Category: Covid-19 Vaccine

The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines against hospitalization appears to drop over time among adults over 75, although it still remained above 80% at the end of July, according to an analysis released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The new data was presented Monday to the CDC's independent panel of vaccine experts, who met to discuss federal plans for a potential booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine next month.

The agency's finding is the latest to suggest protection against severe disease may be starting to wane among the most vulnerable Americans vaccinated earliest in the pandemic, as the country battles a record wave of infections fueled by the Delta variant. But the agency also conceded that drawing conclusions about the amount of time vaccines protect older or more vulnerable people from hospitalization would not be easy.

"It actually may be very difficult for us to disentangle time, since vaccination and the impact of the Delta variant, especially in some populations that we know were vaccinated earlier in the time course. So if we see waning in the last couple of months, it could be really difficult," Dr. Sara Oliver, a key CDC vaccine official, told the panel.

The analysis appeared to show that vaccines continue to confer the same or close to the same amount of protection for people up to the age of 75, though. The effectiveness at preventing hospitalization "remains high, 94% or higher, for adults 18 to 49," Dr. Oliver said.

An earlier CDC analysis collected from this COVID-NET surveillance data was also released over the weekend asa preprint that has yet to be peer reviewed. The study's authors say the vaccines appeared to remain "highly effective in preventing hospitalization" from COVID-19, even as an estimated 16.1% of hospitalized patients were fully vaccinated in June.

Hospitalizations among people who were fully vaccinated were more likely to have occurred among older residents of nursing homes, and among those with underlying conditions nearly a third with immunosuppressive conditions.

"Based on these data from January through July ... COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates were 17 times higher in unvaccinated," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters earlier this month, previewing the data's release.

The CDC said Monday it plans to convene another meeting of the panel in mid-September to discuss more data on the additional shots, likely ahead of theBiden administration's plans to roll out booster shotsthe week of September 20.

While top federal health officials previously said they were planning for the possibility that third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines would be needed eight months after Americans received their first two shots, recent data from the drugmakers and abroad have suggested booster shots might be needed sooner than six months from vaccination.

"The number eight months has been thrown around. Six months has been discussed. And that's where the science will ultimately drive what those recommendations will be," Dr. Jay Butler, a top CDC official in the agency's COVID-19 response, told a Twitch livestream last week.

The Food and Drug Administration will have to green-light vaccine makers' submissions for regulatory approval to administer booster shots before the CDC's advisers can vote on a formal recommendation for a third shot.

Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech say they completed submitting their application for approval of a booster dose last week,citing data on people who saw a boost in antibodies with a third shot "between 4.8 and 8 months after" their initial two doses.

Nearly one million Americans have already received an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine since August 13, when the CDC and FDA allowed for some immunocompromised Americans to return for another shot.

But health officials have been warning providers against giving shots"off-label" to other Americans ineligible to receive more doses, after the CDC said that more than a million Americans had received an unauthorized booster shot earlier this year.

A handful of the committee's members voiced concerns over the White House's booster dose announcement coming ahead of formal recommendations.

"Since the South is having a horrible outbreak of Delta, many, many, many hospitals have already started vaccinating healthcare workers with third doses and patients," said Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot, a professor at Vanderbilt University on the panel.

"That is very frightening to me that healthcare providers are trying to do the best job that they can, are taking guidance from HHS and White House, and now have put themselves at risk," said Dr. Talbot.

The CDC's advisers also discussed Monday the safety and effectiveness of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, following its full approval by the Food and Drug Administration earlier this month.

The panel's members voted unanimously to recommend the continued use of the shots to prevent COVID-19, finding that the vaccines' benefits in averting COVID-19 hospitalization and death outweighed the risks of rare but serious side effects like myocarditis and pericarditis.

Only 701 reports from the rare heart inflammation cases have been received by the CDC of confirmed hospitalizations in people under 30 following their vaccination, an official told the advisers on Monday. Most have since been discharged and recovered from their symptoms.

To date,nearly 160 million Americans have been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

"The risks that we're talking about following vaccination is generally within seven days but the benefits last for far longer than seven days," Dr. Grace Lee, a pediatrics professor at Stanford University and chair of the advisory committee.

"It's important for us to continue to look ahead, particularly as schools have reopened, and we recognize that there are a significant proportion of our children in schools who have not yet had the opportunity to be vaccinated because they are not eligible for vaccination. So this is going to continue to be incredibly important for us," Dr. Lee added.

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COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in preventing hospitalization drops among oldest Americans - CBS News

Dear FCPS Community,

Beginning November 8, FCPS will require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination for any student participating in Virginia High School League (VHSL) winter and spring sports for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year.

Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination will also be required for participation in any other activity that requires a physical. This includes dance team and step team, as well as out-of-season practices and workouts.

Vaccinating our students is a critical step in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and minimizing any disruption to learning. The majority of pauses to instruction for our high school students come as a result of exposure during athletic activities, which the Virginia Department of Education classifies as a high-risk activity. These pauses impact participation in activities and in-person learning while the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) investigates and determines close contacts and next steps.

FCPS will be working with the FCHD to ensure all students who wish to be vaccinated have access to the COVID-19 vaccine before the requirement kicks in on November 8. A total of 75.4% of all Fairfax County 16-18 year-olds are currently fully vaccinated, and 85.7% have had one dose. This timeline allows unvaccinated students ample time to fulfill the participation requirement before the winter sports season begins.

FCPS is committed to providing the safest learning environment possible for our students and is proud to lead the way by requiring COVID-19 vaccination for athletic participation. Our decision is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), and ten other sports and medicine organizations that urge members to incorporate COVID-19 vaccination into sports physicals for student-athletes.

While we know this is a difficult decision for some families, it is an essential step that we must take to limit the duration of a pause, getting students back to the classroom and their activities sooner, but still safely. We will share more information in the coming weeks on how to provide proof of vaccination and vaccination opportunities for students.

Thank you for continuing to support our students and staff and our ongoing commitment to safe, in-person learning.

Scott S. Brabrand

Superintendent

Fairfax County Public Schools

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FCPS to Require Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Athletic Participation - Oakton High

Free COVID-19 shots and saliva testing to be provided to residents at events in 6 County municipalities

Union County, NJ The Union County Board of County Commissioners informs residents that free COVID-19 vaccines and testing will be available at convenient pop-up clinics throughout the County during the month of September. The upcoming clinics will be held in Rahway, Hillside, Elizabeth, Union Township, Roselle and Scotch Plains.

All residents are strongly urged to get their vaccine as soon as possible as new strains of the virus emerge and spread. Third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for residents who are immunocompromised will also be available at the upcoming mobile clinics.

In addition to free vaccinations, residents can also get a free COVID-19 saliva test at any of the pop-up clinics. Residents can also get vaccinated for COVID-19 at Union Countys vaccine clinics in Elizabeth, Plainfield, and Union Township.

We urge unvaccinated residents to make an appointment at any of our vaccination sites as soon as possible and ask that they encourage family and friends to get their shot, too, said Union County Commissioner Board Chairman Alexander Mirabella. Immunocompromised residents who are eligible for a third dose should also make an appointment as soon as possible for added protection.

Union County began offering pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics in local communities earlier this year, in order to reach vulnerable populations including seniors, homeless individuals, and others who would have difficulty traveling to a centralized vaccine site.

The Board of County Commissioners will continue to provide residents with opportunities for vaccination and testing, said Commissioner and Chair of the Public Safety Committee Sergio Granados. Easy access to vaccines and testing remains our focus as vaccination is key to keeping Union County residents safe as we continue to navigate COVID-19 and its variants.

The Countys pop-up program has now expanded to include all age-approved Union County residents. Currently, any resident age 12 and older is eligible for the Pfizer vaccine. Eligibility for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines begins at age 18. Those who receive the first dose of a two dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) at one of Union Countys Mobile Vaccinations Clinics will receive instructions as to how and when to receive their second dose. Currently, third doses of the two dose vaccines are available for immunocompromised residents.

Any Union County resident can make an appointment at any of the following clinics, regardless of their home town:

Appointments at the pop-up clinics can be booked online by creating an account at ucnj.org/vax.

Residents can also get vaccinated for free at any of Union Countys four vaccine clinics in Elizabeth, Plainfield, and Union Township. COVID-19 vaccines are available by appointment at Union Countys COVID-19 permanent vaccination sites: Dunn Sports Center in Elizabeth (currently offering the Pfizer vaccine), Kean University in Union Township (Moderna), and Plainfield High School in Plainfield (Pfizer). COVID-19 Vaccines are also available weekdays on a walk-in basis at the Union County Immunization Clinic located at 40 Parker Road in Elizabeth.

To schedule an appointment at Dunn Sports Center, Kean University or Plainfield High School, create an account online at ucnj.org/vax, or call 908-613-7829 (7VAX) if additional assistance is needed. Residents looking to visit the Immunization Clinic for a free COVID-19 vaccine can walk in Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Union County residents who are home-bound or have difficulty leaving the home can arrange for a home vaccination visit by contacting Union Countys service provider, Mobile Medical Services. Call 1-833-256-2478 during regular weekday business hours to speak with an operator, leave a voice message after hours to receive a callback, or email a callback request to vaccine@mmst.io. Messages are returned on the following business day.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Union County COVID-19 Test Center at Kean University, the Mobile Test Unit, vaccination information, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

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Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics and Testing in Union County in September County of Union, New Jersey - UCNJ.org

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) As the state struggles to get more people vaccinated, COVID-19 patients continue to fill up Kentucky's hospital beds. One hospital, St. Claire in Morehead, is using emergency tents to treat additional patients.

So are there additional resources available to help these hospitals out?

In Lexington, hospitals can manage their COVID-19 patients, but smaller hospitals around Kentucky are struggling. And all of these problems are happening because there are so many patients who are getting hospitalized right now.

On Monday, Senator Mitch McConnell was in Lexington, and we asked him whether there was federal help available for these overwhelmed hospitals. He said the feds have already sent the state a lot of money, so he says resources aren't the problem. He says the fact that people aren't getting vaccinated is the problem.

"There's plenty of money already here," said Sen. McConnell. "Money is not the problem. Reluctance of people to get vaccinated is the problem. We need to keep on preaching that and encouraging people to do the right thing."

Now, McConnell said he never expected people to be so reluctant to get the vaccine, but that's the reality Kentucky and many other states are facing right now. It's one of the reasons some employers have started mandating the vaccination. That's a decision McConnell says employers should, and do, have.

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Sen. Mitch McConnell: People reluctant to get COVID-19 vaccine are the problem - LEX18 Lexington KY News

By: KDKA-TV News Staff

MILLVALE, Pa. (KDKA) Mr. Smalls is requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for concert-goers.

The venue in Millvale announced on Monday that the decision comes at the request of the great majority of artists slated to perform.

People attending indoor shows at Mr. Smalls Theatre and The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls will be required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine or a negative test result along with a government-issued ID starting Friday.

These requirements will be in place until there is a substantial decrease in new cases and the performing artists are comfortable with lifting them, Mr. Smalls said. The health and safety of our guests, staff, and artists is of utmost importance to us, and we are striving to maintain the safest environment that we can while providing a space for live music to continue to happen.

The venue says some artists are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccinations only no tests accepted in their place and those will be announced as soon as theres information.

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Mr. Smalls Requiring Proof Of COVID-19 Vaccinations Or Negative Tests - CBS Pittsburgh

The University of Utah Hospital is seen in this undated file photo. University of Utah Health announced on Monday that all hospital and clinical staff who have contact with patients will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)

SALT LAKE CITY University of Utah Health will require COVID-19 vaccinations for hospital and clinic staff members who have contact with patients, officials announced Monday.

Staff members at U. health hospitals and clinics, as well as credentialed and privileged providers and health academics staff members who have patient-sensitive job positions will need to be vaccinated, according to a statement from University of Utah Health.

"We are proud of the already high COVID-19 vaccination rates among our faculty and staff," Dr. Thomas Miller, chief medical officer at University of Utah Health, said in the statement. "We want to ensure we are protecting our patients and employees and believe getting vaccinated against COVID-19 with the fully approved Pfizer vaccine, Comirnaty, or other vaccines approved under FDA emergency use authorization, will be the best way to keep each other safe and help us bring an end to this pandemic."

The University of Utah Health Medical Board and our executive leadership team met today and approved a resolution to require COVID-19 vaccinations for Hospitals and Clinics staff, credentialed and privileged providers and health Academics staff in patient sensitive job codes. pic.twitter.com/L7Q96J1A4g

The University of Utah Health Medical Board and executive leadership team met Monday to authorize the requirement. The policy will be implemented starting in late September, the university said.

Workers who have contact with patients, including in diagnostic or therapeutic settings, are considered patient-sensitive positions, according to the U. Positions in which a person has contact with research patients or participants are also considered patient-sensitive, as are positions where a person has access to a patient care area.

Medical and religious exemptions for vaccines will be reviewed by U. health officials. If approved, those exempted will be provided with reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, officials said.

The University of Utah announced last week that students at the institution would also be required to get vaccinated. Some other universities in the state have said they will require vaccines by the spring semester in January, as Utah Valley University also announced Monday.

More here:

University of Utah Health will require COVID-19 vaccinations for hospital, clinic staff - KSL.com

Responses to COVID-19 Vaccines in Cancer Patients: Impact of Tumor and Treatment Type  Cancer Therapy Advisor

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Responses to COVID-19 Vaccines in Cancer Patients: Impact of Tumor and Treatment Type - Cancer Therapy Advisor

The Boston Symphony Orchestra announced Tuesday that audience members will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test to attend a show.A PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance or an antigen test taken within the last 24 hours will be accepted, the BSO said. Options for proof of vaccination include showing a vaccination card, a photo of the card or a digital vaccine record upon entering Symphony Hall. Proof of a negative test will be accepted for children under age 12.Audience members will also be required to wear masks except then actively eating and drinking.The new COVID-19 protocols will apply to all visitors to Symphony Hall, including those attending BSO performances, Boston Speakers Series events, Celebrity Series of Boston performances, Handel and Haydn Society concerts and other public events. "After an 18-month closure of Symphony Hall due to the pandemic, we are thrilled to be presenting a season of Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts for audiences this year. By requiring vaccinations and masks, we hope that people will feel comfortable at concerts and know that we are doing all we can to create a safe environment to gather for the collective experience of live music," the BSO said in a statement.The BSO said the new protocols are consistent with those recently announced by other performance arts spaces and theaters in the Greater Boston area. Boston College will require guests at Alumni Stadium and other campus athletic events to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra announced Tuesday that audience members will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test to attend a show.

A PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance or an antigen test taken within the last 24 hours will be accepted, the BSO said.

Options for proof of vaccination include showing a vaccination card, a photo of the card or a digital vaccine record upon entering Symphony Hall. Proof of a negative test will be accepted for children under age 12.

Audience members will also be required to wear masks except then actively eating and drinking.

The new COVID-19 protocols will apply to all visitors to Symphony Hall, including those attending BSO performances, Boston Speakers Series events, Celebrity Series of Boston performances, Handel and Haydn Society concerts and other public events.

"After an 18-month closure of Symphony Hall due to the pandemic, we are thrilled to be presenting a season of Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts for audiences this year. By requiring vaccinations and masks, we hope that people will feel comfortable at concerts and know that we are doing all we can to create a safe environment to gather for the collective experience of live music," the BSO said in a statement.

The BSO said the new protocols are consistent with those recently announced by other performance arts spaces and theaters in the Greater Boston area.

Boston College will require guests at Alumni Stadium and other campus athletic events to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test.

Read more here:

Boston Symphony Orchestra requiring COVID-19 vaccinations or proof of negative test result - WCVB Boston

The COVID-19 vaccines are extremely effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Fully vaccinated people who test positive for COVID-19 more than 2 weeks after their completed vaccine dose series are called "breakthrough infections." No vaccine is 100 percent effective, and as such we expect to see some fully vaccinated people test positive for COVID-19. Breakthrough cases typically report mild illness or no symptoms.

Your likelihood of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 is determined by many factors, which include vaccinations, but also include the level of transmission and vaccine coverage in your community, whether you or others wear masks as recommended, the number of people you have close contact with, and more. On average, fully vaccinated individuals are less likely to be infected, hospitalized, and die from COVID-19 compared to unvaccinated individuals.

DHS plans to update this data by the 15th of every month.This data is updated on a monthly basis, halfway through the following month, to account for the 2-week data lag in receiving COVID-19 reports and to ensure the most complete data is presented for the previous, full month.

This visualization is not supported by Internet Explorer. Please use the latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Apple Safari to view this visualization.

This visualization shows the rate of confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths per 100,000 people among fully vaccinated people in Wisconsin for the last full month. Viewing case, death, and hospitalization rates allows the two groups to be compared directly while accounting for differences in population size across groups. The population denominator used to calculate rates is adjusted monthlybased on the number of residents who completed the COVID-19 vaccine series.

Please note: Data on whether or not a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 is hospitalized is not always complete in WEDSS. As such, the true rate of hospitalization among the fully vaccinated and not fully vaccinated groups may differ slightly from what is presented here.

Data source: The Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) and Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS).

Read our Frequently Asked Questions for more information on how cases of COVID-19 are reported in WEDSS.

Fully vaccinated people who test positive for COVID-19 more than 2 weeks after their completed vaccine dose series are called breakthrough infections. Breakthrough infections shown in the data only include those that meet the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) vaccine breakthrough infection definition. We identify vaccine breakthrough infections by comparing immunization records in WIR to confirmed and probable case records in WEDSS. This allows us to match person records between COVID-19 cases and vaccination status. The non-fully-vaccinated population includes individuals who:

We plan to update our data by the 15th of each month.

Back to a list of charts on this page.

These tables show the rate of confirmed and probable cases, deaths, and hospitalizations per 100,000 amongst fully vaccinated and not fully vaccinated people by month. It also displays the percent of the population who completed their COVID-19 vaccine series by the first of the month for added context on how our statewide vaccination efforts have progressed. Viewing case, death, and hospitalization data as rates allows the two groups to be compared directly while accounting for differences in population size across groups, especially as the proportion of fully vaccinated people increases.

Please note: Data on whether or not a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 is hospitalized is not always complete in WEDSS. As such, the true rate of hospitalization among the fully vaccinated and not fully vaccinated groups may differ slightly from what is presented here.

Data source: The Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) and Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS).

Read our Frequently Asked Questions for more information on how cases of COVID-19 are reported in WEDSS.

Fully vaccinated people who test positive for COVID-19 more than 2 weeks after their completed vaccine dose series are called breakthrough infections. Breakthrough infections shown in the data only include those that meet the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) vaccine breakthrough infection definition. We identify vaccine breakthrough infections by comparing immunization records in WIR to confirmed and probable case records in WEDSS. This allows us to match person records between COVID-19 cases and vaccination status. The non-fully-vaccinated population includes individuals who:

We plan to update our data by the 15th of each month.

All DHS COVID-19 data is available for download directly from the chart on the page. You can click on the chart and then click "Download" at the bottom of the chart (gray bar).

To download our data visit one of the following links:

*As of May 27, 2021, the visualizations are using an updated data file that allows corrections due to quality assurance to be counted on the date when a case or death was first reported, rather than affecting the current daily count of cases or deaths.

You can find more instructions on how to download COVID-19 data or access archived spatial data by visiting our FAQ page.

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COVID-19: Illness After Vaccination | Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Wisconsin Department of Health Services

You might have seen the headlines on social media.

COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Fatalities Exceed 6,000.

6,000% Increase in Reported Vaccine Deaths 1st Quarter 2021 Compared to 1st Quarter 2020.

No matter your vaccination status or your feelings about getting the shot, those headlines likely give you pause. Can those numbers be right?

These and similar shocking claims are the latest examples of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. And as with most misinformation, these statements get traction because they start with a kernel of truth in this case raw data from a reputable source.

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) was established in 1990 as a national early warning system to detect potential safety problems with vaccines. It is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The system allows anyone who has received a vaccine (not just a COVID-19 vaccine) to report adverse events (think side effects) that they experience following vaccination. Health care providers are required to submit reports of events that come to their attention even if the eventsclearly have no relationship to vaccination.

The system serves to alert federal health authorities to potential safety concerns, but it is not designed to determine if a vaccine caused a particular problem. All reports to the system are unverified.

Since December 2020, more than 350 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the U.S., and VAERS has received 6,968 reports of death (0.0019%), according to the CDC. (Numbers as of Aug. 26, 2021.)

However, that statistic offers no insight into the cause of death for those people. If a 90-year-old nursing home resident got the vaccine and then died days, weeks or evenmonths later of another ailment, the residents death would be reported to VAERS.

Opponents of vaccination use the VAERS numbers in statements that suggest cause-and-effect conclusions. This misinformation then influences some people not to be vaccinated.

In this case, the numbers are correct, but the presumed conclusions are not.

Stevan Whitt, MD, an infectious disease doctor and chief clinical officer at MU Health Care, gets questions about these claims regularly, and he wants people to have the right information.

This intentional misrepresentation is a powerful tactic to sow confusion among large groups of people, Whitt said.

To address the misinformation about VAERS, the CDC shares context around adverse events associated with the COVID-19 vaccines and emphasizes that reports of deaths (and other adverse events) do not necessarily mean the vaccines are to blame. A review of available clinical information, including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records, has not established a causal link to COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC notes.

Meanwhile, what we do know for sure is that more than 38 million U.S. residents have been infected and 600,000 have died from COVID-19, and the vaccine is one of the best tools to slow the spread of the virus and save lives.

Read this article:

Scary Reports of Deaths Following COVID-19 Vaccination Aren't What They Seem - muhealth.org