Categories
Crisis Public Health

Was Justice Served to Purdue Pharma?

6 months ago – we were discussing the plea deals with U.S. Department of Justice and Purdue Pharma L.P.. (the bankrupt maker of the OxyContin painkiller).

Purdue Pharma admitted twice (in 2007 and 2020) to illegally marketing opioid medications. Bankruptcy judge recently approves Purdue Pharma plan to resolve the opioid claims, in which also gives civil immunity to owners. The civil immunity gives broad protection from current and future litigation, even though there were objections from nine states and a branch of the Justice Department.

Categories
Crisis Public Health

Climate change and Hurricane Ida

The situation with Hurricane Ida is very concerning especially with ongoing power outages and extreme weather conditions. Though recently downgraded to tropical depression yesterday, climate change helped make Hurricane Ida one of Louisiana’s worst storm.

Categories
Public Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls racism a serious public health threat

Recently named by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, racism is a serious public health threat. CDC recently shared published studies quantifying COVID-19’s disproportionate toll in America’s communities. CDC director Rochelle Walensky stated, “these disparities were not caused by the pandemic, but they were certainly exacerbated by [it].”

Categories
COVID-19 Pandemic

15 million COVID-19 vaccine doses ruined!

A simple mix up of ingredients for the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca/University of Oxford coronavirus vaccines was said to occur at Emergent BioSolutions plant.

Categories
Mental Health

Mental Health Toll of NHS workers

COVID-19 stress among front-liners continues to build around the world. In UK, more than 4 in 10 from a survey of 600,000 NHS workers staff had reported being made ill with stress in the past year.

Categories
COVID-19 Pandemic

Covid-19 Vaccine R&D Update

A constant question to me – where are the Johnson & Johnson vaccines?

Categories
Global Health

World TB Day – March 24, 2021

1.4 million people with tuberculosis, lost out on treatment during first year of COVID-19 pandemic, according to World Health Organization.

Today is World TB Day. Observed on 24 March each year, the goal is to raise awareness and understanding about one of the world’s top infectious killers and catalyze action to address its devastating health, social, and economic impact around the world.

Categories
Crisis

OxyContin & Opioid Epidemic in United States

“Right now, millions of people across the country are desperately suffering from opioid addiction. They need help and they need it now”

– Quote from joint statement issued by 20+ US State Attorney Generals

Over 20+ US State Attorney Generals reject the current bankruptcy plan offered by Purdue Pharma, who have ongoing claims against them for their role in the opioid epidemic in United States. Still no admittance from owners of company on wrongdoing, though this addiction crisis has killed more than 450,000 Americans.