Business as usual won’t be enough to combat the next public health crisis, experts say. The U.S. must tackle long-standing health problems, too.
Author: Karen Weintraub and Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
South Africa finds omicron ‘highly transmissible’ and more resistant to COVID-19 vaccines
The omicron variant is substantially more contagious and reduces the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, according to a new South Africa study.
FDA committee moves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine closer to use for children ages 5-11
In children ages 5-11, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was more than 90% protective against contracting symptomatic COVID-19, according to company data.
FDA OKs mixing COVID vaccine boosters, backs Moderna, J&J boosters
The CDC still needs to sign off before booster shots of the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines become available.
CDC endorses COVID-19 vaccine boosters for people 65 and older, high-risk patients
The CDC endorsed booster shots for millions of older and high-risk Americans, opening a major new phase in the U.S vaccination drive against COVID-19.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine becomes first to win FDA’s full approval, paving way for boosters, mandates
The FDA’s decision to fully license the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is expected to trigger more mandates and allow marketing of the shot.
New York launches nation’s first ‘vaccine passports.’ Others are working on similar ideas, but many details must be worked out.
New York’s new Excelsior Pass is part of a growing but disjointed effort to provide vaccine ‘passports’ or certifications useful for safe gatherings.
Analysis: What went wrong with COVID-19 vaccine distribution and how it has tarnished the ‘miracle’
News analysis: The largest public vaccination effort ever was quickly tarnished. Even people leading the effort are at a loss to explain how and why.
New strains of COVID swiftly moving through the US need careful watch, scientists say
Each COVID-19 infection increases the risk of a mutation that could make it more infectious, deadlier, or different enough to make vaccines not work.
USA TODAY panel says US has nailed the science behind COVID-19 vaccine, but logistics, trust remain a concern
Experts are concerned some won’t trust the COVID-19 vaccine and are wary of production problems that could delay getting it to millions of Americans.