California retires coronavirus business restrictions
Restaurants will open at full capacity and fully vaccinated customers are no longer required to wear masks in most situations in The Golden State. Cynthia Ariosta, owner of Pizzeria Tra Vigne, with reaction.
The University of California system will now require all of its students and staff who want to return to campus this fall to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Regent Eloy Oritz Oakley told the newspaper that UC President Michael Drake "does plan to move forward with the vaccine mandate."
It's an about-face for the school system, which has 280,000 students and 227,000 faculty and staff across 10 campuses.
Drake, who is also a medical doctor, said in an April proposal that while all students and staff are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated, it would only be mandated "once a vaccine has full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration."
U.S. DELIVERS 1.35M JOHNSON & JOHNSON COVID-19 VACCINES TO MEXICO
The FDA has so far issued an emergency use authorization for three vaccines made by Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson.
It's currently unclear when the vaccines will get full approval. Pfizer applied for full authorization of their vaccine on May 7, while Moderna applied for full authorization on June 1.
In this April 8, 2021, file photo, Kent State University student Jarrett Woo gets his Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination from Kent State nursing student Allie Rodriguez in Kent, Ohio. (AP Photo/Phil Long, File)
UC said in a statement to the Chronicle on Monday that because the FDA is expected to eventually grant full approval to the vaccines, the school system would go ahead and mandate them to give everyone time to get vaccinated before the fall.
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State officials said 66.4% of Californians have received at least one dose of a vaccine and 55.6% are fully vaccinated.
Several private schools in California including Stanford University and the University of Southern California have already said they will require students and staff to be vaccinated this fall.
Vials with a sticker reading, "COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine / Injection only" and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed Johnson & Johnson logo in this illustration taken October 31, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo
MEXICO CITY, June 14 (Reuters) - Mexican health officials said on Monday the country will receive its first shipment of Johnson & Johnson(JNJ.N) COVID-19 vaccines the following day.
Mexico's health regulator authorized the vaccine's use last month and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the United States would donate 1 million J&J shots. read more
Mexico's state biological laboratory Birmex wrote on Twitter that Tuesday's J&J shipment would comprise 1.3 million doses.
Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon; editing by Jonathan Oatis
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that it will convene ameetingof its advisers on June 18th to discuss rare but higher-than-expected reports of heart inflammation following doses of the mRNA-based Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
So far, the CDC has identified 226 reports that might meet the agency's "working case definition" of myocarditis and pericarditis following the shots, the agencydisclosed Thursday. The vast majority have recovered, but 41 had ongoing symptoms, 15 are still hospitalized, and 3 are in the intensive care unit.
The reports represent just a tiny fraction of the nearly 130 million Americans who have been fully vaccinated with either Pfizer or Moderna's doses.
"It's a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison because, again, these are preliminary reports. Not all these will turn out to be true myocarditis or pericarditis reports," cautioned Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, a CDC vaccine safety official.
Shimabukuro said their findings were mostly "consistent" with reports of rare cases of heart inflammation that had been studied in Israel and reported from the U.S. Department of Defense earlier this year.
The CDC is working on more data and analysis on the reports ahead of the meeting of its own advisers, he said, and also planned to analyze the risk of heart inflammation posed by catching COVID-19.
The CDCfirst described the panel's session as an "emergency meeting," but later changed it to merely a "COVID-19 meeting." Previous times the advisors convened to discuss the pandemic like theirMay 12th gathering to mull recommendations for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents were also described as "emergency meetings."
The new details about myocarditis and pericarditis emerged first in presentations to a panel of independent advisers for the Food and Drug Administration, who are meeting Thursday to discuss how the regulator should approach emergency use authorization for using COVID-19 vaccines in younger children.
After earning an emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine in Americans as young as 12last month, Pfizer announced this week it had decided on doses to use in a clinical trial in children as young as 6 months old and hoped to submit databy October. Moderna said Thursday thatit too had requested the FDA's permission to give its mRNA vaccine to adolescents.
While Pfizer has said they expect to wrap up trials for children as young as 2 by September, FDA officials have previously cautioned that authorizing vaccines for these age groups could take longer "mid to late fall" at the earliest citing the additional follow-up data needed for children after they receive the shots.
"We recognize that some adverse reactions, for example myocarditis or pericarditis as discussed earlier today, may be too infrequent to detect in a safety database of typical size for pre-licensure clinical trials," said Dr. Doran Fink, a top official in the FDA's vaccine office.
The CDC previously disclosed that reports of heart inflammation were detected mostly in younger men and teenage boys following their second dose, and that there was a "higher number of observed than expected" cases in 16- to 24-year-olds. Last month, the CDC urged providers to "ask about prior COVID-19 vaccination" in patients with symptoms of heart inflammation.
"Risk-benefit considerations to determine whether to issue an emergency use authorization for use of a COVID-19 vaccine into healthy pediatric individuals will need to account for this information, and risk-benefit consideration will likely be different, not only compared to those for adults, but also they may be different for younger versus older pediatric groups," Dr. Marion Gruber, director of the FDA's vaccine office, said at the meeting.
Editor's note: This story and headline have been updated to reflect that the CDC is now referring to Friday's meeting as a "COVID-19 meeting" rather than an "emergency meeting."
According to the most recent data from the health department, 64% of people 16 and older in Washington have had at least one dose of the vaccine.
SEATTLE Tuesday marks six months sincethe first COVID-19 vaccine was administered in Washington, and the state continues to inch closer and closer to fully reopening.
When the first dose in Washington was administered on Dec. 15, there was a big problem with supply. More people wanted to get the shot than there were doses available.
So, the state started administering the vaccine to long-term care facilities and health care workers.
Now, the tables have turned. There is more supply than demand and state leaders are working to incentivize people to get the shot with things like the vaccine lottery.
Sixty-four percent of people 16 and older in Washington have had at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the most recent data from the Washington Department of Health (DOH).
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Dr. Larry Corey of Fred Hutch, one of the worlds top doctors in vaccine research, said Washington has done great, but that doesnt mean its time to relax.
This is a vaccine-preventable disease. You shouldn't die of COVID if you got vaccinated. So, let's try and get to the point where we really have no deaths in our state, said Corey. But I'm pretty proud of our city, and I think we're going to pay dividends with respect to the issue of getting back to what we hope was normalcy.
Gov. Jay Inslee set June 30 as the date Washington will fully reopen contingent on the population reaching 70% of people 16 and older having at least one dose of the vaccine.
Corey is wary of that 70% goal due to variants.
I honestly believe to get full control of this, you know, we're going to have to be in the mid-80s," said Corey. "The virus is going to be with us. It shows a lot of adaptability. We have more mutations yet to see that will come out from the lack of coverage globally."
Corey said the next hurdle in the fight against COVID-19 is pediatric vaccinations.
He is meeting with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee this week to discuss COVID-19 in children and what needs to happen next.
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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that COVID-19 restrictions are lifted immediately as 70 percent of New Yorkers aged 18 or older have received the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccination series. The State's health guidance andNew York Forwardindustry specific guidelinesincluding social gathering limits, capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screening, and contact information for tracingare now optional for retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops and personal care services, among other commercial settings.
Unvaccinated individuals continue to be responsible for wearing masks, in accordance with federal CDCguidance. Consistent with the State'simplementationof the recent CDC guidance, masks are still required for unvaccinated individuals. Further, the State's health guidelines continue to be in effect forlarge-scale indoor event venues, pre-K to grade 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes,and health care settings per CDC guidelines.
While South Korea has suffered from several waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, its public health system has been able to combat outbreaks effectively, limiting their spread and duration. In part, this was managed through restrictions on international travel, school closures, targeted suspensions of public gatherings, and closures of public entertainment venues.
Given its geographic proximity to China, and significant trade and tourism between the two countries, South Korea was vulnerable to the early spread of the novel coronavirus. The country identified its first imported case on January 20, 2020, with cases escalating rapidly over early- to mid-February when a large cluster was identified among members of a religious group in Daegu. After identifying this cluster, health authorities were able to bring cases down rapidly, from a peak of 851 new cases on March 3. Between mid-March and mid-August, the country kept new cases below 100 per day. While a second wave did emerge in August, health authorities were able to quickly bring cases down through increased testing and contact tracing.
In December, as an exhausted public began easing physical distancing practices during winter holidays, South Korea saw a third wave emerge, with daily cases reaching numbers not seen during the first and second waves. While policy makers considered implementing stay-at-home orders during this third wave, they were able to bring cases down through testing, contact tracing and quarantine coupled with targeted closures of entertainment facilities and religious services and enforced mask mandates. Still, the third wave proved more difficult to control for South Korean authorities, and the number of new cases per day remains at nearly 600. Overall, by May 1, 2021, South Korea had confirmed 123,240 cases with 1,833 deaths. While significant, these numbers are low on an internationally comparable per capita basis.
Throughout the pandemic, the relative success of South Koreas approach to combatting the virus has depended on the availability of an effective test for the virus and the efficacy of contact tracing. Towards this end, South Korean health authorities met early with private laboratories, urging them to develop tests and offering rapid regulatory approvals. This effort resulted in the delivery of four effective tests by the end of February 2020. Setting up walk-through and drive-through clinics, authorities were then able to rapidly escalate public testing. Also, South Korea deployed advanced data analytics to support contact tracing, with authorities able to access a wide variety of personal data on infected individuals, including medical records, banking information, and mobile phone location data, as well as closed-circuit television. This allowed them to accurately and rapidly track individuals who had come into contact with infected individuals.
South Koreas approach also depended on public buy-in and trust, which authorities were able to achieve, for the most part, through transparency and openness. In this regard, authorities learned from their experience with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2015. With MERS, they had withheld information to avoid creating panic among the public, but the resulting information vacuum was filled by rumor and misinformation. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korean authorities have provided the public with updated data on the virus and clear guidelines on how to avoid infection. They have used a variety of media and twice-daily press briefings to ensure public awareness of the threat posed by the virus and actions being taken to mitigate this threat.
In terms of its economic response, South Koreas policy has aligned with that of most Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, with government seeking various fiscal and macro-financial means of alleviating pressures on businesses and families. The strength of South Koreas approach has been the governments ability to target spending towards industries that were particularly hard-hit, as well as to ensure that government finances stimulated consumer spending and broader economic activity. A key example is the design of emergency cash transfer payments: rather than depending on bank transfers or checks, the government offered citizens pre-paid cards or credit card deposits that they had to spend by the end of August 2020, ensuring that citizens spent the money rather than saving it.
With a longer-term focus on rebuilding the economy, South Korea has developed a plan called the Korean New Deal. South Korean officials are seeking to use the Korean New Deal to stimulate investments in advanced technology, upskilling Korean workers, and positioning the country to emerge from the pandemic has a leading player in the data economy and the green economy, rather than using government funding strictly to rebuild the economy. While the Korean New Deal represents an important case of government seeking opportunity in the context of the crisis, evidence of the economic impact of the plan is yet to emerge.
Finally, the South Korean government has garnered criticism for its delayed rollout of COVID-19 vaccination efforts, having started vaccination of frontline health workers and long-term care residents only on February 28, 2021. In part, this delay has been the result of South Koreas laudable commitment to (and dependence on) the international COVAX effort, as well as an interest among South Korean health officials to observe how rollouts proceeded in other countries. At the same time, since summer 2020, officials have sought to negotiate local production deals between international vaccine manufacturers and South Korean pharmaceutical companies rather than reserving imported doses as other developed countries have done. Recent develops in terms of procurement deals and local manufacturing deals promise an acceleration in South Koreas efforts to reach herd immunity by the end of 2021.
This case was drafted by Paul Dyer for the Brookings Doha Center. The author appreciates William Maurer, Jr. and Cliff Tan for their perspectives in reviewing various versions of this document.
Disclaimer: As is the case with all Brookings publications, the conclusions and recommendations presented in this article are solely those of its authors and do not reflect the views of the Brookings Institution, its management, or its scholars.
A person receives a dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronaviru vaccine at the National hospital in Abuja, Nigeria, March 5, 2021. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/File Photo
ABUJA, June 15 (Reuters) - Nigeria is expecting a second shipment of nearly 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by early August, and plans to resume giving out first doses, which had been halted to save its supply for second doses.
Africa's most population has so far given a first dose to only around 2 million of its 200 million people. Fewer than 700,000 having received a second dose.
Nigeria has been rationing 3.92 million doses it received through the COVAX global vaccine sharing programme in March, with its future supplies put in doubt by an export ban from India. The government told states in April to stop giving first doses once half of the supply was used, to ensure there would be enough for second doses.
But Faisal Shuaib, the director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, said that restriction was no longer necessary. Nigeria now expects a second shipment of 3.92 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine by the end of July or early August.
Vaccination centres will be reopened to adults over the age of 18 seeking first doses, he said.
"We have been inundated with requests by Nigerians to be vaccinated," Shuaib said at a media briefing in Abuja.
He did not specify where the new doses would come from, but pointed to a commitment last week by G7 leaders to deliver at least 1 billion coronavirus vaccine doses to the world over the next year.
Like other African countries, Nigeria is struggling with a lack of supply and inadequate healthcare infrastructure for a rapid mass rollout. Vaccine hesitancy rooted in misinformation is also a problem.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said last week that about 90% of African countries would miss a September target to vaccinate at least 10% of their populations. read more
As of Tuesday, Nigeria had 167,078 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,117 deaths. Experts say those figures probably understate the extent of the outbreak, given low testing rates.
Reporting by Felix Onuah, Estelle Shirbon and Libby GeorgeEditing by Peter Graff
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Building on efforts already underway to make vaccines easily available to all interested students, faculty and staff, Texas A&M University has committed to the White House and Department of Educations COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge.
The challenge is part of a push to vaccinate as many Americans as possible against COVID-19. The goal is to have at least 70 percent of eligible Americans partially vaccinated by July 4 as of June 15, an estimated 52.5 percent have received at least one dose. Hundreds of colleges and universities across the United States have already signed up for the challenge.
Participating institutions will focus on three key actions: making sure all students, faculty and staff know they are eligible for a vaccine and have the resources to find one, implementing a plan to vaccinate as many members of the campus community as possible, and delivering vaccine access for all.
Texas A&M already is heavily engaged in work to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and provide vaccines to the Aggie community through a public education campaign. Even though A&Ms efforts are robust, officials with the School of Public Health said all help is needed to protect people from the virus by creating an antibody response without having to experience sickness.
Student Health Services offers vaccines to students, faculty and staff at the A.P. Beutel Health Center, which has already seen 10,772 patients as of June 14. Appointments can be scheduled through the Patient Portal on the Student Health Services website. Availability changes weekly as Student Health Services receives vaccine allotments.
The Maroon Line Clinic, located at the Health Science Center, is also offering the Pfizer vaccination series to all dependents of faculty, staff and students, as well as their dependents ages 12 and older. This weeks event will offer first and second doses by appointment on Wednesday, June 16 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Appointments can be made online.
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of June 15, 2021, there have been 2,950,858 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 163,221 total cases and 2,856 deaths.
DHHR has confirmed the deaths of an 88-year old male from Berkeley County, a 49-year old female from Raleigh County, and a 61-year old male from Logan County.
While the numbers of deaths have dropped dramatically, we are still losing loved ones, said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. Please take every precaution to stop the spread of this disease, including scheduling a COVID-19 vaccination for yourself and all eligible family members."
CASES PER COUNTY: Barbour (1,512), Berkeley (12,791), Boone (2,170), Braxton (1,001), Brooke (2,246), Cabell (8,856), Calhoun (381), Clay (541), Doddridge (636), Fayette (3,544), Gilmer (881), Grant (1,306), Greenbrier (2,882), Hampshire (1,917), Hancock (2,839), Hardy (1,566), Harrison (6,134), Jackson (2,224), Jefferson (4,777), Kanawha (15,452), Lewis (1,275), Lincoln (1,588), Logan (3,268), Marion (4,623), Marshall (3,533), Mason (2,047), McDowell (1,612), Mercer (5,105), Mineral (2,971), Mingo (2,722), Monongalia (9,388), Monroe (1,203), Morgan (1,223), Nicholas (1,891), Ohio (4,303), Pendleton (724), Pleasants (959), Pocahontas (680), Preston (2,954), Putnam (5,310), Raleigh (7,043), Randolph (2,840), Ritchie (755), Roane (657), Summers (857), Taylor (1,270), Tucker (545), Tyler (740), Upshur (1,956), Wayne (3,183), Webster (543), Wetzel (1,384), Wirt (456), Wood (7,922), Wyoming (2,035).
Free pop-up COVID-19 testing is available today in Barbour, Berkeley, Boone, Brooke, Clay, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Mason, Mingo, Morgan, and Wyoming counties.
Barbour County
9:00 AM 11:00 AM, Barbour County Health Department, 109 Wabash Avenue, Philippi, WV
3:00 PM 7:00 PM, Junior Volunteer Fire Department, 331 Row Avenue, Junior, WV
Berkeley County
10:00 AM 5:00 PM, 891 Auto Parts Place, Martinsburg, WV
10:00 AM 5:00 PM, Ambrose Park, 25404 Mall Drive, Martinsburg, WV
Boone County
Brooke County
Clay County
1:00 PM 3:00 PM, Clay County Health Department, 452 Main Street, Clay, WV
Grant County
Jefferson County
10:00 AM 6:00 PM, Hollywood Casino, 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, WV
12:00 PM 5:00 PM, Shepherd University Wellness Center Parking Lot, 164 University Drive, Shepherdstown, WV
Lincoln County
Logan County
12:00 PM 5:00 PM, Town of Man Fire Department, Administration Building, 110 North Bridge Street, Man, WV
Marshall County
Mason County
Mingo County
10:00 AM 2:00 PM, Kermit Fire Department, 49 Main Street, Kermit, WV
Morgan County
11:00 AM 4:00 PM, Valley Health War Memorial Hospital, 1 Health Way, Berkeley Springs, WV
Wyoming County
11:00 AM 3:00 PM, Wyoming County Fire Department, 12 Park Street, Pineville, WV
