CDC Committee Agrees to Extend ‘Pause’ on J&J Vaccine Rollout for Further Review

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has extended Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine pause and has decided to review it further after federal officials recommended a pause in the rollout. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met one day after the FDA and CDC recommended the pause over concern of six instances of a rare, severe blood clot in over 6.8 million vaccine recipients.

Many members at CDC felt there was insufficient data to make an evidence-based decision about the vaccine. The committee has decided to collect further background information about cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) with low platelet count, specific risk factors, ability to compare thrombotic cases post-vaccination between AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines, and the true incidence of cases specific to J&J vaccine recipients.

The committee members have stated that the extended pause did not indicate increased concern but instead an attempt to better characterizes the risk. The instances have been described as "extremely rare" by the FDA. The committee said that by Friday, it would determine when to meet next and discuss the data.

 

Grant Thornton’s public sector business wins $350-million consulting contract from TSA

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has awarded Grant Thornton's public sector business with a $350 million blanket purchasing agreement (BPA) for program analysis and strategic support services. The five-year, single-award BPA has a ceiling of $350 million, and it aims to deliver integrated consulting and business program support services to the various security agency. Grant Thornton is an American member firm of Grant Thornton International, the seventh-largest accounting network in the world.

Grant Thornton has stated that it will help the TSA identify and gain technological capabilities to boost the agency's operational effectiveness. The consulting firm will provide an office-wide strategic initiative design that supports various areas such as risk mitigation, R&D, technology assessment, technical reviews, and risk analysis and management. Reports state that the TSA has approximately 47,000 employees and a $7.68 billion budget as of the fiscal year 2020.

Grant Thornton Public Sector utilizes a global networking platform to bring robust and innovative solutions and support the government's mission-critical needs. This experience will help the firm gain new insights and entrepreneurial culture that empowers its employees to deliver better outcomes for their clients' organizations and enterprises. The company states that it will further improve its services and help the public sector address various challenges in acquisition, human capital, data analytics, and performance management.

 

 

SkyChain collaborates with Synergy Global Announce to Create a VFX Rendering Company

SkyChain Technologies Inc., a Vancouver based company, providing Blockchain Infrastructure services and power solutions, in a recent announcement has stated that it has entered into an agreement with Synergy Global Consulting Corp. to establish a joint venture company that provides premier visual effects (VFX) and renders services to the film and entertainment industry. The company also aims to become a full IAAS (Infrastructure as a Service) provider in 2021.

Under the terms of the agreement, the total $800,000 investment will be in the joint venture company's equity stake. The $800,000 investment will comprise $400,000 from SkyChain and another $400,000 from an investment company. SkyTrain will have the right to appoint three out of six members of the joint venture's board. It is said that the long-term investment in the next project phase will be approximately over 1.5 million Canadian dollars.

SkyChain and Synergy will sign a final agreement by the end of April 2021 and are projecting to have the business up and running for service by August 20th, 2021. The company's primary vision is to become a leading player in crypto/data mining hosting by growing to 100Mw of crypto hosting capacity and providing the best in-house VFX services.

 

Pentagon swiftly halts the use of vaccine variant required to immunize deployed troops

The US Military and Defense Agency has stated that it has swiftly halted the administration of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine after federal health officials announced that people who have received the vaccine experienced a rare and severe blood clot. The US government's decision could deal a blow to the military's efforts to vaccinate its troops present in remote locations and overseas, predominantly dependent on the increasing availability of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

But Johnson & Johnson hasn't commented about this issue. The company has stated that it will allocate 86 percent fewer doses across the United States after further testing. The distribution of the single-shot vaccine has dipped down below 400,000. Federal administrators have stated that they will vaccine doses nationwide based on each state's adult population.

The Slowdown in vaccine distribution rate came in due to federal officials halting the administration of vaccines to its armed forces and deployed troops. To overcome this shortage of vaccines, the US government is planning to produce alternative vaccines. The government is planning to administrate single-dose vaccine or two-dose series made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

 

 

British Home Appliance Giant Dyson to Hire 450 Engineers and Scientists in UK and Singapore

To double its existing software and electronics engineering teams, the UK-based home appliance giant best known for its vacuum cleaners, Dyson, recruit 250 new engineers. Another 200 people are expected to be hired in science and research roles at Dyson's campuses in the United Kingdom. The new hire will be a part of Dyson's £2.75 billion global technology investment plan as the company aims to expand its research into advanced robotics and artificial intelligence.

In its global headquarters located in Singapore, Dyson will recruit 250 engineers. The company currently employs about 1,400 people in the city-state, nearly half of engineers and scientists. Dyson has also announced that it is planning to set up all-new cybersecurity and artificial intelligence research center in Singapore and in the UK to improve its security platform.

The firm also added that in the United Kingdom, 200 people would be hired in science and research roles at Dyson's Malmesbury and Hullavington innovation campuses. The new roles there will focus on breakthroughs in areas such as AI, machine learning, and high-speed digital motors and sensing technology. Dyson's research and development teams are present across the UK, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, and the United States.