 2 PM ET, President Biden will deliver remarks and sign executive actions on racial equity. Looking ahead, Biden promises “a very different approach to international trade,” says the Wall Street Journal.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The Senate will vote on Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and begin impeachment proceedings this afternoon.