Category: Brief Messages or Announcements

FDA Advisory Committee Green Lights Novavax Covid-19 Vaccine

The FDA Advisory Committee endorsed the Novavax Covid-19 Vaccine at their meeting June 7, 2022. It awaits the FDA Director’s decision and, if endorsed by the director, would next go to the CDC Advisory Committee for their evaluation, which looks like it might be scheduled later this month.

D-Day for All Soldiers in World War II, Including African Americans

Today is D-Day, which was the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare, and there is plenty of history to read about it. It was the Battle of Normandy during World War II, which lasted from June to August of 1944.

There is also the history of African-American soldiers in World War II. Unfortunately, it was marred by segregation. But African American soldiers played important roles nonetheless.

Notably, Waverly Woodson, Jr. served as a medic on Omaha Beach and treated at least 200 men while sustaining injuries himself. By many accounts, he should have won the Medal of Honor, but did not, despite ample evidence demonstrating he deserved it.

His family and the office of General John C. H. Lee are still working to get that corrected. Part of the barrier is a fire that destroyed Woodson’s records, along with those of millions of other veterans. Woodson died in 2005, but his wife is still working to get him recognized.

We are grateful to all of the soldiers who gave their lives at Normandy.

FDA Advisory Committee Meeting on June 7, 2022 for New Covid-19 Vaccine

The FDA Advisory Committee will meet on June 7, 2022, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM ET to discuss the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine EUA application.

The vaccine is a SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant Spike Protein Nanoparticle Vaccine (SARS-CoV-2rS) with Matrix-M1 Adjuvant.

Covid-19 Transmission Rate High in Johnson County

The CDC Covid-19 transmission rate has changed to High. Accordingly, the recommendations include wearing a mask indoors in public, being up to date with vaccinations, and any others related to your relative risk for severe illness.

Heads Up from University of Iowa Health Care: Why Vaccinated People Still Catch Covid-19

Some people still get Covid-19 symptoms despite being vaccinated. University of Iowa Health Care infectious disease expert, Dr. Dan Diekema, MD, MS, explains why.

My Updated Easy Exercises

Okay, so I’m nobody’s personal trainer, but I have an update on my exercise routine, which I’m doing daily for the most part. I spend about a half hour on the “workout” which starts with a floor yoga warm up. I get on the exercise bike for 5 minutes. Then I do 3 sets of body weight squats, dumbbells, and planks. I finish off with another 5 minutes on the bike.

Obviously, my goal is not to be ripped. I just want to keep my bowels moving, to sleep OK, and stay reasonably fit for a geezer. I also do daily mindfulness meditation.

I still have a lot of work to do on being more well-rounded. And I mean a lot.

Fill a Bag and Help Feed Families Program

We’re filling a bag to help families in the program affiliated with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). Letter carriers in Iowa City will be picking up bags of non-perishable food items placed beside mailboxes on the second Saturday in May, which is on May 14, 2022 this month. Edward James Olmos is the food drive’s celebrity spokesperson, which gives the title of the movie he played a role in, “Stand and Deliver,” a special meaning in this context.