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Some J&J vaccine doses can be used, but many must be tossed

U.S. regulators are allowing the release of about 10 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine from a troubled Baltimore factory, but many more doses can’t be used and must be thrown out. The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that it had determined that two batches could be released from the plant, which is owned by Emergent BioSolutions and has been shuttered for eight weeks. But it said several other batches are not suitable for use and additional batches are still under review. The agency wouldn’t specify the size of those batches or why they ...

Copays for new Alzheimer’s drug could reach $11,500

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new $56,000-a-year Alzheimer’s drug would raise Medicare premiums broadly, and some patients who are prescribed the medication could face copayments of about $11,500 annually, according to a research report published. The drug, called Aduhelm, was approved by the Food ...

U.S. extends expiration dates for J&J vaccine

WASHINGTON (AP) — Johnson & Johnson said Thursday that U.S. regulators extended the expiration date on millions of doses of its COVID-19 vaccine by six weeks. The company said a Food and Drug Administration review concluded the shots remain safe and effective for at least 4 1/2 months. In February, the FDA originally authorized J&J’s vaccine for up to three months when stored at normal refrigeration levels. Thursday’s announcement comes after state officials warned that many doses in storage would expire before the end of the month. Vaccine expiration dates are based on ...

Biden pledges 500M doses, calls on world leaders to join him

ST. IVES, England (AP) — President Joe Biden urged global leaders Thursday to join him in sharing coronavirus vaccines with struggling nations around the world after he promised the U.S. would donate 500 million doses to help speed the pandemic’s end and bolster the strategic position of ...

U.S. to buy 500M Pfizer vaccines to share globally

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will buy 500 million more doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to share through the global COVAX alliance for donation to 92 lower income countries and the African Union over the next year, a person familiar with the matter said Wednesday. President Joe Biden was ...

Monroe considering youth clinic

WOODSFIELD — The Monroe County Health Department is working to gauge interest before planning a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for the area’s youth. Kara Dixon, director of nursing, said now that the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for children as young as 12 years old, the staff is trying to gauge interest and determine how many youngsters would like to get the shot. Currently the department only has Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, so it will have to order Pfizer to accommodate the county’s youth. “We’re trying to get the younger generation vaccinated. ... We need a ...