The U.S. reported at least 80,157 new cases on Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University, the third day in a row and the fourth day in the past week with at least 75,000 or more cases. In all, more than 561,000 people have died from the coronavirus so far.
Vaccinations are an effective tool against the spread of viruses, but they are not perfect and should be supplemented by precautions such as wearing masks and avoiding indoor gatherings, said Dr. Anthony Fauci said.
Pfizer wants to extend vaccinations to Americans as young as 12
To date, the youngest Americans eligible for the vaccines are 16.
Dr Syra Madad, senior director of the System-wide Special Pathogens Program at New York City Health + Hospitals, told CNN on Saturday that making the vaccine available to ages 12 to 15 had excited her as a parent.
“We should all be very hopeful,” said Madad, a fellow student at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School. “This is very welcome news. We know that children are vulnerable to infections and hospitalizations … They are definitely increasing in cases.”
The pharmaceutical company said it would seek similar decisions from other authorities around the world in the coming days.
“These requests are based on data from the core phase 3 trial in adolescents aged 12 to 15 years with or without prior evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which showed 100 percent efficacy and robust antibody response after vaccination with COVID-19. Vaccination, ”Pfizer said in a statement.
Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are ongoing, says CDC director
Meanwhile, Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are increasing – especially for younger people – while deaths are declining, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in an information session at the White House on Friday.
Increases in cases and visits to emergencies are seen in younger adults, many of whom have not been vaccinated, she said.
The ages of 18 to 25, 26 to 54 and 55 to 64 have an increasing number of visits to emergency departments, she said, while people aged 65 and older have declining visits. This probably shows the important impact of vaccination to protect against diseases that require hospitalization. “
Walensky said that although these are national statistics, the trends in some parts of the country are increasing.
With the proliferation of the more transmissible B.1.1.7 variant as well as the lower percentage of younger people vaccinated, the increase that experts fear could have a major impact on younger Americans.
“We need to think of the B.1.1.7 variant as a brand new virus,” said dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, said earlier this week. “It behaves differently from what we have seen before, in terms of transferability, in terms of the impact on young people, so we have to take it very seriously.”
Concern of adverse reactions
In Colorado, following reports of adverse reactions, three drive-in vaccination sites stopped hosting the Johnson & Johnson vaccination on Saturday.
The sites are Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs and Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, according to a Centura Health press release.
The health care network reiterated CDC’s guidance that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe and effective, but said the decision was made due to the nationwide shortage of the vaccine and the cases of side effects that occurred earlier during a vaccination at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park took place. week.
However, officials in Wake County, North Carolina, plan to resume administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as soon as Monday, after stopping on Thursday when 18 people in the PNC Arena experienced a mild to severe reaction immediately. ‘after their vaccinations.
The decision comes “after a thorough internal review that supports the findings of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the NC Department of Health & Human Services. The findings are consistent with those of other similar events across the country, which have no problems with concern, ”reads the statement.
The CDC said in a statement to CNN that it was aware of the various incidents related to the J&J vaccines reported in Iowa, Colorado, Georgia and North Carolina.
At present, the CDC and FDA do not recommend that health departments stop administering any COVID-19 vaccine, “the statement said.” The CDC has conducted analysis lot analyzes and found no cause for concern. “
Madad told CNN on Saturday that the side effects “correspond to side effects we normally see after vaccination.”
“At the moment, the benefits certainly outweigh the risks, but more information will hopefully reach the general public,” she said.
CNN’s Ray Sanchez, Lauren Mascarenhas, Dave Alsup, Betsy Klein, Ben Tinker, Theresa Waldrop, Naomi Thomas, Alta Spells, Jeremy Harlan, Amanda Sealy and Amanda Watts contributed to this report.