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As the school year approaches across much of the country, there is growing evidence – both digital and anecdotal – of children’s vulnerability to coronavirus and its highly transmissible delta variant.
The American Academy of Pediatrics said as of July 29, nearly 4.2 million children have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic, including nearly 72,000 last week. This is almost twice as many as the 39,000 infections the week before. As a perspective, about 79,000 Americans of all ages tested positive in one week in late June.
Two children with COVID-19 died over the weekend at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
One of the children was a patient in the hospital, said pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr Nick Hysmith of Le Bonheur. Another child died during transport to hospital, he said. The child was arriving at the regional hospital from a nearby hospital.
“It is important for everyone to know that we are seeing sicker children, we are seeing more children admitted who are sick with actual COVID disease, and that these children, some of them are in our intensive care unit. and some of them are intubated, ”Hysmith said.
Also in the news:
► Nearly 500 cases of COVID-19 have been linked to the massive rally of Milwaukee Bucks fans celebrating the NBA Championship victory in the Deer District last month, Wisconsin health officials said.
►The Olympic host city of Tokyo once again broke its record for new COVID-19 cases, registering 5,042 new cases on Thursday.
►As Florida hit a new peak in hospitalizations this week with 11,515 people hospitalized with COVID-19, Gov. Ron DeSantis openly challenged President Joe Biden on Wednesday, saying he would “block” any federal restrictions COVID-19 he believed would hurt businesses or deny Floridians the right to choose.
► Almost all foreign visitors will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before entering the United States, according to a plan the Biden administration is working on, the Associated Press reported.
►Los Angeles officials are considering a proposal that would require people to prove they have been vaccinated to enter restaurants, museums, gyms and other public spaces, following in the footsteps of New York City, which became the first of the country to require proof of the COVID-19 vaccine to enter many indoor public spaces this week.
►Texas state health officials say new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state show more dramatic jumps than past outbreaks of the pandemic. During a video conference on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the state’s Department of Health Services said the seven-day moving average of new cases of viral infections increased 92% from last week, while that hospitalizations have increased by 49% and deaths from COVID-19 have increased by 15%. .
The numbers of the day: The United States has recorded more than 35.3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 614,800 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Global totals: Over 200.1 million cases and 4.2 million deaths. More than 165.8 million Americans – 49.8% of the population – have been fully immunized, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
What we read: Chicago’s Lollapalooza is a “recipe for disaster,” experts warn. Should more music festivals be canceled amid COVID-19?
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Moderna says his COVID vaccine is still effective after 6 months
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is 93% effective for up to six months after full vaccination, the company said Thursday.
The vaccine maker also announced that it has tested three potential booster shots that have demonstrated “robust antibody responses to COVID-19 variants of concern.”
“We are delighted that our COVID-19 vaccine is showing lasting efficacy,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said in a statement. “But let’s recognize that the delta variant is a significant new threat, so we have to remain vigilant.”
The announcement comes after Pfizer-BioNTech said last week that its vaccine remained 84% effective six months after the second dose.
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine has received emergency clearance for use in more than 50 countries.
The Food and Drug Administration aims to fully approve Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine by early next month, according to the New York Times. Moderna also announced Thursday that it plans to complete its submission to the FDA for a full license of its COVID-19 vaccine in August.
Amid increasing COVID cases and community efforts, racial disparities in vaccinations appear to be narrowing
Months after the start of the country’s unprecedented COVID-19 vaccination effort, disparities in immunization of underserved populations have been stark, with data showing whites being vaccinated at faster rates than blacks and Hispanics. But experts say that could change, as fears mount amid the new wave of cases and grassroots vaccination efforts begin to bear fruit.
In the past two weeks, people of color have been vaccinated with a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine more than white people compared to their share of the population, according to the latest CDC data. Although information on race and ethnicity is only available for about 60% of the U.S. population, it looks promising, experts say.
While Hispanics and Latinos make up 17% of the nation’s population, they totaled more than a quarter of those who started immunizations in the past two weeks. Likewise, blacks, who make up about 12% of the U.S. population, made up 15% of those receiving a first dose.
– Nada Hassanein
Fayetteville State University freshman wins vaccine raffle
A freshman at Fayetteville State University is the third million dollar COVID-19 vaccine lottery winner, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in his COVID-briefing Thursday. 19.
Audrey Chavous, 18, was randomly selected on July 21 for the third $ 1 million gift to the North Carolina Vaccine Lottery. Chavous will be starting his freshman year at Fayetteville State University this fall.
The North Carolina Vaccine Lottery awards $ 1 million to four people 18 years of age or older who choose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Four grants of $ 125,000 are also awarded to four vaccinated people under the age of 18.
Chavous joined the governor during her COVID-19 briefing and explained why she chose to be vaccinated and what she planned to do with the money.
“I chose to get the vaccine, not only for the safety of other people around me, but just for my own safety,” she said.
– Jack Boden, The Observer of Fayetteville
Barbie launches special edition dolls from leading COVID-19 medical experts
Mattel announced on Wednesday they would create a barbie doll Professor Sarah Gilbert, who was instrumental in the development of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine. The Barbie made in her image will wear her dark rimmed glasses and long auburn hair while wearing a professional outfit.
The doll derives from Mattel’s latest #ThankYouHeroes program, according to a press release from the toy maker. They will make five more dolls from other leading first responders in the global fight against COVID-19.
According to Mattel, they have five other special edition Barbies: Amy O’Sullivan from the United States; Dr Audrey Sue Cruz from the United States; Dr Chika Stacy Oriuwa from Canada; Dr Jaqueline Goes de Jesus from Brazil; and Dr Kirby White from Australia.
As part of the program, Barbie will donate $ 5 for each special edition doll sold at participating Target stores of the First Responders Children’s Foundation, according to the release.
Heart Problems Associated With U.S. Vaccines Rare, Research Finds
For every million Americans vaccinated against COVID-19, only 60 have developed heart problems, according to a new study published Wednesday in the JAMA Network. The study found that the complications were short-lived.
Vaccination-associated myocarditis was mostly prevalent in young men within days of the second vaccine, according to the study.
“We see that these adverse events result in very short and mundane hospital stays,” Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston who was not part of the study, told The New York Times. “The same cannot be said for hospitalizations for COVID-19 in this age group or any other age group so far. “
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Heart problems associated with COVID vaccines are rare
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