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Now in its 7th edition, the Bilateral Chamber’s annual Healthcare Insights newsletter provides another informative installment in our Global Rebound 2021 Series. We are also proud to spotlight our own Bilateral Chamber member, Houston Methodist Hospital System, and their latest initiatives and extraordinary achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
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COVID Data Tracker (Per CDC)
U.S. Data As of February 12, 2021
Cases Reported - 27,127,858
Total Vaccines Administered - 46,390,270
Deaths Reported - 470,110
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Daily Trends in Number of COVID-19 Cases in US Reported to CDC
Blue Bars = Daily Cases Reported
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Red Line = 7 Day Moving Average Trend
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| Source: 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
Trends in Number of COVID-19 Vaccinations in the US
Source: 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Global Percentage Change in Cases Reported in Past 7 Days
Source: 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Upcoming Healthcare Insight Series Webinar
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Air Travel in the COVID-19 Era: The Role of Airports and Airlines
in Ensuring Safe Travel
Date: Thursday, February 18, 2021
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Central Standard Time (US) | UTC -6
Webinar
Join us for an informative discussion with high-level aviation-sector executives whose organizations are taking extraordinary measures to ensure that air travel, in the
COVID-19 era, remains the safest method of transportation.
Distinguished Panelists
Before the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the aviation industry was improving at a steady pace across the globe. According to ICAO estimates, the total number of passengers carried on scheduled air services was at record levels of approximately 4.5 billion passengers in 2019, which was 3.6% higher than in 2018. By Spring, 2020, as a result of lockdowns, bans, and public fear of COVID-19 exposure, global passenger air travel fell by more than 71% on average, with some countries reaching more than a 90% decline.
Although air travel has historically been an extremely safe method of travel, airports and airlines are continuing to face many challenges and headwinds to return passenger traffic to pre-pandemic levels. As a result, they are taking extraordinary COVID-19 mitigation measures to ensure passengers that air travel continues to be the safest method of international travel.
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Global COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout: The Role of Key Supply-Chain Organizations
Date: TBD
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Central Time/GMT-0600
Webinar
Join
us for a frank and candid discussion with current transportation-sector
executives whose organizations are playing key supply-chain roles in
support of Operation Warp Speed as they share their perspectives and
views on the
current status and future of the Global COVID-19 Vaccine
Distribution.
Source: Reuters
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Source: American Airlines
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On May 15, 2020, The White House announced Operation Warp Speed, an optimistic plan to accelerate development, production, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics to deliver safe and effective vaccines to the public. One of the key elements of Operation Warp Speed required the successful and timely development of a logistically-challenging supply-chain network for delivery of approved COVID-19 vaccines.
The Bilateral Chamber of Commerce will be joined by an esteemed panel of senior executives representing key COVID-19 supply-chain organizations who will discuss the unprecedented efforts undertaken to develop, maintain, refine and expand the COVID-19 supply and distribution network as vaccine production continues to increase.
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Supporting Organizations
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Healthcare Insight Series
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Dr. Peter Hotez: World-renowned Expert Discusses
COVID-19 Vaccine and Global Impact
January 14, 2021
On January 14, the Bilateral Chamber hosted a webinar with Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D., an internationally recognized physician-scientist in neglected tropical diseases and vaccine development. In this informative webinar, Dr. Peter Hotez provided attendees with a comprehensive overview of the origins and nature of the COVID-19 virus, the mitigation efforts and protocols being deployed by public and private entities across the globe, and the rollout of immunization efforts underway to ultimately achieve global “herd immunity”.
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In Coordination With:
Special Thanks To:
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Member Spotlight: Houston Methodist
Hospital System
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As an integral part of the U.S. Operation Warp Speed and the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston Methodist Hospital System has played a critical role in research of the COVID-19 virus, treatment of those stricken, deployment of mitigation efforts and immunization of the U.S. population with FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines.
We are proud to showcase Bilateral Chamber member Houston Methodist Hospital and its accomplishments in this important healthcare sector. Houston Methodist was established in 1919 during the height of Spanish influenza. Over 102 years later, Houston Methodist is at the forefront of the COVID-19 global pandemic. During these challenging times, Houston Methodist has created a dedicated page where you can find information about the virus, updates regarding the vaccine, vaccine distribution, available treatments, and more. Below, we highlight this resource and Houston Methodist’s effort in medical advancements and its doctors’ and scientists' hard work.
We are very grateful to Houston Methodist, its leadership, and experts for their dedication to not just practicing medicine but leading it.
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Coronavirus Resource Center
Houston Methodist has created a dedicated coronavirus resource center on its website. Click here to access the website, which includes more information on the following:
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- COVID-19 Testing & Vaccines
- New COVID-19 Treatments Available at Houston Methodist: Monoclonal Antibody Therapy
- COVID-19 FAQ
- Donate Plasma for COVID-19 Patients
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From COVID-19 Vaccines to Future Therapies, Here's How mRNA is Used
The first COVID-19 vaccines, the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, have brought RNA out of obscurity and into the spotlight. But while mRNA may sound new, it's actually been studied intensively for decades. Only recently, however, have scientists overcome the barriers to generating a vaccine or drug using it.
And now? "RNA therapeutics is going to be the medicine of the future," says Dr. John Cooke, medical director of the RNA Therapeutics Program at Houston Methodist.
Learn more about the challenges faced while successfully incorporating mRNA into a vaccine, as well as how our RNA Therapeutics Program team is using mRNA to develop future therapeutics.
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“The Momentum is Starting”: COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
Ramps Up in Houston
February 5, 2021 - More than 400,000 doses will be arriving in Texas next week, with 50,625 coming to Harris County. And next week, pharmacies will start getting their first shipments. Also this weekend, Houston Methodist is hosting three separate mega vaccination sites.
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Beginning Friday until Sunday, Houston Methodist in Sugar Land is hosting its first vaccine mega site. “We’ve spent the last really 8 days, I guess, planning the event which is going on right now, on our campus," said Houston Methodist Sugar Land CEO Chris Siebenaler.
Siebenaler said it’s one of three mega events happening this weekend, as the hospital system plans give 55,000 doses to the public. “It’s not only rewarding for our patients and community, but honestly, it’s rewarding for each of us too," Siebenaler said.
As of today, Houston Methodist has given out roughly 142,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, Memorial Hermann has distributed more than 79,000, and Harris County and Houston Health Departments together have given out nearly 78,000 doses. And more are on the way.
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| Thank you to our President's Circle |
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