furnjeff

News for November 6 — Incorrect Nutritional Advice from Fox

Incorrect nutritional advice from Fox: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/spinach-vs-kale-which-better-nutritionists-settle-debate . Sigh. At least this gives me a chance to dispel a common myth. Fox states the commonly held belief that spinach is a good source of iron. However, most of the iron in spinach has low bioavailability: https://www.nutritics.com/en/resources/blog/why-most-of-the-iron-in-spinach-is-surprisingly-useless . Please don’t believe Fox about anything – they almost …

News for November 6 — Incorrect Nutritional Advice from Fox Read More »

News for November 2 — New COVID Variant JN.1 Emerges

New COVID variant JN.1 emerges: https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/everything-know-jn-1-latest-113000405.html . This variant derives from BA.2.86, which is a subvariant of Omicron. As the updated COVID shot is also based on Omicron subvariants, experts hope that the vaccine will offer some protection against JN.1. Walgreens/CVS pharmacy staffing mess won’t go away: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/cvs-walgreens-pharmacy-employees-work-2bae98d2 . As we have said repeatedly, …

News for November 2 — New COVID Variant JN.1 Emerges Read More »

News for November 1 — Pathetic 2023 COVID Vaccination Results

Pathetic 2023 COVID vaccination results: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2023-11-01/over-15-million-americans-got-updated-covid-vaccines-so-far . Last year at the equivalent time, 23 million had received a booster shot. This year, only 15 million have received the updated shot. Let’s just hope that most of those 15 million are those over 65 and other especially vulnerable people. WSJ: When to get your fall vaccinations: …

News for November 1 — Pathetic 2023 COVID Vaccination Results Read More »

News for October 31 — Pfizer Takes Paxlovid Charge

Pfizer takes Paxlovid charge: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2023-10-31/pfizer-swings-to-quarterly-loss-due-to-paxlovid-write-off . WSJ: Where is Pfizer’s obesity drug: https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/nevermind-covid-investors-want-a-pfizer-obesity-pill-18f6a9e5 . Pharmacist walkouts could close pharmacies: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/pharmageddon-pharmacies-close-as-protest-spreads-which-stores-where-rcna122855 . CVS and Walgreens need to address their staffing models immediately. Otherwise, their businesses could suffer permanent damage. WSJ: US workers’ pay raises and Fed rate hikes: https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/workers-keep-getting-big-raises-thats-a-problem-for-the-fed-94a20f56 . As we’ve said repeatedly, this is …

News for October 31 — Pfizer Takes Paxlovid Charge Read More »

News for October 30 — RSV Vaccine Competition Heats Up

RSV vaccine competition heats up: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2023-10-30/pfizer-rsv-vaccine-lags-gsks-as-head-to-head-competition-underway . Eye drop infection risk continues: https://www.aol.com/fda-tells-consumers-stop-using-112822089.html . As no reports of eye infection have been made about the newly named products, one suspects these products (mostly house brands) are also produced in India, the source of the ongoing problems. Tentative GM-UAW deal looks to end auto strike: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/30/business/gm-uaw-tentative-agreement/index.html …

News for October 30 — RSV Vaccine Competition Heats Up Read More »

News for October 29 — Insurers Fight Mental Health Access

Insurers fight mental health access: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/insurers-spar-with-biden-administration-over-coverage-for-mental-health-care-e6209041 . As Jennifer Snow states in the article, “We have mental health parity on paper but not in practice”. Hunting a leading crypto fugitive: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/finance/do-kwon-crypto-crash-0d0dc50b , WSJ: Netanyahu announces second phase of Gaza war: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-says-it-has-killed-one-of-planners-of-oct-7-attack-e3a11758 . As readers know, if Israel invades Gaza, the chances increase for …

News for October 29 — Insurers Fight Mental Health Access Read More »

News for October 28 — Record US Immigrants from India

Record US immigrants from India: https://www.wsj.com/world/india/indians-are-entering-the-u-s-illegally-in-record-numbers-2cf19e38 . UAW, Stellantis reach deal: https://www.aol.com/news/uaw-stellantis-close-tentative-deal-162312348.html . GM remains without a deal. One-sided Social Security analysis: https://moneywise.com/retirement/over-half-of-older-americans-worry-retirement-income-wont-be-enough . The suggestions here for putting more money in the pockets of lower-income seniors have merit. However, this costs money, and the article suggests lowering the benefit tax on lower-income seniors. While …

News for October 28 — Record US Immigrants from India Read More »

News for October 27 — COVID Antivirals Hit Commercial Market

COVID antivirals hit commercial market: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2023-10-27/us-shifting-covid-antivirals-to-commercial-market-on-nov-1 . Doses purchased by the federal government will remain generally available at little to no cost. COVID shot uptake drags: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-10-27/national-survey-data-7-of-adults-got-new-covid-19-vaccine-in-first-month-of-availability . Another reason behind the recent COVID surge is vaccination fatigue, as these figures show. Again, the combination of COVID and flu vaccinations could reverse this decline. This …

News for October 27 — COVID Antivirals Hit Commercial Market Read More »

News for October 26 — COVID-flu Shot’s Stroke Risk

COVID-flu shot’s stroke risk in older adults: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/25/health/covid-flu-vaccine-stroke-risk-study/index.html . While the increase in risk is slight, note that there is an additional slight increase when the COVID and flu vaccines are given together. So this may pose a problem for Moderna’s (and Pfizer’s) combined COVID-flu shot. Pfizer’s COVID-flu shot passes trial: https://www.aol.com/news/pfizer-biontech-flu-covid-shot-105252312.html . Merck COVID …

News for October 26 — COVID-flu Shot’s Stroke Risk Read More »

News for October 25 — Testing for Cancers in Blood

Testing for cancers in blood: WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/this-1-000-test-finds-signs-of-cancer-in-your-blood-a7f8ee6a . High metal levels in chocolates: https://www.today.com/health/diet-fitness/chocolate-products-heavy-metals-lead-rcna121722 . A timely warning arrives before Halloween next week. UAW announces tentative deal with Ford: https://www.aol.com/finance/uaw-reaches-tentative-deal-ford-233331426.html . Typically, the other automakers settle when one reaches a deal. But as this has not been a typical strike, we will have to await …

News for October 25 — Testing for Cancers in Blood Read More »