Oxford releases new data on the efficacy of vaccines against the British strain, Johnson & Johnson requests FDA approval and the US Senate passes a major resolution for coronavirus relief. Here’s What You Need to Know:
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Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine protects against UK variant, while FDA drafts new plans to deal with mutations
First of all, the bad news: Evidence suggests that B.1.1.7, the variant first discovered in the UK, may be more deadly than the original coronavirus strain, as well as more transmissible. Now for the good news: New data released Friday indicates that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine protects against both the original virus and this mutation. This research has not yet been peer-reviewed, but it is promising. While a handful of new, reportedly more contagious variants have made it to the States in recent weeks, the CDC warned last month that B.1.1.7 could be the predominant variant in the US in March.
In response, medicine makers are rushing to rework shots to increase protection against variants. And on Thursday, the FDA said it is setting new standards for customizing drugs, tests and vaccines specifically to fight against more resilient mutations. These will likely be released in the next two to three weeks. The plan builds on years of experience with the flu virus, which is rapidly and constantly changing. The National Institutes of Health is also working with at least two drug manufacturers to start human trials of variant-targeted vaccines next month.
A third vaccine is seeking FDA approval as experts work to make distribution both faster and fairer
On Thursday, Johnson & Johnson filed with the FDA for emergency use approval for the Covid-19 vaccine. If approved, the vaccine will likely go into use in late February or early March. Stocks are expected to be limited at first, but take-up will still be a welcome addition. Unlike the two vaccines currently in use, it only needs one dose and can be stored in a regular refrigerator. Still, the fact that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has slightly lower efficacy than the one already in use means that officials could soon be faced with tough questions about who gets which shot.
Indeed, equality issues have already proven crucial in vaccination, especially as distribution under the Biden government is increasing. People with ample free time and Internet access have had an easier time getting vaccinated, which is detrimental to many of the groups disproportionately affected by the pandemic, including Black, Latinx and indigenous peoples. On Tuesday, the White House announced expansions to the vaccination program, which will prioritize vaccination efforts in minority communities, among other things.
The Senate aims to approve Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus plan
After hours of voting, the Senate passed a budget resolution at 5:30 a.m. on Friday that takes lawmakers one step closer to passing Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus bill by simple majority, eliminating the need for Republican support. Biden’s plan includes instant payments of $ 1,400 per person for most households, a weekly unemployment insurance supplement of $ 400 through September, extended paid time off, and more. Earlier this week, the president met with a group of GOP senators to discuss an alternative $ 618 billion plan they had drafted in an apparent effort to work down the aisle, but he later reaffirmed that he wants that Democratic legislators “grow big” in pandemic. support.
These developments in Washington are because the economic recovery is stagnating nationally. While the US economy added 49,000 jobs last month, the pace of job growth remains slow. Economists say things are likely to accelerate as more people are vaccinated and pandemic restrictions on businesses abate.
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A question
How will the pandemic affect cities?
Urban planners have heralded the pandemic as a potential opportunity to transform cities for the better, prioritizing the pedestrian and motorcyclist experience over cars and devising ways to make buildings breathe better. Other researchers have found that the way urban crime has declined by 2020 provides important information that can help cities increase security, and do so more fairly, even after the pandemic. Still, there is no doubt that the pandemic has taken its toll on city life. An example: public transport, the lifeblood of cities like New York, is in serious danger.
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