- The FDA granted emergency useauthorization of a breath testthat can detect COVID-19 infections within as little as three minutes and has a 0.7% rate of false positives.
- During COVID-19 the rate of children receivingroutine immunizationsincluding the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and vaccines against meningitis and chickenpox have fallen. Doctors, school nurses, and public health experts attribute the decline to misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine which spilled over into the confidence of longer-standing, more routine vaccines.
- A study found that afourth dose of Pfizer’s COVID vaccinereduced the risk of infection, symptomatic infection, hospitalization, and severe illness among participants between 52% and 76% compared to three doses. Results also indicate that the benefits of a fourth dose are more durable than those of a third dose.
- Public health experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, state that the United States isunlikely to reach COVID-19 herd immunityin the near future.
- The CDC updated its website and guidelines includingCOVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot.
White House and Federal Agencies
- The FDA granted emergency useauthorization to a breath testthat can detect COVID-19 infections within as little as three minutes and has a 0.7% rate of false positives.
- White House COVID coordinator Ashish Jha said thatzero-COVID strategies involving lockdowns, such as those policies in place in China, are unlikely to work and will not be implemented in the United States.
- A federal judge in Floridastruck downthe CDC’s mask mandate for travel, ruling that the agency overstepped its statutory authority. It is unclear whether the Biden Administration will challenge the ruling or retract the order.
Economy, Vaccines, Testing and Treatment
- Research found thatvaccinated patients已经感染COVID-19 less likely to be hospitalized upon reinfection.
- Public health experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, state that the United States isunlikely to reach COVID-19 herd immunityin the near future.
- During COVID-19 the rate of children receivingroutine immunizationsincluding the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and vaccines against meningitis and chickenpox have fallen. Doctors, school nurses, and public health experts attribute the decline to misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine which spilled over into the confidence of longer-standing, more routine vaccines.
- A study using a model accounting for the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants estimated that vaccination efforts in the U.S.averted approximately 2.2 million deathsand saved approximately $900 billion from December 12, 2020 to March 31, 2022.
- Life expectancy declined1.87 years in the United States from 2019 to the end of 2020, compared to an average decline of 0.58 years in peer countries. Declines were much larger among Black and Hispanic populations.
- A study found that afourth dose of Pfizer’s COVID vaccinereduced the risk of infection, symptomatic infection, hospitalization, and severe illness among participants between 52% and 76% compared to three doses. Results also indicate that the benefits of a fourth dose are more durable than those of a third dose.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates
The CDC published the following reports and website updates:
- Overall U.S. COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Administration Update as of Sun, 17 Apr 2022 06:00:00 EST
- Cases in the U.S.
- Recommendations for Tribal Ceremonies and Gatherings During the COVID-19 Outbreak
- How CDC Determines the Level of a Country’s COVID-19 Travel Health Notice
- COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Country
- COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot
- Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
