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Jessica Flores
| USA TODAY
How new RNA technology is used to create COVID-19 vaccines
The COVID-19 vaccine is using new technology that has never been used before in traditional vaccines. See how an mRNA vaccine works.
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USA TODAY is following the news around COVID-19 when a pair of vaccines joins the U.S. fight against a virus that killed more than 345,000 Americans since the first fatality reported in February. Keep updating this page to get the latest updates on the coronavirus, including who is receiving Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, as well as other important news from across the USA TODAY Network. Subscribe to our Coronavirus Watch newsletter for updates right in your inbox, join our Facebook group or scroll our detailed answers to readers’ questions for everything you need to know about coronavirus.
In the headlines:
► As of Friday, more than 20 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the United States. More than 346,000 died, according to Johns Hopkins University data, with the United States reaching the previously unthinkable mark of 300,000 dead just weeks ago. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had previously warned that the country could reach 450,000 deaths before February 1, days before the one-year anniversary of the first known death of COVID-19 in the United States.
► Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease specialist, told Newsweek that it is “quite possible” that the COVID-19 vaccine will become necessary when traveling to other countries. “Everything will be up for discussion,” said Fauci. Israel announced earlier this month that residents who receive the COVID-19 vaccine will receive a “green passport” that will grant them “certain benefits and freedoms”, such as traveling abroad, the Jerusalem Post reported.
► A Wisconsin health care provider says a pharmacist intentionally removed 57 vials of Modern vaccine from a refrigerator, causing them to be discarded. Local police announced an arrest Thursday night, but did not identify him. Aurora Medical Center said 500 bottles were tampered with; those who had received the shots were being notified. In addition to the fact that immunization is less effective or possibly ineffective, no adverse effects were anticipated.
► Republican Senator David Perdue announced on Thursday that he was quarantined after contacting someone in his campaign who tested positive for COVID-19, an impressive event just five days before voters decided their political fate in a second round. in Georgia.
► Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday blocked the rapid passage of rising stimulus checks to $ 2,000 for the third time, calling the proposal – a fundamental requirement of President Donald Trump – “socialism for the rich “.
► The West Virginia National Guard says it accidentally injected 42 people with Regeneron Antibody instead of the Modern coronavirus vaccine.
📈 Today’s numbers: California on Thursday surpassed 25,000 coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began, the third state to do so after New York and Texas, health officials said. New York has nearly 38,000 deaths and Texas more than 27,000, according to a Johns Hopkins University count.
📰 What we’re reading: Heart failure in children is another rare complication of COVID-19. Here’s what to look for.
In the USA: 20 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. has exceeded 20 million, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. That is almost double the second country, India, and almost a quarter of more than 83 million cases worldwide.
COVID-19 deaths have also increased in the country, now totaling more than 346,000.
India and Brazil are behind the USA in cases of coronavirus by more than 10 million and 7 million, respectively. The increase comes at a time when authorities rush to vaccinate millions of Americans, but have had a slower and more confused start.
New York police prevented crowds of any size from gathering in Times Square. Citing concerns about the spread of COVID-19, police closed the Crossroads of the World for vehicles and pedestrians at midnight and said they would disperse any viewers who ventured into a so-called “frozen zone” – the blocks around the ball that historically crowd crowds on the shoulder.
Still, modest crowds of people gathered outside the police perimeter, which looked like a back door when midnight approached. Many said they would like to end a challenging year on their own terms.
Small groups of revelers, some wearing bright hats, filmed their distant view of Times Square on their phones and burst into midnight applause. There were kisses and toasts, but the police quickly dispersed the crowd gathered along Broadway after the ball fell.
New Year’s Eve: Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen, lots of tequila were perfect for the terrible year 2020
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he was concerned about the relatively low number of nursing home workers who chose to get the vaccine and warned that the opportunity may not return in a while. Nursing homes will receive three visits for the vaccine, DeWine said. After the initial stop, nursing homes will be hit again to administer second doses to anyone who received the vaccine for the first time and to give an initial dose to anyone who wants to. After that, only the second doses will be distributed, he said.
“Each one makes their own choice about it, but we want to make it clear that the opportunity may take a while,” he said.
– Rick Rouan, The Columbus Dispatch
Wisconsin health provider Advocate Aurora Health says a now-dismissed employee intentionally removed 57 vials of the Modern coronavirus vaccine from a refrigerator last weekend, making them ineffective and discarded. Each vial contains enough vaccine for 10 vaccinations. Aurora was initially “led to believe” that the removal was a mistake. But on Wednesday, an official “acknowledged that he intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration,” according to a statement from the health provider. The employee was fired, and Aurora said she had notified “competent authorities for further investigation”.
Teachers are expected to be among the next workers in line for a COVID-19 vaccine, an advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended last week. And some states plan to push for these vaccines as a way to accelerate the reopening of schools. The problem: vaccine launch has faced delays across the country, raising the question of whether teachers will be able to get the vaccine in time to make a difference in the current school year. Not all states are waiting for teachers to be protected before bringing classroom learning back.
“We strongly advocate that schools be opened before teachers are vaccinated,” Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said on Wednesday. “We have almost nine, 10 months of data showing that schools are not a primary school or even a significant transmission site.”
– Elinor Aspegren
Contributing: Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY; Associated Press