- Hopeful news from Moderna about Covid-19 vaccine: 94.5% effective
- Tesla to be included in the S&P 500 index
- New restrictions due to increasing coronavirus cases in the US
Hopeful News From Moderna About Covid-19 Vaccine: 94.5% effective
Moderna, funded by Bill Gates, announced that the coronavirus vaccine, named MRNA-1273, was 94.5 percent effective based on the tested it went through.
While it was noted that the vaccine candidate tried in 30 thousand people prevented the most serious Covid-19 infections, it was stated that it had some side effects. While the vaccine candidate can remain undisturbed in refrigerator conditions at 2 to 8 degrees for 30 days, it contains the new technology “mRNA”, just like the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine.
In the statement made, “The developed Covid-19 vaccine candidate has a longer shelf life at refrigerator temperature. The Covid-19 vaccine candidate is expected to continue to maintain its stability for 30 days at the standard refrigerator temperature in the range of 2-8 degrees. Here we have to remind about the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine that also has been effective 90% but had distribution issues since it only could be kept at minimum – 70 degrees.
Moderna vaccine currently awaiting FDA approval to send millions of doses of vaccine. We are on the way to global production in the range of 500 million-1 billion doses in 2021. Chairman of the Board of the company Dr. Stephen Hoge described the announced success rate as “a really important turning point”, “This should give us hope that a vaccine can actually stop the pandemic and hopefully return to our old lives. Moderna alone cannot solve this problem. Many vaccines will be needed to meet global demand.” he spoke.
Tesla to be Included in the S&P 500 Index
According to the statement made by S&P Global, electric vehicle and clean energy company, Tesla will be included in the S&P 500 index as of December 21, as the biggest new member in history.
Elon Musk’s 17-year venture, Tesla Inc., will participate in the S&P 500, one of the world’s most famous stock indices.
To be mentioned, Tesla now is valued at more than Toyota, Disney, and Coca-Cola, with a market cap of around $387 billion. Tesla’s market value nearly doubled with the rally this year and reached $387 billion. The company to replace Tesla in the index of 500 companies will be determined later.
Tesla shares rose by up to 15 percent after the announcement of joining the S&P 500 to $467.50.
Tesla’s participation in the S&P 500 also paves the way for investors and funds that follow the index to invest in the company. The expectation that the company would enter the S&P 500 was one of the main factors of the Tesla rally in recent months.
Tesla has emerged as one of the most valuable companies included in the S&P 500. Tesla’s market value is more than 95% of the companies currently included in the S&P 500.
New Restrictions due to Increasing Coronavirus Cases in the US
With the number of covid cases exceeding 11 million across the US, governors of some states are introducing new restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced restrictions on indoor dining, face-to-face lectures for high school and college students, and public events in casinos and movie theaters. Meetings held at home were also limited to 10 people, more is banned.
“We are in the worst moment of the epidemic ever. The situation has never been so dire. We are on the edge of the abyss and we need to act,” Whitmer told reporters.
In the northwest of the country, Washington state Governor Jay Inslee also banned indoor dining and instructed retail stores to limit the number of customers to 25 percent capacity. Outdoor gatherings were limited to five people, while those who did not live in the same house were prohibited from meeting indoors.
According to Johns Hopkins University, about 150,000 new cases were recorded per day in the United States last week, with an increase in the number of cases in many states across the country. More than 246 thousand people have died in America so far due to the virus.
Infectious diseases experts said that President Donald Trump’s refusal to admit that he lost the election against Democrat Joe Biden prevented him from handing over key information about pandemic situation to Biden’s team.
One of Biden’s epidemic consultants said that: “It is in the country’s interest for the transition team to know the threat situation. We need to understand vaccine distribution plans, know where stocks are, the status of masks and gloves, there is a lot of information to be talked about. He can’t wait until the last minute. ”
