Moderna has “paused its efforts” to build an mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Kenya while it determines future demand for mRNA vaccines on the African continent. “The demand in Africa for COVID-19 vaccines has declined since the pandemic and is insufficient to support the viability of the factory planned in Kenya. Moderna has not received any vaccine orders for Africa since 2022 and has faced the cancellation of previous orders‚ resulting in more than $1 billion in losses and write-downs‚” the COVID-19 jab manufacturer announced last week. “Despite these challenges‚ Moderna is committed to ensuring equitable access and meeting emerging demands from African nations for its COVID-19 vaccine through its global manufacturing network‚” it added. Moderna halts vaccine plant in Africa amid dwindling orders – The Boston Globe https://t.co/38FqxHD7o7 — Kelly DNPFunctional/Integrative Med (@kacdnp91) April 16‚ 2024 Fierce Pharma reports: The Africa CDC responded to Moderna’s plans to step back from building a mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Kenya‚ saying the move by the Spikevax maker only “perpetuates” the inadequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the continent. Last week‚ Moderna announced it was was reevaluating its decision to build a $500 million plant because it hasn’t received any vaccine orders from the continent since 2022. The drugmaker grabbed global headlines in 2021 when it said it was looking to build a manufacturing site on the continent. Spikevax earned Moderna $17.7 billion in sales in 2021 and $18.4 billion in 2022. However‚ as the pandemic began to wane and vaccine demand subsided in 2023‚ the company reported $6.7 billion in sales last year. WATCH: Moderna halts plans to build vaccine factory in Kenya following a decline in COVID-19 jab demand. The manufacturing company has not received any vaccine orders for Africa since 2022.The U.S pharmaceutical and biotech company said the move is in line with its strategy to resize… pic.twitter.com/xGKAesNf66 — Camus (@newstart_2024) April 13‚ 2024 Africa CDC stated: With the view to mobilise funds and find a responsive solution‚ African Union established the AU Covid-19 response fund and launched the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) with the African Export and Import Bank (Afrexim Bank). AVAT acquired 400 million vaccines from manufacturers other than Moderna‚ simply because Moderna vaccines were not made available‚ despite attempts to buy. In fact‚ less than 5% of the covid-19 vaccines administered in Africa‚ were from Moderna. Despite these African efforts‚ Covid-19 vaccines were still delivered late to Africa‚ long after vaccines were made available to the developed world. Through its consortium for Covid-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials (CONCVACT) Africa CDC also played a coordination role in facilitating the start and successful completion of clinical trials during the pandemic‚ strengthening enablers of high-quality vaccines clinical trials on the continent‚ and in accelerating post-trial vaccines regulatory approval. Therefore‚ to blame Africa and Africa CDC for lack of demand for covid-19 vaccines and therefore the reason to put on hold plans to manufacture vaccines in Africa‚ only serves to perpetuate the inequity that characterized the response to the Covid–19 pandemic. While other vaccine manufacturers are progressing with their plans and construction in Africa‚ Moderna is abandoning a commitment to build highly needed and relevant vaccine manufacturing capabilities in Africa‚ in truth‚ demonstrating that Moderna’s commitment is in fact not to vaccine equity and access to vaccines‚ through building manufacturing in Africa. Moderna halts vaccine plant in Africa amid dwindling orders https://t.co/VuanXYIWnV pic.twitter.com/efF3xMbUCV — Wonderland (@socialHATchat) April 17‚ 2024 “Moderna appreciates the strong support received from the governments of the United States and Kenya on this journey. We look forward to a continuing dialogue about future options to support the Kenyan healthcare ecosystem‚ including as we advance other mRNA vaccines and therapeutics of importance to the African continent through our pipeline‚” Moderna stated.

Glass Hammer co-founder Steve Babb tells Prog why the band decided to step into the world of swords and sorcery for Dreaming City.

Classmates and teachers have nothing but loving words and fond memories of the 11-year-old boy who died protecting his mom and unborn sibling from harm. With a bright‚ beautiful smile and spirit‚ Jayden Perkins was described by friends as: respectful‚ wise‚ open-minded‚ nice‚ amazing‚ and an outstanding person. His peers praised his character and his dancing abilities as they cried and mourned after learning that he had been killed by a convicted felon when he tried to protect his mom during the assault. RELATED: Woman Sacrifices Everything to Try to Save Dog – Her Husband and Kids Say She Died a Hero Jayden Tried to Protect His Pregnant Mother On Wednesday‚ March 13‚ Jayden's mother‚ Laterria Smith‚ was preparing her children for school. 37-year-old Crosetti Brand allegedly showed up and forced his way inside the family's home in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago. Mr. Brand‚ with whom Jayden's mother had been in a relationship approximately 15 years prior‚ was released on parole just one day before the attack‚ according to Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling during a press conference on Friday‚ March 15‚ aired on WGN 9. Jayden &;quot;tried to protect his mother‚&;quot; who was eight months pregnant‚ according to Cook County Attorney Kim Foxx. Both were rushed to the hospital‚ but only Jayden's mother and her unborn child survived. They are expected to recover; however‚ Jayden died as a result of his wounds. The Assailant Was Released On Parole Frustrated that the assailant had been released on parole after violating probation multiple times‚ Chicago Police Superintendent Snelling said‚ &;quot;Let me start by saying this is something that should have never happened.&;quot; Crosetti Brand was serving a 16-year sentence for home invasion and aggravated assault at the Stateville Correctional Center at the time of his March 12 parole release. RELATED: Teen Hero Selflessly Risks His Own Life To Save Mom And 3 Kids Trapped In A Burning Car In addition to Jayden and his pregnant mother‚ her 5-year-old son was also home at the time. Jayden's little brother‚ also a student at Peirce Elementary‚ witnessed the brutal attack-and watched his 33-year-old mother be stabbed multiple times. He will undoubtedly remain traumatized by the events of that morning for years to come. According to Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Antoinette Ursitti‚ the attacker has a history of domestic abuse and violated orders of protection against him after being released on parole first in October. Detective Ursitti shared during the press conference that he now faces multiple charges. These include first-degree murder‚ attempted first-degree murder‚ home invasion with a dangerous weapon‚ unlawful use of a weapon by a felon‚ and more. Jayden’s Left Behind a Legacy of Kindness Jayden's friends testified to his love of performing. He had also been cast as the lead in several school plays‚ including Finding Nemo. One student shared that Jayden &;quot;genuinely loved the world and loved anything in it.&;quot; Jayden may have only lived 11 years‚ but his legacy of kindness and love will last well beyond his years. Hopefully‚ legislators‚ law enforcement‚ and the legal system will be able to use the lessons learned from this loss to prevent similar crimes in the future. A support fund started for the family on Cheddar Up praised the entire family‚ particularly Jayden's &;quot;infectious laughter&;quot; and &;quot;kind heart.&;quot; YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: His Dad and Sister Were in Danger So This 7-Year-Old Hero Swam Over a Mile to Save Them &;quot;Let a righteous man strike me-that is a kindness; let him rebuke me-that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it‚ for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.&;quot; Psalms 141:5 WATCH: Innocent 11-Year-Old Boy Paid the Ultimate Price While Protecting Mom and Unborn Baby LISTEN: Mom Is Left Terrified As Doctors Take Off with Her Newborn | Man in Bathrobe Protects His Dog from a Coyote h/t: People Featured Image Credit: Facebook/People The post Innocent 11-Year-Old Boy Paid the Ultimate Price While Protecting Mom and Unborn Baby appeared first on GodUpdates.

The New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has released a health advisory after human infections from rat urine have been on the rise. 

Following the announcement that the Inflation Reduction Act would provide the IRS with an additional $80 billion in budget‚ the Biden administration had made an effort to convince American taxpayers that this money would not increase their likelihood of being audited by the agency.