More than 1.58 million people passed TSA checkpoints on Friday. That’s the most people who have been flying in one day since the pandemic started.
It came on the same day that the CDC announced that fully vaccinated Americans can travel at “low risk to themselves.”
However, the organization is still asking people not to travel unless they have to.
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How Long Will COVID Vaccines Protect People?
Doctors are concerned that the coronavirus could end up being a type of flu, requiring a new vaccine every year, both because the circulating strains mutate rapidly and because the vaccine’s immunity is rapidly waning.
While initial evidence suggests that immunity to coronavirus vaccination provides long-term protection, vaccine manufacturers have begun to create and test versions of their vaccines that protect against troubling variants of the virus. So is the B.1.351 version first seen in South Africa, which carries a mutation that, in lab experiments, seems to allow for a bit of dodging the human immune response.
A report from Pfizer last month suggests that people who receive both doses maintain strong immunity for at least six months. Experts have made every effort to point out that immunity does not stop after six months. It means that these are the tallest volunteers in the studies that have been followed to see what their immunity is.
Do I have to laminate my vaccine card? What you need to know about CDC’s proof of COVID uptake
Vaccine eligibility in the US is expanding rapidly, as is the popularity of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s little white card.
While plans are still being developed to establish standardized vaccination evidence, many are sticking to their COVID-19 vaccination card as a possible form of social currency. And companies, such as Staples and Office Depot, offer to help protect them with free lamination.
While it may be tempting to get your vaccine card laminated as soon as possible, take your time and make sure you’ve considered a few things beforehand.
Update vaccination New York
Gov. Cuomo announced Sunday that 1 in 3 New Yorkers has received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine and 1 in 5 is now fully vaccinated.
Cuomo said 187,964 doses have been delivered through the state’s extensive distribution network in the past 24 hours, and more than 1.4 million doses have been delivered in the past seven days. The week 16 allocation of 1,389,705 first and second doses is expected to end Sunday.
“With universal vaccine eligibility in New York this week, our goal is to get as many vaccines as possible in weapons as quickly and fairly as possible,” said Cuomo.
Pope calls pandemic wars ‘scandalous’ in Easter address
Pope Francis has used his traditional Easter speech to denounce as “scandalous” that warfare continues to rage and military arsenals around the world are being fattened as the coronavirus pandemic is causing social and economic distress.
Francis tempered his speech on world affairs on Easter Sunday with wishes of joy and reports of pain from the many armed conflicts and other sources of violence on Earth. He also called on the international community to address delays in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and ensure supplies reach the poorest countries. For the second Easter in a row, the Pope read his speech from St. Peter’s Basilica rather than outside to discourage the crowds in St. Peter’s Square.
Europe ramps up vaccinations as the virus chases the Easter holidays
Thousands of people in France are spending the Easter holidays lining up for COVID-19 shots as the government tries to speed up vaccinations amid a new wave of infections.
In Lyon, a football team opened its stadium for the holiday weekend as a mass vaccination center and provided 200 volunteers to assist medical workers. But when Europe went through its second Easter Sunday in a row under the cloud of the pandemic, some French cities resisted President Emmanuel Macron’s urging to get vaccinated over the long holiday weekend. Spain, Italy and Germany held some vaccination centers, but others were closed for the holidays.
Easter celebrations in NYC
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, things are looking a little different this year on Easter Sunday in New York City. The annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival on Fifth Avenue will go virtual for the second year, while COVID-19 safety protocols will apply for Sunday Mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.
PA easing restrictions, but changes do not apply to Philadelphia
People living in Pennsylvania can also look forward to the restrictions being relaxed. Starting Sunday, restaurants in the Keystone State can increase their capacity by up to 75%. The changes for restaurants don’t apply to Philadelphia, where COVID rates and hospital admissions have increased. It is estimated that 50 percent of that city’s population will be vaccinated by April 30.
Great Britain to try out virus certificates for events
The UK government plans to test a coronavirus status certification plan in the coming months to enable the safe return of mass gatherings in places such as sports fields and nightclubs. Officials are expected to consider passports that show whether a person received a vaccine, recently tested negative for the virus, or has immunity because they tested positive in the past six months.
Michigan is not applying tougher restrictions as COVID cases increase
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer will not introduce tougher restrictions, despite the increase in the number of new COVID cases in her state, citing instead the need for residents to follow proper health guidelines.
Beware of COVID Vaccine Studies, 7 On Your Side warns
As vaccines become more widespread, new scams related to vaccination are popping up. First, fake record cards are being sold on the Internet. The latter are fake vaccine studies. These surveys lure you in with the promise of a prize or money at the end, but it’s really only meant to trick you into handing over the keys to your identity and depositing it into your bank account.
Can I still transmit the coronavirus after getting the COVID vaccine?
It is possible to spread the corona virus after vaccination. Experts say the risk is low, but are still studying how well the shots attenuate the spread of the virus. Current vaccines are very effective in preventing people from becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, but even if vaccinated people don’t get sick, they can still get infected without showing any symptoms. Experts think the vaccine would also reduce the chances of those people spreading the virus.
“A vaccinated person has better control of the virus, so the chance of transmission will be significantly reduced,” said Dr. Robert Gallo, a virus expert at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
When did you realize that the COVID pandemic changed everything?
Many of us had a moment, usually in March 2020, when we realized that COVID-19 had completely changed our lives forever. Even though we have managed to move forward and adjust to a new normal, that memory will stay with us. Tell us: what was that moment for you?
Top 7 COVID Vaccine Questions Answered
You had questions about COVID-19 vaccines, and 7 On Your Side is getting answers from doctors on the front lines of the pandemic.
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