And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda, so far, feels rather modest. We hope to promenade with the official mascots, take a nap or two and catch up on our reading. We may also hold another listening party, where the rotation will include this, this, this, this, and this. And what about you? We are inching closer to spring, so perhaps this is a good time to tidy up around your castle or perhaps plan a needed getaway. This is also a fine time to file through a museum or get lost on a walk in the woods. Or maybe just look in on someone special. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon …
The new vaccines that protect older adults against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, may be linked to a small increased risk of developing Guillain-Barré syndrome, STAT writes. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration suggest what appears to be an elevated rate of GBS, as the condition is called, among people who got the Pfizer vaccine, although there were also cases detected among people who got the GSK product. But a CDC panel of experts cautioned that it is too early to determine if there is a true increased risk of developing GBS after RSV vaccination, or to quantify the size of that risk, if it exists.
Several Republican lawmakers demanded answers from Pfizer over a small financial contribution in Canada, the CBC says. The lawmakers asked Pfizer to explain a $50 donation to Dying With Dignity Canada, a group that advocates for medically assisted death. They argued that Canada has among the most liberal policies in the world on medically assisted death and Dying With Dignity Canada is pushing for “even more extreme” policies. They noted the organization supports extending the right to medically assisted death to some minors. A Dying With Dignity Canada spokesperson said the Pfizer contribution was part of a company program matching employee charitable donations.