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Azusa Lippit, Assistant Managing Editor
December 26, 2020
After four years of dramatic changes to the presidential administration both in replacements and the full elimination of certain positions, President-Elect Joe Biden’s nominations for the top positions of his cabinet were highly anticipated. “It’s a team that reflects the fact that America is back,” Biden explained during his first announcement, “[We are] ready to lead the world, not retreat from it.” Standouts within his nominations include Linda Thomas-Greenfield as United Nations Ambassador, Jake Sullivan as National Security Advisor, and former Secretary of State John Kerry as Climate Czar, a new position to demonstrate Biden’s commitment to fighting climate change. Nominated amidst newfound celebrity and name recognition, Dr. Anthony Fauci is to serve as Chief Medical Advisor on COVID-19 alongside California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, nominated as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Most notable, however, are Biden’s nominations for Treasury Secretary and Secretary of State, Janet Yellen and Antony Blinken respectively.
Distributing the Vaccine Is Half the Battle
December 23, 2020
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, pharmaceutical companies have worked at unprecedented speeds to develop a vaccine. Pfizer/BioNTech, along with Cambridge-based Moderna, recently began delivering their vaccines to Massachusetts hospitals and first responders. The public may begin to receive them according to a plan outlined by Governor Charlie Baker. The plan follows a three phase release that targets different populations to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficient usage. The first phase, which is already underway, will go towards front line medical workers. The second phase, slated to begin in mid-February, sees around 1.9 million vaccines distributed with priority given to those 65 and older as well as those with preexisting conditions that make them especially vulnerable. Most of the educators and faculty who work at CRLS will be able to receive the vaccine during this phase. As for lower-risk CRLS students and the rest of the population, the current time frame is mid-April. [pullquote speaker="" photo="" align="left" background="off" border="none" shadow="off"]There is much to be optimistic about as a return to normalcy nears[/pullquote] Although a plan is in place, the logistics of distribution may prove to be a significant challenge. For one, both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines must be kept at an extremely cold temperature right up to their use. Pfizer’s case is especially extreme, requiring a minimum temperature of negative 94 degrees Fahrenheit. Moderna, while still requiring refrigeration, is less of an issue to the supply chain as it only needs to be stored at negative four degrees fahrenheit. Another hurdle to the vaccine’s success is ensuring that everyone gets it. There is currently no fast track for delivering the vaccine to incarcerated people, who are one of the most at risk populations. The requirement of refrigeration means that for many rural communities, gaining immunity may mean a lot of transportation, at their own cost. A solution to this was touted by Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, who pushed for a National Vaccination Day for everyone to get it at once, which might bring up additional issues related to l
December 23, 2020
2020 is a year that has been characterized by bad events. Since we’ve almost gotten past this disastrous year, let's look back at some of the more notable events. The Fires: In Australia, the 2020 bushfire season, which began in June of last year and ended in May of this year, ravaged the country’s forests. Grimly named the “Black Summer,” an estimated 18.6 million hectares of land were affected by the fires. In New South Wales alone, around 800 million animals were killed by bushfires. The fires have cost the Australian government over $100 billion dollars in damages. In California, the wildfire season of 2020 also caused massive amounts of destruction. Many millions of acres of land were burned, making this season the most destructive in California’s history. These fires are a grim sign of the path the world is taking down the road of climate change.