Category: Covid-19

LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 12: A woman walks down the sidewalk toward Bates Memorial Baptist church to receive her Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on February 12, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. Friday marked the first day that Norton Healthcare offered the vaccination in predominantly black areas of the city, with black churches being the operation centers for the pop-up clinics.

Brutal weather is throwing a wrench in COVID-19 vaccine programs in several states.

From Oregon to Oklahoma to Texas to Virginia, some vaccine clinics are being temporarily shut down or scaled back due to a parade of winter storms across the country.

In Houston, city-run vaccine sites will be closed the first two days of this week.

"We knew the weather forecast (and) didnt schedule new appointments for Monday or Tuesday," Houston Health Department spokesperson Scott Packard told weather.com in an email Friday.

It's their first weather-related closure. The 100 or so people that were already scheduled will be switched to later in the week, Packard said.

Despite the closures, he said the city would still use all of its allotted vaccine doses for next week.

(MORE: 700,000 Without Power As Dual Winter Storms Pummel East and West)

In the Fort Worth area, Tarrant County Health Department spokesperson Brian Murnahan said turnout for vaccines was lower than usual on Thursday, the day that ice and freezing rain caused a deadly early-morning pileup on Interstate 35.

"We probably saw about 80% of what we normally would have expected," Murnahan said in a phone interview.

On Friday, the county offered vaccine appointments to fewer people. One reason for that was to prevent people from having to wait outside in the cold at one site in particular.

Murnahan said county vaccine clinics would be closed as usual on Sunday, and won't open on Monday because of the Presidents Day holiday. After that remains to be seen.

Were going to be watching the weather and kind of seeing what happens, and well make the best decisions on what were going to do at that point," Murnahan said.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a state of emergency for all 254 counties in the state on Friday, ahead of a forecast that includes bitter cold, wind, snow and ice across much of the south from Sunday through Tuesday.

Murnahan said the goal was to at least serve those who have already gotten their first dose.

We dont want people to get behind on those second shots," he said.

The largest vaccination site in Dallas, Fair Park, closed Saturday because of the weather and won't reopen again until at least Tuesday, Dallas Judge Clay Jenkins said in a news release.

"With expected extreme weather conditions, including dangerously low temperatures and hazardous roadways, we must prioritize people's safety," Jenkins said. "As soon as we can safely open again, we will."

On Thursday, Jenkins tweeted that both weather and logistical delays had hampered virus distribution throughout the week. On Friday, Fair Park opened later than usual and only served those who had been scheduled to get their second dose on Feb. 8-11.

Vaccine shippers UPS and FedEx replied to emailed questions with statements saying they have extensive contingency plans in place to help mitigate potential delivery delays.

UPS spokesperson Matthew O'Connor added: "We delivered everything on time during the last storm, as well as the Noreaster at the end of December."

As of Friday, about 69 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been delivered across the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 37 million have received shots, including 13 million who've gotten both doses.

For the latest coronavirus information in your county and a full list of important resources to help you make the smartest decisions regarding the disease, check out our dedicated COVID-19 page.

The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

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Winter Weather Throws Wrench in COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts | The Weather Channel - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com - The Weather Channel

The light at the end of this dark COVID-19 tunnel is quickly getting brighter but you still wont have a normal summer.

Even as efforts to distribute and administer the COVID vaccine accelerate, the U.S. is unlikely to achieve herd immunity until mid-September. Thats even with the one-dose Johnson & Johnson JNJ, +0.31% vaccine that could be authorized for use by the end of February and will provide an alternative to the two-dose Pfizer PFE, +0.84% and Moderna MRNA, +0.16% vaccines already being administered.

And this is the best-case scenario. It assumes we have an adequate supply of vaccine, accessible vaccination sites, staff available to provide vaccines and enough people interested in being vaccinated. Any challenges with those, and it could take longer.

Heres the math:

About 332.2 million people live in the U.S. Using the 70% threshold that many agree would provide herd immunity, more than 249.1 million persons must be vaccinated. But because not everyone who is vaccinated will develop antibodies, we need to exceed that number to have some assurance that at least 70% will develop antibodies.

After subtracting the 73 million people living in the U.S. who are under 18, there are approximately 241.8 million individuals, which is short of the herd immunity threshold of 70%. Children under 16 years currently are not eligible for the vaccine. This is simply because this group didnt participate in any of the clinical trials needed for vaccine approval. This is standard, and there are trials currently being conducted for them. But we still need to count this group when assessing herd immunity.

Read: Fauci says kids will be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as late spring

More than 27 million Americans have already received at least one dose and more than 6 million are fully vaccinated. So we still need to vaccinate more than 226.5 million to achieve the herd immunity threshold.

That goal of 226.5 million currently requires 453 million doses of vaccine (this will change if the Johnson and Johnson vaccine gets approved for use by the FDA since it only requires one dose). The U.S.s average vaccination rate over seven days is running at just under 1.6 million a day.

In my experience, it is taking an average of 4 minutes to administer a shot, about twice as long as it takes to administer a flu shot, excluding paperwork. Assuming 10,000 vaccination stations that operate at least 8 hours per day, including weekends, it would take until Jan. 19, 2022 to reach the 70% herd immunity threshold.

If the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is approved for emergency use, the threshold can be reached in late fall. The FDA has scheduled an advisory committee meeting on Feb. 26 to discuss the matter. If the committee backs the vaccine,the FDA could decide to grant the EUA within daysafter the meeting.

Much of the delay in getting vaccines in arms is simply because there arent enough doses to meet the demand. Thats why we repeatedly hear of people frustrated by their attempts to get an appointment, which is leading to people line-jumping by claiming to be a health-care worker or just hanging out at vaccination sites hoping there are unused doses at the end of the day that shouldnt go to waste.

Pfizer has said that it expects to deliver 200 million doses for the U.S. by July 31 and Moderna aims to deliver 200 million doses by June 30. Johnson & Johnson has said it expects to deliver 100 million one-shot doses for the U.S. in the first half of the year, assuming it gets the regulatory go-ahead.

Update: Biden Says U.S. Struck Deals for 200 Million More Covid-19 Vaccine Doses

While these numbers suggest that the U.S. could have enough vaccines to reach herd immunity by the end of June or early July, its not that simple. There are other variables: the number of vaccination sites, the number of people that can be vaccinated per hour at those sites, and the number of hours those sites operate per day and administrative factors.

People also have to be willing to get vaccinated. Vaccine hesitancy, in which people are skeptical of the vaccine for a variety of reasons, may keep us from reaching that threshold that quickly. It must be countered by actively engaging with those population and offering clear, consistent recommendations from trusted sources.

Read: A third of U.S. adults are skeptical of the COVID-19 vaccines, poll finds

Health officials and those providing vaccines must have a positive approach about the safety and importance of getting vaccinated when questioned about the vaccine, be proactive with making appointments, especially among those who struggle to book appointments online, send reminders about initial appointments and boosters, and involve trusted members of the community in encouraging others to get a shot.

These are challenges, but at least we have a path to emerge from this pandemic.

It is important to understand that we wont have a choice about which vaccine we receive when its our turn to be vaccinated. There simply isnt an abundance of supply and while we recognize that while they are different, all are effective in preventing symptoms and, more importantly, severe cases and death. Rather the view should be that any vaccine that prevents severe disease and hospitalization should be utilized and accepted.

In the meantime, the death toll already above 450,000 in the U.S. will continue to grow. So continue to wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance and say yes when youre asked to get the vaccine when you are eligible.

Thomas J. Duszynski is a former director of surveillance and Investigation at the Indiana State Department of Health and now a lecturer and director of epidemiology education at IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI in Indianapolis.

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The U.S. is getting plenty of COVID-19 vaccines, but you still won't have a normal summer - MarketWatch

LACKAWANNA, N.Y. (WIVB) The Christian season of lent starts in just a few days. Now, the Catholic Church is making changes to its Ash Wednesday traditions.

Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica released a video showing what worshipers can expect in the wake of COVID-19.

This year instead of ashes being placed on the forehead, priests will be sprinkling ashes on the crown of the head.

Father David Lipuma says this change, actually goes back to the earliest days of Christianity.

When they were doing penance, they would put on sackcloth and sprinkle ashes on their head, as a sign of their penance, their penitential hearts, but also as a sign of their mortality.

You can watch the full video below:

The changes are going into effect around the world.

Continue reading here:

What to expect this Ash Wednesday in the wake of COVID-19 - WIVB.com - News 4

LONDONThe U.K. economy recorded its biggest contraction in more than three centuries in 2020, according to official estimates, highlighting the Covid-19 pandemics economic toll on a country that has also suffered one of the worlds deadliest outbreaks.

Though the U.K. is grappling with a new, highly contagious variant of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hopeful that a rapid vaccination drive will permit a gradual reopening of the economy in the coming months, paving the way for a consumer-driven rebound later in the year.

Gross domestic product shrank 9.9% over the year as a whole, the Office for National Statistics said Friday, the largest annual decline among the Group of Seven advanced economies. Frances economy shrank 8.3% and Italys contracted 8.8%, according to provisional estimates. German GDP declined 5%. The U.S. shrank 3.5%.

However, the data showed the U.K. economy grew at an annualized rate of 4% in the final quarter of the year, aided by government spending and a small uptick in business investment.

The decline in U.K. GDP in 2020 was the largest in more than 300 years, according to Bank of England data, though the preliminary estimate is likely to be revised. BOE data shows the economy last recorded a comparable drop in 1921, when it shrank 9.7% during the depression that followed World War I. The economy last recorded a bigger contraction in 1709, when it tumbled 13% during an unusually cold winter known as the Great Frost.

Continue reading here:

U.K. Economy Suffers Biggest Slump in 300 Years Amid Covid-19 Lockdowns - The Wall Street Journal

INDIANAPOLIS Two proposals are making their way through the state legislature to protect businesses from lawsuits in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a third reading on the House floor on Wednesday, SB 1 passed out of the House. It now heads back to the Senate for approval again after the House made changes to it.

Critics fear the bills go too far and would create obstacles to legal claims unrelated to COVID-19.

Kenneth Butch Burgin was a resident at a nursing home in Owen County until he died unrelated to COVID-19 in November 2020. His family filed a lawsuit against the facility claiming Burgin suffered from poor care, including malnutrition, a fractured nose and pressure sores while he was a patient.

The complaint says Burgin was a resident at the facility for just over two months. It calls his care and treatment at the facility substandard.

Food, water, turning and repositioning. They failed to give those things to Butch and it caused Butchs premature death, said Ashley Hadler, trial attorney for the Burgin family.

Hadler fears the language in these proposals will prevent the family from getting any justice. She is urging lawmakers to change the language in these bills, after several amendments have already failed.

Without having civil litigation to hold somebody accountable for following the rules for healthcare centers, things will continue to fall through the cracks. People who have already been harmed will not be able to get justice, she said.

State Representative Jerry Torr, R-Carmel, authored HB 1002. He does not have the same interpretation of his bill as Hadler. He believes this will not keep anyone out of the courtroom.

The bill is very clear that is has to arise out of COVID-19, he said.

He hopes the proposal will encourage businesses to reopen without fear of being sued because someone is claiming he or she contracted COVID-19 at their facility.

Business owners had no way of preventing it, he said. That is what we are focusing on.

A nursing home trade group is also supporting the two proposals. Zach Cattell, president of the Indiana Health Care Association, argues the proposals being considered are specifically tailored to address actions that are in response to the pandemic.

Any alleged acts of negligence that are not in response to the pandemic or for COVID-19 will not be provided the heightened standard being considered under the proposals. Further, neither proposal will prevent cases from being filed, allowing them to be considered based on the facts of each circumstance, said Cattell.

Opponents are not convinced and believe the two bills will make a devastating impact on nursing home patients in Indiana who suffered harm during the pandemic.

While it is being sold as a bill that addresses only COVID19 concerns, here the net effect is going to be that nursing homes are going to be exempt for liability for all injuries they caused by their negligence, Attorney Jeff Powless said. By not doing what a reasonable nursing home would do under the circumstance.

Powless said his office has not filed a single case related to somebody contracting COVID-19. His office is not aware of any office that has filed a lawsuit alleging someone contracted COVID-19 due to negligence.

What these bills attempt to do is change the standard, he said. The nursing homes would no longer be responsible due to their negligence and avoiding the rules they are supposed to follow. It would be an elevated standard such as gross negligence and willful and wanton misconduct.

After a third reading in the House, SB 1 passed with 72-21 vote. HB 1002 was referred to the Senate earlier this month.

See original here:

Critics fear COVID-19 liability bills will impact legal claims unrelated to the pandemic - Fox 59

The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has issued interim recommendations for use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (AZD1222).

This article provides a summary of the interim recommendations; you may access the guidance document here.

While vaccine supplies are limited, it is recommended that priority be given to health workers at high risk of exposure and older people, including those aged 65 or older.

Countries can refer to the WHO Prioritization Roadmap and the WHO Values Framework as guidance for their prioritization of target groups.

Vaccination is recommended for persons with comorbidities that have been identified as increasing the risk of severe COVID-19, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and diabetes.

Although further studies are required for persons living with HIV or auto-immune conditions or who are immunocompromised, people in this category who are part of a group recommended for vaccination may be vaccinated after receiving information and counselling.

Vaccination can be offered to people who have had COVID-19 in the past. But individuals may wish to defer their own COVID-19 vaccination for up to six months from the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection, to allow others who may need the vaccine more urgently to go first.

Vaccination can be offered to breastfeeding women if they are part of a group prioritized for vaccination. WHO does not recommend discontinuation of breastfeeding after vaccination.

While pregnancy puts women at higher risk of severe COVID-19, very little data are available to assess vaccine safety in pregnancy.

Pregnant women may receive the vaccine if the benefit of vaccinating a pregnant woman outweighs the potential vaccine risks.

For this reason, pregnant women at high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (e.g. health workers) or who have comorbidities which add to their risk of severe disease, may be vaccinated in consultation with their health care provider.

People with a history of severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine should not take it.

The vaccine is not recommended for persons younger than 18 years of age pending the results of further studies.

The recommended dosage is two doses given intramuscularly (0.5ml each) with an interval of 8 to 12 weeks.

Additional research is needed to understand longer-term potential protection after a single dose.

While this vaccine has yet to be recommended for an Emergency Use Listing by WHO, it has undergone review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and consequently meets WHOs criteria for SAGE consideration.

The EMA has thoroughly assessed the data on the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine and has recommended granting a conditional marketing authorisation for people aged 18 and above.

The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, a group of experts that provides independent and authoritative guidance to the WHO on the topic of safe vaccine use, receives and assesses reports of suspected safety events of potentially international impact.

The AZD1222 vaccine against COVID-19 has an efficacy of 63.09% against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Longer dose intervals within the 8 to 12 weeks range are associated with greater vaccine efficacy.

SAGE has reviewed all available data on the performance of the vaccine in the settings of variants of concern. SAGE currently recommends the use of AZD1222 vaccine according to the WHO Prioritization Roadmap, even if virus variants are present in a country. Countries should assess the risks and benefits taking into consideration their epidemiological situation.

Preliminary findings highlight the urgent need for a coordinated approach for surveillance and evaluation of variants and their potential impact on vaccine effectiveness. As new data become available, WHO will update recommendations accordingly.

No substantive data are available related to impact of AZD1222 on transmission or viral shedding.

In the meantime, we must maintain and strengthen public health measures that work: masking, physical distancing, handwashing, respiratory and cough hygiene, avoiding crowds, and ensuring good ventilation.

See more here:

The Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: what you need to know - World Health Organization

The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor is an ongoing research project tracking the publics attitudes and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. Using a combination of surveys and qualitative research, this project tracks the dynamic nature of public opinion as vaccine development and distribution unfold, including vaccine confidence and hesitancy, trusted messengers and messages, as well as the publics experiences with vaccination.

The latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor reports that 31% of the public say that when an FDA-approved vaccine for COVID-19 is available to them for free, they will wait until it has been available for a while to see how it is working for other people before getting vaccinated themselves. This wait and see group is an important target for outreach and messaging, since they express some hesitancy about getting vaccinated, but will likely be much easier to convert from vaccine-hesitant to vaccine-acceptant than those who say they will definitely not get the vaccine or will get it only if required to do so. As reported in January, those in the wait and see category express high levels of concern about the safety and long-term effects of COVID-19 vaccines as well as a desire for more information about vaccine side effects and effectiveness. Most adults in this group (60%) do not yet know someone whos been vaccinated for COVID-19, presenting an opportunity for them to learn more as more of their friends and family members get vaccinated.

This analysis examines the wait and see group in more detail, with a focus on their concerns about being vaccinated, the messages that resonate most, and the messengers they are likely to turn to for more information about COVID-19 vaccination. In particular, it looks at how attitudes within this group differ by partisanship and race/ethnicity, which should be helpful for those looking to target vaccine outreach and communication to groups like Republicans, Black adults, and Hispanic adults.

Key Takeaways: Overall

Key Takeaways: Republicans

Not sure there is anything that could be said. If it is proven effective and no side effects after a year or 2 of use I would no longer have concerns.

In their own words: From Republican respondents asked If there is any person who would make you more likely to get vaccinated for COVID-19 if you found out that person got vaccinated, who is that person?

A best friend or very close family member.

No not any celebrity could change my mind. The only person that might be able to is my doctor who I trust if I can be told what is in the vaccine and how it works.

Key Takeaways: Black and Hispanic adults

In their own words: From Black and Hispanic respondents asked What is the biggest concern you have, if any, about getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

That I have allergic reactions or severe secondary reactions that prevent me from continuing with my life.

Being infected after taking it.

Knowing COVID is so devastating to human organs, I am concerned not only about the effectiveness of the vaccine but not so the long-term effects over years in the body especially if it is needed on an ongoing basis.

In their own words: From Black and Hispanic respondents asked If there is one message or piece of information you could hear that would make you more likely to get vaccinated for COVID-19, what would it be?

That it is destroying the virus and not negatively affecting over 1% of those who have taken the shot.

Have a website or doctors explaining how exactly the vaccine is made and how it works in our body.

I am going to get the vaccine, I just will not be anywhere near the front of the line!

In their own words: From Black and Hispanic respondents asked If there is any person who would make you more likely to get vaccinated for COVID-19 if you found out that person got vaccinated, who is that person?

My wife. She took the vaccine yesterday and she seems fine. If she continues doing well, I would seriously considering getting the vaccine earlier.

It would have to be my closest family and friends. I would take it if they took the vaccine.

Demographically, those who want to wait and see are younger than other groups (29% are under age 30 and just 15% are ages 65 and over). They are a racially diverse group, with half (51%) identifying as White, 16% Black, and 19% Hispanic. They are also a politically diverse group; 42% identify as Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents, 36% identify as Republicans or Republican-leaning independents, and 14% are independents who dont lean either way.

This group also holds a range of attitudes and beliefs when it comes to COVID-19 and vaccinations. About two-thirds (64%) say they are very or somewhat worried that they or a family member will get sick from the coronavirus (about the same share as among the public overall, but lower than the 79% among those who want the vaccine as soon as possible). Over half (54%) of those who want to wait and see say that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is a personal choice, higher than the 21% who say so among the most vaccine-eager group, and compared to 44% who say so among the public overall.

Previous Vaccine Monitor reports have shown that Republicans are more likely than Democrats and independents to say they will definitely not get vaccinated for COVID-19. This new analysis reveals that even among those who want to wait and see, there are differences between Republicans and Democrats in their attitudes and concerns related to the vaccines, as well as the messages they say are likely to motivate them and the messengers theyre likely to turn to. (For this analysis, those who identify as political independents but say the lean toward either the Democratic or Republican party are included with partisans.)

Republicans and Republican-leaning independents have vastly different attitudes toward the pandemic overall compared to Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, even within the wait and see group. For example, about half (51%) of Republican leaners in this group say the seriousness of coronavirus is generally exaggerated in the news, compared to just 17% of Democratic leaners. Republicans are also significantly less likely than Democrats in this category to say they are worried that they or someone in their family might get sick from the coronavirus (51% vs. 76%). Further, about two-thirds (67%) of Republican leaners in the wait and see category believe that getting vaccinated for COVID-19 is a personal choice, while most Democratic leaners in this category (52%) say its part of everyones responsibility to protect the health of others.

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Wait and See

Party ID

Within the wait and see group, levels of concern about the COVID-19 vaccines safety and effectiveness are similar across partisans. However, those who identify or lean Republican are much less likely than those who identify or lean Democrat to say that various messages and information would increase their likelihood of getting vaccinated for COVID-19. For example, among those who want to wait and see how the vaccine is working, half of Republicans say they would be more likely to get vaccinated if they heard that the vaccine will help protect them from getting sick from COVID-19, compared with three-quarters (76%) of Democrats. Similarly, Republicans in this category are half as likely as Democrats to say that hearing a health care provider they trust has gotten vaccinated would increase their likelihood of getting the vaccine (25% vs. 50%).

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Wait and See

Conversely, a smaller share of Republican leaners compared with Democratic leaners within the wait and see group say that hearing that some people experience short-term side effects like pain or fever from the COVID-19 vaccine would make them less likely to get vaccinated (38% vs. 56%).

Total

Wait and See

Those who want to wait and see how the COVID-19 vaccine works for others also report a somewhat different set of trusted sources for vaccine information depending on their partisan leanings. While health care providers are the source that people across partisan affiliations say they are most likely to turn to when making decisions about whether to get vaccinated, significant differences exist when it comes to some other sources. Specifically, among the wait and see group, those who identify as Republicans or lean that way are much less likely than those who identify or lean Democrat to say they are likely to turn to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (52% vs. 79%) or their state or local health department (45% vs. 73%) when making vaccine-related decisions.

The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor has previously reported that Black and Hispanic adults are among those most likely to say they want to wait and see how the vaccine is working for others before getting vaccinated themselves. This analysis further reveals that Black and Hispanic adults who feel this way express somewhat different attitudes and concerns about COVID-19 vaccinations compared to their White counterparts in the wait and see group.

Previous KFF research has found that Black and Hispanic adults overall are less likely to trust doctors, hospitals, and the health care system compared to White adults, and that for Black adults, lower levels of trust are associated with lower levels of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. This new COVID-19 Monitor analysis finds that Black adults in the wait and see category are also less trusting of the health care system in general; a majority (57%) say they trust the health care system just some of the time or almost none of the time to do what is right for them and their community, compared to 43% of White adults in this category. Hispanic adults who want to wait and see are more divided, with about half saying they trust the health care system almost all or most of the time (51%) and the other half saying they trust it just some or almost none of the time (49%).

Total

Wait and See

Reflecting the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on people of color in the United States, concern about getting sick from the virus is high among Black and Hispanic adults in the wait and see group, with about three-quarters saying they are very or somewhat worried that they or someone in their family will get sick from coronavirus. In fact, Hispanic adults are more than twice as likely as White adults in this group to say they are very worried about this possibility (43% vs. 19%).

In addition to this heightened level of personal concern, more than four in ten Black adults (43%) and Hispanic adults (45%) in the wait and see group view getting vaccinated against COVID-19 as part of everyones responsibility to protect the health of others, compared to a clear majority (61%) of White adults in this group who say getting vaccinated is a personal choice.

While Black and Hispanic adults in the wait and see group express higher levels of concern about getting sick from the coronavirus, they also express higher levels of concerns related to the vaccine. For example, vaccine-hesitant Black and Hispanic adults are more likely than hesitant White adults to say they are very concerned that they might experience serious side effects from the vaccine (55%, 47%, and 34%, respectively). Black and Hispanic adults in this group are also significantly more likely than their White counterparts to say theyre very concerned that the vaccines are not as safe or not as effective as they are said to be. Notably, about six in ten Hispanic adults (61%) and Black adults (59%) in the wait and see group say they are at least somewhat concerned that they may get COVID-19 from the vaccine (including about three in ten in each group who say they are very concerned), much higher than among their White counterparts.

Among those in the wait and see category, Black adults are somewhat more responsive than White adults to certain pro-vaccine messages and information including messages that vaccination is the best way for things to return to normal, to get the economy back open, and that millions have already safely been vaccinated. However, Black adults are also more likely than White adults to say that hearing about side effects would make them less likely to get vaccinated.

Similarly, Hispanic adults are more responsive than White adults in the wait and see category towards messaging that encourage vaccinations. However, they are also more likely than their White counterparts to say that hearing about side effects and needing to get two doses of the vaccine would make them less likely to get vaccinated.

Despite these differences, its worth noting that the messages that resonate most with Black and Hispanic adults who are hesitant to get a COVID-19 vaccine are the same ones that appear to be most effective with the public overall messages that emphasize that the vaccine is highly effective, offers protection from illness, and provides the quickest way for life to return to normal.

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Wait and See

Total

Wait and See

Across racial and ethnic groups, those in the wait and see category are most likely to say they will turn to a doctor, nurse or other health care provider for information when deciding whether to get vaccinated for COVID-19. In fact, one-third of Black adults in this group say they have already asked a doctor or other health care professional for information about the vaccine, somewhat higher than among vaccine-hesitant White adults (18%). Hispanic adults in this group (13%) are significantly less likely than their Black counterparts to say theyve reached out to a health care provider for more information about the vaccine. This may reflect the fact that Hispanics in the U.S. overall have lower rates of health insurance coverage and face greater barriers to accessing health care compared to other groups.

Looking at potential sources of information beyond health care providers, both Black and Hispanic adults are more likely than White adults in the wait and see group to say they are at least somewhat likely to turn to the CDC, their state or local public health department, or a religious leader for vaccine information. While health care workers will undoubtedly be a key source of information for those who express some hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC, public health departments, and religious leaders are also positioned to be effective messengers in promoting vaccination among Black and Hispanic communities.

TotalWait and See

The rest is here:

KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: What Do We Know About Those Who Want to Wait and See Before Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine? | KFF - Kaiser Family Foundation

Caring for the Caregivers Covid-19 Vaccination for Essential Members of the Health Care Team | NEJM  nejm.org

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Caring for the Caregivers Covid-19 Vaccination for Essential Members of the Health Care Team | NEJM - nejm.org

EDITORS NOTE: The daily numbers that we report do not line up with the numbers the state is reporting for each day. Every day at 10 a.m. we take the previous days numbers from 10 a.m. and subtract them with the current numbers from the state at 10 a.m. Rather than reporting a day behind, we wish to give you the most updated information.For Black Hawk and Linn Counties,we are reporting numbers from their county COVID-19 websites. For Johnson and Dubuque counties,we are reporting numbers from the states website.

IOWA

(KWWL) There were 738 new, confirmed cases from 10 a.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday,according to the states dashboard,which brings the states total number of cases to 327,993.

The states website says that of the 327,993 people who have tested positive, 300,365 have recovered. This is 1,243 more recoveries than what the state reported Thursday.

The states death toll is 5,223, which is 27 more reported than yesterday.

Subtracting the number of recoveries (299,122) and the number of deaths (5,223) from the total number of cases (327,993) shows there are currently 23,648 active positive cases in the state.

As of Friday morning, there were 41 patients hospitalized in Iowa within the last 24 hours and the total number of hospitalizations is 249, a drop from 273 hospitalized the day before. Of those, 59 are in the ICU (down from 64), and 33 are on ventilators (up from 26).

In Iowa, there were 3,368 new tests given in the last 24 hours, and a total of 1,508,873 people have been tested for COVID-19. The positivity rate from the last 24 hours (738 positive tests divided by 3,368 tests given) is 21.9 percent.

According to the statesCOVID-19 vaccine dashboard, 410,771 total doses have been administered to Iowa residents and 107,890 individuals have completed the series. As of Friday, 3,212 Black Hawk County residents, 7,672 Linn County residents, 10,187 Johnson County residents, and 3,925 Dubuque County residents have completed the vaccine series. View thedashboardfor more data. Iowa is inPhase 1B of the vaccine rollout. You can find more vaccine information and storieshere.

BLACK HAWK COUNTY

(The Black Hawk COVID-19 dashboard has not been updated since 10 a.m. of Wednesday.)

As of 10 a.m. Friday, theBlack Hawk COVID-19 dashboardis showing zero new cases since 10 a.m. Wednesday, leaving a total of 15,591 cases (14,635 PCR & Antigen positive cases and 956 Serology positive cases). There have been no additional recoveries, leaving a total of 13,432. There has been zero additional death, leaving a total of 271 deaths. The 14-day average positivity rate for the county is 6.7 percent.

LINN COUNTY

As of 10 a.m. Friday, theLinn County COVID-19 dashboardis showing 36 new cases since 10 a.m. Thursday, leaving a total of 19,043 cases. There have been 54 additional recoveries, leaving a total of 16,813 recoveries. There were four additional deaths, leaving a total of 316 deaths in the county. There are 25 patients currently hospitalized in the county. The 14-day average positivity rate for the county is 8 percent.

JOHNSON COUNTY

According to thestates dashboardat 10 a.m. Friday, there are 28 new positive cases reported in Johnson County since 10 a.m. Thursday. This brings the total to 12,783 reported cases. There have been a total of 11,881 recoveries, 63 more reported than yesterday. There was one additional death, leaving a total of 68 deaths. The 14-day average positivity rate for the county is 7 percent.

DUBUQUE COUNTY

According to thestates dashboardat 10 a.m. Friday, there have been 28 additional positive cases reported in Dubuque County since 10 a.m. Thursday. This brings the total to 12,091reported cases. There have been 35 additional recoveries reported, leaving a total of 11,126. There was one additional death reported, leaving a total of 187. The 14-day average positivity rate for the county is 7 percent.

View COVID-19 numbers from Thursday here.

Visit link:

Feb. 12: More than 300,000 Iowans have recovered from COVID-19 - kwwl.com

Researchers at Stanford University were the first to discover a more infectious variant of COVID-19 in the Bay Area, with a new test they developed just about three weeks ago to look for it.

With the advances in technology, its easy now to develop this test as soon as you can know the sequence of the variant that is circulating, said Stanford Doctor Obadia Kenji. You are able to develop this test.

Kenji is the operations manager of infectious disease testing at Stanford and he says the teams work shows that the California variant of COVID-19 is the most widespread at the moment.

Theyve also identified the variants first found in the U.K. and in South Africa in the samples theyve tested and theres one specific issue researchers worry about the most right now.

There is concern that the current vaccine may not be effective against the South African variant, said Kenji. Most specifically, the Oxford astrazeneca vaccine.

That variants now been found in adults in both Santa Clara and Alameda counties.

On Thursday, Alameda County health officials wouldnt share any information about the infected person there, but Santa Clara health officials say the sick person in their county quarantined after an international trip so exposure to others may be low.

They still want to warn people not to let their guard down.

In some ways we have to assume that it is circulating in the community, we just dont know to what extent but we need to double down and wear masks, said Santa Clara County Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody.

See more here:

Stanford Researchers First to Discover COVID-19 Variants in the Bay Area - NBC Bay Area