Progress offers hope that the brutal battle against the virus is slowly coming to an end.
But we are not there yet.
“Where the pandemic goes from here depends a lot on our collective behaviors and on the ongoing commitment to follow the public health measures that we know work to prevent the spread of the virus: wear tight-fitting masks, avoid traveling in crowds, distance yourself socially and wash your hands “, added the director.
And while the vaccine’s progress is encouraging, the country continues to face difficult challenges, said Walensky, “including restricted vaccine supply, continued vaccine hesitation and an increase in myths and misinformation related to the Covid-19 vaccines.”
Some states announce that more people are now eligible for a chance
States are working to address these challenges and increase their vaccination efforts, in the hope of getting more vaccines on more weapons more quickly. This week, several state leaders announced that they were opening current eligibility requirements and allowing more residents to receive the vaccine.
Alaska has gone further by making vaccines available to everyone living or working in the state who is at least 16 years old – making it the first state in the country to do so.
The Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer is the only one available for use by people aged 16 and over, while the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are restricted to people aged 18 and over.
In Vermont, Governor Phil Scott announced on Tuesday that the state will allow anyone aged 16 and over who has certain high-risk conditions to schedule a vaccination appointment starting on Thursday.
Dr. Mark Levine, the health commissioner, said that in efforts to make the distribution of the vaccine more equitable, Vermont will allow family members who accompany eligible residents who are black, indigenous or people of color (BIPOC) for health consultations. vaccination, also receive a vaccine starting next week.
“We arrived at this decision after hearing from our suppliers over the weekend that there is a small gap in consultations and that they were able to accommodate and are ready to accommodate more people,” said Edwards.
“We also had a very stable (vaccine) supply, mainly from Moderna and Pfizer, so we feel comfortable with what lies ahead,” he added.
CDC guidelines for fully vaccinated Americans are not definitive
But these guidelines are not definitive, said Dr. Anthony Fauci in an interview with NPR. “In very quick succession, I believe you will see an update to these guidelines,” he said.
Fauci said he is in constant communication with the CDC and guidance will likely evolve as the agency works to respond to new information as it arrives.
“They have a large group of experienced epidemiologists who are trying to make these decisions based on a combination of real data, which they collect in real time every day, with modeling studies, as well as a good dose of what we call real – common sense time, “he added.
In its new orientation, the CDC noted that its travel recommendations have not changed: The agency says people should delay their trip and stay home.
The CDC told CNN on Tuesday that it can update travel guidelines for those fully vaccinated when the science is clearer and more people are vaccinated against Covid-19.
“The CDC can update its travel recommendations for fully vaccinated people as more people are vaccinated and we learn more about how vaccines work in the real world. This is something we will be watching closely in the United States,” said the spokesman. of CDC Jason McDonald in an email to CNN.
CNN’s Ben Tinker, Will Brown, Lauren Mascarenhas, Gisela Crespo, Jen Christensen, Christopher Rios, Andy Rose and Kelsie Smith contributed to this report.