Biden touts vaccinations as boon to economic growth
Large study finds Pfizer vaccine efficacy wanes but shots still good at preventing hospitalization
The Pfizer vaccine’s efficacy at preventing Covid-19 infection drops from 88% to 47% from the first month after vaccination to five months later, but it remains 90% effective at preventing hospitalization in that entire time frame, according to a large study in Southern California.
The president is visiting the Chicago area on Thursday, where he plans to appear with United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby and other executives who agree that requiring workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 not only improves health and prevents illness or death, it successfully increases the number of people who are getting vaccinated. Ahead of the president’s trip, the White House Thursday released a report that says vaccination requirements have boosted vaccination rates to over 90% in many large organizations.
“This extensive analysis looks at existing vaccination requirements in health care systems, educational institutions, businesses, and the public sector and demonstrates with data that vaccination requirements work and will accelerate our path out of the pandemic,” said a White House official in an email.
(This post will be updated on the website with a link to the full report after it is publicly released.)
Meanwhile, the White House on Wednesday announced a new push — and an additional $1 billion — to expand availability of rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests.
Another large study shows convalescent plasma doesn’t work to prevent Covid-19 deaths or reduce days on ventilators or other life support equipment.
Pulse oximeters are a good way to catch Covid-19 before it gets too severe to treat, according to a South Africa study.
The BBC walks through some of the ways that the anti parasite drug ivermectin became a favorite of anti-health activists.
San Francisco area health officials, who were among the earliest to enact Covid-19 lockdowns, say they will announce criteria for ending mask mandates and other restrictions Thursday.