STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Merck & Co., a pharmaceutical giant, will help produce the Johnson & Johnson single-dose coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination in a surprising deal brokered by the Biden administration, the Washington Post first reported.
The agreement, between two companies normally perceived as rivals, could significantly boost the supply of the immunization, which was expected to be rolled out slowly due to supply issues.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the third to receive the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization in the United States, has been hailed for its convenience and durability compared to the other two immunizations made by Moderna and Pfizer
“The good news about this vaccine is that it’s a single dose,” said Dr. Ginny Mantello, Staten Island’s director of health and wellness. “The other good news is that it’s not as fragile as the other two.
Merck unsuccessfully attempted to make its own coronavirus vaccine, the Washington Post reported, but the company is experienced at manufacturing and will dedicate two facilities in the U.S. to make the Johnson & Johnson shots.
“It’s a historic partnership,” one official, who requested anonymity to discuss the deal that had not yet been made public, told the Washington Post
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — The Ministry of Human Resources in the Nevis Island Admiration has issued an upgrade regarding the series of short training course offered online by the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme.
The ITEC programmes conducted by the Government of India are diversified in areas of:
a) International E-training virtual course on the roll-out of COVID vaccine programme;
b) International public health management development programme;
c) Virtual training course on building nursing leadership for achieving universal health coverage and sustainable development goals;
d) Next-Generation Distribution System-Transmission towards Smart Grids;
e) E-governance strategies and best practices in India;
f) Technical, policy instruments and frameworks for shifting to renewable energy;
g) Natural resource management for sustainable rural livelihood;
h) Solar energy technologies;
i) Water transmission and distribution engineering;
j) Policies on biomedical devices;
k) Big data analytics for policy planners;
l) Data analytics for beginners;
m) Finance for non-finance background leaders;
n) Financial inclusion and development;
o) Financial instruments and issuance processes;
p) Entrepreneurship and small business development trainers/promoters;
q) Institutional planning and management for heads of educational institutions;
r) Management systems;
s) Promotion of start-ups in healthcare sector; and
t) Laboratory quality management systems and internal audit.
Interested persons must register online at least four days before the start of the course at https://www.itecgoi.in/index. All courses listed above commence in March, and each programme’s commencement date differs.
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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – All Nevisians should be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis and Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration.
Speaking at his monthly press conference on February 25, the Premier said having taken his first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine; he wanted to assure the public that it was safe.
“We say to get vaccinated. Don’t wait, vaccinate,” said Hon. Brantley. “The idea is that vaccinations have proven over the years, over the centuries, to be a good way to avoid disease.
“We though it important to show our confidence in the process,” he said. “We thought it important to step forward, cameras rolling that the public can see that we were comfortable and confident, that there was no risk and frankly the process, having gone through it, was painless, it was quick, it was efficient…I can say to the public I have no side effects whatsoever.”
The Premier said that as more vaccines become available, persons should go out and be vaccinated free of cost. The Health Promotion Unit in the Ministry of Health is leading the education drive to provide information to the populace regarding COVID-19 vaccination.
“The vaccines are available. They will continue to roll out the public relations exercise, they will continue to roll out the campaign,” said Brantley. “They will continue to ensure that the people of Nevis are made aware and that they understand and recognize that getting vaccinated is really the way to go.
“I think we need to just finish away with a lot of the chatter,” said Brantley. “Just get to it, get it done, and keep us safe. Remember nobody is safe until everybody is safe and so the idea really is that all of us should get vaccinated.”
Brantley commended the health officials and COVID-19 Task Forces on both islands for their efficiency in managing the spread of the virus in St. Kitts and Nevis.
The island of Nevis has had 12 reported cases since the Federation’s borders reopened in October 2020, and no positive cases since the January 6.
Brantley admonished people to continue to practice the established non-pharmaceutical protocols even with the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination.
“The vaccine now provides us with that additional layer of protection,” concluded Brantley. “It is not to suggest that we abandon the non-pharmaceutical measures that have kept us safe thus far. “We continue to encourage our people to physically distance, to wear their masks when in public or interacting with other persons, and certainly to wash their hands frequently…and sanitize.”
Ms. Chantelle Rochester presents second place trophy to Cecil Angel of Bird Rock Uprisers, who was also the league’s MVP. Looking on is SKABA President, Glenville Jeffers.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Underdogs ASC Jay Hawks overcame the odds to dethrone defending champions Bird Rock Uprisers in a highly exciting game, held at Basketball City on Saturday February 27, to clinch the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis Junior Division Under-20 Basketball Championship Title.
Being seeded fourth at the semi-finals stage was no hindrance for the determined ASC Jay Hawks players when in the final of a best-of-three games they beat second-seeded and defending champions Bird Rock Uprisers 102-92.
The game saw playoffs’ MVP Aaron Wilkinson of ASC Jay Hawks scoring 41 points, and making nine rebounds, four assists and three steals in the very tight game that had the eventual champions narrowly leading all the way.
In this action picture, Germaal Forde, jersey number 5 of ASC Jay Hawks is airborne as he scores another point for his team.
Wilkinson’s gallant exploits were emulated by his colleagues, Zendai Richards, who scored 20 points and returned 15 rebounds, eight assists and three steals, while Makimba Fahie scored 22 points, returned 13 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
For Bird Rock Uprisers the league’s MVP Cecil Angel scored 29 points, Luis Amparo scored 23 points, while Gary Thompson scored 21 points.
Distribution of awards and trophies was done immediately after the game by Marketing and Product Development Officer at the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, Ms. Chantelle Rochester, assisted by President of the St. Kitts Amateur Basketball Association (SKABA), Glenville Jeffers.
ASC Jay Hawks players were all awarded individual championship medals and the club took the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis Junior Division Under-20 Championship Trophy, while players on the Bird Rock Uprisers team received individual second place medals and the club took the second place trophy.
Awarded for ‘most points’ was Cecil Angel of Bird Rock Uprisers, 292; ‘Most rebounds’ Cadeau Straun of Ram’s Hitters, 160; ‘most assists’ Aaron Wilkinson of ASC Jay Hawks, 36; ‘most steals’ Cecil Angel of Bird Rock Uprisers, 64; ‘most blocks’ Nigel Challenger of Wolf Pack, 45; while the league’s MVP was Cecil Angel of Bird Rock Uprisers.
“As the proud sponsors of the junior basketball league, we at the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis wish to congratulate the St Kitts Amateur Basketball Association for overcoming hardships brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic to execute a successful league,” said Ms. Rochester. “Keeping our youth constructively occupied through sports should receive the support of all as we aspire to develop our Federation holistically.”
Six clubs took part in the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis Junior Division Under-20 Championship League, which started in mid-January. These were the defending champions Bird Rock Uprisers, Ram’s Hitters, ASC Jay Hawks, Ram’s FRUTA Falcons, Dynamic Ballerz from Nevis, and AC Wolf Pack.
Teams played each other twice and in the end two teams, Dynamic Ballerz from Nevis, and AC Wolf Pack eliminated, while four teams proceeded on to the playoffs. Ram’s Hitters were top seeded, followed in order by the defending champions Bird Rock Uprisers, Ram’s FRUTA Falcons, and ASC Jay Hawks.
In the semi-finals fourth seeded ASC Jay Hawks beat top seeded Ram’s Hitters 77-57 while second seeded Bird Rock Uprisers beat third seeded Ram’s FRUTA Falcons 97-94 to set the stage for the Bird Rock Uprisers and ASC Jay Hawks final.
In the first of best of three finals, defending champions Bird Rock Uprisers beat ASC Jay Hawks 104-92, but ASC Jay Hawks turned the tables on the defending champions by beating them 102-69 in the second game to set the stage for the final game played on Saturday February 27, which was won by ASC Jay Hawks.
