President Biden’s Ensembles new vaccination target, Europe is limiting its vaccine exports and experts warn against a hasty return to “normal”. Here’s what you need to know:
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Biden sets new goal of delivering 200 million vaccines by April 30
On Thursday, less than a week after the United States distributed its 100 millionth vaccine, the president announced that his administration had a new goal: to distribute 200 million shots by his hundredth day in office, April 30. If the country maintains its current average vaccination rate, we will reach this goal sooner than expected. In an effort to accelerate further, more states have announced plans to make vaccines available to all adults in the coming month, including Florida and California.
After a difficult start, vaccine manufacturing is also increasing rapidly: US monthly production for its three authorized vaccines is expected to be 132 million doses in March, up from 48 million in February. Morgan Stanley has estimated that three-quarters of Americans over the age of 12 should be vaccinated by mid-summer. Still, it’s hard not to be impatient: the the FOMO vaccine is real. So much so that the dark web is full of vaccine lists in an attempt to capitalize on certain people impatience to skip the line.
Europe limits vaccine exports as cases rise and partial lockdowns reestablish
On Wednesday, the European Commission presented a plan to curb vaccine exports for six weeks as the deployment in the region continues to stagnate. The EU has said pharmaceutical companies, especially AstraZeneca, are largely to blame; the drugmaker has so far struggled to deliver the doses he promised the EU. The new rules are likely to affect Britain, which has so far been the biggest beneficiary of vaccines made in the EU. The Commission said it would take into account reciprocity, a country’s epidemiological situation and its vaccination rate when export decisions.
At present, the situation in Europe is becoming more and more dire. Beyond supply issues, bureaucratic inaction and other logistical problems also slowed down vaccinations. Countries of which Italy and France have implemented partial locks. Experts said Americans should take into account the surge in Europe as a reminder to remain vigilant.
A return to “normal” seems closer, but the United States is not there yet
As vaccinations continue, there is increasing talk of the end of the pandemic, and a back to normal” in the USA. But after a year of living in confinement and constant fear, readjusting it won’t happen overnight, even when it definitely seems safe. And for now, experts say, it would be a mistake to move too quickly towards a full reopening. Americans must still be careful when risk calculation.
Earlier this week, CDC director Rochelle Walensky said she was concerned about the easing of restrictions and a recent spike in spring break travel could cause trouble. And at a press conference today, she reinforced that, pointing out increase in average number of new cases at the national level and slight increase in hospitalizations. The end may be nearer, but it’s not there yet.
Daily distraction
This week, a huge freighter called Ever Given has stuck in the suez canal. From a logistical point of view, this is a mess. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, the ship resonated with a lot.
Something to read
One day, 10-year-old Timothy was excited about chess practice and the Mandarin course. The next day he was obsessive and suicidal. All of her doctors agreed that something was wrong, but they couldn’t agree on What. The boy and his family had come across a hotly contested corner of pediatric medicine.
Sanitary verification
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A question
Could humans give SARS-CoV-2 to other animals?
It is likely that the new coronavirus has spread to humans from bats, although no one is sure exactly where or how. Now, a small group of scientists are studying the possibility that the virus could pass from humans to other animal species. This is called “spillback”, and there is already sign that it’s happening (like the mink epidemic in Europe last winter). Experts say creating a better system for monitoring how SARS-CoV-2 moves between animals will be the key to preventing new viral mutations and their long-term spread.
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