FDA

FDA Proposed Menthol Ban Considered Win for Black Health

The FDA is finally moving a proposed national ban on menthol flavored cigarettes and flavored cigars after more than a decade of inaction and a citizens petition lawsuit brought by the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council and Action on Smoking and Health, the American Medical Association, and the National Medical Association.

US details new international COVID-19 travel requirements

Two weeks before a new vaccination requirement kicks in for most foreign travelers to the U.S., the Biden administration detailed the new international COVID-19 air travel polices, including exemptions for kids, and new federal contact tracing requirements.

Beginning on Nov. 8, foreign, non-immigrant adults traveling to the United States will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with limited exceptions, and all travelers will need to be tested for the virus before boarding an aircraft to the U.S., with tightened restrictions for those who are not fully vaccinated.

Moderna says its low-dose COVID shot works for kids 6 to 11

Moderna said Monday that a low dose of its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and appears to work in 6- to 11-year-olds, as the manufacturer joins its rival Pfizer in moving toward expanding shots to children.

Pfizer’s kid-size vaccine doses are closer to widespread use. They are undergoing evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration for youngsters in nearly the same age group, 5 to 11, and could be available by early November. The company’s vaccine already is authorized for anyone 12 or older.

US booster plan faces complications, some may miss Sept. 20

Even before Biden’s announcement last month, his administration had been preparing for months for the possibility that boosters would be required, maintaining America’s supply of doses and devising promotion plans with the same “intensity” that it brought to the initial vaccination campaign, Zients told reporters Thursday.

US regulators give full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

  The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine Monday, potentially boosting public confidence in the shots and instantly opening the way for more universities, companies and local governments to make vaccinations mandatory. The Pentagon promptly announced it will press ahead with plans to force members of the military to get vaccinated amid the battle against the extra-contagious delta variant. The University of Minnesota likewise said it will require its students get the shot, as did Louisiana’s major public universities, including LSU, though state law there allows broad exemptions. More than 200 million Pfizer doses have been administered in

Black-Owned Businesses Look to the FDA to Protect Them

A year ago, in a quick fix reaction to the pandemic, the FDA released emergency guidance that lowered the standards for germ-fighting products like hand sanitizer in order to get more on the market. This led to an ongoing wave of hand sanitizers that both smell horrible and seem to do virtually nothing. Now, a year later, city streets are refilling, businesses are starting to operate at full capacity, and we have a more reliable supply of hand sanitizer. Yet, businesses are still providing questionable products, and we are even seeing reports of products with toxic carcinogens steadily pop up.

COVID-19 FAQ Tackles Vaccines Safety and Distribution for Black and African American Californians

COVID-19 vaccinations are currently in full force, with over 20 million Californians currently having received one of the three FDA approved vaccines. President Biden recently announced vaccine eligibility expansion for all adult Americans beginning April 19, while every Californian 16 and up are eligible for vaccination on April 15.

LA Public Health Hosts COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall

In a recent virtual town hall led by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, experts address the development of the vaccination, what to expect, distribution timeline, myths, traveling safety, and the difference between the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines. 

State’s Top Doc Burke-Harris to Lead Advisory Team as African Americans Raise COVID-19 Vaccine Concerns

Nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic, three vaccine trials have yielded promising results, and the first round of Americans could begin to receive shots as early as mid-December.

Last week, the California Department of Public Health announced that California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris will chair the state’s Community Vaccine Advisory Committee. The group Burke-Harris leads will help guide the state’s decision making about vaccine distribution.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Provides Updated Guidance to Address the Urgent Need for Blood During the Pandemic

Based on recently completed studies and epidemiologic data, the FDA has concluded that current policies regarding certain donor eligibility criteria can be modified without compromising the safety of the blood supply. Therefore, the FDA is revising recommendations in several guidances regarding blood donor eligibility. These changes are being put forth for immediate implementation and are expected to remain in place after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, with any appropriate changes based on comments we receive and our experience implementing the guidances. At this time, the alternatives to certain donor eligibility requirements being provided generally will apply only for the duration of the declared pandemic.