Coronavirus US: which states will want to lift the indoor mask mandate? – AS USA

Coronavirus US: which states will want to lift the indoor mask mandate? – AS USA

Incidence of venous thromboembolism following COVID-19 vaccination – News-Medical.Net

Incidence of venous thromboembolism following COVID-19 vaccination – News-Medical.Net

April 23, 2022

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* pre-print server, researchers investigated the association between genetic predisposition to venous thromboembolism (VTE) and increased risk of thrombosis post coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) involves deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and predominantly affects older individuals. VTE affects nearly 10 million people globally every year and leads to considerable morbidity and mortality. Although studies have shown that COVID-19 vaccination is linked to a higher risk of VTE, it is not clear if a genetic predisposition to VTE plays a role in the increased risk of thrombosis post-vaccination.

In the current study, the researchers used UK Biobank (UKBB) data containing information related to in-depth genotyping data and associated vaccination and health outcomes to generate a polygenic risk score (PRS). They used 299 genetic variants identified in a previous study on large genome-wide association.

The UK Biobank is a prospective cohort with more than 500,000 individuals from England (89%), Scotland (4%), and Wales (7%) between 2006 and 2010. The age of these individuals at baseline enrolment was in the range of 40 to 69 years. The Biobank data comprised comprehensive information about demographics, lifestyle factors, socioeconomics, medical history, and physical metrics collected using questionnaires and standardized measurements.

The team prospectively evaluated associations between incident VTE and PRS post first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccination. They performed sensitivity analyses stratified based on vaccine type (mRNA or adenovirus vaccine) and used two historical cohorts that were unvaccinated. The hazard ratios (HR) for PRS-VTE associations were estimated using Cox models.

In the vaccinated cohorts, all UKBB participants from England who had received at least one dose of ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccines between December 2, 2020, and September 31, 2021, were included. The team followed up the eligible participants from the vaccination date to outcome, death, or the end of the follow-up period at 28 and 90 days, whichever happened first. Participants from Scotland or Wales were not included in this cohort because of the lack of vaccination records at the time of this study.

A total of 359,310 individuals received a single COVID-19 vaccine dose, of which 44.6% or 160,327 were males, and the mean age was 69.05 years on the vaccination date. On 28- and 90-day follow up after first-dose vaccination, 88 and 299 patients developed VTE, respectively, which was equivalent to a 0.88 and 0.92 incidence rate per 100,000 person-days. This association between VTE and PRS slightly decreased after the second dose vaccination in the 28- and 90-days follow-up period.

The results showed that the PRS was significantly associated with an increased risk of VTE. The team found similar associations in the two vaccine dose cohort and the historical unvaccinated cohorts after stratification by vaccine type. Of the 221,875 vaccine recipients whose vaccine-type information was available, 172 83,816 received BNT162b2 and 138,059 received ChAdOx1. Similar PRS-VTE associations were observed across each vaccine dose and follow-up period. HR ranged between 1.24 and 1.63 in the ChAdOx1 cohort and between 1.20 and 1.38 in the BNT162b2 cohort.

Interestingly, the VTE incidence rates in the BNT162b2 cohort were nearly twice as high as the incidence rates in the ChAdOx1 cohort. This was expected because the BNT162b2 vaccine was approved first in the UK and was prioritized among the older, more vulnerable populations.

The study results support several conclusions. First, the data showed that genetic susceptibility to VTE is a risk factor for VTE following COVID-19 vaccination. Second, this genetic susceptibility was independent of conventional risk factors including obesity, old age, and comorbidity, as evidenced by the lack of associations between the baseline characteristics and PRS.

Third, data from the historical comparison arm suggests that clinically significant interactions are unlikely between the genetic background of individuals and COVID-19 vaccination. This has specific implications for hereditary VTE patients with predisposing traits who are vaccine-hesitant due to concerns related to vaccine safety signals. Fourth, using the genetic score, the team found that 5% of the participants had an over two-fold higher VTE risk, which is of great public health relevance as it can inform intervention policies in the vaccinated population.

To summarize, the study findings show that the genetic determinants of developing VTE following COVID-19 vaccination are similar to those found in historical data. This indicates that post-COVID-19 vaccine VTE has a similar etiology as conventional VTE, at the population level. In addition, the observed associations between PRS and VTE were equivalent for mRNA and adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccines.

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.


Here is the original post:
Incidence of venous thromboembolism following COVID-19 vaccination - News-Medical.Net
New COVID-19 vaccines are in the works, but how much will they help? –  The Atlanta Journal Constitution

New COVID-19 vaccines are in the works, but how much will they help? – The Atlanta Journal Constitution

April 23, 2022

A vaccine dose that remains in the vial is 0% effective no matter what the clinical trial showed, Dr. Walter Orenstein, a former director at the Center for Disease Control and Preventions immunization program and a professor at the Emory Vaccine Center, said.

Two years after COVID vaccines started going into arms, they are still highly protective in warding off severe disease and hospitalization. Even so, the protection offered by COVID vaccines has been found to wane within a few months. According to the CDC, COVID vaccines are 91% effective in preventing hospitalization during the first two months but drop to 78% after four months. Booster shots were cleared by the FDA to extend the protection, but vaccine experts say the prospect of taking a booster two or more times a year will be challenging.

Its not a feasible strategy, said Dr. Glen Nowak, a UGA professor and expert in public health communications who spent 14 years at the CDC. We havent convinced many people that they should get one additional dose of the vaccine.

Vaccine experts said that any new vaccines that hit the market will need to require less frequent booster shots or tackle multiple viruses at the same time to gain traction among an increasingly shot-resistant country. Scientists said those are tall tasks to accomplish, especially as the coronavirus continues to mutate at a rapid pace.

Todays COVID vaccines are all based on the original version of the coronavirus.

However, the delta and omicron variants led to more breakthrough cases among vaccinated populations, expediting the need for new and improved vaccines.

That first omicron variant reminded everybody that you better keep doing research because this virus changes, Caplan said.

On Tuesday, Moderna announced that an updated version of its vaccine based on one of the coronavirus first mutations, the beta strain, was able to produce more antibodies capable of fighting several variants including omicron than todays booster shots.

Georgians are helping with that research. Dr. Lilly Immergluck, a vaccine trial unit co-director at Morehouse School of Medicine, is leading a clinical trial using updated versions of Modernas vaccine. She said theyre testing six different vaccines based on coronavirus variants, including beta, delta and omicron, to see how effective they are at preventing infection and serious illness over the next year.

Morehouse School of Medicine is among 24 sites across the U.S. participating in the clinical trial, and theyre recruiting participants through early May.

Dr. Baozhong Wang, a professor at Georgia States Institute for Biomedical Sciences, said updated vaccines are within the reach of modern science and can be ready by the end of this year.

The true issue will be determining what strains should be used as templates for updating the coronavirus booster shots a perennial problem for the seasonal influenza vaccine., Wang said in an email.

A new and even more effective vaccine doesnt solve a key obstacle: Not enough people are getting vaccinated.

I dont think (vaccine hesitancy) is going to disappear. Its very entrenched, so thats why I dont think you can vaccinate your way out of COVID, Caplan said.

Currently, 56% of Georgians are fully vaccinated, but that number has remained stagnant for the past few months. It took from February 7 to April 7 for the state to increase a single percentile.

Given that only 55% of Americans received their flu vaccine this past winter, annual shots might not be a long-term solution for country-wide immunity. Vaccine developers are searching for a one-shot solution to potentially address that issue, but it would be an unprecedented medical discovery. Caplan said the challenge could be similar to that of developing a vaccine for HIV, which has eluded scientists due to the viruss quick mutations.

The ability for people to become reinfected with COVID, just like the flu, means its a completely different situation from developing the vaccines that nearly eradicated measles and polio, Orenstein said.

Many types of vaccines, called mRNA vaccines, target the virus spike protein, which is how viruses enter and infect human cells. The spike protein for measles and polio doesnt change, allowing for vaccines to provide lifelong protection.

The flu and coronaviruses have spike proteins that mutate often, requiring reformulated vaccines and multiple shots.

There are scientific studies underway searching for a pan-coronavirus vaccine, sometimes called a universal vaccine, which would provide long-term protection against COVID and its variants. But those efforts have been attempted with the flu for decades and have yet to yield a miracle shot.

To do better than Mother Nature is a challenge, Orenstein said.


Here is the original post:
New COVID-19 vaccines are in the works, but how much will they help? - The Atlanta Journal Constitution
Novavax Announces Initiation of COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Study in Adolescents in Phase 3 PREVENT-19 Trial – BioSpace

Novavax Announces Initiation of COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Study in Adolescents in Phase 3 PREVENT-19 Trial – BioSpace

April 23, 2022

GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Novavax. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, has initiated administration of the first booster doses of NVX-CoV2373, the company's protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, in the pediatric expansion of the PREVENT-19 pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial. The study will evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a third dose of NVX-CoV2373 among trial participants aged 12 through 17.

"We see the ongoing need for alternative vaccine options because we are continuing to monitor spikes in COVID-19," said Gregory M. Glenn, M.D., President, Research and Development, Novavax. "The expansion of our PREVENT-19 booster trial into the pediatric population reinforces our commitment to seek to make our vaccine available to a broader population."

All PREVENT-19 trial participants aged 12 through 17 are now eligible to receive a third booster dose of NVX-CoV2373. The booster dose is identical to the active vaccine previously administered to the participants in a two-dose regimen (5 micrograms of recombinant spike protein plus 50 micrograms of Matrix-M adjuvant) and may be administered at least five months after receipt of active vaccine. Post-booster objectives include the assessment of the humoral immune response 28 days after the administration of the booster dose, as well as describing COVID-19 disease. Initial results are expected during the second half of 2022.

Findings from the pediatric expansion of the PREVENT-19 pivotal Phase 3 trial were announced in February.

Authorization in the U.S.

NVX-CoV2373 has not yet been authorized for use in the U.S. by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

About NVX-CoV2373

NVX-CoV2373 is a protein-based vaccine engineered from the genetic sequence of the first strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. NVX-CoV2373 was created using Novavax' recombinant nanoparticle technology to generate antigen derived from the coronavirus spike (S) protein and is formulated with Novavax' patented saponin-based Matrix-M adjuvant to enhance the immune response and stimulate high levels of neutralizing antibodies. NVX-CoV2373 contains purified protein antigen and can neither replicate, nor can it cause COVID-19.

Novavax' COVID-19 vaccine is packaged as a ready-to-use liquid formulation in a vial containing ten doses. The vaccination regimen calls for two 0.5 ml doses (5 mcg antigen and 50 mcg Matrix-M adjuvant) given intramuscularly 21 days apart. The vaccine is stored at 2- 8 Celsius, enabling the use of existing vaccine supply and cold chain channels. Use of the vaccine should be in accordance with official recommendations.

Novavax has established partnerships for the manufacture, commercialization and distribution of NVX-CoV2373 worldwide. Existing authorizations leverage Novavax' manufacturing partnership with Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume. They will later be supplemented with data from additional manufacturing sites throughout Novavax' global supply chain.

About the NVX-CoV2373 Phase 3 Trials

NVX-CoV2373 is being evaluated in two pivotal Phase 3 trials.

PREVENT-19 (thePRE-fusion protein subunitVaccineEfficacyNovavaxTrial | COVID-19) is a 2:1 randomized, placebo-controlled, observer-blinded trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of NVX-CoV2373 with Matrix-Madjuvant in 29,960 participants 18 years of age and older in 119 locations inthe U.S.andMexico. The primary endpoint for PREVENT-19 was the first occurrence of PCR-confirmed symptomatic (mild, moderate or severe) COVID-19 with onset at least 7 days after the second dose in serologically negative (to SARS-CoV-2) adult participants at baseline. The statistical success criterion included a lower bound of 95% CI >30%. A secondary endpoint was the prevention of PCR-confirmed, symptomatic moderate or severe COVID-19. Both endpoints were assessed at least seven days after the second study vaccination in volunteers who had not been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. In the trial, NVX-CoV2373 achieved 90.4% efficacy overall. It was generally well-tolerated and elicited a robust antibody response after the second dose in both studies. Full results of the trial were published in theNew England Journal of Medicine(NEJM).

PREVENT-19 is being conducted with support from the U.S. government, including the Department of Defense, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health at HHS. BARDA is providing up to$1.75 billionunder a Department of Defense agreement.

Additionally, a trial conducted in the U.K. with 14,039 participants aged 18 years and older was designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled, observer-blinded study and achieved overall efficacy of 89.7%. The primary endpoint was based on the first occurrence of PCR-confirmed symptomatic (mild, moderate or severe) COVID-19 with onset at least 7 days after the second study vaccination in serologically negative (to SARS-CoV-2) adult participants at baseline. Full results of the trial were published inNEJM.

About Matrix-MAdjuvant

Novavax' patented saponin-based Matrix-Madjuvant has demonstrated a potent and well-tolerated effect by stimulating the entry of antigen-presenting cells into the injection site and enhancing antigen presentation in local lymph nodes, boosting immune response.

About Novavax

Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) is a biotechnology company that promotes improved health globally through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases. The company's proprietary recombinant technology platform harnesses the power and speed of genetic engineering to efficiently produce highly immunogenic nanoparticles designed to address urgent global health needs. NVX-CoV2373, the company's COVID-19 vaccine, has received conditional authorization from multiple regulatory authorities globally, including the European Commission and the World Health Organization. The vaccine is also under review by multiple regulatory agencies worldwide. In addition to its COVID-19 vaccine, Novavax is evaluating a COVID-seasonal influenza combination vaccine in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, which combines NVX-CoV2373 and its quadrivalent influenza investigational vaccine candidate previously known as NanoFlu*. These vaccine candidates incorporate Novavax' proprietary saponin-based Matrix-M adjuvant to enhance the immune response and stimulate high levels of neutralizing antibodies.

For more information, visitwww.novavax.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

*NanoFlu identifies a recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) protein nanoparticle influenza vaccine candidate produced by Novavax. This investigational candidate was evaluated during a controlled phase 3 trial conducted during the 2019-2020 influenza season.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements herein relating to the future of Novavax, its operating plans and prospects, its partnerships, the timing of clinical trial results, including the PREVENT-19 booster study in adolescents results expected during the second half of 2022, the ongoing development of NVX-CoV2373, including its COVID-19-influenza combination vaccine candidate, the scope, timing and outcome of future regulatory filings and actions, including Novavax' plans to supplement existing authorizations with data from the additional manufacturing sites in Novavax' global supply chain, additional worldwide authorizations of NVX-CoV2373, the potential impact and reach of Novavax and NVX-CoV2373 in addressing vaccine access, controlling the pandemic, and protecting populations, and the efficacy, safety and intended utilization of NVX-CoV2373 are forward-looking statements. Novavax cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, challenges satisfying, alone or together with partners, various safety, efficacy, and product characterization requirements, including those related to process qualification and assay validation, necessary to satisfy applicable regulatory authorities; difficulty obtaining scarce raw materials and supplies; resource constraints, including human capital and manufacturing capacity, on the ability of Novavax to pursue planned regulatory pathways; challenges meeting contractual requirements under agreements with multiple commercial, governmental, and other entities; and those other risk factors identified in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of Novavax' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. You are encouraged to read our filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov and www.novavax.com, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of the statements. Our business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.

Contacts:

InvestorsErika Schultz | 240-268-2022ir@novavax.com

MediaAli Chartan | 240-720-7804Laura Keenan Lindsey | 202-709-7521media@novavax.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novavax-announces-initiation-of-covid-19-vaccine-booster-study-in-adolescents-in-phase-3-prevent-19-trial-301530874.html

SOURCE Novavax, Inc.


View original post here:
Novavax Announces Initiation of COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Study in Adolescents in Phase 3 PREVENT-19 Trial - BioSpace
Japanese QAnon Leader Arrested for Entering COVID-19 Vaccination Site to Save Kids – VICE

Japanese QAnon Leader Arrested for Entering COVID-19 Vaccination Site to Save Kids – VICE

April 23, 2022

AJapanese QAnon group claimed that inoculating children with COVID-19 vaccinations was a crime. Photo:Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images

A leader of a Japanese QAnon group that believes COVID-19 was made up has been arrested for allegedly trespassing into a clinic offering vaccinations for children in Tokyo.

Hiroyuki Kuraoka, a 43-year-old anti-vax activist and former actor, was detained on Wednesday after he entered the facility earlier this month and protested the COVID-19 vaccinations it provided. Kuraoka leads YamatoQ, which describes itself as a Japanese version of the pro-Trump conspiratorial movement QAnon and claims to want to restore the health and safety of young children.

Kuraoka and 11 other members of his group came to the clinic on April 7 and demanded to speak to the clinics director. They reportedly shouted inoculating children with COVID-19 vaccines is a crime and save kids in an hourlong stunt. Police apprehended four members who were standing in the clinics waiting room, in what YamatoQ decried as a clear suppression of citizens activities. The others, including Kuraoka, were allowed to leave.

Anti-vaccination sentiments and activism have persisted in parts of Japan despite a relatively high vaccination rate of 80 percent nationwide, with groups like YamatoQ regularly demonstrating against inoculation and even questioning the very existence of the virus that has killed more than 6 million people worldwide.

Following Kuraokas arrest, his father Jiro Okazaki, an actor known for playing tough guy roles, apologised for his sons actions.

I hope that he will be punished severely by the law to atone for his crime, that he will make amends to everyone who was inconvenienced by this incident, and that he will be rehabilitated and become a person who can be of service to society as soon as possible, he wrote in an online letter.

YamatoQ is one of several Japanese versions of QAnon, a term describing a bunch of conspiracy theories promoting a false reality that the world is run by Satan-worshipping child sex traffickers in government, the media, and powerful businesses. Some disciples of the theory believe former President Trump was waging a global war against those supposedly evil forces.

YamatoQ postulates similar claims that Trump saved many children from Satanists. It also falsely suggests that COVID-19 does not exist and that the vaccine contains a harmful pathogen. Some of the groups videos have been taken down by YouTube for violating community guidelines.

The group is also heading a village revitalization project, in which they hope that YamatoQ members can live and work while growing vegetables and other foods free of pesticides.

Follow Hanako Montgomery onTwitterandInstagram.


Read the original post: Japanese QAnon Leader Arrested for Entering COVID-19 Vaccination Site to Save Kids - VICE
Covid-19, vaccines, and children: what doctors want parents to know – KGUN 9 Tucson News

Covid-19, vaccines, and children: what doctors want parents to know – KGUN 9 Tucson News

April 23, 2022

The Department of Health and Human Service is a paid sponsor of The Morning Blend

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations among children in the U.S. rose to record levels with the spread of the Omicron variant. Though COVID-19 infections in children can range from mild cold-like symptoms to long-term respiratory problems, many parents still have questions about whether a COVID vaccine is an appropriate choice to make for their childs health.

Dr. Ilan Shapiro, Medical Director of Health Education and Wellness, AltaMed talks about the impact of COVID on children and teens. He also address myths and misinformation about vaccines, discuss the anticipated vaccine authorization for children under age 5, and provide insights on a variety of COVID-related topics.

For more information visit: https://www.vaccines.gov/


Go here to read the rest:
Covid-19, vaccines, and children: what doctors want parents to know - KGUN 9 Tucson News
No Cost Vaccinations and Booster Shots Available Throughout the City – Corpus Christi

No Cost Vaccinations and Booster Shots Available Throughout the City – Corpus Christi

April 23, 2022

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX Multiple locations are available next week for COVID-19 vaccines and first and second-dose booster shots. Vaccinations for children are available at no cost with parental consent at all City-County Public Health District vaccination clinics.

Vaccines

The CDC recommends Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine be given to children ages 5 and older administered as a two-dose series, three weeks apart. Individuals aged 5 through 17 must have verbal or written parental consent to receive a Pfizer vaccination.

COVID-19 vaccine third doses are available for the following Pfizer and Moderna vaccine recipients who completed their initial series at least 28 days ago and are:

The CDC recommends immunocompromised people who have received one primary Johnson & Johnson vaccine get an additional Pfizer or Moderna vaccine four weeks after their initial dose.

Things to know:

Booster Shots

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its clinical recommendations to include the following:

First Dose Booster Shots:

Second Dose Booster Shots

Visitwww.cctexas.com/coronavirusandwww.nuecesknows.comfor more information. You can also find updates on city social media channels Facebook@citygovand Twitter@cityofcc.


More: No Cost Vaccinations and Booster Shots Available Throughout the City - Corpus Christi
EXPLAINED: What are Austria’s plans to bring back the vaccine mandate? – The Local Austria

EXPLAINED: What are Austria’s plans to bring back the vaccine mandate? – The Local Austria

April 23, 2022

Why do I have to complete a CAPTCHA?

Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property.

If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware.

If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices.

Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Firefox Add-ons Store.


See the rest here: EXPLAINED: What are Austria's plans to bring back the vaccine mandate? - The Local Austria
Thoughts on the Covid-19 pandemic and sustainable development

Thoughts on the Covid-19 pandemic and sustainable development

April 22, 2022

Is there a connection between our food system, agriculture and the Coronavirus? How does the Covid-19 pandemic relate to climate change or the rights of children and youth? Should we treat animals better to avoid a future pandemic? Could we have avoided the virus outbreak if we had shifted public funds from military to sustainable development?

The Coronavirus pandemic is more than a health crisis. It is rooted in how we treat our planet, how we prioritise our public spendings. And it will impact our lives for much longer than we expect. Find be below a compilation of interesting content by the WFC and inspiring thoughts of our Councillors and Honorary Councillors on the Covid-19 outbreak.


More: Thoughts on the Covid-19 pandemic and sustainable development
Coronavirus Roundup: A New CDC Center Is Focused on Disease Forecasting – GovExec.com

Coronavirus Roundup: A New CDC Center Is Focused on Disease Forecasting – GovExec.com

April 22, 2022

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially launched on Tuesday a new Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics, which has been in the works since August 2021, with initial funding of $200 million from the American Rescue Plan.

The center seeks to enhance the nations ability to use data, models and analytics to enable timely, effective decision-making in response to public health threats for CDC and its public health partners, said a press release. Additionally, to better inform our partners, [the center] is hiring expert communicators to regularly share insights with federal, state and local partners and the public. Here are some of the other recent headlines you might have missed.

There were pitfalls in how Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Endeavors (a nonprofit, faith-based organization it contracted with for beds and hotel services from March 2021 to September) tested migrants for COVID-19 as well as how healthcare protocols were followed in facilities, said a new report from the Homeland Security Department inspector general. Overall, the lapse in compliance with the new healthcare protocols demonstrates that migrant families at Endeavors facilities may not have received timely COVID-19 testing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and medical staff may not have provided the level of medical care intended by the protocols, said the report.

The Federal Emergency Management Agencys COVID funeral assistance program operates in a way that is inconsistent from its long-standing regulations, said a recent management alert from the DHS inspector general. FEMA did not agree with the IGs recommendation to modify procedures after reviewing a draft alert.

The Justice Department announced on Wednesday criminal charges against 21 defendants in nine federal districts for alleged participation in several COVID health care related fraud schemes. These cases allegedly resulted in over $149 million in COVID-19-related false billings to federal programs and theft from federally-funded pandemic assistance programs, said the department. In connection with the enforcement action, the department seized over $8 million in cash and other fraud proceeds. In addition to Justice officials, federal law enforcement partners, inspectors general offices and others worked on these cases.

DHS is extending its requirements for non-U.S. citizens traveling through land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the borders with Mexico and Canada to be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination if asked. DHS will closely monitor all relevant circumstances, including the effect of these requirements, and may amend or rescind the requirements at any time, said a press release from the agency on Thursday. In determining whether and when to rescind this order, DHS anticipates that it will take account of whether the vaccination requirement for non-U.S. air travelers remains in place.

After a 41% decline in consular fee revenue in fiscal 2020 due to the pandemic, the State Departments Bureau of Consular Affairs, which issues passports and visas and provides overseas citizens services, could face serious financial issues. Consular fee revenues fully covered the costs of States consular operations for seven fiscal years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the use of supplemental and annual appropriations and temporary flexibilities in fee expenditure authorities helped State address the decline in consular fee revenue during the pandemic, said a GAO report published on Monday. However, the department continues to face a structural imbalance in how funds are handled that was exacerbated by the pandemic. Also, our analysis projects that [the Consular and Border Security Program] account carryover balances will decline and are unlikely to meet the targeted threshold if revenues do not return to pre-pandemic levels in fiscal year 2022.

In preparation for the lifting of Title 42, a public health measure to restrict border access during the pandemic, in late May, the Homeland Security Department is implementing a comprehensive strategy to address a potential increase in the number of border encounters, said Karine Jean Pierre, White House principal deputy press secretary, during a press gaggle on Thursday. Their strategy includes acquiring and deploying resources to address increased volumes; that involves moving officers, agents, DHS Volunteer Force personnel to rapidly decompress points along the border and more efficiently process migrants, she continued. It also entails the deployment of COVID-19 mitigation efforts, including the continued use of [personal protective equipment] and providing the COVID-19 vaccines to non-citizens in ICE custody since summer of 2021.

Title 42 has been a controversial matter since it was implemented under President Trump. Now an increasing number of Democrats want it to stay in place and several Republican-led states are suing the Biden administration to prevent it from being terminated. Also, Senate Republicans, and some Democratic ones, have tried to use the COVID-19 funding negotiations as a way to keep Title 42 in effect.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC director, said in a video that last week she welcomed CDC employees back to the workplace. Over the past several years CDC has shown a tremendous amount of resilience responding to the greatest public health challenge in our agencys history while simultaneously living through the pandemic themselves, she said. As CDC returns to the workplace, we are also taking a critical look at CDC, our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how we move forward and do better to protect the health of the American people.

For the Justice Department workforce, the number of in-person work days will vary based on positions, Bloomberg Law reported on Thursday. The department seeks to complete its return to office plans by May 1.

Help us understand the situation better. Are you a federal employee, contractor or military member with information, concerns, etc. about how your agency is handling the coronavirus? Email us at newstips@govexec.com.


Read this article:
Coronavirus Roundup: A New CDC Center Is Focused on Disease Forecasting - GovExec.com
Coronavirus – MDHHS reminds Michigan residents to test, get vaccinated and boosted as COVID-19 cases expected to rise through May – Michigan (.gov)