What you need to know about coronavirus on Thursday, December 24th

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A count, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shows that about 9.5 million doses have been distributed since Wednesday morning and just over one million have been vaccinated. people, not even close to the goal initially set by Warp Speed.
But some vaccines may arrive too late, as the virus continues to rage in the United States. California on Wednesday became the first state to surpass two million confirmed cases, more than most countries. And an overall forecast released Wednesday by the CDC now projects that there will be 378,000 to 419,000 deaths from coronavirus in the United States on January 16th.

Health officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, a longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, have said vaccines will help leave the pandemic behind, but most Americans, who will not be vaccinated until next year, they need to be vigilant with mask and social distancing measures over the next few months, especially during holiday meetings.

We’re leaving tomorrow for Christmas, but we’ll be back with the briefing on Monday, December 28th. Happy holidays to everyone and happy birthday to Dr. Fauci, who turns 80 today.

YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED.

Q: Can you try to cut the line to get vaccinated?

A: Concierge medical services in California have already reported that wealthy residents who want to pay thousands to skip the vaccine queue. Gov. Gavin Newsom has vowed to control the situation and make sure ethical standards are maintained, so that “those who have influence do not eliminate those who deserve vaccines more.”

It is an issue that each state will have to deal with individually, but in the grand scheme of a nationwide vaccination campaign it is not the most troubling concern.

On the one hand, it is an indicator of high demand, which means more acceptance of vaccines. On the other hand, those who administer the vaccine have enough to worry about without being burdened with everyone’s identification, employment, or medical history.

Submit your questions here. Are you a healthcare worker fighting Covid-19? Send us a message on WhatsApp about the challenges you face: +1 347-322-0415.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT TODAY

Highly allergic populations could participate in new trials against the Covid vaccine

The frequency of allergic reactions to Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine is higher than expected for other vaccines, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific adviser to Operation Warp Speed, said Wednesday.

Slaoui said the last time allergic reactions were reported was on Tuesday, when there were six cases, but that data on coronavirus vaccines lagged behind the actual figures. There are ongoing discussions between vaccine manufacturers and the National Institutes of Health to consider conducting clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccines in highly allergic populations, such as those who should always carry an EpiPen with them. add.

Genetics experts worry that coronavirus vaccines may not work so well against the UK variant

Michael Worobey, a biologist at the University of Arizona, has seen more than 100,000 different strains of the virus that causes Covid-19. But when he saw the new UK variant, he noticed something different: “This is the first variant I’ve seen in the whole pandemic, where I took a step back and said, ‘Wow.'”

Health officials have downplayed the possibility that coronavirus vaccines may not work against the UK strain, but Worobey and other scientists believe it is possible, and only possible, that this new variant could, to a small extent, overcome the vaccines. Pfizer and Moderna are testing the vaccine to see if it works against the new variant.

She is one of the millions of girls who will not return to the classroom

Unable to continue her studies remotely due to the lack of electricity in her home in Mombasa, and with her mother’s reduced income from selling vegetables on the street, Bella began exchanging sex for money to help. to supplement the family income. Now three months pregnant, the 19-year-old said she will not be able to resume her education when Kenya’s schools completely reopen in January.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization estimates that nearly 24 million children and adolescents, including 11 million girls and young women like Bella, may drop out of education next year. due to the economic impact of the pandemic. This reality not only threatens to push back decades of progress toward gender equality, but also puts girls at risk around the world of child labor, teenage pregnancy, forced marriage and violence, according to experts.

Vombats, snails, ferrets: the animals that brought us joy during the pandemic

In 2020, shelters reported so many applications for foster care and adoption that some have run out of animals for the first time. But not only cats and dogs enjoy our attention; people have embraced more unconventional pets, established links to wildlife, and developed communities around their local animals.

With many schools and jobs connected online, extended closures, and increased isolation, comfort can come in the form of a kangaroo, wombat, ferret, or even a snail. Here are some stories of people who found joy this year in the most unexpected creature.
Two of the four wombats who lived with Emily Small in her Melbourne apartment during the closure.

ON OUR RADAR

  • The UK has announced a ban on anyone who has passed or passed through South Africa in the last ten days due to the “increased risk of a new coronavirus strain”.
  • A Brazilian researcher has said China’s CoronaVac vaccine is “the safest currently tested,” but will not disclose test data.
  • Japan has set a new record for Covid-19 cases, as experts urge the public to cancel holiday trips.
  • South Korea has signed contracts with Pfizer and pharmaceutical company Janssen of Johnson & Johnson to import Covid-19 vaccines.
  • The CEO of Delta gave an employee who fought Covid-19 for months a first-class trip around the world.
  • A historic amount of packages and the rise in employee Covid-19 rates are causing significant delays at U.S. postal service processing facilities before Christmas.
  • Actor Kirk Cameron faces criticism for organizing Christmas carol protests in Southern California for stay-at-home warrants, such as the booming Covid-19 cases.

SUPERIOR ADVICE

Want to hang out with some friends (no masks) this winter? Make a Covid-19 bubble

Doctors are urging Americans to fall into the bubbles as Covid-19 cases increase this winter.

Social distancing bubbles can help you stay in shape and signal when you see other human beings in person. But they only work if everyone follows the same strict rules.

The following explains what a bubble is, what the basic rules should be, how to handle complicated conversations with friends and family, and what happens if someone breaks (or bursts) the bubble.

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