Oxford launches new data on the efficacy of the vaccine against the British strain, Johnson & Johnson is seeking FDA approval, and the US Senate is taking an important resolution for coronavirus help. Here’s what you need to know:
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The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine protects against the British variant, while the FDA draws up new plans for dealing with mutations
First, the bad news: there is evidence that B.1.1.7, the variant first discovered in the UK, may be more deadly than the original coronavirus strain, and that it is more transmissible. Now the good news: new data released on Friday indicates that the vaccine against Oxford and AstraZeneca is protected against the original virus and this mutation. This research has not yet been judged by peers, but promising. Although a handful of new, allegedly more contagious variants have surfaced in the past few weeks, the CDC warned last month that B.1.1.7 could be the predominant variant in the US by March.
In response, drugmakers are reloading shots to increase variant protection. And on Thursday, the FDA said it was compiling new standards for adapting drugs, tests and vaccines specifically to fight more resilient mutations. It is likely to be released within the next two to three weeks. The plan builds on years of experience with the flu virus, which is changing rapidly and constantly. The National Institutes of Health is also working with at least two drug manufacturers to begin human trials next month with vaccinations against variants.
A third vaccine seeks FDA approval as experts work to make distribution faster and cheaper
Johnson & Johnson applied to the FDA for emergency approval for its Covid-19 vaccine on Thursday. If approved, the vaccine will likely be used in late February or early March. The stock is expected to be limited at first, but the shot will still be a welcome addition. Unlike the two vaccines currently in use, it requires only one dose and can be stored in a regular refrigerator. The fact that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has a slightly lower effectiveness than those already in use means that officials may soon have difficult questions about who gets the chance.
Indeed, stock issues have already remained central to the vaccination, especially as distribution among the Biden administration has skyrocketed. People with enough free time and internet access have been vaccinated more easily, affecting many of the groups excessively affected by the pandemic, including blacks, Latinx and indigenous people. The White House on Tuesday announced expansions of the vaccination program that will, among other things, prioritize the vaccination efforts in minority communities.
Senate moves toward Biden’s $ 1.9 billion coronavirus relief plan
After hours of voting, the Senate on Friday approved a budget resolution at 5:30 a.m. that would bring lawmakers one step closer to Biden’s $ 1.9 billion coronavirus relief bill by a simple majority, making Republican support unnecessary. Biden’s plan includes direct payments of $ 1,400 per person for most households, a weekly supplement of $ 400 unemployment insurance through September, extended paid leave, and more. Earlier this week, the president met with a group of GOP senators to discuss a $ 618 billion alternative relief plan they had drawn up in an apparent attempt to work across the aisle, but later reaffirmed that he have that Democratic lawmakers ‘have to go big’ on pandemic. help.
These developments in Washington are due to economic recovery nationwide. While the U.S. economy added 49,000 jobs last month, the pace of job gains remains slow. Economists believe that things are likely to accelerate as more people are vaccinated and pandemic restrictions on businesses are eased.
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A question
How does the pandemic affect cities?
Urbanites announced the pandemic as a possible opportunity to rebuild cities for the better, by prioritizing the experience of pedestrians and cyclists over cars and finding ways to make buildings breathe better. Other researchers have noted that the ways in which urban crime has declined in 2020 provide important information that can help cities increase security, and do so even more fairly, even after the pandemic. After all, there is no doubt that urban life has taken a toll. One example: mass transportation, the lifeblood of cities like New York, is in grave danger.
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