Pfizer-BioNTech booster photographs close last approval with CDC vote: newest COVID-19 updates

COVID booster pictures: here's why we could need one sooner or later

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The meals and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for individuals 65 and older and those whose jobs put them at high risk for publicity to COVID-19. 

The boosters can not be made available to the general public unless a vital centers for disease handle and Prevention committee votes on how to put into effect that elevated access. it is anticipated Thursday, after which CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky is probably going to right now sign off, making boosters accessible to more americans within just a few days. 

Wednesday's FDA authorization comes well-nigh six weeks after the FDA approved additional doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for people who're severely immunocompromised. 

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It additionally comprises individuals 18 and up who are at excessive risk for severe COVID-19. And the excessive-possibility jobs include "fitness care workers, lecturers and day care workforce, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons, amongst others," mentioned acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock. 

also within the news:

► the U.S. has said its 680,000th loss of life to COVID-19, Johns Hopkins tuition facts indicates. Half the deaths were when you consider that early January.

►Mormon temples will require face masks indoors to restrict COVID-19 unfold, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday.

► a doctor who became fired after Houston-area public fitness officials accused him of stealing vials of COVID-19 vaccine to administer to household and chums sued the county Tuesday, accusing it of discriminating against South Asians and issuing disinformation about him.

►President Joe Biden introduced Wednesday that the USA is doubling its purchase of Pfizer's COVID-19 photographs to share with the world — 1 billion doses — as he embraces the purpose of vaccinating 70% of the world population inside the subsequent 12 months.

►Michigan reached a grim milestone Wednesday, passing 1 million COVID-19 situations due to the fact that the start of the pandemic early ultimate year, its health branch mentioned. The state additionally has greater than 20,000 deaths because of COVID-19.

📈 modern-day numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than forty two million established COVID-19 circumstances and greater than 681,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins tuition records. international totals: more than 230 million instances and 4.7 million deaths. more than 182 million americans — 54.9% of the population — were wholly vaccinated, in accordance to the CDC.

📘 What we're analyzing: COVID-19 vaccines for kids can be just across the nook. So, when can young ones get the vaccine? We answered your questions.

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COVID-19 measures may additionally have unintended benefit at faculties: limiting lice

lengthy the bane of fogeys and school health suppliers, head lice has customarily been viewed as an undesirable, itchy insect that spreads like wildfire within schools. however new safeguard measures put in region to evade the unfold of COVID-19 are upending these assumptions, in accordance with The national affiliation of faculty Nurses.

these safety measures additionally help limit the unfold of lice, and faculty nurses are confident that instances may be lessen this 12 months.

"we've social distancing, doing lots of hygiene, youngsters don't seem to be sitting on true of each different on the floor anymore," Linda Mendonça, president of the national affiliation of school Nurses, told us of a today. "They're making an attempt to hold kids separated."

those practices are displaying that, opposite to time-honored belief, lice want shut contact to unfold. They can not fly or start, they can simplest crawl. And, Mendonça says, are extra possible spread via movements like sharing a hairbrush. examine more here.

– Keira Wingate, united states these days

Quarantine now non-compulsory for college students exposed to COVID-19 in Florida

Florida's new surgeon ordinary, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, an outspoken critic of lockdowns and COVID mandates, signed new protocols Wednesday permitting college students exposed to COVID not to quarantine if their parents opt for.

college students who're asymptomatic after being uncovered to someone who verified fine can stay in faculty, the new state tips says. previous suggestions required college students to quarantine at least 4 days faraway from college after being uncovered.

"Quarantining in shape college students is highly damaging for their academic advancement," Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis pointed out. "It's additionally disruptive for households. we're going to be following a indicators-based mostly approach."

The CDC recommends that college students quarantine for 14 days if they are unvaccinated, and 7 days if they examine negative after exposure. babies beneath 12 years historic aren't presently eligible for a vaccine.

Iowa sets 2021 excessive for COVID-19 hospitalizations

more Iowans are presently hospitalized with COVID-19 than at any factor prior in 2021, in accordance with data released through the Iowa branch of Public health on Wednesday.

The weekly facts release suggests 638 individuals hospitalized in Iowa with COVID-19, up from 578 last week. while this is now not close to the November 2020 top of 1,527 concurrent COVID-19 hospitalizations, or not it's the maximum that quantity has been considering that Dec. 22, 2020. 

There are 161 COVID-19 patients in the ICU and 74 on ventilators, both up from the outdated week as smartly.

the primary time Iowa dealt with this number of COVID-19 patients, it changed into a precursor to the November spike that stretched the health care device to the brink. Now, fitness care officers are concerned about the power it's placing on a workforce battered by 18 months of pandemic care.

— Tim Webber and Nick Coltrain, The Des Moines Register

Contributing: Elizabeth Weise and Karen Weintraub and u . s . today; The linked Press

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