Samaritan Ministries members offer prayer and financial support for young members with cancer
Over the past five years, ministry members have shared more than $7 million for young ones’ cancer needs
PEORIA, Ill. — Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to reflect on the challenges and needs for families facing that difficult situation. Members of Samaritan Ministries International(Samaritan) send shares to fellow member families who are dealing with a number of health issues — sometimes a child’s cancer diagnosis — giving spiritual encouragement and financial help for those needs.
“Samaritan Ministries members come alongside families struggling with childhood cancer treatments and diagnoses and connect them with fellow believers who can help share their burdens,” said Anthony Hopp, Samaritan’s chief purpose officer.
“Again and again, our members have comforted other families with notes of sympathy and prayers for healing,” Hopp said. “Jesus is the Great Healer in all matters, and we do our best to carry out His work.”
Cancer is consistently the top health care need that Samaritan members share. From 2017 to 2021, members shared $7,003,217 in cancer-related needs for members under 18.
“Cancer at any stage of life can be devastating, but it’s especially soul-wrenching when it happens to a child,” Hopp said. “Our hearts go out to those children and their families as we observe Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.”
Samaritan gives people of Biblical faith an effective, Bible-driven health care community in which approximately $30 million in medical needs is shared person to person every month. Over the past 27 years, Samaritan Ministries members have aided thousands of families and individuals, sharing more than $3 billion in needs while also praying for and encouraging fellow members through personal notes, cards and letters.
One Samaritan member family from Tennessee recently expressed their gratitude for fellow members’ support as their 6-year-old son was finishing more than two years of treatment for leukemia.
“Thank you all for being part of our family’s support system as we walked this road with Gabe,” Jill wrote in the Samaritan Ministries Community Facebook Group. “Being a Samaritan member was a huge blessing to us during this process.
“We are so proud of Gabe and his joyful spirit even during some very challenging few years. Walking beside him as his mama really has been an honor. Thank God for sustaining us through these last two years and thank God for sweet Gabriel Robert’s life. We can't wait to see what is in store for this child.”
Other Samaritan members experiencing cancer also wrote or called in to share their experiences:
Steve and Stacie from Kansas wrote:
“We had to walk a cancer journey and Samaritan and the supporting members were there for us every step of the way.”
Stephen and Amy from South Dakota shared:
“We are so thankful for all the loving and encouraging notes we received with so many of the shares. Amy is recovering well, and they believe the cancer they knew of has been removed. Again, we are so grateful to all the help we received and all the prayers.”
Wallace and Christina, who live in New Jersey, said:
“Thank you for everything you do for all of us as members. This ministry is such a blessing and my family has been blessed to be a part of it for a year now. God is so good! We are so happy to be a part of something that glorifies God. Health insurance does not do that. Because of a share for my husband, we were introduced to a member of our local community. Her son is battling cancer and we have been praying for each other. We appreciate everything Samaritan does and what it represents! All glory to God!”
SamaritanMinistries currently has a membership of 282,541 individuals from 83,700 households.
Samaritan has no limited enrollment period. Government exchange-based health insurance requires signups to occur only during open enrollment periods unless one qualifies for a special enrollment period due to a “life event” such as losing coverage, getting married, moving, or having a baby.
Samaritan Ministries health care sharing offers additional advantages:
No network restrictions. When medical care is needed, Samaritan members choose the health care provider, hospital, and pharmacy that work best for them.
The direct-sharing approach allows members to not only help fellow believers with their medical financial needs but to pray for and connect with them on a regular basis.
Monthly shares are hundreds of dollars less per month than insurance.
Vancouver, B.C., Sept. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Origin Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (CSE:ORIG) (the “Company” or “Origin Therapeutics”), an actively managed, psychedelics industry-focused investment issuer, is pleased to announce the election of Michael Galego as a new director of the Company. Pursuant to the Company’s articles, the board of directors is permitted to increase the size of the board by one-third of the number of current directors between annual meetings of the shareholders.
Michael Galego is an executive, lawyer and corporate director with extensive M&A, corporate finance and governance experience. Mr. Galego is currently CEO of Apolo Capital Advisory Corp. and sits on the board of directors of several public and private companies. Mr. Galego has been the co-founder of several businesses, including ICC Labs, Terrace Global and several other TSXV listed companies.
Mr. Galego was previously the CEO of the Stronach Group, Agricultural Division and an advisor to Mr. Frank Stronach. Mr. Galego commenced his career at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in the Business Law Department. He subsequently was legal counsel to several public and private companies operating in the resource sector in South America. He was previously legal counsel to Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp., CGX Energy Inc., Medoro Resources Corp., Alange Energy Inc., Gran Colombia Corp. and involved in more than $3 billion in equity transactions and more than $5 billion in debt financings. Mr. Galego was a co-founder and director of ICC Labs until its sale to Aurora Cannabis Inc. in November 2018.
Mr. Galego holds an LLB. From the University of Windsor and a B.A. from York University. Mr. Galego is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School High Potentials Leadership Program. Mr. Galego was named to Lexpert’s “Top 40 under 40”.
AboutOriginTherapeutics
Origin Therapeutics is an actively managed investment issuer focused on making equity investments in psychedelics industry-related companies to provide investors with diverse exposure to the sector. The Company, led by a team of industry experts, leverages its management expertise, professional network, and due diligence process to identify and invest in leading and emerging companies focused on the emerging psychedelics sector.
Certain statements in this news release related to the Company are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “may”, “should”, “could”, “intend”, “estimate”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “believe” or “continue”, or the negative thereof or similar variations. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.
Transformative Dementia and Alzheimer’s treatment
company Kurve Therapeutics launches $50 million
equity crowdfunding raise
Next-generation Medtech innovator Kurve Therapeutics begins an equity crowdfunding journey with its $50 million Regulation A+ raise.
Private investors can now invest in a company aiming to disrupt and transform a $1.3 trillion dementia market alone while benefiting millions living with neurodegenerative diseases.
Caption: Transformative Dementia and Alzheimer’s treatment company Kurve Therapeutics launches $50 million equity crowdfunding raise
Diseases like Dementia and Alzheimer's afflict millions of people across the globe, while over 1 billion people worldwide – 1 in 6 – suffer from a neurological disease. Yet, Healthcare sectors lack effective, disease-modifying treatments.
Kurve Therapeutic's patented intranasal drug delivery technology, Controlled Particle Dispersion® (CPD), has been shown to bypass the blood-brain barrier, delivering 30x more medication directly to the brain than infusions.
Marc Giroux, Kurve Therapeutics CEO and founder said: "An IV infusion manages to deliver one-tenth of 1% through the blood-brain barrier. We have measured our success at 30 times more than that. This is not an insignificant achievement.
"Central nervous system disorders are a scourge because they are challenging to treat by their very nature. We have the potential to eliminate this problem, so an unmet need becomes a met need,"
Giroux now hopes to blast Kurve Therapeutics into a new growth period, teaming up with award-winning broker-dealer Rialto Markets' crowdfunding infrastructure and technology for its Regulation A+ offering:
"Following extensive work developing treatments and our CPD technology, we are ready to scale the company and grow our investor community.
"We plan to invest most of our proceeds into our final phase III clinical trials for intranasal insulin for mild cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s. Kurve Therapeutics is ready for Phase III clinical trials in three separate disease states and is one Phase III study away from being eligible for FDA approval."
Caption: Rialto Markets CEO & Co-Founder Shari Noonan
Rialto Markets CEO and Co-founder Shari Noonan said: "Kurve Therapeutics' intranasal drug delivery technology has the potential to transform the lives of millions suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.
"This is a very exciting and important sector which needs this essential innovation, so we are delighted that Kurve Therapeutics chose to work with us to grow and scale."
Rialto Markets' has a capital raising infrastructure for Reg CF and Reg A+ equity crowdfunding as well as Reg D institutional investment offering. Alongside this, Rialto Markets has a pioneering secondary market alternative trading system (ATS) which empowers the buying and selling of shares in private companies or other private securities, which can operate similarly in a regulated framework and environment as a stock exchange does such as the Nasdaq and NYSE for public company trading.
This secondary trading ATS allows private companies and shareholders to potentially create liquidity and trading within a $7 trillion-dollar private securities market set to grow to $30 trillion by 2030, potentially enabling greater access to vital funding and private securities within a fully regulated environment.
Rialto Markets is a FINRA member Broker Dealer (Rialto Primary) and operates an alternative trading system (Rialto Secondary – Rialto MarketBoard™) for private securities including those issued as a Digital Asset Security. Rialto Primary supports companies issuing equity and debt securities through Reg A+, Reg CF, and Reg D exemptions. Rialto Markets is registered in all 50 states including those requiring a broker-dealer to issue Reg A+ securities
Kurve Therapeutics Led by a team of experienced entrepreneurs with successful track records in biotech, pharmaceuticals, and device technology, our mission is to pave the way in treating complex CNS disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive aging, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS. The Kurve technology is featured in 18 peer-reviewed publications in leading medical journals. Kurve technology has been used in five double-blind placebo-controlled Phase II studies and is ready for Phase III with Alzheimer’s patients.
Rogers to Offer All-New iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 8, and AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
The iPhone 14 lineup and AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) are available to pre-order starting today, and Apple Watch Series 8 available to order on September 16
TORONTO, Sept. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rogers will offer the most advanced iPhone lineup ever with iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, all with a durable and sophisticated design, superfast 5G, impressive camera upgrades, and vital new safety capabilities; Apple Watch Series 8, with ground-breaking technology and performance; and the second generation of AirPods Pro, the most advanced AirPods yet.
iPhone 14 lineup and iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus introduce new technologies and ground-breaking new safety capabilities, featuring two sizes — 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches.[1] The powerful camera system brings impressive upgrades and huge improvements to low-light photos, thanks to the enhanced image pipeline, Photonic Engine. Offering stunning video quality, both models also include a new Action mode for incredibly stable video, and Cinematic mode, now available at 4K at 30fps and 4K at 24fps. New vital safety capabilities — Emergency SOS via satellite and Crash Detection — help connect iPhone users with emergency assistance when they need it most, and with the A15 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU, gorgeous Super Retina XDR display, amazing battery life, industry-leading durability features, and superfast 5G, this lineup is more advanced than ever before. iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus come in five beautiful colours — midnight, blue, starlight, purple, and PRODUCT(RED).[2]
Powered by A16 Bionic, the fastest chip ever in a smartphone, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max introduce intuitive new ways to experience iPhone, a new class of pro camera system, and ground-breaking new safety capabilities. Featuring the first-ever 48MP Main camera on iPhone, new Ultra Wide camera, Telephoto camera, and new TrueDepth front camera with autofocus, the pro camera system is even more advanced, and with Photonic Engine, represents the biggest camera leap ever. iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max also introduce a new interactive way to experience notifications and alerts with Dynamic Island, and the Always-On display. Available in 6.1-inch and 6.7- inch sizes in four gorgeous finishes — deep purple, gold, silver, and space black — iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max also include superfast 5G, Emergency SOS via satellite, and Crash Detection, all while offering all-day battery life. Customers will be able to pre-order all iPhone models on Friday September 9, with iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max availability on Friday, September 16, and Friday, October 7 for iPhone 14 Plus.
Apple Watch Series 8 Apple Watch Series 8 and new Apple Watch SE bring ground-breaking technology and performance, and important safety innovations to the two best-selling smartwatches. Apple Watch Series 8 maintains the current beloved design with a large, Always-On Retina display, 18-hour battery life, and a new Low Power Mode that can extend battery life to reach up to 36 hours [3], while building on best-in-class health and safety features like the ECG app and Fall Detection by introducing temperature-sensing capabilities, retrospective ovulation estimates [4], and Crash Detection. Apple Watch Series 8 is available in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, across a range of case finishes and colours including starlight, midnight, silver, and PRODUCT(RED).[2]
AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) The second generation of AirPods Pro unlock breakthrough audio performance, including major upgrades to Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode, all powered by the new H2 chip. With Personalized Spatial Audio, the AirPods Pro listening experience is even more immersive, and with Touch control, customers can now directly adjust volume with a quick swipe up or down on the stem. Users can enjoy up to six hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation, and up to 30 hours when using the case for additional charges. [5] Customers can order AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) online on Friday, September 9, with availability in stores on Friday, September 23.
Experience the power and performance of the Rogers 5G Network across the iPhone 14 lineup. For more details, including pricing and data plans, please visit rogers.com/iphone or fido.ca/iphone.
For more details on Apple products, please visit www.apple.com.
About Rogers Rogers is a leading Canadian technology and media company that provides world-class communications services and entertainment to consumers and businesses on our award-winning networks. Our founder, Ted Rogers, purchased his first radio station, CHFI, in 1960. Today, we are dedicated to providing industry-leading wireless, cable, sports, and media to millions of customers across Canada. Our shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For more information, please visit: www.rogers.com or http://investors.rogers.com.
Clearwater River Dene Nation Upgrades Mobile App; Offers Even More Features and Updates to Band Members
CLEARWATER RIVER, Saskatchewan, Sept. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The leadership of Clearwater River Dene Nation (CRDN) has released the first major implementation upgrade to their official mobile app, adding new functionality and redesigning the app experience.
The official CRDN app was first introduced in 2020, gradually offering development stage information on news, events, and other communication resource options to band members and the public. Due to the safety and health restrictions from the ongoing pandemic, the CRDN decided on implementing this much-needed vital and important communication tool to support our quest for providing information to our community.
The mobile App serves to provide a variety of communication options from Leadership to our admin programs departments to general information sharing with the membership of CRDN. Urgent notifications are sent directly to users’ phones in cases of emergency, or to distribute important updates regarding community support guidance and directions.
The CRDN app runs on the Communikit platform, developed by Aivia Inc. Communikit is Canada’s first mobile app platform designed specifically for Indigenous communities of interest to expand and maximize their communications options for their members.
The extensive technical and visual upgrade includes a new interface design, new posting functionality for administrators, the introduction of a tagging system for easily locating posts, and administrative analytics. The user system has been fully redeveloped to make it easier for users to sign up and access the app, recover their login credentials if they forget, and take advantage of their phone’s capacity and alert functionality included with the app.
“We continue to work with the Communikit team at Aivia Inc. to make the CRDN Communication App accommodating for our community participation and usage — the new version is more diverse for our users and makes it easier for our administrators to publish updates on the app,” explained Chief Teddy Clarke.
“Keeping our band members up to date on what is happening in the community is vital, for both on and off-reserve. Being able to send notifications directly out to our members removes a barrier and means we are able to get out urgent notices with accurate and precise information. The new update lets our administrators get notifications sent out with less effort.”
The new and improved CRDN mobile app is available for download on iOS and Android devices. Get the free app today and start keeping up with our Nation!
The Chief and Council of the Clearwater River Dene Nation are proud to offer this community resource moving forward with a new generational era, where our community can now have that grassroots connection while participating in the many positive trends and developments underway in our Nation.
Respectfully Yours,
HHS Secretary: 988 Transition Moves Us Closer to Better Serving the Crisis Care Needs of People Across America
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to fund $150 million for 988 Lifeline, including $35 million announced today to better link 988 Lifeline services to Tribal communities
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing new data that shows that over the first month of the transition to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline) there has been a 45% increase in overall volume and a substantial improvement in answer rates and wait times compared to August 2021. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra applauded the progress that has been made thanks to historic funding from the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress and collaboration among the federal, state/territory, and local governments across the country. The Biden-Harris Administration has increased federal funding in the 988 Lifeline 18-fold in FY22, compared with FY21.To build on this progress, HHS, through Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is also announcing a new $35 million grant opportunity to better support 988 Lifeline services in tribal communities, which face unique challenges to accessing technology and crisis services. This funding will result in more trained crisis counselors being able to connect with even more people in need.The grant is part of the $150 million allocated for the 988 Lifeline under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act signed by President Joe Biden on June 25. This investment builds upon the $432 million already provided by the Biden-Harris Administration to support the 988 transition, which includes $105 million in grant funding to states and territories, provided by the American Rescue Plan, to improve response rates, increase capacity to meet future demand, and ensure calls initiated in their states or territories are first routed to local, regional, or state crisis call centers. Prior to this historic investment, the Lifeline, which has existed since 2005, had been long unfunded and under-resourced.“Our nation’s transition to 988 moves us closer to better serving the crisis care needs of people across America,” said HHS Secretary Becerra, who has been meeting with states across the country as part of HHS’ National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health. “988 is more than a number, it’s a message: we’re there for you. The transition to 988 is just the beginning. We will continue working towards comprehensive, responsive crisis care services nationwide to save lives.”On July 16, the U.S. transitioned to 988, an easy-to-remember, three-digit number for reaching the 988 Lifeline (formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). 988 Lifeline data for August 2022, the first full month of performance data, showed a 45% increase in overall volume compared to August 2021 – even as answer rates and waiting times meaningfully improved – an outcome that wouldn’t have been possible without historic funding from the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress and collaboration among the federal, state/territory and local governments across the country.In August 2022, the 988 Lifeline answered 152,000 more contacts (calls, chats and texts) compared to August 2021 and significantly improved how quickly contacts were answered. The average speed to answer across all contacts decreased from 2.5 minutes to 42 seconds. “We want everyone to know that there is hope. Whether you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide, a mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, there is compassionate, accessible care and support,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and leader of the SAMHSA Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D. “With rising levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses – and the devastating number of overdose deaths – it is crucial that people have somewhere to turn when they’re in crisis.”SAMHSA’s 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported the negative impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on Americans’ well-being. The NSDUH also estimated that 4.9% of adults aged 18 or older had serious thoughts of suicide, 1.3% made a suicide plan and 0.5% attempted suicide in the past year. Among adolescents ages 12-17, 12% said they had serious thoughts of suicide, 5.3% made a suicide plan, and 2.5% percent attempted suicide in the past year.Throughout the month of September, which is National Suicide Prevention Month, HHS will award $25.3 million in suicide prevention grants – of which $3.7 million comes from American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding intended to address pandemic-related stressors that have increased mental health disorders among younger Americans.The $25.3 million in grant funding includes:$9 million in Cooperative Agreements for Innovative Crisis Response Partnerships grants for states, territories, tribes and public or private nonprofit entities to create or enhance existing mobile crisis response teams that can respond mental health crisis in lieu of law enforcement or emergency medical responders. $7.3 million ($3.6 million from ARP and $3.7 million from annual appropriation) in Cooperative Agreements for the Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program to support implementation of youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies in schools, institutions of higher education, juvenile justice systems, substance use and mental health programs, foster care systems, and other child and youth-serving organizations. $2.2 million ($2.1 million annual appropriation and $102,000 ARP) for the GLS Campus Suicide Prevention Grant Program to support a comprehensive public health and evidence-based approach that: enhances mental health services for all college students, including those at risk for suicide, depression, serious mental illness (SMI)/serious emotional disturbances (SED), and/or substance use disorders that can lead to school failure; prevents and reduces suicide, and mental and substance use disorders; promotes help-seeking behavior; and improves the identification and treatment of at-risk college students so they can successfully complete their studies. $6.8 million for Cooperative Agreements for School Based Trauma-Informed Support Services and Mental Health Care for Children and Youthto increase student access to evidence-based and culturally relevant trauma support services and mental health care by developing innovative initiatives, activities, and programs to link local school systems with local trauma-informed support and mental health systems, including those under the Indian Health Service. With this program, SAMHSA aims to further enhance and improve trauma-informed support and mental health services for children and youth.The U.S. had one death by suicide every 11 minutes in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Suicide was the second leading cause of death for young people aged 10-14 and 25-34. From April 2020 to April 2021, more than 100,000 people died from drug overdoses. Studies have shown that after speaking with a trained crisis counselor, most 988 Lifeline callers are significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed and more hopeful. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
COMIRNATY, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Receives Health Canada Authorization for Children 6 Months to Under 5 Years of Age
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine now authorized in Canada for all individuals 6 months of age and older
Authorization represents an important milestone with the potential to help protect youngest children from COVID-19 infection
KIRKLAND, QC and MAINZ, Germany, Sept. 9, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Pfizer Canada ULC and BioNTech SE today announced that Health Canada has authorized COMIRNATY®, the companies' COVID-19 vaccine, as a three 3-μg primary series for children 6 months to less than 5 years of age.
The 3-μg dose was carefully selected as the preferred dose for children under 5 years of age based on safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity data.
"We know many parents in Canada have at heart to provide further protection for their children under 5," said Fabien Paquette, mRNA Vaccines & Antiviral Portfolio Lead, Pfizer Canada. "With this Health Canada authorization, we have achieved another key milestone in our ongoing effort to help protect families and communities against COVID-19."
"We are committed to providing access to our COVID-19 vaccine to all age groups," said Prof. Ugur Sahin, M.D., CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech. "As of today, Canadian families have access to an authorized vaccine helping to protect their youngest children against COVID-19."
Health Canada's authorization is based on data from a Phase 2/3 randomized, controlled trial that included 4,526 children 6 months to under 5 years of age. In the trial, children received the third 3-μg dose at least two months after the second dose at a time when Omicron was the predominant variant.
Pfizer and BioNTech will begin shipping 3-μg pediatric doses as directed by the Canadian government and public health agencies across the country.
COMIRNATY, also referred to as Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, is based on BioNTech's proprietary mRNA technology. BioNTech is the Marketing Authorization Holder in Canada, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the holder of emergency use authorizations or equivalents in the United States (jointly with Pfizer) and other countries. Submissions to pursue regulatory approvals in those countries where emergency use authorizations or equivalent were initially granted are planned.
About the Phase 1/2/3 Trial in Children
The Phase 1/2/3 trial has enrolled more than 10,000 children ages 6 months to under 12 years of age in the United States, Finland, Poland, Spain and Brazil from more than 90 clinical trial sites. The trial evaluated the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in three age groups: ages 5 to under 12 years; ages 2 to under 5 years; and ages 6 months to under 2 years. Based on the Phase 1 dose-escalation portion of the trial, children ages 5 to under 12 years received a two-dose schedule of 10 μg each while children under age 5 received three 3-μg doses in the Phase 2/3 study. The trial enrolled children with or without prior evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
AUTHORIZED USE IN CANADA
COMIRNATY is indicated for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 6 months of age and older. COMIRNATY must be injected intramuscularly only.
About Pfizer Canada
Pfizer Canada ULC is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. Our diversified healthcare 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.
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, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Regeneron, Genevant, Fosun Pharma, and Pfizer. For more information, please visit www.BioNTech.de.
BioNTech Contacts: Media Relations +49 (0)6131 9084 1513 Media@biontech.de
SOURCE Pfizer Canada Inc.
Newborn’s First 1,000 Days Crucial to Preventing Diseases, Allergies — New Book
Philadelphia, September 9, 2022 — Expectant moms are advised to eat well, exercise, take vitamins, abstain from caffeine and do everything possible to ensure the optimal health of their babies. Yet, children born today are sicker than in any past generation. Food allergies, asthma and other chronic health conditions affect up to 30 percent of kids across the country. Why?
In The Baby and the Biome: How the Tiny World Inside Your Child Holds the Secret to Their Health (Avery, an imprint of Penguin/Random House; September 6, 2022; Hardcover; ISBN: 9780593421024), author Meenal Lele reveals the answer—and it’s not bad genes or bad parenting. As a medical researcher with a chemical engineer’s degree from Wharton, her firsthand experience as an “allergy mom,” Lele sheds light on the key role of a newborn’s microbiome (the mix of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live on us and in us) in either preventing or provoking diseases of the immune system, which include not only food allergies and asthma but also eczema, ADHD, IBS, type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s disease and more.
“Immune disease needs a revolution in thinking—and an accessible way for parents to understand it,” Lele asserts. Interweaving the story of her firstborn son Leo’s life-threatening struggles with food allergies and asthma with significant, potentially life-saving scientific findings, Lele aims to lead that revolution by educating parents about how to prioritize and strengthen their baby’s microbiome by protecting the delicate skin, gut and lung barriers.
In accessible language and a reassuring tone, The Baby and the Biome combines medical insights with practical advice on a more informed, healthier approach to the ABCDEs—Antibiotic use, Baby Care, Diet and Environment—during a newborn’s first thousand days, and helps parents raise kids in this toxin-filled world. You’ll learn:
- How to nurture your baby’s biome during pregnancy, practice good biome care from the moment of birth and, if possible, choose breastfeeding over formula to support immunity—but only exclusively for the first two months of your baby’s life.
- Why many standard practices endorsed by pediatricians—wash your baby daily, wait three days between introducing your baby to new foods and more—are not backed by science and might actively hurt your child’s immune defenses.
- Why eczema, which affects about 25 percent of infants, is not just “a little rash” but both a serious warning sign and direct cause of increasingly worse immune conditions to come—plus, clinically proven, actionable ways to treat it.
- Why antibiotics commonly prescribed for ear infections and fever are often unnecessary and can actually make a child sick longer and cause diarrhea, among other complications—plus, examples of when antibiotics are essential.
- Why to avoid using creams and lotions, including sunscreen, on your baby’s skin—and tips for minimizing diaper rash, including using cloth diapers (which are also better for the environment than super-absorbent disposable diapers).
- Why giving your baby regular exposure to the most common food allergens, including peanuts and eggs, is a vital practice for developing a healthy, disease-free immune system—and how to do it safely and stress-free.
- The importance of feeding your baby a good and diverse diet, with priority on avoiding added sugar and processed foods, which contain preservatives, dyes, synthetic fats and emulsifying agents that are poisonous to the gut barrier.
- The biome-friendly benefits of letting your baby play and crawl around in good dirt, whether in your own backyard or a natural park with real grass, trees and mud, as opposed to a playground built on artificial turf.
- Tips for cleaning your home, dishes and clothes, as well as your family’s hair and bodies, to prevent immune disorders—plus, the potential long-term dangers of our national obsession with antibacterial cleansers … and much more.
About the Author
Meenal Lele is a mom to two boys, medical researcher and chemical engineer with a degree from the Wharton School. She is the founder and CEO of Lil Mixins, a company devoted to educating parents about how to prevent their children from developing food allergies. She lives in Philadelphia, PA, with her family.
Experiencing Shoulder Pain? How to Get Back to Training
A shoulder injury can feel like a major disruption to your fitness routine. With the right approach, however, you might be able to stay active, continue training, and even expedite the healing process. Here are just a few tips for getting back to normal after hurting your shoulder.
Identify the Problem
The first step to dealing with shoulder pain is figuring out what's wrong. This will determine the best treatment methods, your expected recovery time, and which exercises are safe to do while your shoulder heals. Tendonitis, for example, is a simple injury that can be treated with the RICE method at home. The same goes for distal clavicular osteolysis or "weightlifter's shoulder." On the other hand, a rotator cuff tear might require steroids, physical therapy, or even surgery.
Change Your Workout Routine
You don't want to aggravate your injury by continuing the same routine that hurt you in the first place. Instead, look into movement substitutions or movement replacements for your usual exercises. Do pull-downs rather than pull-ups; do squeeze presses rather than bench presses. If you aren't sure how to lower the intensity of your usual fitness regimen, you can find exercise pyramids online that rank the difficulty of various tasks. They'll allow you to stay active while also keeping the pressure off your shoulder until it heals.
Look Into Orthopedic Treatment
Orthopedics is the branch of medicine dedicated to the musculoskeletal system, including bones and muscles. It's also interwoven with related areas such as nerves, ligaments, tendons, and joints. You might already be familiar with orthopedic doctors if you've ever sprained an ankle or had a flare-up of carpal tunnel, but they can also be consulted for shoulder pain. Depending on the specifics of what's wrong, treatments might range from chiropractic massage to stem cell injections.
Strengthen Your Shoulder Support
To prevent re-injury, it can help to strengthen both your shoulder and its surrounding muscles and joints. It's the same logic as building up your core to improve your overall bodily fitness. Good exercises for shoulder strength include lateral raises, standing scapular pinches, and internal and external rotations. You can also incorporate things like hand weights and resistance bands to slowly increase the difficulty of these exercises and to test your shoulder's stability during them.
You don't have to turn into a couch potato because of a bad shoulder. You can often continue training as long as you're smart, careful, and mindful of your limitations as you heal. Use these suggestions for finding normal again after a shoulder injury.
Anita Ginsburg / Freelance Writer anitaginsburg@gmail.comBio: Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn't writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.
Toronto healthcare job fair aims to fill urgent job vacancies across Canada
TORONTO, Sept. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - With an ageing population and shrinking labour market, Canadian healthcare employers are struggling as the growing demand for care is not being matched by an increased supply of labour – especially in nursing.
On September 17, 2022, healthcare employers from across Canada will be looking to connect with professionals at Healthcare Job Fair, Toronto's premier recruitment event for medical, nursing, allied health and support work employment opportunities.
Home to many world-class health facilities, Toronto attracts healthcare professionals from around the globe, which is why employers from New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon will be in attendance.
About Healthcare Job Vacancies in Canada
In June, Statistics Canada reported that Canadian healthcare employers have the highest ever level of job vacancies – 136,800 positions were reported in Q1 of this year – suggesting a major staffing crisis for the nation's healthcare system.
"Canada is recognized as having one of the world's best health systems in terms of quality of care and accessibility, but has one of the worst reputations for health workforce mobility, especially for overseas trained nurses," says Stephen McLarnon, Group CEO of HealthSectorTalent®, the company organizing this month's job fair.
"The recruitment of overseas nurses and other healthcare professionals is a well-established practice for leading health systems around the world, but not in Canada," he adds. "Many Canadian healthcare employers have abandoned this approach because of the length of time it takes to register and process viable candidates. Many healthcare employers see our job fair in Toronto as the only real alternative to sourcing new staff."
About Toronto Healthcare Job Fair
This month's Healthcare Job Fair is the only event of its kind in Eastern Canada and aims to attract highly skilled health-care professionals from major healthcare hubs like Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal to meet directly with leading healthcare employers from many regions across Canada.
"We are excited to showcase the many reasons to Choose CHEO and Choose Ottawa, and to answer people's questions — in person and on the spot," said Alex Munter, President and CEO of CHEO, a pediatric healthcare and research centre that has been named the best place to work in Canadian healthcare by Forbes Magazine.
"We know healthcare professionals of all kinds have options; they can direct where they want their careers to take them. We'll be emphasizing that when joining Team CHEO, you get the benefits of working in a world-leading pediatric facility with some of the most passionate, caring, and dedicated people anywhere. You also get to live in a vibrant, green, affordable city with access to all that a G-7 capital has to offer."
Job fairs provide a unique opportunity in this digital age for employers and job seekers to connect directly in person, accelerating the recruitment process for both.
"We know healthcare workers have many options for employment, but through this recruitment event we hope to show why New Brunswick offers both excellent job opportunities along with unparalleled lifestyle," said Michael Watson, Provincial Workforce Consultant, Recruitment Team, Employer Support Services, WorkingNB, Government of New Brunswick.
