The CDC said the numbers are based on just a sampling of specimens and do not represent the total number of cases that may be circulating. The agency said on its website it is ramping up its ability to test for different strains of the virus.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said Monday at a news conference that the agency believes the British variant accounts for a quarter of cases in Florida and California. CDC models project the variant will become the dominant strain in the United States by the end of this month or early April, she said.
The British variant has sparked worries because it spreads more easily and quickly. Some studies have suggested it is also more deadly, but more research is needed, the CDC has said.
Scientists are concerned the variants might fuel a new coronavirus wave in the United States even as the country recovers from a deadly winter and is in the midst of a massive vaccination campaign.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Bidens lead medical adviser on the pandemic, said Sunday on NBC-TVs Meet the Press he was concerned that well have whats called variant increases, where you may have another surge.
In Massachusetts, the number of coronavirus cases has declined precipitously from a peak reached around the beginning of the year. The decline has slowed in the past three weeks, but there has been no major upward movement.
Experts have said the next few weeks could be key in determining if the variants will drive up cases.
We expected this variant to increase as a proportion of overall case numbers, which has happened, Dr. Paul Sax, clinical director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Mass General Brigham, said Monday in an e-mail.
But, Sax said, case numbers at the same time are dropping due to factors such as seasonality of the virus, some degree of population-level immunity (from natural infection and increasingly vaccines), and behavior change.
He said the arrival of the variants underscores the need to get people vaccinated. The strongest message we should give is how important the vaccines are for preventing this variant from exploding here, which is what happened in Britain, Portugal, Ireland, etc., he said.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former director of the Food and Drug Administration, said Sunday on CBS-TVs Face the Nation. I think the combination of a lot of prior infection and the fact that were vaccinating aggressively now is enough to keep up with [the British variant] and hopefully get ahead of it. Gottlieb noted, however, that there could still be pockets of outbreaks.
Other variants that are causing concern include a variant that emerged in Brazil and one that emerged in New York.
Noting increased air travel and reports of spring break partying without masks in the United States, as well as surges that are happening in European countries, Walensky urged people to continue to take precautions recommended by the CDC such as wearing masks and socially distancing, while the vaccination campaign continues.
Im pleading with you for the sake of our nations health, she said. Cases climbed last spring, they climbed again in the summer, they will climb now if we stop taking precautions.
We are just starting to turn the corner. The data are moving in the right direction, but where this goes is dependent on whether we all do what must be done to protect ourselves and others, she said.
Martin Finucane can be reached at martin.finucane@globe.com.
Mall of America has been a quintessential hub for dining, entertainment, hospitality and a driver of tourism in Minnesota for almost 30 years. The coronavirus led the mall to lean on essential retail during the early days of closing as leadership was tasked with conceptualizing experiential retail in the age of COVID-19. As many couldnt travel, the mall became hyper-focused on its neighboring community and engaging the local market.
Jill Renslow, executive vice president of business development and marketing at Mall of America, says one of the biggest challenges leadership faced early on was communicating new safety protocols like social distancing and mask mandates, as well as ensuring staff were properly educated on updates as they occurred.
Safety and customer comfort were priorities, and Mall of America partnered with local Minnesota company Graco, which provided equipment to quickly disinfect surfaces and rides at the malls amusement park.
Join Renslow in the latest episode of Retail Gets Real as she shares how Mall of America is reinventing experiential retail with the customer at the forefront.
Since the start of the pandemic a year ago, Illinois State University faculty, students, and staff have had to adapt to a new normal. Throughout this international health and economic crisis, one that has brought tragedy to so many peoples lives, Redbirds have kept teaching, learning, researching, or facilitating those activities while working remotely or under safety restrictions on campus.
Now Illinois State is preparing for a more traditional campus experience next fall based on the expectation that the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines will be widely available in the coming months. In other words, there is a light at the end of what has been a long and dark tunnel. So weve taken this opportunity to look back at some of the many examples of resilience and resourcefulness displayed by Redbirds during the pandemic.
Illinois State College of Business students have been helping small businesses in Normal that have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In December, 50 local businesses received grants from the Town of NormalsSmall Business Relief Program. Three of those businesses partnered with Illinois StatesAmerican Marketing Association (AMA) chapterin order to receive digital marketing support from qualified students.
Read the full story
At Illinois State, student workers are an integral component of the Universitys day-to-day operations. The relationship is mutually beneficialstudents receive hands-on experience in their respective fields while departments receive valuable insights from their student workers.
The importance of student employees is immeasurable for us, said Erin Watts, assistant director of marketing, training, and hospitality for Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality. Were the largest department in the University; we have well over 1,000 employees, and a large part of that operation is student employees. Theyre absolutely instrumental in our day-to-day operations.
Read the full story
On these sub-zero nights, Julissa Navarette 19 has been sleeping in the conference room at theUniversity Farm, on call for the lambing season. When its time, she heads out to the barn for the deliveries. Over 10 days, shes seen 22 births, including twins and triplets.
A good nights sleep and a warm bed are only memories, but thats OK with the graduate assistant who is researching how a ewes nutrition affects her offspring, from birth weight to quality of milk to immunities she might pass along.
Read the full story
Last November, a cross-disciplinary group of undergraduate students and faculty became the first Illinois State research team in 25 years to publish apaperin theAmerican Journal of Physics(AJP). The journal is one of the most selective physics publications in the country, with an acceptance rate for reviewed articles hovering around 35 percent.
However, the group did not start off with their sights set on receiving recognition. The then-undergraduate physics student Zach Mobille 19 conceived of the idea as he wrote a paper for hisexperimental physics coursein fall 2018.
Read the full story
2020 was marked by a global pandemic, a massive movement for racial justice, and political unrest. Seeing this climate as a unique opportunity for research, Illinois State graduate student Kelly Murphy 18 decided to study how professional sports teams have communicated with their fans on social media over the past 10 months.
When starting this project, Murphy discovered not much research had been conducted into professional sports teams corporate social responsibility (CSR), even though CSR has become commonplace for professional sports teams across the country.
Read the full story
Dating to 1857, the Forensics Union is Illinois States oldest registered student organization (RSO). And this school year, the public-speaking and debate group has continued to compete and further its legacy by adapting to the restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Since helping found the first library, weve always been helping the campus grow and evolve, said Director of Forensics Megan Koch. Now, we are receiving that support from the rest of the community.
Read the full story
Grace Brannen never thought shed be student teaching from apingpongtable in her familys basement, positioning herself against a wall so no one would walk behind her with a basket of laundry. She didnt expect show-and-tell might include a student showing the inside of his fridge, or his mom sleeping after working all night. Young students had to be taught that if you whisper on Zoom, others can hear you.
The special education major taught K-8 remotely at Clara Barton Elementary in Chicago. Before school began, she traveled with other teachers to students homes to help set up Wi-Fi. While still working at 11 p.m., one student asked them if they were going to sleep there, and asked if she wanted to play the video game Fortnite.
Read the full story
Keeping dance students safe during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic begins from the floor up.
Physical distancing and wearing face coverings have been integral to staying healthy, of course, but another top priority for Illinois State University dance faculty during this challenging time has been the cleanliness of studio floors.
Read the full story
When Ximena Sanchez-Ramirez arrived at Illinois State, she felt homesick until coming across the Association of Latinx American Students (ALAS). Just one year later, she is thriving as the secretary of the registered student organization.
Joining ALAS really helped me develop a family away from home, said Sanchez-Ramirez, a sophomore from Kankakee majoring in elementary education and minoring in Spanish. As a freshman and a first-generation student, youre scared because youre on your own for the first time. Knowing that you have an organization that supports you and your culture just really makes you feel welcome and at home.
Read the full story
Creating great video games requires close collaboration between people from seemingly disparate disciplines. How does a course teaching game design foster that kind of creative and collaborative environment during a pandemic? Dr. Sercan Sengun, assistant professor ofcreative technologies, tried to answer this question as he built his course work for the fall semester.
Sengun found the answer by blending external software and services with those already provided by Illinois State. He created a suite of videos in ReggieNet, Illinois States online learning platform, for students to watch and refer to later when working on their projects. He also maintains a forum within ReggieNet where he can answer questions for students or allow students to discuss the class among themselves.
Read the full story
For a college basketball player, theres no better month than March. Its when all the hard work culminates, and tickets to the hallowed NCAA championships are punched.
Carrying a four-game win streak into the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, including a victory against nationally ranked Missouri State on Feb. 27, the Illinois State womens basketball team was riding high. The Redbirds felt they had just as good a chance as anyone to win the nine-team MVC tournament in the Quad Cities and earn the leagues automatic bid to the NCAAs.
Read the full story
Ticks love to bite her, and shed like to find out why, or why they do anything, like attach to one host but ignore another.
Few researchers have studied how a ticks brain works, but thats what caught the attention of Dr. Carola Stdele. As a post-doctoral researcher in the School of Biological Sciences, she studies a ticks every move by recording them as they crawl around their Plexiglass home.
Read the full story
For the Departments of Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, class sizes were reduced by at least 50 percent, more lab sections were offered, and students wore masks and physically distanced during labs and classes on campus. Students were still able to continue their research, learn, grow, and collaborate on their projects.
Read the full story
While the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced most classes online this semester, ceramics and psychology double-major Chris Aaron continues to gain hands-on experiences on campus.
The senior from Watseka switched their major to ceramics after previously studying sculpture. After a day of learning both in person and online, Aaron works the closing shift at a local grocery store.
Earlier this month, University Marketing and Communications photographer Michelle Hassel followed Aaron through a typical day in their life as a Redbird.
Read the full story
Starting any new job can stir up nervous jitters. Starting one as a college professor during a pandemic that requires learning a whole new way of teaching can ratchet up the nerves beyond just anxious butterflies.
For three new faculty members, Dr. Samantha McDonald, assistant professor of exercise science in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation (KNR); Jason Reblando, assistant professor of photography in the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts; and Nathan Stephens, assistant professor in social work in the School of Social Work, its a shared reality.
Read the full story
As with many other colleges on campus, the College of Applied Science and Technology (CAST) transitioned to online learning whenever possible. Class sizes were reduced so students could safely learn 6 feet apart, and gloves and goggles were added to many classes in addition to the required masks. Various classes operated in a hybrid format where some weeks students were present via Zoom, and other weeks they were in-person for hands on learning in lab environments on campus, the Horticulture Center, and at the Illinois State University Farm in Lexington.
Read the full story
There have been quite a few changes this semester to policies and procedures at the Mennonite College of Nursings (MCN) Simulation Lab.
As soon as students enter the front door of the Sim Lab they come to a table in the entryway where they have to take their own temperature with a digital thermometer, then they sanitize the thermometer with a wipe, next they change from a personal mask to a supplied surgical mask, and then they sanitize their hands before entering the building. They put on their goggles and gloves when they are within 6 feet of each other in labs and simulation. They also complete an app where they verify that they dont have a temperature over 100 degrees and are not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 each time they enter the lab. There are student workers who monitor the door during times when students are entering to ensure that these requirements for entering the building are being completed.
Read the full story
In a lab designed to illustrate how living organisms operate, it only makes sense thered be an entire week dedicated to respiration systems. In previous Biological Sciences (BSC) 283: Animal Physiology courses, students would breathe into devices themselves to measure lung capacity and simulate different chronic conditions such as asthma.
But as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has warned the public since the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, one of the fastest ways the novel virus travels is through the air. So, naturally, that type of assignment in a lab classroom was out of the question.
When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced professors to move classes online last spring, Heather OLeary 10 had a smoother transition than many educators.
OLeary, a graduate student and teaching assistant in the Department of English, had already been using Microsoft Teams with her students long before the pandemic. Now, she is one of the many success stories behind campus efforts to embrace online teaching and learning tools.
Read the full story
One of the best ways to get through a hard timeeven if its a global pandemic that interrupts your college yearsis with an attitude of gratitude.
Laura Trendle Polus 87, M.S. 00 is news director at Illinois State Universitys TV-10. She trains future broadcast journalists. Despite all the upheaval and change brought by COVID-19, she hasnt had to look far to find the positive.
Read the full story
Associate Professor of History Dr. Kyle Ciani has been at Illinois State since 2001. However, before entering higher education, she worked at nonprofit organizations that dealt with domestic violence and child abuse. Then, Ciani, who had earned bachelors and masters degrees in history, returned to school for her Ph.D. in the history of women and gender.
I realized that there needed to be a better understanding of the long history of domestic violence, child abuse, and family histories, and thats what really sent me to the classroom, said Ciani.
Read the full story
One of the challenges of online teaching is finding an effective method for assessing student learning beyond multiple choice tests. Dr. Tera Galloway, associate professor of management and quantitative methods in the College of Business, has given the topic a lot of thought.
During the summer she put together a 40-minute Power Point presentation in which she shared her ideas with fellow faculty members during two Zoom sessions sponsored by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology (CTLT).
Read the full story
The best way to train future broadcast media professionals is to immerse them in the real world of running a 24-hour radio station. Deb Lesser 83, M.S. 84, media business director for the School of Communication, knows that better than just about anyone.
My goal is to make this as close to a professional experience as possible, Lesser said.
When the deadly pandemic hit in the spring, that challenge became even greater. But with history unfolding, it was important for the station to be on air during a 100-year event. They were determined to deliver such news this fall.
Read the full story
Faculty and students across Illinois State Universitys campus continue to engage safely in teaching and learning during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Within the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts this fall semester, musicians are wearing masks with mouthpiece openings to continue playing their instruments, painters are taping off individual studio workstations that abide by physical-distancing guidelines, and ceramic artists are expanding their classrooms to the great outdoors.
Read the full story
The ability to adapt to change is integral to success in turbulent times. After years of working in the advertising industry in Las Vegas, Jackson Edwards has returned home to start a new career. The Bloomington native now studies conservation biology at Illinois State and researches soil and plant diversity under Dr. Diane Byers, associate professor of Evolutionary Ecology.
This project here is all about the soil microbial community and how that impacts plant diversity across the prairies, said Edwards. We look at the feedback from the plants themselves and how they interact with the soil and microbial community in a positive or negative way.
Read the full story
Assistant Professor of Anthropology Dr. Abigail Stone was prepared to teach her typical lab coursewhere students study the archaeology of animal bonesuntil the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted her curriculum.
The lab class was Zooarchaeology, and we would look at archaeological remains from a site here in McLean County, said Stone. That requires hands-on experience; you cant identify bones over Zoom.
The lab where Stone and her students would typically work was deemed too small to support physically distanced learning. Once summer arrived, Stone realized she would need to replace that course with one that could be taught online.
Read the full story
Elizabeth Seils is something of a newspaper veteran, given the fact that shes been on staff atThe Videttefor two years. She made the progression from reporter to news editor, and now to the top slot as editor in chief. The senior from Chicago couldnt have predicted her tenure would be dominated by a global pandemic, but its an experience that only adds to her veteran status. These days, much of the newspapers work is getting done from afar.
Most of us work remotely, but I do think its important that we come together once a week to put the paper together, Seils said.
Read the full story
Adrian Micor has long considered himself to be among the most involved students on campus. He wears many hats at Illinois Statea result of himalways being open to new opportunities. When the pandemic abruptly changed his plans, he did not abandon his open-minded approach to life.
My way of life has taken a shift, said Micor, a senior marketing major from Morton Grove. I went from being one of the most active students on campus who saw everyone every day, to being one of the most active students in a different way.
Read the full story
For many new students, finding a group of friends can be one of the most overwhelming parts of arriving on campus. Jaden Echols realized this firsthand, and was one of the catalysts who sparked the formation of theBlack Excellenceregistered student organization (RSO).
We just want people to come together, said Echols, a junior finance major from Chicago. When a lot of underclassmen come here, they dont really know anyone. We founded Black Excellence so people can get to know each other, hang out, and make friends based on common interests.
Read the full story
Research rarely rests. All year long, Illinois State University student and faculty researchers alike delve into their research with passion. Despite many Redbirds being away from campus over the summer, research at Illinois State continues to thriveeven during the pandemic.
This summer,27 studentsreceived the newUndergraduate Research Support Program grantprovided by theOffice of Student Research. Essentially, this is a grant program that encourages undergraduate student researchers to propose a research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor, said Dr. Gina Hunter, director of the Office of Student Research. It allows students to use the grant to fund their hourly wage, for research supplies or research incentives, and for travel to do research.
Read the full story
Epilepsy and video games would seem to go as well together as a broken air conditioner and 100-degree heat. The stimulation and rapid motion on the screen can trigger seizures. Perhaps thats why John Mallaney hadnt the foggiest of ideas of how to pair the two unlikely sources together.
The executive director ofStreator Unlimited, a nonprofit organization serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in nearby Streator, was in a focus group centered on developing basic life skills in clients with epilepsy. He noticed a young man with epilepsy who was particularly disappointed that he couldnt play most video games due to his condition. Mallaney wondered if there was a way to incorporate life skills into an epilepsy-friendly video game format.
Read the full story
While Illinois State University faculty and most staff members continue to work from home due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, essential employees from areas throughout the University such as Grounds; University Police; University Farm; University Housing Services; and Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality continue to work on campus while practicing safe social distancing. Here is asecond photo essayto salute to our essential employees who are working to keep operations moving forward for the future.
Read the full story
While Illinois State University students, faculty, and most staff members are forced off campus as a result of the statewide stay at home directive for coronavirus (COVID-19),essential employeesfrom places such as Grounds, University Police, University Heating Plant, and Mail Services are still working to keep operations moving forward for the future. Here is a snapshot of some of the essential workers who are still on campus working and maintaining the social distancing guidelines.
Read the full story
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Read more about coronavirus developments around the world, get the latest stimulus updates and see more stories trending online today.
Bidens $1.9T coronavirus aid package to supercharge US economy: Goldman Sachs (Fox Business)
A Debt Collector Could Take Your Stimulus Check Heres What To Do (Forbes)
JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo face customer anger over stimulus checks (CBS News)
Two men arrested in assault on Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick (ABC)
Biden administration sends FEMA to border to help care for unaccompanied migrant children (Yahoo)
North Korea breaks silence to warn US against causing a stink (CNN)
CDC chief warns of another Covid surge as Americans travel for spring break (CNBC)
A concerning variant is about to become dominant in the US, experts say, and how Americans act could help fuel or curb a surge (CNN)
EU countries suspend AstraZeneca vaccine as US considers authorization; CDC review hints at Trump administration meddling (USA Today)
Face mask standard in workplaces misses presidents deadline (CBS)
Many Hospitals Are Still Overwhelmed By COVID-19 Patients. Is Yours? (NPR)
Mank leads Oscar nominations in a year with diverse slates (AP)
Oscar nominations: 10 of the biggest surprises, snubs (cleveland.com)
Oscar nominations 2021: See the full list (EW)
UKs Prince Philip, 99, leaves hospital after four-week stay (Reuters)
Yaphet Kotto, James Bond villain and star of Alien, dies (NBC)
China hotel condemned for putting polar bears on show (AFP)
MADISON (WKOW) -- As Wisconsin's coronavirus vaccine rollout continues expanding, UW Health's Dr. Jeff Pothof is still confident vaccines are the best defense for the community right now.
"The gamble right now is with natural COVID, not with getting the vaccine," he told 27 News. "I'd recommend anyone who can get the vaccine to go ahead and get it."
27 News has received many questions from the community about the vaccine, including whether someone who has recovered from COVID-19 and given antibodies for treatment should still get it.
Dr. Pothof says yes, after waiting for recovery.
"We do have some variants around that do appear to be able to defeat natural immunity. So, if you lived in Brazil and you had natural COVID, it does look like that new Brazilian variant defeats your natural immunity. You can get sick again," he said. "The vaccines are more likely to be protective against those variants than your natural immunity. So, I think initially there was some question of whether that was needed or necessary. I think at this point, there'd be very few public health experts who would say natural immunity is good enough. It looks like vaccine-induced immunity is quite a bit better."
Those variants could mean we will need a booster shot in the future, but Dr. Pothof says it's too soon to know whether we'll need annual doses, like the flu shot.
Others have asked if they shouldn't get the vaccine when taking certain medications. Doctors have said you should not take ibuprofen before getting the shot, but you can take it afterwards to ease some aches and pains. Drugs that suppress immune activity, like steroids or allergy medications should be safe, according to Dr. Pothof.
"I'm not sure that there's a medication that would interact with the vaccine to such a degree that we would suggest not getting the vaccine," he said.
Still, there is hesitancy in the community over the vaccine with some saying they don't want to get it and wondering what their risk of getting COVID-19 will be if they go unvaccinated.
Millions around the world have died after getting COVID-19, so Dr. Pothof says the vaccine is far safer than taking the risk of getting infected.
"People who get the vaccine, their chance of getting so sick that they need a hospital is really low, almost zero, whereby the same does not hold true for natural COVID infection," he said. "For me right now, this late into the game, there's almost no argument that would suggest that taking your chances with natural COVID is the right thing to do."
If you have a question about the vaccine, you can email gettinganswers@wkow.com.
We believe it is a combination of persons having difficulty making an appointment, some may have difficulty arranging transportation and some may have unanswered questions about the vaccine.
There are also some who may be vaccine-hesitant. It is not possible for us to know the percentage not interested in vaccinating.
What we are doing to try to make sure we are reaching ALL persons 65 and over is:
1. Providing vaccination clinics in all long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities. This was done by pharmacies.
2. Opening our clinics to 75-plus first, then 65-plus with underlying health conditions, then 65-plus. We did this to make sure seniors were prioritized.
3. Providing vaccination clinics in all senior housing apartments in Champaign County.
4. Using community partners to reach out to all of their senior clients to let them know how to get vaccinated and to assist them if they have barriers.
5. Clinics are reaching out to their senior clients to make sure they know how to access the vaccine.
6. Using local media to ask seniors or those who care about them to reach out directly to me at C-UPHD by emailing or calling me with the seniors name and a phone number to make the appointment. This is for seniors residing in Champaign County. I can be reached at jpryde@c-uphd.org or 217-531-5369.
There has been a lot of vaccine misinformation circulating the web, including the false claim that there is a tracking chip inside the COVID-19 vaccine. While there is a radio-frequency identification chip on the outside of some syringes, its there to track the vaccine doses, not people.
We came across a video on YouTube from 700 Club Interactive, which is part of the Christian Broadcasting Network. In the video, health reporter Lorie Johnson interviews Jay Walker, the executive chairman of ApiJect. ApiJect was awarded a multimillion dollar contract with the Department of Defense to increase U.S. production of medical injection devices.
Despite Walker detailing how the optional RFID chip works in the video, the YouTube videos title and description both suggest that the microchip is placed inside the vaccine itself. Here are the media literacy skills we used to fact-check it.
Whenever you read news online, you never want to read just the headline. A headline can never give you all the context that youd get from reading the entire article. The same rule applies for YouTube titles. Similar to headlines, sometimes the title might be misleading or lacking context.
Watching the video, its clear that the microchip is not inside the vaccine. Instead, Walker explains that the chip acts as a bar code, and is used to help public health officials keep track of where and when the doses have been used.
Despite this, several commenters brought up the chip writing things like, Putting a chip in a human body is a bad idea. Another person commented that once the chip is in you, it allows you to be tracked (this is also false).
Whenever you see something youre not sure about, take the time to do a keyword search. Searching with words like RFID chip coronavirus vaccine, brought up several fact checks on this subject, including an article from Reuters.
According to the article, unfortunately, there have been a bunch of false claims circulating the web stating that the vaccine will inject people with tracking microchips. But according to their reporting, the optional microchip will in no way be injected into anyone who gets the vaccine. Nor does it divulge patients personal information.
As a general media literacy tip, its always a good idea to read multiple articles to make sure you have full context. USA Today, BBC and PolitiFact have all reported the same thing that the syringes can include an optional RFID chip on the label, similar to a barcode but the chip is not inside the injected dose itself. The articles also report that patients who receive the vaccine cannot be tracked.
Another thing you could do when youre not sure if a vaccine claim is true or not is to check out primary sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Food and Drug Administration. These are great resources, and are regularly updated with vaccine data.
Needs Context. While the actual video from 700 Club Interactive never states that a chip is inside the vaccine, the title and description are both misleading, and would definitely benefit from more information.
Moderna is testing its COVID-19 vaccine in young children; its vaccine is currently authorized for people ages 18 and up. Here, third-grade children attend school this month in Berlin, as classes were allowed to meet in person at 50% capacity. Sean Gallup/Getty Images hide caption
Moderna is testing its COVID-19 vaccine in young children; its vaccine is currently authorized for people ages 18 and up. Here, third-grade children attend school this month in Berlin, as classes were allowed to meet in person at 50% capacity.
Children have now received their first doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, as the company studies the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for kids ages 6 months to less than 12 years old.
In the study, researchers will give two injections 28 days apart of either the Moderna vaccine or a saline placebo to children. Kids who get the vaccine will receive one of three possible doses, from 25 micrograms up to 100 micrograms the same dose that received an emergency authorization for use in adults from the Food and Drug Administration.
Moderna plans to enroll roughly 6,750 children in the U.S. and Canada for the study, which is taking place at sites in at least eight states, from Arizona and California to South Carolina and Texas.
Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is currently authorized only for people 18 and older. After kids who are in the study receive shots, researchers will be watching for any signs that they have difficulty tolerating the vaccine, as well as its effectiveness in protecting them against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
To monitor the vaccine's effects on children, doctors will check in with families through two telemedicine visits after each injection, followed by monthly check-ins. Parents will also be asked to make diary entries on their smartphones.
The child study, which is being coordinated with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is getting underway one year after the first adult participant got a shot of the Moderna vaccine during initial trials last March.
Pfizer, one of the few companies with an authorized vaccine in the U.S., is also testing its vaccine in young people. The company will study its vaccine's effects on kids who are 12 to 15 years old, saying it has fully enrolled the study with 2,259 participants.
Pfizer plans to share data from that study in the first half of 2021, according to Jerica Pitts, the company's director of global media relations. She says Pfizer has not yet begun a separate pediatric study for its vaccine that would focus on children under 12 years old.
In Moderna's statement about its new COVID-19 study, the drugmaker did not give an update on its effort to test the vaccine in people who are from 12 to 18 years old. But a company representative tells NPR that Moderna is already working to study the vaccine's effects on adolescents, having announced that trial in December. It has met its enrollment goal of 3,000 participants, the representative said.
Efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Covid-19 Vaccine against the B.1.351 Variant | NEJM nejm.org
At right, University Health Services (UHS) nurse Linda Johnsonvaccinates Angela Schelvan, a veterinary technician at the School of Veterinary Medicine, with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19 at the Nicholas Recreation Center on March 10, 2021. UHSis vaccinating as many eligible members of the UWMadison community as weekly supply from the state allow,followingWisconsin Department of Health Services criteria. Photo: Jeff Miller
Note: The story has been updated to reflect the change in vaccine eligibility for individuals with high-risk medical conditions after the Wisconsin Department of Health Services moved up the date to March 22. DHS is making frequent changes and these will be reflected in the MyUHS portal as soon as possible, and as vaccine supply on campus permits.
Since Jan. 5, when University Health Services first began providing COVID-19 shots to the campus community, UHS has emailed employees and students to invite those who are eligible to schedule their vaccine appointments. As a result of broader population eligibility and increasing availability of vaccines, UHS has created a new process that does not rely on email.
Beginning Monday, March 15, students and employees will use their MyUHS account found here: go.wisc.edu/myuhscovidvax as a portal to access eligibility information and appointment options. Campus will also continue to share frequent news updates about vaccine eligibility.
This week, UHS is expanding appointments to all non-student employees working in person. These employees will have the option of scheduling an appointment for vaccination at UHS, which is offering the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, or through a partnership this week with SSM Health in Dane County, which is offering the one-dose Johnson and Johnson Janssen vaccine at its clinic on Fish Hatchery Road in Madison.
Visitors to the MyUHS portal will log in using their NetID and password and their date of birth. To check availability and schedule an appointment, individuals should look for the following and click or tap on the word appointment to begin: 2. Schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 immunization. A series of prompts will serve as a guide.
At left, University Health Services (UHS) nurse Stacy Kegeltalks with Pazong Chang, a member of UWMadisons custodial staff at Facilities Planning and Management, after giving Chang the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Photo: Jeff Miller
Employees unable to secure an appointment at UHS this week should check back next week, or they should follow the instructions for appointments with SSM, which is offering vaccine hours on Wednesday, March 17; Friday, March 19; and Sunday, March 21.
There are more in-person employees than there are vaccine supplies provided to UHS this week, though UHS expects to continue to receive additional supply. Graduate and undergraduate student employees with in-person roles will begin to be offered appointments the week of March 22 and should access the MyUHS portal then.
Employees who are working remotely will be offered vaccine in the coming weeks. Eligible members of the campus community may also seek vaccine appointments through health care providers and other off-campus providers, such as pharmacies.
In-person instructors at UWMadison, including graduate teaching assistants and student teachers serving K-12 roles, have already been offered vaccines through UHS or through a partnership with Public Health Madison and Dane County.
Each week, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services allocates vaccine supplies to UWMadison and UHS has prioritized vaccinating as many eligible members of campus as it can. Like other vaccinators in Wisconsin, UHS is vaccinating as many people as possible with its weekly supply but cannot provide shots to everyone right away.
To date, UHS has provided more than 10,000 COVID-19 shots to eligible members of the campus community. This includes both first and second doses.
As eligibility expands and more vaccine supplies become available, UHS is able to offer vaccines to more members of the campus community. Photo: Jeff Miller
The state of Wisconsin determines who is eligible to receive vaccines. Following state criteria, UHS has offered appointments to employees and students who:
UHS, the Office of Human Resources and others have worked with the Office of the Provost and schools and colleges to identify eligible members of campus.
Since March 1, all staff in education settings became eligible for vaccination according to DHS, including faculty and staff in higher education settings with direct student contact. Everyone at UWMadison who works with students meets the definition of direct student contact.
However, while vaccine supplies remain limited, DHS asks that anyone working from home, and not required to interact with the public, allow other Wisconsinites with higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 access vaccines first.
Beginning March 22, DHS will expand eligibility to individuals with certain medical conditions that are associated with an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. With vaccine supply in flux, DHS continues to make changes to eligibility and UHS will update the portal as needed to reflect these changes. Please continue to visit MyUHS to check your eligibility status and appointment availability.
UHS has primarily received the two-dose COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, and community partners who have offered employees and students vaccines in recent weeks have been able to offer the one-shot Johnson and Johnson Janssen vaccine. UHS has also received limited supplies of Moderna in the past.
Each vaccine has been shown in clinical trials to be highly safe and highly effective at preventing vaccinated people from contracting COVID-19, from developing severe disease and from dying of the disease. The vaccines have now been provided to tens of millions of Americans since December 2020. Adverse reactions to the vaccines are rare. Some people report no side effects from the vaccines, though many report mild side effects, such as pain at the injection site and tiredness.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the deaths of more than 534,000 Americans since March 2020. The vaccines were produced in record time in order to save lives. They build upon technology that has been studied for decades and, before securing authorization by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use, they underwent the same rigorous safety testing as all other vaccines authorized for use in the U.S.
Answers to common questions:
Is COVID-19 vaccination mandatory at UWMadison?No, COVID-19 vaccination is not currently required for UWMadison students or employees, though employees are welcome to make vaccine appointments on work time. UHS will be providing modified clinic hours and additional support to second and third shift workers.
I signed in to make an appointment through MyUHS and couldnt find an appointment what should I do?
Keep checking MyUHS; UHS will continue to open appointments as vaccine becomes available. You will not lose your opportunity to be vaccinated if you do not schedule right away.
I was vaccinated off-campus. How do I let UHS know?
Individuals who are vaccinated off-campus who wish to ensure their vaccination is on file with UHS should take the following steps once they have received both doses of a two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) or a one-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson):
It can take up to five business days for the record to be reflected in your MyUHS account.
What will I be able to do once I am fully vaccinated?
It takes two weeks after a one-dose vaccine, or two weeks after the second shot of a two-dose vaccine, to achieve full protection from current COVID-19 vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers guidance on activities fully vaccinated people may resume: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html.
However, because of the risk of spreading COVID-19, the CDC does not recommend that people travel at this time. This includes people who are fully vaccinated. Anyone who must travel should review this guidance from the CDC, which will be updated again soon: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html.
Additionally, UWMadison is examining whether fully vaccinated people will need to continue regular campus testing and expects to provide more information soon.
UHS hosted a recorded vaccine town hall on March 4. Closed captions are also available:go.wisc.edu/vaccinechat.A second town hall will take place on March 18, from noon until 1:go.wisc.edu/campusvaccinechat.
For answers to many more COVID-19 questions, including vaccine questions, visit:https://news.wisc.edu/tag/covid-questions/
For more information about UWMadisons response to COVID-19, including a searchable FAQ database, go to:https://covidresponse.wisc.edu/
For more information about vaccines, COVID-19, or to contact University Health Services, visit:https://covidresponse.wisc.edu/covid-19-vaccine-information/
