UTMB awarded nearly $25M by US Dept. of Defense to develop vaccines in collaboration with Moderna
The University of Texas Medical Branch was awarded an agreement of nearly $25 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop prototype vaccines against multiple diseases in collaboration with Moderna on Monday.
KPRC & UTMB Health Athlete of the Week: Klein Cain’s Ramir McCray
The Klein Cain Hurricanes entered this season again projected to go deep in the playoffs, but were dealt a blow when star running back Jaydon Blue decided to sit out his senior season before he plays football at the University of Texas.
The Hobby Center Enacts New COVID Safety Protocols And How History May Be On Vaccine Mandate’s Side – Houston Public Media
The director of biosafety for research-related infectious pathogens at UTMB Health in Galveston recounts how George Washington led the first mass military inoculation in history against smallpox.
houstonpublicmedia.orgRegeneron antibody therapy available to COVID-19 patients with certain risk factors
After Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement Tuesday that he tested positive for Covid 19, his communications director says he is receiving the Regeneron antibody infusion therapy.Governor Abbott said he was not feeling any symptoms which has sparked some questions as to who is able to get the monoclonal antibody treatment.
UTMB administers first doses of coronavirus vaccine to frontline workers
GALVESTON, Texas – The first coronavirus vaccine has arrived in the Houston area, including UTMB Galveston and other local hospitals. Frontline workers at UTMB were among the first to receive the vaccination, about three hours after the hospital received its shipment of the Pfizer vaccine. A nurse who has been working with coronavirus patients was the first UTMB employee to receive the shot, followed by an intensive care unit doctor. “The shot didn’t hurt more than any other shot,” said nurse Roy Christian. As the vaccine begins to make its way to Houston and across the US, it will likely be months before doses are widely available for everyone at U.S. drugstores and doctors’ offices.
UTMB Health expected to lay off 200 as budget falls short by $174M, officials say in letter
Raimer said there is a $174 million budget shortfall, due in large part to the financial crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “We anticipate approximately 200 positions, or 1.5% of our workforce, will ultimately be eliminated as we close the budget gap,” Raimer wrote in the letter. “Concurrently, some departmental reorganizations also will be implemented over the next several weeks.”UTMB Health letter on layoffs (KPRC)The hospital system tried to hold off layoffs by having employees take one day off per week, using vacation time for eight weeks. They also tried to hold off on giving upper-level staff bonuses as a cost-cutting measure. UTMB Health has operations in Galveston, League City, Webster and Angleton and clinics across Southeast Texas.
Watch Galvestons virtual Juneteenth celebration
GALVESTON, Texas The Galveston Historical Foundation, Galveston Island and UTMB Health will host a Facebook Live of the 41st annual Al Edwards Juneteenth Celebration from 10 a.m. to noon. The celebration includes a reading of General Orders No. 3., which was originally read by Union General Gordon Granger at Ashton Villa on June 19, 1865. The orders informed Galveston of the Emancipation Proclamation, more than two years after the proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. The celebration is named after Edwards, a member of the Texas House who was the author of the 1979 bill that made Juneteenth a paid holiday in the state.