Moderna is reportedly planning to increase the price of its COVID-19 vaccine by over 400 percent, to match the previously announced price hike of Pfizer-BioNTech’s rival vaccine. Not only that, the company has announced that it expects to make a minimum of $5 billion in COVID-19 vaccine sales in 2023, with their current cash and cash equivalents standing at $18 billion. Such a steep price increase has already been lambasted by lawmakers, who have accused the companies of ‘unseemly profiteering’. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
