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With no fanfare, the CDC altered its recommendations on vaccine dosing Thursday to say second doses of the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech products can be given up to 6 weeks after the first.
Although the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, the rate of increase has declined in most states — substantially in some cases — over the past week or so. (Axios)
Israel, which has one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the world, claims to have pushed the virus’s reproduction rate below 1, suggesting the pandemic is receding there. (Reuters)
As of 8:00 a.m ET, the unofficial COVID-19 toll in the United States stood at 24,633,015 cases and 410,378 deaths, increases of 193,588 and 4,216 respectively, since yesterday at the same time.
A new Harris poll suggests Americans’ confidence in COVID-19 vaccines — and willingness to be vaccinated — is increasing. (FiercePharma)
President Biden is expected to sign an executive order to increase pandemic-related food aid for children who rely on school meals as their primary source of nutrition. (Reuters)
Meanwhile, the new administration nixed some states’ requests to buy COVID-19 vaccine directly from manufacturers. (CBS News)
Vaccination of the 65-and-older demographic in California may drag into June, postponing vaccination for lower-priority groups. (Los Angeles Times)
Busted! Experts take down some of the biggest COVID-19 myths. (CNBC)
Pfizer cut its estimated vaccine delivery estimates by as much as 50% for some European countries, although normal delivery could resume as early as next week. (Reuters)
In an indoor environment, talking may spread coronavirus more than coughing does. (Newsweek)
Passenger pushback against masking is now the worst part of airline flight attendants’ job. (CNN)
French health officials recommended that all citizens wear surgical masks in public, as standard fabric masks afford inadequate protection against COVID-19. (Reuters)
In other news:
- The French physician who discovered the genetic origin of Down syndrome, and then advocated against abortion based on prenatal diagnosis, has moved a step closer to sainthood in the Catholic Church. (AP News)
- Harvard biologist Daniel Lieberman tells NPR‘s Terry Gross that any kind of physical activity — even nervous fidgeting — is good for people’s health.
- Do “lifestyle medicines” allow people to live longer, healthier lives? (St. George News)
- A new #MeToo movement in France focuses attention on sexual abuse of children. (AP News)
Source: MedicalNewsToday.com
