Updates: Fauci urges Americans to take Johnson & Johnson vaccine

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Here’s what you need to know to navigate the markets today.

• Dr Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, urged Americans on Sunday to take the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine. “It’s not the weakest vaccine, all three of them are very good vaccines,” he told NBC’s “Meet the Press” show. He added, “If you go somewhere and you have J&J, and that’s the one that’s available now, I would take it. Personally, I would do the same. Despite the drastic drop in new infections in recent weeks, “for now, as we descend and plateau, now is not the time to declare victory because we are not yet victorious,” he said. to CBS’s “Face the Nation”. He added that it was too early to stop social distancing, wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings. J&J will begin shipping the first 4 million doses of its vaccine, which only requires one shot and does not need to be stored in sub-zero temperatures, on Monday.

• Virginia became the 16th state to vote to legalize adult recreational marijuana. The Virginia legislature voted on Saturday that effective January 1, 2024, adults 21 and older would be allowed to own up to 1 ounce of marijuana and grow up to four plants per household. Sales would be taxed at 21% to 24% and the revenue would fund pre-K education, drug addiction programs and a cannabis reinvestment fund to help communities that have been disproportionately prosecuted for offenses. related to marijuana. If signed as intended by Governor Ralph Northam, the legislation will make Virginia the first southern state to legalize recreational marijuana.

• Press Secretary Jen Psaki told Fox News on Sunday that President Biden “supports exactly what Senator Sanders is doing, which is raising the minimum wage for the American people.” While the House version of the stimulus package includes a $ 15 minimum wage hike proposed by Biden, it may not appear in the Senate bill due to both opposition from some Senate Democrats. and a decision taken at the end of last week by the parliamentarian of the Senate. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said last week he would push for an amendment “to remove tax deductions from large profitable companies that do not pay workers at least $ 15 an hour and to provide small businesses the incentives they need to raise wages. Psaki added that the president had not considered Sanders’ specific proposal.

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