As cases rise, COVID vaccines for kids 5-11 get the OK: Updates
Simply as new coronavirus infections are beginning to tick up within the U.S., assist could also be on the best way.
A federal advisory committee on Tuesday unanimously recommended the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 5 to 11, bringing a way of aid to hundreds of thousands of oldsters as as much as 28 million children will likely be eligible for the pictures.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, signed off on the vaccines later Tuesday, so that they may very well be obtainable at some pharmacies and pediatricians’ workplaces as early as Wednesday.
The timing could not be higher contemplating the pace of new virus cases in the U.S. has risen 5.4% within the final week, a worrying signal suggesting the delta variant-driven wave hasn’t ended.
There have been 523,194 new instances nationwide within the week ending Monday, after dropping to a current low level of 495,194 the earlier week, a USA TODAY evaluation of Johns Hopkins College information exhibits. On the present tempo, 52 new infections are recorded each minute.
The evaluation exhibits instances are rising in 23 states, up sharply from as few as eight states only a week in the past.
Earlier than delta started taking maintain round July 1, instances had fallen to lower than 80,000 per week, or lower than one-sixth the present determine. At their worst within the delta wave, nevertheless, instances have been being reported greater than twice as quick.
Deaths, that are a lagging indicator, have been falling. Within the week ending Monday, the USA had 9,119 COVID-19 deaths, about 100 per day lower than the earlier common of 1,400 a day.
– Mike Stucka
Acquired extra questions? Here’s what you need to know in regards to the COVID-19 vaccine and youngsters
Additionally within the information:
►Amid the financial uncertainty introduced on by the pandemic, charitable giving elevated by 3.8% in 2020, in accordance with estimates from the annual “Giving USA” report.
►The primary-dose vaccination price of U.S. adults has reached 80%, and 70% of adults are totally vaccinated, the White Home mentioned Monday.
►9 in 10 Americans identifying as atheist report being not less than been partially vaccinated in opposition to the virus, in accordance with a current Pew Analysis Middle survey. The quantity was greater than Catholics and Protestants.
►Amazon warehouse staff who’re vaccinated will now not be required to put on masks at work beginning Tuesday, CNBC and Reuters reported.
►Pennsylvania is offering five days of paid leave – along with the paid day without work to get vaccinated – to state staff who get their COVID pictures by the tip of the yr. The state treasurer mentioned the motivation might price the state greater than $100 million.
📈 At this time’s numbers: The U.S. has recorded 46 million confirmed COVID-19 instances and greater than 747,000 deaths, in accordance to Johns Hopkins University data. International totals: Greater than 247.3 million instances and 5 million deaths. Greater than 192.6 million People – 58% of the inhabitants – are totally vaccinated, according to the CDC.
📘 What we’re studying: Coronavirus instances in youngsters grew by 129% nationwide within the six weeks after colleges opened in contrast with the identical interval earlier than courses began, in accordance with a USA TODAY evaluation of information from the CDC.
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CDC panel offers unanimous OK to pediatric vaccines; director additionally clears them
An advisory panel for the CDC gave its unanimous support Tuesday to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 5 to 11, and it could be available this week and in some areas as quickly as Wednesday.
The ultimate hurdle was cleared Tuesday night time when CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on the vaccines. Earlier than the advisory committee rendered its determination, she had mentioned: “There are kids within the second grade who’ve by no means skilled a standard faculty yr. Pediatric vaccination has the facility to assist us change all of that.”
The vaccine, which will likely be free, can be delivered at one-third the dose given to adolescents and adults, in two pictures not less than three weeks aside. Solely the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can be obtainable on this age group. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are nonetheless being examined in adolescents and youngsters.
In a number of small trials, Pfizer-BioNTech noticed no critical unwanted side effects related with the pictures, although some are more likely to seem later as hundreds of thousands of kids obtain the vaccine. Typical unwanted side effects, which go away inside a day or two, embrace complications, fatigue, muscle ache, ache on the injection web site and vomiting, nausea or diarrhea. In a examine of about 2,500 youngsters, the vaccine was discovered to be greater than 90% efficient at stopping COVID-19.
Whereas the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout initially relied on mass immunization websites and chain pharmacies, pediatricians are now expected to take a larger role.
– Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY
De Blasio vows ‘penalties’ for firefighters calling out sick over vaccine mandate
Mayor Invoice de Blasio mentioned New York firefighters faking being sick and taking time without work work in protest of town’s vaccine mandate for its staff will face “penalties.”
De Blasio made the remark Monday at a information convention however didn’t specify what would occur. Round 9,000 of town’s employees have been positioned on unpaid go away Monday for failing to fulfill the obligatory vaccination deadline, de Blasio mentioned. Greater than 90% of metropolis staff have been vaccinated.
“We now have each cause to consider there’s lots of people on the market claiming to be sick who’re not. It isn’t acceptable,” de Blasio mentioned. “So the factor to do is to do the fitting factor, come to work, defend individuals as you took an oath to do. And look, that is one thing that we do not tolerate. In the long run when individuals do this type of factor, there are penalties.”
Greater than 2,000 of town’s 11,000 firefighters have taken sick days up to now week, however Fireplace Commissioner Daniel Nigro mentioned no firehouses have closed regardless of “irresponsible bogus sick go away by a few of our members (that) is making a hazard for New Yorkers and their fellow firefighters.”
Choose suspends deadline for Chicago cops to get vaccinated
A choose on Monday suspended a Dec. 31 deadline for Chicago law enforcement officials to be vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 however didn’t intervene with a requirement that they’re often examined. Disputes over vaccinations needs to be dealt with as a labor grievance with an arbitrator, Prepare dinner County Choose Raymond Mitchell mentioned.
“The impact of this order is to ship these events again to the bargaining desk and to advertise labor peace by permitting them to pursue” treatments below Illinois legislation, Mitchell mentioned.
The grievance course of might final months, town mentioned final week. Officers who haven’t been vaccinated nonetheless have to be examined twice per week below metropolis coverage. Officers can lose work and pay in the event that they don’t disclose their vaccine standing.
Necessary vaccination for corporations with 100+ staff inches nearer
The controversial Biden administration plan to require corporations with greater than 100 staff to mandate vaccination for his or her employees or require weekly testing cleared one other hurdle Monday when the Workplace of Administration and Funds accomplished its regulatory evaluate.
The plan requires employers to supply paid time to employees to get vaccinated and paid sick go away to recuperate from any unwanted side effects. The Federal Register will publish the emergency short-term commonplace “within the coming days,” the Labor Division mentioned in an announcement. It isn’t clear when the mandate would change into efficient.
Biden introduced the plan in September, and attorneys common in two dozen states shortly despatched the White Home a letter threatening to problem the mandate in court docket.
Contributing: The Related Press