Here come the vaccines

Next Thursday, February 11 (happy birthday, Leo Szilard), the Biden administration will start shipping Covid-19 vaccines directly to pharmacies as the federal government begins handling the bulk of the nation’s Covid-19 response. Currently pharmacies have to get them from individual states.

The initial 6500 pharmacies will be chosen based on their ability to help distribute the vaccine more equitably, he said. Most of the major pharmacy and grocery chains, including Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid, Kroger, Publix, and Albertsons, along with independent pharmacies, will be participating.

Which pharmacies will be getting them? Click here (and scroll down) for the list.

Georgia…

… is currently “pausing” some vaccination appointments because of a lack of vaccines, according to Governor Kemp’s office. Next week’s fed rollout should ease that issue.

What to expect

A “stress test” for pharmacies and grocery stores, as the Wall Street Journal explains.

Read the story of one Philly pharmacy’s experience — “a vial of tears and troubles” but “no regrets.”

“We got a lot of calls saying: ‘I’ve been a loyal customer. You owe me a vaccine,’ But there’s not enough vaccine, not enough vaccinators, and not enough time. We’re doing the best we can to be fair. We all have to be patient.”

Yet another chance to do something foolish

Super Bowl parties. Just say no — or, rather, “cool it.”

1. They’re more dangerous because, unlike the holidays, they probably have people from multiple families.
2. Getting sick while the vaccine is rolling out would just be embarrassing.
3. Tampa (Bay) and KC? Who cares?

Vaccine wait silver lining

If you have to wait to get your vaccine, there’s an upside. The new, better ones (that protect against more variants) should be coming out in the fall.

It takes two

When it comes to fighting leukemia, MDM2 inhibitors are so-so. BET inhibitors are so-so. But put them together, Wonder Twins-style, and BAM!

“Our study shows that two types of drugs, MDM2 inhibitors and BET inhibitors, work synergistically to promote significant anti-leukemia activity. The results were surprising because previous research had shown that each drug on its own had modest benefit against AML.”

Form of … a p53 suppressor!

An aspirin a day could keep the gastrointestinal oncologist away

It seems that long-term aspirin use may increase your chances of survival if you’re diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The operative word is “may,” of course, and there are downsides to daily aspirin, so … you guessed it: “more evidence is needed.”

Sticking it to tumors

This is not a quote from Star Trek. Instead of surgery for skin cancer, Yale researchers say they can inject tumors with ‘bioadhesive polymer-based nanoparticles carrying a chemotherapy agent.’

The trick is that these nanoparticles remain attached to the tumors “long enough to kill a significant number of the cancer cells.”

“When you inject our nanoparticles into a tumor, it turns out that they’re retained within that tumor very well. They accumulate and bind to the tumor matrix, so one single injection lasts for a very long time — the particles stay there and slowly release the compounds. You need that to get rid of the lesion.”

The next overdose crisis

“All right, xylazine, you’re on deck!”

A type of animal tranquilizer, xylazine, is now showing up in almost a third of fatal heroin and fentanyl overdoses in Philadelphia, according to research published today.

Oh, and because it’s not an opioid, naloxone doesn’t help.

I’m almost embarrassed to tell them

University of Washington oral health researchers — clearly having missed their history lessons — analyzed published studies, looked at data of 9,350 people, and concluded that “Bleeding gums may be a sign you need more vitamin C in your diet.”