Pfizer Vax Efficacy Dips at 6 Months; Fauci Threatener Charged; Army Lockdown in Oz

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A new preprint study conducted by Pfizer-BioNTech found its vaccine efficacy could drop down to 84% within 6 months. (medRxiv)

FDA revised the emergency use authorization labeling for baricitinib (Olumiant) in COVID-19, no longer requiring it to be used in combination with remdesivir (Veklury).

The American Nurses Association came out in support of CDC’s updated mask guidance calling for vaccinated individuals in COVID hotspots to again mask up indoors.

Some parts of the country are taking a hard pass on the new guidance. (New York Times)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and his wife pulled their children from summer camp due to lax mask enforcement. (CNN)

As of Thursday at 8 a.m. EDT, the unofficial COVID-19 toll in the U.S. included 34,675,359 cases and 611,805 deaths, increases of 68,858 and 501, respectively, compared to this time a day ago.

A Maryland man is facing federal charges for allegedly sending emails threatening to harm NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, MD, and NIH Director Francis Collins, MD, PhD; one of the emails even threatened that Fauci and his family would be “dragged into the street, beaten to death, and set on fire.” (Department of Justice)

A company in Sweden is working to develop an inhaled version of the COVID vaccine, which may be able to circumvent the “cold chain” needed by injectable versions. (BBC)

The FDA issued a warning letter to Pennsylvania-based Visible Vapors — which holds over 15 million tobacco products — to remove their unauthorized e-cigarette products from the market after failing to submit any premarket tobacco product applications by the deadline.

Elton John called out rapper DaBaby for spreading misinformation about HIV and AIDS at a recent festival. (Rolling Stone)

In Australia, where vaccine supply is scarce, the military is being called in to enforce a Sydney lockdown amid a surge in coronavirus cases. (Reuters)

Meanwhile, life is pretty sweet in Vermont, where 83.7% of residents 12 and older have received at least one shot. (CNN)

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he never expected it would be this tricky to convince Americans to get vaccinated. (The Hill)

Big tech companies like Google and Facebook are requiring that all employees get vaccinated before coming back to the office. (Reuters)

In other news, a Texas man has pleaded guilty to being involved in a fraudulent scheme to sell 50 million N95 respirator masks to the government of New South Wales in Australia for over $317 million — none of which he had. (Reuters)

Despite estimates of one in six men being survivors of sexual abuse, few ever seek much needed treatment. (NPR)

According to the cybersecurity firm CynergisTek’s annual report of over 1,000 hospitals, 76% of healthcare systems failed on supply chain security.

Boasting numerous health benefits, rooibos tea is Africa’s first food to be added to the European Union’s list of protected products, meaning only rooibos hailing from South Africa can carry the red and yellow “protected designation of origin” emblem. (NPR)

ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill passed away at the age of 72 following an undisclosed “hip issue.” (CNN)

In Tokyo, U.S. pole vaulter Sam Kendricks was bounced from the Olympics after testing positive for COVID. (Washington Post)

After four players and eight staff members for the Washington Nationals tested positive for COVID, Wednesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies was postponed. (ESPN)

Chemical giant Monsanto was ordered to hand over $185 million in a settlement to three teachers in Washington state who said they suffered brain damage from exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls in the school’s fluorescent lighting. (ABC News)