Pfizer CEO says willfully spreading COVID misinformation is ‘criminal’
“Professionals” who purposely unfold misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines are criminals, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla says.
In an interview with the Atlantic Council suppose tank, Bourla stated the world has turn out to be divided into two teams: those that are vaccinated and those that will not be. Each teams, he stated, are pushed by worry — vaccinated persons are afraid of contracting COVID-19 and unvaccinated persons are “skeptical” of the vaccine and “mad that persons are urgent them to get it. These I perceive. They’re superb folks, respectable folks.”
However Bourla has much less empathy or understanding for what he stated are the “small” quantity of people that have knowingly circulated misinformation. These folks can’t be certified simply dangerous folks, he stated, including: “They’re criminals. They’ve actually value thousands and thousands of lives.”
The interview was live-streamed on-line and the replay is available to watch here.
Bourla’s feedback come after a poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Vaccine Monitor — an ongoing evaluation of People’ attitudes in regards to the vaccines — revealed widespread belief in pandemic misinformation.
Greater than three-quarters, 78%, of the adults surveyed believed or have been not sure about at the very least considered one of eight incorrect statements associated to the vaccines or the pandemic.
Unsurprisingly, the findings broke alongside get together strains, with unvaccinated adults and Republicans extra prone to consider the wrong info. Final month’s Vaccine Monitor confirmed 39% of Republican voters stay unvaccinated, versus 10% of Democrats.
The Biden administration has stated combating quickly spreading misinformation is among the greatest hurdles to ending the pandemic.
Additionally within the information:
►Training Secretary Miguel Cardona informed CBS “Face the Nation” that given the widespread availability of vaccines and improved remedy in opposition to COVID-19, there “must be no need for remote or hybrid learning.”
►The NFL fined Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers for violating COVID-19 protocols. The league performed a assessment of Rodgers’ and the Packers’ actions associated to protocol after the quarterback examined optimistic for COVID final week.
📈Right now’s numbers: The U.S. has recorded greater than 46.6 million confirmed COVID-19 instances and greater than 757,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. World totals: Greater than 250.7 million instances and 5 million deaths. Greater than 194.1 million People — 58.5% of the inhabitants — are totally vaccinated, according to the CDC.
📘 What we’re studying: Are you vaxxed? Some families face fraught divide over jabs.
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3,158 folks claimed damages from COVID remedy. None acquired paid.
Greater than 3,100 claims alleging injuries from COVID-19 vaccines and treatments have been filed with the federal Countermeasures Damage Compensation Program throughout the pandemic. Of the three,158 claims, 1,357 allege accidents or deaths from the COVID-19 vaccine. To date, not one of the claims have been paid, and solely two vaccine instances have been rejected. Only one COVID-19 declare has been deemed eligible for compensation, however program staffers are reviewing allowable bills. That leaves greater than 3,000 instances nonetheless beneath assessment. Read more here.
“We work to course of claims as expeditiously as attainable,” stated Christy Choi, a spokeswoman for the Well being Sources and Companies Administration, which runs the compensation program. “About 90% of claims are awaiting medical data for assessment.”
– Ken Alltucker
Fox Information viewers extra prone to consider misinformation, examine says
Individuals who belief Fox Information Channel and different media shops that enchantment to conservatives usually tend to consider misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines than those that primarily go elsewhere for information, a study has found. Viewers who belief info from CNN, MSNBC, NPR, community information and native TV information have been much less prone to be misled, in line with the Kaiser Household Basis examine launched this week. However the examine took no stand on whether or not the protection was accountable for viewer beliefs.
“It might be as a result of the people who find themselves self-selecting these organizations consider (the misinformation) getting in,” stated Liz Hamel, vice chairman and director of public opinion and survey analysis at Kaiser.
San Francisco police officer dies whereas on depart after failing to get vaccinated
A police officer who was positioned on depart for lacking San Francisco’s deadline to be inoculated has died after being affected by COVID-19, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Officer Jack Nyce, 46, examined optimistic on Nov. 2 and died Saturday at a hospital in Manteca, his spouse, Melissa Nyce, informed the newspaper. The Chronicle stated Melissa Nyce declined to say whether or not her husband was vaccinated. Nonetheless, the vice chairman of the Police Officers Affiliation, Lt. Tracy McCray, stated Jack Nyce was on a 30-day stint of paid administrative depart as a result of he had not obtained the vaccination required by the town.
The Police Division stated final week that as many as 70 sworn and civilian staff had been positioned on depart for not assembly a Nov. 1 vaccination deadline. As of Nov. 2, 97.5% of division staff have been totally vaccinated.
Honesty is finest: Ideas for speaking to your kids about getting vaccinated
In the event you’re taking your baby to get vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, consultants say there are approaches that may make it simpler for you each you and your baby. It begins with possibly the oldest rule within the guide: Honesty is one of the best coverage. Adam Keating, a normal pediatrician with Cleveland Clinic Youngsters’s, informed USA TODAY that oldsters can kind a “technique” to speak in regards to the COVID-19 vaccine – and vaccines basically – with their kids.
“Anytime you are doing a vaccine with a child, it is price having a dialog beforehand and a technique earlier than they get the vaccine,” Keating stated.
“Basically, my desire is that this can be a dialog that the child has time to arrange for beforehand, and so they do not find out about it 30 seconds earlier than it occurs,” he added. “That does not give the child management over the vaccine. And a lot of the concern and the ache that occurs with vaccines is in regards to the lack of management and the shortage of time to arrange.” Read more here.
— Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY
GOP needs Kansas to maneuver in opposition to vaccine mandates this month
Republican lawmakers in Kansas are pushing to enact new state legal guidelines earlier than Thanksgiving to guard staff financially in the event that they refuse to adjust to federal mandates to get vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19. Prime GOP legislative leaders referred to as Tuesday for lawmakers to have a particular session to think about proposals making it simpler for staff to assert spiritual exemptions from vaccine mandates and offering unemployment advantages to staff who’re fired for refusing to get inoculated. Each proposals emerged from a legislative committee assembly Tuesday and are available response to vaccine mandates introduced in September by President Joe Biden.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly final week went public along with her opposition to the Democratic president’s mandates, however she additionally stated she did not suppose a particular session is warranted. Lawmakers can pressure one if two-thirds of them signal a petition, and Republicans have large enough majorities. Lawmakers adjourned for the yr in Might and are not scheduled to reconvene till January.
NFL clarifies COVID protocols after Aaron Rodgers ordeal
The NFL and NFLPA agreed to modifications to the COVID-19 protocols and knowledgeable groups in a memo, however there have been no adjustments to the necessities about masks use for unvaccinated gamers. As an alternative, the memo included a reminder that such gamers are required to stick to these necessities in all instances within amenities.
“Golf equipment are reminded that any particular person who just isn’t totally vaccinated is required to put on a masks always when contained in the membership facility. This consists of whereas giving media interviews or collaborating in media briefings performed indoors both on the membership facility or on the stadium on recreation day,” the memo learn.
It added: “People who will not be totally vaccinated might conduct media interviews outside or within the observe bubble with out sporting a masks, supplied that bodily distancing is maintained always.”
Inexperienced Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ lack of masks use at information conferences made this a renewed subject of scrutiny final week after he examined optimistic for COVID-19.
— Mike Jones, USA TODAY
Contributing: The Related Press