The Hill: "CDC issues new guidance about vaccinations for people with underlying health conditions"

From The Hill

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Saturday issued a new guidance stating that people with underlying health conditions can receive a coronavirus vaccine.

The guidance explains that “adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.”  

Thus, the CDC added that those vaccines that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration “may be administered to people with underlying medical conditions provided they have not had a severe allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine.” 

Continue reading the article online

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/531722-cdc-issues-new-guidance-about-vaccinations-for-people-with-underlying

Direct link to CDC guidance  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/underlying-conditions.html

 

 

Stimulus and government spending bill signed to avoid Federal government shutdown

Via The Hill

"President Trump on Sunday signed the government funding and coronavirus relief package, the White House said, averting a government shutdown and delivering economic aid as the pandemic worsens.

Trump signed off on the $2.3 trillion package from his golf club in West Palm Beach, Fla., days after he expressed displeasure with the spending outlined in the omnibus and complained that the coronavirus relief measure should include direct payments of $2,000 per person, up from $600.

But the delay came after unemployment benefits expired for millions of Americans on Saturday as the bill went unsigned. Trump has visited his golf club in Florida each day since arriving in the state on Wednesday and has made no public appearances. "

Continue reading the article online

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/531632-trump-signs-relief-bill-despite-criticism

 

Related articles

• The Boston Globe  https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/27/nation/unemployment-benefits-expire-millions-trump-rages/
• The Washington Post  https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/12/27/trump-stimulus-shutdown-congress/

 

 

Putter Day 2021 - So as it is fixed, so let it be done.

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 12/27/2020

Once again Putter Day (a fave of mine) is nigh.  My ersatz holiday returns on Jan 1 to usher in the New year, and I celebrate by – puttering.

This  year  I  will  fix  the  kitchen  cabinet  door  (again).   This  time  for  sure.  I  will approach the ‘honey-do’ chores list – with some cautious optimism. Will I actually reduce it to zero items? Not likely, but hope springs eternal.

However, for some of the hardest hit in 2020 – perhaps not so much. Hope becomes elusive. Many have lost their loved ones. Tragically, many more will likely follow. With job losses unabated, risk of eviction, food insecurity and financial desperation for so many, I am putting an item at the top of my puttering chores list.

On this Putter Day, I will celebrate 2021 by doing something to help someone else. There is indeed a dire need to be met, and Putter day is all about doing. What better way to celebrate Putter day than to do unto others – in kindness.

Although the year ahead holds great promise, we still have to get through these darkest of days and return to brighter and better times ahead. That patient journey requires ongoing diligence and vigilance by all.

Until those brighter days, please don’t be among the callously cavalier and careless. The pandemic continues to be all too real. Social distancing is the new social grace. A mask is the new, must-have, fashion accessory. Flaunt it – with flair.

Don’t leave home without it.

I wish you a happy and productive New Year and better/putter days ahead. And – as always –

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 

And, thank you for watching.

Get this week's program guide for Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf  or for archive purposes  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bh7gPXv7vFVblU2Ed_rrjnQNfY_hsTsk/view?usp=sharing

From The Guardian: Yes, climate crisis stickers coming soon to gas stations in Cambridge, MA

From The Guardian: Yes, climate crisis stickers coming soon to gas stations in Cambridge, MA.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, has become the first US city to mandate the placing of stickers on fuel pumps to warn drivers of the resulting dangers posed by the climate crisis.

The final design of the bright yellow stickers, shared with the Guardian, includes text that warns drivers the burning of gasoline, diesel and ethanol has “major consequences on human health and the environment including contributing to climate change”.

The stickers will be placed on all fuel pumps in Cambridge, which is situated near Boston and is home to Harvard University, “fairly soon” once they are received from printers, a city spokesman confirmed.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/dec/25/massachusetts-city-to-post-climate-change-warning-stickers-at-gas-stations

And from FastCompany

https://www.fastcompany.com/90585821/these-new-gas-pump-warning-labels-remind-you-about-climate-change-while-you-fill-up

The ordinance was modified in Jan 2020 and at least part of it (referring to self-service stations) can be viewed on the Cambridge page

https://library.municode.com/ma/cambridge/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT8HESA_CH8.12GASEST_8.12.010SERVSTRE&showChanges=true

climate crisis stickers coming soon to gas stations in Cambridge, MA

COVID-19 vaccine discussion on wfpr.fm - Monday, Dec 28

Given the recent vaccine news from both Pfizer and Moderna, with more trial successes likely to follow, I think it would be good to put this issue front and center.

Dr. Natalia Linos could address epidemiology and immunization stats (and societal/personal consequences of not being vaccinated?).

Dr. Jeff and Dr. Walker-Jones could also address government's role in organizing the effort and also encouraging/guiding or mandating compliance, masking, vaccination, etc. The ongoing debate is that 'personal rights-v-public good' element that is quite literally 'Trumped Up' by the President's followers.

Government sets guidelines, shared standards, regulations for the public good. We drive on the right side of the road - not wherever we want. We take tests to demonstrate competence and safety. We all benefit in a reasoned and reasonable common good. This is an important discussion.

The panel is  Dr Michael Walker-Jones, Jeff Roy, Peter Fasciano, Dr Natalia Linos, Dr Greg Chiklis and Frank Falvey.

The panel discussion will be broadcast Monday, Dec 28 at 11 AM, 2 PM, and 8 PM.

COVID-19 vaccine discussion on wfpr.fm - Monday, Dec 28

"What Will 2021 Look Like? (with Dr. Anthony Fauci)" (audio)

"It’s the episode you’ve all been waiting for: Andy closes the year with a recap of 2020 and predictions for 2021 with Dr. Anthony Fauci. Andy brings you into the bubble with Dr. Fauci by asking some of the questions he received from you. This is a conversation you don’t want to miss."

Direct link to podcast episode = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-will-2021-look-like-with-dr-anthony-fauci/id1504128553?i=1000503293292

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASlavitt/status/1342939855140098048?s=03

This is 30 minutes I suggest everybody who had a chance listens to. Fauci answers every tough question about the future the best he possibly can. https://t.co/7xf82NhBWf

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡🇺🇸 (@ASlavitt) December 26, 2020

So much for a deal, it still is waiting for a signature....

 The Boston Globe has the following:

"Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet lapsed overnight as President Donald Trump refused to sign an end-of-year COVID relief and spending bill that had been considered a done deal before his sudden objections.

The fate of the bipartisan package remained in limbo Sunday as Trump continued to demand larger COVID relief checks and complained about “pork” spending. Without the widespread funding provided by the massive measure, a government shutdown would occur when money runs out at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

“It’s a chess game and we are pawns,” said Lanetris Haines, a self-employed single mother of three in South Bend, Indiana, who stood to lose her $129 weekly jobless benefit unless Trump signed the package into law or succeeded in his improbable quest for changes."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/27/nation/unemployment-benefits-expire-millions-trump-rages/

From The Guardian:

"As unemployment benefits were due to expire for millions of Americans on Saturday, Donald Trump, who spent Christmas playing golf in Florida, continued to block a $900bn pandemic relief bill that would extend them.

The package, which Congress passed with bipartisan support on Monday after months of negotiations, would keep unemployment benefits in place until March and expand state benefits by $300 a week – as well as extending an evictions moratorium, providing federal loans to small businesses and $600 direct payments to many Americans.

But without Trump’s signature, the entire package – set to be the second biggest in US history – is stalled and the US government now faces a shutdown on Tuesday."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/26/tump-us-coronavirus-relief-package-shutdown