Category: Brief Messages or Announcements

  • The Park

    The Park

    It’s balmy for December. Sena and I went for a walk on the Terry Trueblood Trail and ran into our neighbors doing the same thing! Seabirds were diving headlong into the lake. We’ve never seen them do that. Maybe they were fishing for minnows. About a week ago we saw a hawk. It might have…

  • CDC Identifies Omicron as Covid-19 Variant of Concern

    CDC Identifies Omicron as Covid-19 Variant of Concern

    I’ve been seeing news items about the Omicron variant of Covid-19. The CDC only yesterday announced that it is now a Variant of Concern. Other CDC comments are here in a news release. There’s not a lot of solid information yet about how dangerous it is. Most of what I see on the internet are…

  • Great YouTube Q&A on Covid-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11: It’s better than a stick in the nose!

    Great YouTube Q&A on Covid-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11: It’s better than a stick in the nose!

    There was a great live stream YouTube Q&A presentation today on the Covid-19 vaccine for kids ages 5-11 through the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital this afternoon at 2:15 and it ran for about 30 minutes (scrub the play button forward to about a minute to start the recorded video). There were excellent…

  • CDC Recommends COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11

    CDC Recommends COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11

    Following the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) vote yesterday recommending the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11, CDC formally announced agreement with the committee’s decision after the meeting.

  • Rattlesnake Hat vs Hornet’s Nest Snoot Flute

    Rattlesnake Hat vs Hornet’s Nest Snoot Flute

    OK, so this should have been in yesterday’s post but I don’t care. You remember I mentioned the guy who wore the live rattlesnake on his head while strolling down State Street in Madison, Wisconsin? Well, in Iowa we have The Sitting Man who wore a hornet’s nest on his nose. It’s all about style…

  • CDC Advisory Committee Meeting November 2nd on Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11

    CDC Advisory Committee Meeting November 2nd on Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11

    The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have scheduled a meeting for November 2, 2021 from 10 AM-5 PM, ET to discuss the Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11. This follows the FDA authorization for the vaccine in this age group, which was announced today on their web site.

  • Public Notice of Gratitude to FDA & CDC Advisory Committees

    Public Notice of Gratitude to FDA & CDC Advisory Committees

    I have watched a few YouTube presentations by the CDC and FDA Advisory Committees in the last few weeks. I’m very impressed with the professionalism, sincerity, civility, and dedication of the members of both organizations. The most recent FDA meeting on the extension of the EUA for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5-11…

  • FDA Advisory Committee Reminder: Meeting October 26, 2021 to Discuss COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11

    FDA Advisory Committee Reminder: Meeting October 26, 2021 to Discuss COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11

    This is just a reminder of the FDA Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow, October 26, 2021, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM, ET, to discuss the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children, ages 5-11. Some documents are available to preview, including the FDA briefing document. Section 8 is the Benefit-Risk Assessment summary, beginning on page 32.

  • Congratulations to 2021 UI Physicians Clinical Awards Winners

    Congratulations to 2021 UI Physicians Clinical Awards Winners

    I was so happy to see the winners of the 2021 University of Iowa Physicians Clinical Awards winners. I have a special bias for a couple of them because I worked with them for years in my capacity as psychiatric consultant in the general hospital prior to my retirement in June of 2020. Dr. Kevin…

  • FDA Advisory Committee to Discuss Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 5 Through 11 Years of Age

    FDA Advisory Committee to Discuss Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 5 Through 11 Years of Age

    On October 26, 2021 the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will meet to discuss the extension of the Pfizer EUA for the COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age. Some event materials are already available. The meeting is scheduled for at 8:30 AM-5:00 PM, ET.