The Massachusetts state Senate joined the state House of Representatives Tuesday in passing legislation that enshrines abortion rights in state law and expands access to 16-year-olds. The move by the two chambers overrides Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto of the measure last week. The ROE Act, as it’s called, will allow abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy in cases with a fatal fetal anomaly and in instances when a physician deems it necessary “to preserve the patient’s physical or mental health.” It also lowers the age at which individuals can seek an abortion without the consent of a parent or a judge from 18 to 16.

Source: Massachusetts Senate Overrides Veto, Passes Law Expanding Abortion Access : NPR

“Pardoning the Blackwater contractors is an affront to justice and to the victims of the Nisour Square massacre and their families,” said Jelena Aparac, chair of the U.N. working group on the use of mercenaries, said in a statement.

The Geneva Conventions oblige states to hold war criminals accountable for their crimes, even when they act as private security contractors, the U.N. experts said.

“These pardons violate U.S. obligations under international law and more broadly undermine humanitarian law and human rights at a global level.”

Source: Trump pardon of Blackwater Iraq contractors violates international law – U.N. | Reuters

Source: Argentina: el sexto país de América Latina y el Caribe en dar luz verde al aborto legal – Cosecha Roja

Source: ‘Vaccine diplomacy’ sees Egypt roll out Chinese coronavirus jab | Global health | The Guardian

Source: Photo: Snow blankets parts of Southern California – Los Angeles Times

In Los Angeles County, EMTs “are assessing patients and releasing them to stay at home, because they aren’t quite sick enough to need hospital-level care. … If they did come to the hospital, they may not get the type of attention that they might expect,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, the California health and human services secretary.

Many hospitals are now going to contingency care, in which staffers work longer hours and wards are reconfigured to take more patients. The next step could be “crisis care,” in which more medical rationing would occur.

Source: Paramedics leave some patients at home amid hospital COVID-19 surge – Los Angeles Times

Source: Lebanon Reports Record High of 2,878 Daily Covid-19 Cases — Naharnet

“We know from the vaccine clinical trials that it’s going to take about 10 to 14 days for you to start to develop protection from the vaccine,” said Dr. Ramers.

Dr. Ramers says he knows of several other local cases where health care workers became infected around the time they received the vaccine. He says all the cases illustrate the fact that results aren’t immediate. Even after you start receiving some protection, it won’t be full protection.

“That first dose we think gives you somewhere around 50%, and you need that second dose to get up to 95%,” said Dr. Ramers.

Dr. Ramers says Matthew’s story also shows that even with vaccines, the pandemic isn’t going to turn around instantly.

“You hear heath practitioners being very optimistic about it being the beginning of the end, but it’s going to be a slow roll, weeks to months as we roll out the vaccine,” said Dr. Ramers.

He adds this case is a good reminder of why masks, handwashing, and other COVID protocols are important, even after receiving the vaccine.

Source: ER nurse tests positive for COVID-19 eight days after receiving vaccine

The Swedish company said it will carry out the process in its drug product manufacturing facility located in France.

Source: Sweden’s Recipharm to help make Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine outside US – The Jerusalem Post