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| Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images |
People used to fight over getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Now millions of doses are getting tossed in the trash because no one's using them
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans were clamoring to get vaccinated as soon as they could.
But now, millions of doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are getting tossed in the trash because no one's using them.
More than 2 years after Johnson & Johnson's vaccine was first approved by the FDA, it is now no longer available anywhere in the US, according to the CDC.
Over 31.5 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been distributed across the country since March 2021 — 19 million of which made it into Americans' arms, CNN reported.
The 12.5 million remaining doses — nearly a third of the total produced — expired on May 7, and the CDC has told all vaccine providers to get rid of them.
Though the J&J vaccine was the least popular of the three vaccines available in the US, its final demise is still a stark contrast to the early days of COVID-19 vaccination when rich people were gaming the system to get vaccinated before their turn.
During the height of the pandemic, young people also showed up at pharmacies just before closing time, hoping to snag soon-to-expire shots before they were trashed. --->READ MORE HERE
The overuse of antimicrobial chemicals known as quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) during the COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to health issues, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental harm, according to scientists. They recommend reducing unnecessary use, cleaning with soap and water, and requiring full disclosure of QACs in all products.
The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the unnecessary use of antimicrobial chemicals linked to health problems, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental harm, warn more than two dozen scientists in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science & Technology. Their critical review details how quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are increasingly marketed and used in home, healthcare, education, and workplace settings despite the availability of safer alternatives and in some cases limited evidence of reduced disease transmission.
“Disinfectant wipes containing QACs are often used on children’s school desks, hospital exam tables, and in homes where they remain on these surfaces and in the air,” said Courtney Carignan, a co-author and assistant professor at Michigan State University. “Our review of the science suggests disinfecting with these chemicals in many cases is unhelpful or even harmful. We recommend regular cleaning with soap and water and disinfecting only as needed with safer products.”
Human studies have found associations between QACs and asthma, dermatitis, and inflammation. Laboratory animal studies also raise concerns about potential links to infertility, birth defects, and more. Further, there has been evidence dating back to the 1950s that QACs contribute to antimicrobial resistance, making certain bacteria species resistant both to QACs themselves and to critical antibiotics.
“It’s ironic that the chemicals we’re deploying in vain for one health crisis are actually fueling another,” said Erica Hartmann, a co-author and professor at Northwestern University. “Antimicrobial resistance was already contributing to millions of deaths per year before the pandemic. Overzealous disinfection, especially with products containing QACs, threaten to make it worse.” --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
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