Well being authorities are persevering with to supply incentives for residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine as U.S. vaccination charges sluggish, requiring businesses to work more durable to get pictures in arms.
The newest efforts are lotteries in New York and Maryland for vaccinated residents, following an identical program in Ohio the place vaccinated residents are eligible for $1 million prizes and school scholarships.
On Thursday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo launched the $5 million “Vax and Scratch” program, which gives lottery scratch tickets to anybody who will get a COVID-19 vaccine at choose state-run vaccination websites subsequent week.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan additionally introduced a “$2 million Vax Money promotion”. Each Marylander 18 and over who will get vaccinated might be entered right into a each day drawing to win $40,000 from the Maryland State Lottery — culminating in a $400,000 drawing on July 4.
“In case you’ve not been vaccinated but, the earlier you accomplish that, the earlier you get your shot, the extra lottery drawings you’ll be eligible for,” the governor mentioned.
In the meantime, the College of Virginia and Indiana College are becoming a member of a rising checklist of universities requiring vaccinations. Not less than 389 faculties throughout that nation have required vaccinations for at the very least some college students or school, in line with the Chronicle of Greater Training.
IU college students, school and employees might be required to get vaccinated to return to campus in fall 2021, the college mentioned Friday. First doses are required by July 1 whereas these returning to campus should be totally vaccinated — together with two weeks after the ultimate dose — by Aug. 15 or earlier than they arrive on campus.
UVA college students might be required to offer proof of vaccination by July 1 however can request medical or spiritual exemption to the requirement, in line with a Thursday assertion.
Vaccination for workers is “strongly inspired” however not but required, the assertion mentioned. College leaders mentioned they’ll monitor worker vaccination charges and seek the advice of with public well being specialists as they think about whether or not to require workers to get vaccinated at a later date.
Additionally within the information:
►For the primary time since March 2020, the 7-day common for deaths from COVID-19 within the U.S. has fallen beneath 500, White Home coronavirus response senior adviser Andy Slavitt tweeted Friday.
►Two Republican lawmakers within the Nevada statehouse have been punished Thursday for not complying with restrictions in place to stop the unfold of coronavirus.
►Pennsylvania marked a milestone on Thursday, with 50% of adults statewide now thought-about totally vaccinated towards COVID-19.
►Actress Salma Hayek revealed to Selection that she battled a near-fatal case of COVID-19. “My physician begged me to go to the hospital as a result of it was so unhealthy,” mentioned Hayek, 54. “I mentioned, ‘No, thanks. I’d moderately die at house.’”
►There isn’t a proof to assist that the COVID-19 vaccines trigger momentary listening to loss, in line with a research revealed Thursday.
►The Division of Homeland Safety says the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico will stay restricted by at the very least June 21, with solely commerce and important journey allowed till then. The restrictions had been set to run out Friday.
📈 At this time’s numbers: The U.S. has greater than 33 million confirmed coronavirus circumstances and 588,500 deaths, in line with Johns Hopkins College knowledge. The worldwide totals: Greater than 165.6 million circumstances and three.43 million deaths. Practically 352 million vaccine doses have been distributed within the U.S. and 279.4 million have been administered, in line with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. Greater than 126.6 million People have been totally vaccinated — 38.1% of the inhabitants.
📘 What we’re studying: To guard People and assist the world, the U.S. wants to begin giving extra COVID-19 vaccine away extra rapidly, specialists say.
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Tinder, Bumble, different courting apps to supply enhance to vaccinated singles
Courting apps are making it simpler for singles to search out others who’ve been vaccinated towards COVID-19, the Biden administration announced Friday in what may be the first time the White House promoted digital matchmaking.
The administration says new features — including badges and other premium features — launching over the next several weeks by Tinder, Hinge, Match, OkCupid, Bumble, BLK and other dating sites will help President Joe Biden reach his goal of getting at least one shot in the arm of 70% of adults by July 4. More than 60% of U.S. adults have had at least one shot, according to the government.
Beginning May 24, daters can add an “I’m Vaccinated” profile badge and be featured within OkCupid’s “Vaccinated Stacks,” a new matching system that lets users search by vaccination status. Vaccinated people will also receive a free “Boost” to move their profile to the front of a dater’s stack.
On Tinder, vaccinated users get elevated to premium content such as a “Super Like” option to help them stand out among potential matches. Members can also add “I’m Vaccinated” or “Vaccines Save Lives” stickers to their profile.
— Maureen Groppe
EU, Pfizer pledge vaccines to low and middle income countries
Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, said on Twitter that the corporate has a brand new settlement with the European Fee to offer 1.8 billion doses to decrease and middle-income international locations.
In the meantime, the European Union has pledged 1.3 billion vaccines to decrease and middle-income international locations, EU Fee President Ursula von der Leyen announced Friday. The pledge contains 1 billion Pfizer vaccines, 200 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines and 100 million Moderna vaccines.
“We should step up efforts to provide entry to vaccines to low and center revenue international locations,” von der Leyen said on Twitter. “We are going to do our half.”
COVAX strikes deal to buy 200 million Johnson & Johnson doses
The GAVI Vaccine Alliance has signed an settlement to buy 200 million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses for the COVAX vaccine-sharing program, in line with a Friday assertion.
The U.N.-backed COVAX program seeks to ship free vaccines to 92 lower-income international locations and assist higher-income international locations with out offers with producers to get entry to vaccines.
GAVI mentioned the purpose is to provide the Johnson & Johnson doses in 2021. The alliance mentioned it’s also discussing with Johnson & Johnson on a possible provide of 300 million further doses in 2022.
COVAX additionally has agreements with seven different vaccines and vaccine candidates, together with the AstraZeneca, Pfizer advert Trendy vaccines.
Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, mentioned the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine might be helpful for areas with “troublesome infrastructure.”
“Because the earliest days of the pandemic, we’ve been steadfast in our purpose to facilitate equitable entry to our COVID-19 vaccine,” Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson mentioned within the assertion. “Nobody is secure from COVID-19 till everyone seems to be protected, and our partnership with Gavi is the only best step we’ve taken to make sure our single-shot vaccine is accessible to everybody, in all places.”
Europe information 60% drop in infections
Regardless of a latest drop in coronavirus circumstances, deaths and hospitalizations, Europeans ought to stay cautious as a result of the specter of the coronavirus stays current, the World Well being Group mentioned Thursday.
Europe has recorded a 60% drop in new coronavirus circumstances over the previous month, mentioned WHO regional director Dr. Hans Kluge. The information comes because the European Union eased journey restrictions for vaccinated guests and any traveler from international locations the place COVID-19 is underneath management.
“The place vaccination charges in high-risk teams are highest, admissions to hospitals are reducing and dying charges are falling. Vaccines are saving lives, and they’ll change the course of this pandemic and ultimately assist finish it,” Kluge mentioned.
The European Union’s govt arm on Thursday finalized a 3rd vaccine contract with Pfizer and BioNTech by 2023 for a further 1.8 billion doses of their COVID-19 shot to share between the bloc’s international locations apart from Hungary, which opted out of the deal.
Roughly 60,000 vaccine doses spoiled since December in Texas
About 60% of the COVID-19 vaccine doses which have spoiled since Texas’ vaccination program started in December have been wasted up to now two weeks, in line with an evaluation of state knowledge.
The variety of wasted doses by spoilage of the extremely perishable vaccine was nonetheless a minute fraction of the state’s vaccine allotment. The state is presently administering a mean of about 144,000 vaccinations each day. Even so, that was lower than half of the 290,000-vaccination-a-day peak final month.
Only one in three Texans have been totally vaccinated towards COVID-19 as of Thursday, largely with the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, whereas 42% have acquired at the very least one dose.
Greater than 51,000 individuals have died of COVID-19 in Texas in the course of the 15-month pandemic out of the greater than 3.2 million constructive take a look at outcomes reported to the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers.
Northeast leads in vaccination charges, South trails
5 months into the U.S. vaccination marketing campaign towards the coronavirus, a transparent geographic sample has developed: the best inoculation charges are within the Northeast and the bottom within the South.
Consultants say the hole displays a number of elements, together with political leanings, spiritual beliefs, training, and revenue ranges.
There are eight Northeastern states among the many 10 within the nation with at the very least 54% of its inhabitants receiving one vaccine dose or extra, main with Vermont’s 64%. On the reverse finish of the size, eight Southern states are within the backside 10, all underneath 40%, with Mississippi final within the nation at 32%. The nationwide determine is 48.2%.
“Low vaccination charges will go away room for the virus to flow into, re-emerge and presumably type new variants,” mentioned Tara Kirk Promote, a senior scholar on the Johns Hopkins Middle for Well being Safety. “Excessive vaccination charges are crucial to conserving the illness underneath management, particularly once we get again to the autumn and winter.”
India tops US each day dying mark as international locations head in reverse instructions
The US has yielded to India a darkish statistic of the worldwide pandemic — the nation with the best single-day dying toll.
Whereas each day U.S. infections, hospitalizations, and deaths slide, India’s Well being Ministry reported 4,529 deaths Wednesday because the coronavirus spreads past cities into the huge countryside, the place well being techniques are weaker. The quantity is taken into account an undercount by most well being specialists.
The U.S. held the earlier report for each day deaths at 4,475 on Jan. 12, in line with knowledge from Johns Hopkins College. However struggles with near-record infections and an rising dying depend have India reeling. Hospitals and morgues are overwhelmed. Dozens of our bodies are discovered floating each day within the Ganges River because it flows by poor, rural states.
Contributing: Tamela Baker, the Herald-Mail; The Related Press
