Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has signed off on a new set of operating rules for the independent panel of experts responsible for shaping the CDC’s official vaccine recommendations. The move, part of Kennedy’s latest effort to reshape the country’s vaccine policy, follows a March court order that temporarily blocked the work of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunizati...
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has signed off on a new set of operating rules for the independent panel of experts responsible for shaping the CDC’s official vaccine recommendations. The move, part of Kennedy’s latest effort to reshape the country’s vaccine policy, follows a March court order that temporarily blocked the work of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, and put some of its previous moves on hold. The update substantially expands the committee's mandate, moving beyond its traditional role of strictly advising on domestic vaccine administration to overseeing a much wider range of public health initiatives. In a statement on Thursday, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon described the renewal of the committee’s charter as “routine statutory requirements” that “do not signal any broader policy shift,” CNN reported. “Unless officially announced by HHS, any assertions about next steps are speculation,” Nixon added. Additions to the committee’s charter, or rulebook, include several points that have long been priorities of groups that advocate against the use of vaccines. The charter now puts a focus on “identifying gaps in vaccine safety research, including adverse effects following vaccination.” The committee has also been directed to consider the “cumulative effects” of giving all recommended childhood vaccines and considering ingredients in vaccines, such as aluminum, which is added to vaccines in tiny amounts to boost the body’s immune response to them. Additionally, ACIP is now specifically tasked with considering “novel vaccine platforms such as mRNA vaccines” – the technology behind two of the Covid-19 vaccines available in the US – and reviewing the vaccine schedules used by other countries. ACIP shall also employ a transparent, evidence-driven decision-making process in developingrecommendations. The committee shall review clinical data, listen to expert presentations, andconsult with subject matter exper...
Game could be held back without radical change, it says It wants more competitive games for young players Sue Day, the Football Association’s director of women’s football, has defended the governing body’s plans to radically change the structure of the women’s lower leagues, including introducing four Women’s Super League academy sides into third tier, saying she believes the game is at a “crucial...
Game could be held back without radical change, it says It wants more competitive games for young players Sue Day, the Football Association’s director of women’s football, has defended the governing body’s plans to radically change the structure of the women’s lower leagues, including introducing four Women’s Super League academy sides into third tier, saying she believes the game is at a “crucial turning point”. On Tuesday the Guardian revealed the proposals , which also include a mid-season split in tier three, a financial package of about £1m and enhancements to the loan system, as well as more relegation spots and playoffs in tier four, as part of a major transformation of the Women’s National League’s structure. Reaction has been mixed, with some third-tier coaches heavily critical . Continue reading...
Image Source/DigitalVision via Getty Images Foreword What Is the S&P 600? "The S&P 600 is an index of small-cap stocks managed by Standard & Poor's . It tracks a broad range of small-sized companies that meet specific liquidity and stability requirements. This is determined by specific metrics such as public float, market capitalization, and financial viability, among other factors. KEY TAKEAWAYS ...
Image Source/DigitalVision via Getty Images Foreword What Is the S&P 600? "The S&P 600 is an index of small-cap stocks managed by Standard & Poor's . It tracks a broad range of small-sized companies that meet specific liquidity and stability requirements. This is determined by specific metrics such as public float, market capitalization, and financial viability, among other factors. KEY TAKEAWAYS The S&P 600 is a benchmark index for small-cap stocks published by Standard & Poor's. To be listed on the S&P 600, stocks must have a market cap of $850 million to $3.6 billion, preventing overlap with S&P's larger cap indices. Several index ETFs and mutual funds allow investors to track the performance of the S&P 600 small-cap index. The main reason to invest in small caps is that they have more room to grow than large caps. Small-cap stocks are not as closely followed by professional analysts, allowing investors to "get in" on these companies while they're flying under Wall Street's radar. Understanding the S&P 600 The S&P SmallCap 600 Index was established by Standard & Poor's (the creator of the S&P 500). It uses a capitalization-weighted index to broadly track the performance of small-cap stocks on the U.S. equities market. It includes 600 companies and represents close to 3% of the U.S. market. Unlike many other small-cap benchmarks, the S&P 600 has an earnings requirement, which is used to ensure the quality of the stocks included and hedge against volatility. To be included, a company must have a market capitalization between $1 billion and $6.7 billion. It must also: Be a U.S. company Maintain at least 10% of its shares outstanding Have positive earnings for both its most recent quarter and the sum of its trailing four consecutive quarters." -Investopedia.com To conform to dogcatcher standards market capitalization was limited to between $400M and $2B. While 3 in this collection of 49 S&P600 small cap dividend stocks are too pricey and reveal only skinny dividends,...