U.S. Vaccines
Britain has said it will vaccinate all adults by July. But, the U.S. which has had a horrible death toll, the worst in the world by sheer numbers, now says it will have enough vaccines for every adult American by the end of May. It’s a huge acceleration in vaccine production organized by President Biden, and it will include the giant drug company Merck (which failed to develop its own vaccine) working with Johnson and Johnson to manufacture its vaccine.
In making the announcement President Biden hailed it as ”that’s important progress, important progress” and he pledged teachers will have at least one shot by the end of March. The obvious challenge between the achievement of manufacturing vaccines is also to get people to take them, but that seems achievable. In the UK the acceptance rates are 95% in the over 80’s for people willing to take the vaccines.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/us/politics/merck-johnson-johnson-vaccine.html
Texas Open?
So while all health officials warn the suppression of new variants depends on social distancing and mask wearing until vaccines are received, the Governor of Texas came out yesterday and said his State will open 100% with no restrictions on restaurant and bar capacity and Mississippi has done the same. The virus will run wild in Texas as adults struggle to get the vaccine and the virus struggles to mutate out of vaccines.
If you are reading in, include the comments “I know people are tired; they want to get back to life, to normal,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Monday. “But we’re not there yet.”
Translation - the Texas Governor is being reckless with peoples lives, and it will have consequences on the spread of Covid and the numbers of people who get sick and may die and, on the progress of variant mutations.
Wear a mask. The virus is airborne and you will risk infection at any indoor site whether it’s a hair salon or a restaurant or a movie theatre. Just wait this out a bit longer for your own safety people.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/03/02/abbott-hints-at-exciting-news-tuesday-that-could-include-rollback-of-texas-covid-19-restrictions/
Royal Punch Up
The Times of England has an exclusive story on how Prince Harry’s wife, Meaghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, bullied staff at Kensington Palace, and was mean and nasty. The timing of the article is important, because it lays the ground work for an ugly fight with Prince Harry and Meaghan Markle, as they are set to do an Oprah Winfrey interview this Sunday, in which Markle is expected to play the victim, saying she wasn’t treated well in Britain and she may even make suggestions of racism.
It’s a big saga, that shows the Royal family will indulge in a bare knuckled fight with Markle who has left England for Los Angeles and while using she and Prince Harry will use their titles for profit, will not be part of royal duties.
"Senior people in the household, Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, knew that they had a situation where members of staff, particularly young women, were being bullied to the point of tears," a source told the publication.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/meghan-markle-accuses-royal-aides-smear-campaign-bullying-claims-ahead-oprah-interview-1688293
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/royal-aides-reveal-meghan-bullying-claim-before-oprah-interview-7sxfvd2c3
Russia Warning
Russia hit back at new U.S. sanctions saying “The U.S. administration has taken a hostile anti-Russian attack,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a late Tuesday statement. “We urge our colleagues not to play with fire.”
The sanctions against a handful of individuals are President Biden’s message to Russia that the U.S. won’t stand for the illegal jailing and attempted murder of Alexei Navalny. The sanctions are against several companies, for the manufacture of Novichok nerve agent used in that attempted killing by what the U.S. intelligence community (along with European agencies) say was clearly carried out by the FSB Russian Security service.
More U.S. sanctions are around the corner for Russia’s massive computer hack in the U.S., and possibly more for bounties paid by Russia on American soldiers in Afghanistan, if proved to be true.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/03/03/dont-play-with-fire-russia-warns-after-us-navalny-sanctions-a73128
Sarkozy
Former French President Nicholas Sarkozy now says he may appeal his conviction and jail sentence to the European Court of human rights. His conviction this week is being sited by many as a direct comparison to former U.S. President Trump who faces multiple criminal investigations, and like Sarkozy may be prevented from seeking re-election because of those prosecutions and possible convictions.
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210302-sarkozy-says-could-take-corruption-appeal-to-european-human-rights-court
Please share this news letter and have a good day everyone.
Dana