CVS completes first round of vaccination at 8,000 U.S. nursing homes
A CVS pharmacy manager is preparing a dose of coronavirus disease vaccine (COVID-19) at Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on December 29, 2020.
Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen | The Republican | Swimming pool | via Reuters
CVS Health completed administration of the first round of vaccination against Covid-19 in approximately 8,000 U.S. nursing homes, Reuters reports.
The administration of second doses was underway and was expected to be completed within four weeks.
CVS Pharmacy has administered nearly 2 million doses so far, but has a capacity of 20 to 25 million shots a month, the company told Reuters, adding that its long-term care vaccination effort continues on track.
–Terri Cullen
The US does not know how many vaccines Covid has, says the CDC chief
The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned on Sunday that the federal government does not know how many coronavirus vaccines are available for the country, adding another complication to the new administration’s efforts to mitigate the crisis, Amanda Macias reports , from CNBC. .
“I can’t tell you how many vaccines we have, and if I can’t tell you, I can’t tell the governors or tell the state health officials,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky told Fox News Sunday.
“If they don’t know what vaccine they’re getting, not just this week, but next week and next week, they can’t plan. They can’t figure out how many places have to be launched, they can’t know how many vaccinators they need and they can’t figure it out. how many appointments to make for the audience, ”Walensky said.
President Joe Biden has set a goal for the country to administer 100 million vaccines in the first 100 days of the president.
–Fred Imbert
Merck ends its vaccination program against Covid, citing lower immune responses
A Merck poster in front of the company building in Summit, New Jersey.
Getty Images
Merck said it will end the development of its two Covid-19 vaccines, Reuters reports.
In the first trials, two of the company’s vaccines generated lower immune responses than those seen in people who had recovered from Covid-19, as well as those reported for other vaccines against Covid-19, according to Reuters.
The drug maker said it plans to focus its pandemic research on treatments, with initial efficacy data on an experimental oral antiviral expected in late March, the cabling service said.
–Terri Cullen
Google will open vaccine sites in its U.S. offices
Logo of the American multinational technology company seen in Googleplex, the complex of Google’s corporate headquarters and its parent company Alphabet Inc.
Alex Tai | SOUP Pictures | LightRocket | Getty Images
Google to make available some of its own facilities to open new coronavirus vaccination sites in the US
The company said it has partnered with the One Medical chain of health clinics and public health authorities to open vaccination sites in Los Angeles; San Francisco; Kirkland, Washington; and New York City. The technology giant also plans to open vaccination centers abroad.
Google also pledged $ 100 million in advertising grants to the CDC Foundation, the World Health Organization and nonprofits, as well as a $ 50 million investment to help public health agencies reach in underserved communities with vaccine information.
Google said it will begin including vaccination locations against Covid-19 in Google Search and Maps in the coming weeks, starting in Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The information will include details such as whether an appointment or referral is required and whether the location has direct access.
—Ryan Browne