St. Jude psychologists release tips for helping people through the COVID-19 holiday season
Drawing on years of guiding grieving families through difficult holidays, St. Jude psychologists offer expert advice to help
MEMPHIS, TENN. – With the COVID-19 holiday season upon us, many Americans are anticipating the difficult challenge of how to celebrate this year. To help families across the country, the team of psychologists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, including St. Jude Psychology Clinical Director Niki Jurbergs, PhD,along with her colleagueMegan Wilkins, PhD, have released the following tips for the public to stay healthy both mentally and emotionally, as well as physically during this holiday season.
“In my work with children with cancer, I have, indeed, watched families face holidays while separated from one another and while enduring unthinkable stress and grief,” said Clinical Director Niki Jurbergs, PhD., who draws on years of helping grieving families through difficult holiday seasons after the loss of a child or a life-changing cancer diagnosis. “Families facing the upcoming holidays should feel empowered to do what feels most comfortable given the risks and restrictions of the current pandemic. We should all be working to adjust our expectations and prepare for things to be different this year, and in many cases, difficult as well.”
In addition to the tips outlined below, St. Jude psychologists are available for interviews to discuss mental health narratives around this upcoming COVID-19 holiday season, including for example:
How can we broach conversations with family to stay safe this upcoming holiday season?
Physical health has been a huge focus during the COVID-19 pandemic, but how important is mental and emotional health?
What can we all learn about surviving difficult holidays given their experiences working with children with cancer and family caregivers?
St. Jude Psychologists 6 Tips for Surviving the COVID Holidays
Perform a mental health check - It is critically important, especially given mounting “pandemic fatigue,” that we attend to our own mental health. We must first take stock of our own mental health and assure we are not trying to “pour from an empty cup.” It is imperative that parents take time for care of themselves, including spending time outside, seeking social support and engaging in relaxing activities. Give yourself grace to feel disappointment and upset about this highly anxious and uncertain time.
Feel empowered to do what feels comfortable – In our work with families of children with cancer, we stress the importance of facing the upcoming holidays feeling empowered to do what feels most comfortable given the risks and restrictions of their child’s diagnosis. This is a time for all of us to take this lesson to heart and work to adjust our expectations and prepare for things to be different this year, and in many cases, difficult as well. It can help to talk about these losses, sharing what we are missing most this holiday season.
Take time to consider what is meaningful to you around the holidays – Take time to consider what is meaningful to you around the holidays. Is it the special recipe for a dish your grandmother used to make? Is it playing games with family members? Watching a game with friends? What parts of these meaningful pieces of the holidays can still happen in a way you feel comfortable with? Rather than looking forward to our typical parties and family meals, we might choose to focus on the gift of health we give when we make the sacrifice of honoring our families’ and loved ones’ health and safety by staying home.
Make the holidays special from afar - Planning surprises such as cards or gifts delivered in the mail lets your loved ones know you’re with them in spirit, if not in body. Recognizing that many of us are tired of looking at screens, virtual games and activities such as scavenger hunts or singing favorite holiday songs may be more engaging than simply video chatting. Families who remain distanced this season may enjoy developing new traditions, such as trying new recipes or playing new games with those they share a household with that might be incorporated into future holidays when they can safely be together again. Families may choose to reflect on what they are thankful for by coming together to make donations to charities and causes that are meaningful to them.
Protect your elderly loved ones from loneliness and isolation - In many cases, seniors experience a heightened sense of loss related to pandemic restrictions. These elderly individuals express the feeling that their time is short, and that time is being stolen from them. Some express a willingness to accept the risk of potential virus infection to spend time with family because they are more fearful of dying of old age than they are of dying of COVID-19. Reaching out to those at highest risk for loneliness is more important than ever. Phone calls, video chats, cards, drive-by parades and even socially distanced outdoor visits can help them feel connected and reassure them that you are thinking of them.
For the 250,000 Americans grieving the loss of a loved one from COVID-19, make the decision about the holidays that feels right for you – Celebrating holidays for the first time without a loved one is unspeakably difficult. For these families, not only has this pandemic taken the life of a loved one, the threat remains. That is, not only are they grieving, they are continuing to face the virus and its ongoing impact on a daily basis. These families should not feel obligated to engage in holiday traditions as they have in the past. In fact, it might feel better for some to not celebrate at all this year. Conversely, some families may choose to find special ways to honor and include the memory of their lost loved one. As with all family decisions, this one is highly personal.
FACIT fuels promising made-in-Ontario breast cancer therapeutic and medtech innovations through Prospects Oncology Fund
Ontario First capital supports early stage commercialization of cancer intellectual property
TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2020 /CNW/ - FACIT, Ontario's oncology commercialization venture firm, announced the newest recipients of Ontario First seed capital through the latest round of its Prospects Oncology Fund: Dr. Rebecca Laposa of the University of Toronto, as well as London-based start-up Multi-Magnetics Inc., scientifically led by Dr. Jeffrey Carson and spun out of the Lawson Health Research Institute. Both entrepreneurial scientists were previously finalists in FACIT's Falcons' Fortunes pitch competitions. FACIT's programs bridge the seed gap and support Ontario's life sciences entrepreneurs and their innovations throughout various stages of early commercial development.
Dr. Laposa is developing novel small-molecule inhibitors that target cancer cell mitochondria, a fuel source that many cancer cells rely on during chemotherapy. The initial indication for this potential drug candidate is high-risk early breast cancer. Multi-Magnetics is developing a hand-held device that uses photoacoustic imaging to detect tumour margins and residual disease in the surgical cavity during breast-conserving (lumpectomy) surgery.
These two investments join the ranks of FACIT's award winning investment portfolio, which has collectively attracted over $1 billion in follow-on financing from the private sector. FACIT is unique in its approach to leverage Ontario First capital to propel cancer IP and is strongly aligned with Ontario's life sciences commercialization strategy. Indeed, FACIT's maturing portfolio of oncology investments has helped bring industry and investors to Ontario, anchoring companies and jobs to the province.
"We are pleased to support these Ontario entrepreneurs, and continue our mission to elevate local innovations to reach the market and benefit patients with cancer," said Dr. David O'Neill, President of FACIT. "Given COVID-19 and heightened interest in the benefits of a homegrown healthcare industry, now is a critical time to continue maximizing the value of Ontario IP, encourage a new generation of biotech leaders, and support the province's post-pandemic economic recovery."
"Ontario's first-class researchers and research facilities allow Ontario to build on our strong reputation as a leader in cancer research and innovation," said the Honourable Ross Romano, Ontario's Minister of Colleges and Universities. "We are proud to see investments supporting Ontario-made research, innovation and commercialization that introduce new cutting-edge technologies that make a great difference for those battling breast cancer."
About FACIT FACIT is an award-winning commercialization venture firm that builds companies with entrepreneurs to accelerate oncology innovation, with a portfolio that has attracted more than $1 billion in investment to Ontario. Blending industry experience, capital and the unsurpassed clinician-scientist network of its strategic partner the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), FACIT capitalizes on the province's investment in research and healthcare to the benefit of the local economy and patients worldwide. FACIT's commercialization portfolio includes Turnstone Biologics, Fusion Pharmaceuticals, Triphase Accelerator and other biotechnology organizations. Cancer Breakthroughs. Realized. facit.ca.
About University of Toronto Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto is Canada's leading institution of learning, discovery and knowledge creation. U of T is one of the world's top research-intensive universities, driven to invent and innovate. It is also one of the top ten universities in the world for its start-up incubator programs. In the last 10 years, the U of T entrepreneurship community has created over 500 companies and raised over $1.5 billion in investment capital.
About Multi-Magnetics Inc. Multi-Magnetics Incorporated (MMI) is a Canadian company formed in London, Ontario as an offshoot of the Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson). The mission of MMI is to advance patient care through leading edge science and technology development. MMI has been instrumental in developing hybrid PET/MRI for neuroimaging, bacteria imaging for inflammatory bowel disease, and photoacoustic imaging for breast cancer detection.
SOURCE FACIT Inc.
Overcome Overeating—During the Holidays and Throughout the Year
San Francisco, CA, December 10, 2020 — Candied sweet potatoes. Egg nog. Mac ‘n’ cheese. Stuffing. Pumpkin pie. Traditional holiday meals are resplendent with taste-of-home fare that’s easy to overeat. Based on original research by holistic nutrition researcher Deborah Kesten, M.P.H., and behavioral scientist Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D., Whole Person Integrative Eating offers in-depth insights into the reasons we overeat and gain weight, and a science-backed, step-by-step dietary lifestyle that can halt—even reverse—overeating and weight gain during the holidays—and throughout the year.
“Now is the time to ‘reset’ and rethink what and how we eat; to replace traditional dieting with a scientifically sound way of eating that lessens overeating and that leads naturally to weight loss, health, and healing,” says Kesten.
In their award-winning book, Whole Person Integrative Eating: A Breakthrough Dietary Lifestyle to Treat the Root Causes of Overeating, Overweight, and Obesity, authors Kesten and Scherwitz share a simple yet powerful premise: Identify the reasons you overeat (your overeating styles) and gain weight—with the illuminating self-assessment quiz—then overcome overeating and lose weight by replacing your overeating styles with the antidotes: the elements of the Whole Person Integrative Eating program.
By shedding light on the root causes of overeating, Kesten and Scherwitz present a program that empowers readers with a personalized plan, and in turn new hope and new choices to help them reduce overeating, lose weight and keep it off.
WPIE is not a diet that a person goes on … then off. It is a scientifically sound, dietary lifestyle designed to be practiced for a lifetime.
"If people follow the revolutionary program outlined in this game-changing, insightful book, it may be the most helpful step they can take toward losing weight and keeping it off," says bestselling author Kenneth Pelletier, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco.
The authors’ paradigm-shifting message is that food influences not only the physical dimensions of health, but also our emotional, spiritual and social well-being. Their dietary lifestyle can build bridges between the millions who struggle with overeating and weight issues and the medical community. And it can inspire us all to re-envision our relationships with food, eating and weight, so that each time we eat, we are nourished … for life.
Deborah Kesten, M.P.H.,is an international nutrition researcher, award-winning author and medical/health writer, with a specialty in preventing and reversing obesity and heart disease. She served as Nutritionist on Dean Ornish, M.D.’s first clinical trial for reversing heart disease through lifestyle changes, the results of which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. She has served as Director of Nutrition at cardiovascular clinics in Europe and on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, San Francisco.
Kesten has published more than 400 nutrition and health articles. Her first book, Feeding the Body, Nourishing the Soul, received the first-place gold award in the Spirituality category from the Independent Publisher Book Awards. Whole Person Integrative Eating has been honored with the No.1 gold, best-book award in the Health category by Book Excellence Awards and is a No. 1 Amazon best seller. Kesten is a VIP Contributor at Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global, and is married to behavioral scientist and co-author of Whole Person Integrative Eating, Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D.
Home Opens the Door to Healing After Devastating Loss
Santa Rosa, CA, Dec. 10, 2020 — In the wee hours of October 9, 2017, the disoriented and panic-stricken Barnes family, with two little boys in tow, frantically scrambled to evacuate their Santa Rosa, California, home. Smoke burned their lungs. Ash stung their eyes. Nearby fires raged, engulfing homes as howling winds fed the flames. In the end, the Tubbs Fire, deemed one of the most destructive wildfires in California history, destroyed more than 5,643 homes, including the Barnes’.
They returned to the lot where their house once stood, to gain closure and confront the harsh reality that the house was truly gone. But seeing the empty lot had a profound — and lasting — impact on 7-year-old Brett.
When her search for relatable, child-centric resources to augment Brett’s recovery came up short, mother Carrie Lee Barnes used her family’s experiences to inform her compelling, inspirational book, Home: A Story of Resilience and Healing. Told from a child’s perspective, Home is one little boy’s account of the abrupt and devastating loss of his house and his emotional journey toward discovering the true meaning of home. Written primarily for young children from ages 3 to 7, Home is an uplifting story intended to bring hope and healing in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
“My goal is for this book to help comfort children as they find their new normal after the loss of their home due to any circumstance,” Barnes says. “When I read Home to my little ones, they immediately saw themselves in the story. It opened up a forum for dialogue and healing for my boys and allowed them to feel a part of something bigger.”
With wildfires, hurricanes and other natural disasters happening more and more frequently, it’s important for children to have age-appropriate resources for coping. Home is Barnes’ heartfelt contribution to this very worthy cause.
“My hope for Home is that it provides a much needed glimpse at an ending for natural disaster victims,” Barnes adds. “There is a moment when you find peace in the constants of the people you love who are around you every day. We need to find our center, the place we call home, in our human connections.”
Author Carrie Lee Barnes is a stay-at-home mom who previously trained surgeons on advanced robotic technology in the operating room. Home was written to help victims of natural disasters, especially children, who are emotionally affected by the loss of their home. She lives with her husband and two sons in Santa Rosa, California.
Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards recently recognized Home with a gold medal in the category of Best First Book: Picture Book.
Home Opens the Door to Healing After Devastating Loss
Santa Rosa, CA, Dec. 10, 2020 — In the wee hours of October 9, 2017, the disoriented and panic-stricken Barnes family, with two little boys in tow, frantically scrambled to evacuate their Santa Rosa, California, home. Smoke burned their lungs. Ash stung their eyes. Nearby fires raged, engulfing homes as howling winds fed the flames. In the end, the Tubbs Fire, deemed one of the most destructive wildfires in California history, destroyed more than 5,643 homes, including the Barnes’.
They returned to the lot where their house once stood, to gain closure and confront the harsh reality that the house was truly gone. But seeing the empty lot had a profound — and lasting — impact on 7-year-old Brett.
When her search for relatable, child-centric resources to augment Brett’s recovery came up short, mother Carrie Lee Barnes used her family’s experiences to inform her compelling, inspirational book, Home: A Story of Resilience and Healing. Told from a child’s perspective, Home is one little boy’s account of the abrupt and devastating loss of his house and his emotional journey toward discovering the true meaning of home. Written primarily for young children from ages 3 to 7, Home is an uplifting story intended to bring hope and healing in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
“My goal is for this book to help comfort children as they find their new normal after the loss of their home due to any circumstance,” Barnes says. “When I read Home to my little ones, they immediately saw themselves in the story. It opened up a forum for dialogue and healing for my boys and allowed them to feel a part of something bigger.”
With wildfires, hurricanes and other natural disasters happening more and more frequently, it’s important for children to have age-appropriate resources for coping. Home is Barnes’ heartfelt contribution to this very worthy cause.
“My hope for Home is that it provides a much needed glimpse at an ending for natural disaster victims,” Barnes adds. “There is a moment when you find peace in the constants of the people you love who are around you every day. We need to find our center, the place we call home, in our human connections.”
Author Carrie Lee Barnes is a stay-at-home mom who previously trained surgeons on advanced robotic technology in the operating room. Home was written to help victims of natural disasters, especially children, who are emotionally affected by the loss of their home. She lives with her husband and two sons in Santa Rosa, California.
Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards recently recognized Home with a gold medal in the category of Best First Book: Picture Book.
TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2020 /CNW/ - Ontario's doctors are calling for paid sick days for all Ontarians so that people who have or suspect they may have COVID 19 can stay home, get well and not infect others.
Many workers who do not have any paid sick day are going to work as truck drivers, personal support workers, food production workers and other jobs, endangering not only their own health, but spreading COVID-19 to others.
"Workers without paid sick leave often feel forced to work when unwell so they can feed and support their families," said Dr. Samantha Hill, president of the Ontario Medical Association. "Worse, many are also at risk of losing their jobs if they stay home. Going to work sick contributes to the record number of COVID cases we are seeing, especially in some of our hotspots. At a time when we are all working as hard as we can to reduce spread, and protect our most vulnerable, it's unfathomable to ask to put workers in that position. Beyond being the right thing to do for the individual, paid sick days are essential for Ontario's recovery and well-being."
Ontario's doctors, working on the front lines of the pandemic, see the impact this highly contagious disease has on people every day.
Doctors – as well as the Ontario Hospital Association and the professional associations representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners and respiratory therapists urge every Ontarian to do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19, which continues to reach record levels as the holiday season arrives.
"Making Ontario's economy healthy again is an important priority for all us of," said OMA CEO Allan O'Dette. "We first need to make sure workers are healthy."
Here are the top five things doctors recommend you can do to protect yourselves and others:
Wash your hands often.
Wear a mask or face-covering at all times, unless you are at home with housemates or outdoors at a guaranteed two metres distance from others.
Stay away from crowded places.
Celebrate or gather only with members of your household. Don't invite others into your home.
Prepare for contact tracing if you get COVID-19. Download the COVID Alert app and/or keep track of where you go and when.
About the OMA
The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario's 43,000-plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario's health-care system.
SOURCE Ontario Medical Association
Achieve Peace, Happiness, Tranquility, and Relaxation Through A New Meditation App
New meditation app Relaxx App guides its users to understand the body, mind, and flame through meditation and intermittent silence.
Relaxx is the advanced meditation app for achieving peace, happiness, tranquility, and relaxation through the practice of intermittent silence and meditation. The app guides its users on a journey away from everyday tasks and concerns to reduce stress and burnout.
The app was created by Dr. Krishna Bhatta, a surgeon, author, and inventor, who is currently practicing as chief of urology at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Maine. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Bhatta’s passion lies in integrating eastern wisdom into the western world by sharing his spiritual discoveries.
This portable spiritual Guru provides an individualized experience where users can start with a daily intermittent silence routine and move on to a variety of meditation techniques, both guided and unguided. Just a few minutes of practicing mindfulness, intermittent silence, and meditation will leave users feeling energized and refreshed.
Intermittent silence is a term that Dr. Bhatta has been using for a few years to represent taking a break from life. In the same way that people rest their physical body and lower their heart rate to a resting place, it is also important to rest the brain, even if it is only ten minutes. Dr. Bhatta explains that by closing the eyes, the visual pathway is able to rest. By listening in silence and hearing sounds without judgment, auditory pathways are able to rest. Allowing thoughts to pass without paying attention will give rest to the brain, and when that resting place is achieved, a door will open to individual consciousness.
Relaxx encourages people to practice at the same time and same place as often as possible. This practice will lead to progression, to the point that users will be able to notice a difference in their meditation quality. By continuing daily, the ultimate goal will be to carry that peace into times of chaos. With guidance from Relaxx, users will come to an understanding of body, mind, and flame. Their chakras will come alive as they begin their inner adventure. Collectively, this brings a noticeable change to real life situations. The changes should reflect at work and at home, with an all around better performance and improved relationships.
Dr. Bhatta, says, “You go to sleep and come out refreshed; you go through meditation and come out energized and spread peace.” He adds, “With Relaxx, we want you to experience intermittent silence. Open the door to all deeper meditations and enhance your awareness for everything around you.”
Krishna Bhatta is an author, surgeon, and inventor, currently practicing as chief of urology at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. Dr. Bhatta began his life in a small Indian village, attended Patna Medical College in India, and continued his education in the U.K. He completed his research and medical training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston before settling down in Maine. Dr. Bhatta takes joy in sharing what he has learned and earnestly hopes to further the spiritual discoveries of generations to come. He dreams of a world where eastern wisdom and western discoveries embrace each other to make the world a better place.
Pfizer and BioNTech Achieve Health Canada Authorization for Their Vaccine to Combat COVID-19
Health Canada authorizes supply of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine under Interim Order Respecting the Importation, Sale and Advertising of Drugs for Use in Relation to COVID-19
The companies will supply a minimum of 20 million doses to Canada through 2021
KIRKLAND, QC and MAINZ, Germany, Dec. 9, 2020 /CNW/ - Pfizer Canada and BioNTech SE today announced that Health Canada has granted Authorization under Interim Order for the emergency use of their mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2). The distribution of the vaccine in Canada will be prioritized according to the populations identified in guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI). BioNTech will hold the regulatory approval in Canada, while Pfizer Canada will have the commercialization rights.
"Today's decision from Health Canada is a historic moment in our collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and is a major step towards returning to normalcy in Canada. I'd like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of Pfizer and BioNTech colleagues around the world who have contributed to the development of this vaccine," says Cole Pinnow, President, Pfizer Canada. "We commend Health Canada for its careful and thorough assessment of our COVID-19 vaccine and timely action to help protect Canadians."
"It is encouraging to see that our mRNA vaccine is now authorized in Canada. Following the U.K. and Bahrain, it is the third country to approve use of our vaccine within a week," said Sean Marett, BioNTech's Chief Business and Chief Commercial Officer. "Together with our partner Pfizer, we are ready to ship the vaccines to Canada as soon as we receive the green light from the regulatory authority to start with the distribution."
Health Canada's decision is based on data that was filed through the rolling submission regulatory pathway and includes data from the Phase 2/3 clinical trial, which began recruiting in late-July 2020, and enrolled approximately 44,000 people across approximately 150 sites in multiple countries.
Pfizer Canada and BioNTech will supply the Government of Canada a minimum of 20 million doses (and up to 76 million doses) of the vaccine through 2021.
Manufacturing and Delivery Capabilities Pfizer and BioNTech continue to work in collaboration with governments and health authorities around the world to help ensure it can reach those most in need as quickly as possible, subject to country authorization or approval. The companies are taking a phased approach to quickly scale, manufacture and distribute large quantities of the vaccine at high quality, complementing the mRNA manufacturing expertise that BioNTech has gained over almost a decade. Pfizer has a 171-year track record of researching, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative medicines and vaccines to patients in need. BioNTech will hold the regulatory approvals in the U.K. and Canada, and, if granted, in the U.S., the EU and other countries. Pfizer will have the marketing and distribution rights worldwide with the exception of China, Germany and Turkey.
About Pfizer Canada Pfizer Canada ULC is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. Our diversified health care portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most prescribed medicines and vaccines. We apply science and our global resources to improve the health and well-being of Canadians at every stage of life. Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from our disease awareness initiatives to our community partnerships. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit pfizer.ca or you can follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
Pfizer Disclosure Notice The information contained in this release is as of December 9, 2020. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.
This release contains forward-looking information about Pfizer's efforts to combat COVID-19, the collaboration between BioNTech and Pfizer to develop a potential COVID-19 vaccine, the BNT162 mRNA vaccine program, and modRNA candidate BNT162b2 (including qualitative assessments of available data, potential benefits, expectations for clinical trials, anticipated timing of clinical trial readouts and regulatory submissions and the rolling submission to Heath Canada), that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as risks associated with preliminary data, including the possibility of unfavorable new preclinical or clinical trial data and further analyses of existing preclinical or clinical trial data that may be inconsistent with the data used for selection of the BNT162b2 vaccine candidate and dose level for the Phase 2/3 study; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments, including during the peer review/publication process, in the scientific community generally, and by regulatory authorities; whether and when data from the BNT162 mRNA vaccine program will be published in scientific journal publications and, if so, when and with what modifications; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from these and future preclinical and clinical studies; whether and when any biologics license and/or emergency use authorization applications may be filed in any jurisdictions for BNT162b2 or any other potential vaccine candidates; whether and when any such applications may be approved by regulatory authorities, which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the vaccine candidate's benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the vaccine candidate's efficacy and, if approved, whether it will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of a vaccine, including development of products or therapies by other companies; manufacturing capabilities or capacity, including whether the estimated numbers of doses can be manufactured within the projected time periods indicated; whether and when additional supply agreements will be reached; uncertainties regarding the ability to obtain recommendations from vaccine technical committees and other public health authorities and uncertainties regarding the commercial impact of any such recommendations; and competitive developments.
A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results", as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.
About BioNTech Biopharmaceutical New Technologies is a next generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel therapies for cancer and other serious diseases. The Company exploits a wide array of computational discovery and therapeutic drug platforms for the rapid development of novel biopharmaceuticals. Its broad portfolio of oncology product candidates includes individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA-based therapies, innovative chimeric antigen receptor T cells, bi-specific checkpoint immuno-modulators, targeted cancer antibodies and small molecules. Based on its deep expertise in mRNA vaccine development and in-house manufacturing capabilities, BioNTech and its collaborators are developing multiple mRNA vaccine candidates for a range of infectious diseases alongside its diverse oncology pipeline. BioNTech has established a broad set of relationships with multiple global pharmaceutical collaborators, including Genmab, Sanofi, Bayer Animal Health, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Genevant, Fosun Pharma, and Pfizer. For more information, please visit www.BioNTech.de.
BioNTech Forward-looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" of BioNTech within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include, but may not be limited to, statements concerning: BioNTech's efforts to combat COVID-19; the collaboration between BioNTech and Pfizer to develop a potential COVID-19 vaccine; our expectations regarding the potential characteristics of BNT162b2 in our Phase 2/3 trial and/or in commercial use based on data observations to date; the expected timepoint for additional readouts on efficacy data of BNT162b2 in our Phase 2/3 trial; the nature of the clinical data, which is subject to ongoing peer review, regulatory review and market interpretation; the timing for submission of data for, or receipt of, any marketing approval or Emergency Use Authorization; the timing for submission of manufacturing data to the FDA; our contemplated shipping and storage plan, including our estimated product shelf life at various temperatures; and the ability of BioNTech to supply the quantities of BNT162 to support clinical development and, if approved, market demand, including our production estimates for 2020 and 2021. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on BioNTech current expectations and beliefs of future events, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the ability to meet the pre-defined endpoints in clinical trials; competition to create a vaccine for COVID-19; the ability to produce comparable clinical or other results, including our stated rate of vaccine effectiveness and safety and tolerability profile observed to date, in the remainder of the trial or in larger, more diverse populations upon commercialization; the ability to effectively scale our productions capabilities; and other potential difficulties. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see BioNTech's Quarterly Report for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to its Current Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 10, which is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and BioNTech undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.
Ontario's household decision makers are now empowered with community level COVID-19 data monitoring
Mid-pandemic, expert-led COVID-19 monitoring website shifts focus from health system to household planning. Major website refresh offers community level data at a glance or in your inbox.
TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2020 /CNW/ - With the goal of filtering information for individual Ontarians about how COVID-19 is affecting their community, the talented team of physicians, epidemiologists, data scientists, engineers and designers who developed www.howsmyflattening.ca have released an updated version of the website at this critical juncture of the pandemic.
"As the COVID-19 crisis crests again, Ontarians need a clear view of the state of the pandemic in their communities. In this website redesign, we have filtered the most important information that citizens need to understand community risk and make decisions about their households and businesses."
- Dr. Ben Fine, a physician-scientist with Trillium Health Partners, and one of the HowsMyFlattening project leads, spoke about the evolution of the website.
To make local COVID-19 monitoring easy, the website remembers Public Health Units (PHUs) of importance to each user - and can deliver the same data by email at 11am each morning.
The updated website has been divided into two modes: Personal Mode, a mobile-forward experience designed with household decision makers in mind, and Geek Mode, which operates like the original site with a vast amount of data analysis and visual dashboards for data junkies who crave it.
Featuring data organized by PHU, and broken down by Case Incidences per 100k people, the tables also include Rt value, percent positivity, the percentage of tests completed in less than 24 hours, and the total number of ICU beds that are occupied. An up or down arrow beside each figure shows if things are trending up or down over the previous seven days.
The website has some serious data intelligence behind it. Initially developed as an interactive visual dashboard to support decision-making in government and hospitals, the team realized that providing this resource to "the people of Ontario" was the next logical step.
"As a household decision maker, I now get a tailored view of regions of Ontario that matter to me and my family. As a scientist, I get to drill down deep into the data and trends in "Geek Mode". It's a win-win for me."
- Morgan Lim, an assistant scientist with Trillium Health Partners who joined the project to help make HowsMyFlattening accessible for scientists and nonscientists alike.
#HowsMyFlattening is an open and transparent collaboration initiative that monitors Ontario's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-led by Professor Laura Rosella of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH) with Trillium Health Partners' Dr. Ben Fine and IHPME Adjunct Professor and alumni Ali Vahit Esenoy. It is supported by several DLSPH and IHPME students and alumni as well as a team of volunteer physicians, data scientists, engineers and designers. The project is funded by the University of Toronto COVID-19 Action Initiative and donations from the public and organizations such as HIMSS Ontario.
SOURCE How's My Flattening
Overcome Overeating—During the Holidays and Throughout the Year
San Francisco, CA, December 9, 2020 — Candied sweet potatoes. Egg nog. Mac ‘n’ cheese. Stuffing. Pumpkin pie. Traditional holiday meals are resplendent with taste-of-home fare that’s easy to overeat. Based on original research by holistic nutrition researcher Deborah Kesten, M.P.H., and behavioral scientist Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D., Whole Person Integrative Eating offers in-depth insights into the reasons we overeat and gain weight, and a science-backed, step-by-step dietary lifestyle that can halt—even reverse—overeating and weight gain during the holidays—and throughout the year.
“Now is the time to ‘reset’ and rethink what and how we eat; to replace traditional dieting with a scientifically sound way of eating that lessens overeating and that leads naturally to weight loss, health, and healing,” says Kesten.
In their award-winning book, Whole Person Integrative Eating: A Breakthrough Dietary Lifestyle to Treat the Root Causes of Overeating, Overweight, and Obesity, authors Kesten and Scherwitz share a simple yet powerful premise: Identify the reasons you overeat (your overeating styles) and gain weight—with the illuminating self-assessment quiz—then overcome overeating and lose weight by replacing your overeating styles with the antidotes: the elements of the Whole Person Integrative Eating program.
By shedding light on the root causes of overeating, Kesten and Scherwitz present a program that empowers readers with a personalized plan, and in turn new hope and new choices to help them reduce overeating, lose weight and keep it off.
WPIE is not a diet that a person goes on … then off. It is a scientifically sound, dietary lifestyle designed to be practiced for a lifetime.
"If people follow the revolutionary program outlined in this game-changing, insightful book, it may be the most helpful step they can take toward losing weight and keeping it off," says bestselling author Kenneth Pelletier, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco.
The authors’ paradigm-shifting message is that food influences not only the physical dimensions of health, but also our emotional, spiritual and social well-being. Their dietary lifestyle can build bridges between the millions who struggle with overeating and weight issues and the medical community. And it can inspire us all to re-envision our relationships with food, eating and weight, so that each time we eat, we are nourished … for life.
Deborah Kesten, M.P.H.,is an international nutrition researcher, award-winning author and medical/health writer, with a specialty in preventing and reversing obesity and heart disease. She served as Nutritionist on Dean Ornish, M.D.’s first clinical trial for reversing heart disease through lifestyle changes, the results of which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. She has served as Director of Nutrition at cardiovascular clinics in Europe and on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, San Francisco.
Kesten has published more than 400 nutrition and health articles. Her first book, Feeding the Body, Nourishing the Soul, received the first-place gold award in the Spirituality category from the Independent Publisher Book Awards. Whole Person Integrative Eating has been honored with the No.1 gold, best-book award in the Health category by Book Excellence Awards and is a No. 1 Amazon best seller. Kesten is a VIP Contributor at Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global, and is married to behavioral scientist and co-author of Whole Person Integrative Eating, Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D.
