National News - Page 135

Pfizer/BioNTech says its Covid-19 vaccine is 100% effective and well tolerated in adolescents

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By Lauren Mascarenhas Clinical trial results of Pfizer/BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine showed its efficacy is 100% and it is well tolerated in youths ages 12 to 15, the companies said Wednesday. Pfizer/BioNTech plan to submit the data to the US Food and Drug Administration as soon as possible for expanded emergency use authorization of the two-dose vaccine. In a Phase 3 trial of 2,260 participants ages 12 to 15 in the US, the vaccine elicited strong antibody responses one month after the second dose — exceeding those demonstrated in people ages 16 to 25 in previous trials, Pfizer reported. The vaccine

Tuskegee isn’t the only reason why some Black people are hesitant to get the coronavirus vaccine

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By Kristen Rogers To get more Black people vaccinated against coronavirus infections, Dr. Kimberly Manning is determined to keep doing what she has had a conviction to do since before the pandemic hit. “I’m determined to make sure that people who, historically, have not been seen or who have felt undervalued know that they matter, that they are extremely important,” said Manning, a professor of medicine and the associate vice chair of diversity, equity and inclusion in the department of medicine at Emory University in Atlanta. She knows that fewer Black people have been vaccinated against coronavirus than White people.

CDC study finds Pfizer, Moderna vaccines are 90% effective after two doses in real-world conditions

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By Jen Christensen Under real world conditions, the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines provide highly effective protection, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At full vaccination, the vaccines were 90% effective at preventing infections, including infections that had no symptoms. At least 14 days after first dose but before second dose, they were 80% protective, according to the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published Monday. The CDC said it is the first of many planned Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness studies. The study looked at how the vaccines protected nearly 4,000 health care

Biden says 90% of adults will be vaccine eligible in three weeks

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By Maegan Vazquez, Kate Sullivan and Kaitlan Collins President Joe Biden announced on Monday that 90% of adults will be eligible to get a coronavirus vaccine within the next three weeks as well as have a vaccination site within five miles of where they live. “For the vast, vast majority of adults, you won’t have to wait until May 1. You’ll be eligible for your shot on April 19,” Biden said. The President previously said he was directing states to open eligibility to all adult Americans by May 1. Biden said the US would increase the number of pharmacies participating

As Covid-19 numbers rise, the CDC chief says she’s scared about where US is headed. But it’s not too late to change country’s course

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By Christina Maxouris New Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are beginning to rise in the US again, one of the country’s top health leaders said Monday. The latest findings, shared by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, may just be the start of what experts have for weeks warned about: another surge. A surge that could come just as the country inches closer to a return to normalcy and officials nationwide race to get as many Covid-19 vaccine shots into arms as possible. So far, about 28.6% of the US population has received at least one

Gender bias against female surgeons fuelling surgical backlogs

By Solarina Ho TORONTO, Ontario (CTV Network) — Female surgeons in Canada have long faced gender-based referral biases that result in large pay gaps, and an inequitable and inefficient environment for patients, Canadian surgeons say, but with the urgency surrounding surgical backlogs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some say the time is ripe for major changes to healthcare. In interviews with five surgeons and conversations with others who declined to participate in the story, CTVNews.ca heard their experiences and views on the inequity and problems within medical care, as well as a solution many believe could be effective in mitigating

Biden administration working to develop a system for people to prove they’ve been vaccinated

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By Kristen Holmes and Devan Cole The Biden administration is currently working to develop a system for people to prove they’ve been vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to a senior administration official. Multiple government agencies are engaged in conversations and planning, coordinated by the White House, as this kind of system will play a role in multiple aspects of life, including potentially the workforce, the official said. President Joe Biden has predicted that life in the US could be back to normal by Christmas, and as more Americans are vaccinated each day, these vaccine credentials — commonly called “vaccine passports”

Opening statements are set to begin in Derek Chauvin’s trial for the death of George Floyd

By Eric Levenson Opening statements are set to begin Monday in former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin’s trial, 10 months after George Floyd’s death under his knee launched a summer of protest and unrest. In a first for Minnesota, the trial will be broadcast live in its entirety, giving the public a rare peek into the most important case of the Black Lives Matter era. Chauvin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges. Citing disturbing video of Floyd’s final moments, prosecutors say Chauvin unintentionally killed Floyd while using excessive force during an

Georgia Republicans speed sweeping elections bill restricting voting access into law

By Kelly Mena, Fredreka Schouten, Dianne Gallagher and Pamela Kirkland Republicans in Georgia sped a sweeping elections bill into law Thursday, making it the first presidential battleground to impose new voting restrictions following President Joe Biden’s victory in the state. The bill passed both chambers of the legislature in the span of a few hours before Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed it Thursday evening. By changing its election laws, “Georgia will take another step toward ensuring our elections are secure, accessible, and fair,” he said. Kemp, who is up for reelection next year, had refused to give in to former

Dangerous Covid-19 variants could mean all bets are off on the road to normalcy, expert warns

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By Travis Caldwell The evidence that Americans are gearing up for a return to normal life is growing apparent. States are relaxing capacity restrictions for public areas and private gatherings. More school districts are reopening for in-person learning. Travel is increasing, with TSA data showing more than 1 million daily passengers in US airports for two consecutive weeks, the longest such stretch since the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns in early 2020. However, many experts reiterate that Covid-19 is far from over. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on the “Today” show Thursday that