A looming shortage of doses for low- and moderate-income countries puts increased pressure on Novavax to obtain regulatory approvals for global manufacturing.

Biden officials now fear booster programs will limit global vaccine supply

Temporary suspensions in summer came after she falsely claimed that the coronavirus was ‘not dangerous’ for some people

Twitter permanently suspends Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s personal account over covid-19 misinformation

Kickboxer Frédéric Sinistra (40), according to a colleague the 'strongest man in Belgium' among the heavyweights, has died. Walloon media reports that he died from the consequences of the corona virus. Sinistra was a convinced corona denier. He refused to be vaccinated and even refused to utter the word 'Covid-19'. His wife denies the reports.

'Corona denier and 'Belgium's strongest man' died from the consequences of Covid-19'

BREAKING: Hospitalizations South Africa Hospitalizations70% week over week Gauteng Province50% GP1.2% from yesterday ICU4 from yesterday Growth in cases in GP continues to slow. Will await case/death data, later, but this trend remains same (favorable).

Accusing everyone you disagree with of being a shill for pharmaceutical companies is a very simple way to tell anyone with even the slightest insight that you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about and no desire to do simple things to educate yourself

Moreover, most of the attention of the industry goes not to random people on social media, but the doctors who prescribe medications and the government officials who approve them - this is no secret, it's a very effective strategy!

The pharmaceutical industry has incredibly detailed, complex methods to influence people, and spend decades developing relationships to sell products (as with any industry), and it's almost never as simple as paying people to lie

At least 8.47bn doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered around the world, data from 233 locations show.

Covid-19 vaccine tracker: the global race to vaccinate

Zero lateral flows available at four pharmacies over the last two days. Where is Matt Hancock's landlord when you need him.

Zero lateral flows available at four pharmacies over the last two days. Where is Matt Hancock's landlord when you need him.

Home LFDs too

And most of the admissions in young people are *due to* COVID-19 rather than incidentaal:

The variant was first detected in Botswana and contains a high number of mutations associated with increased immune evasion.

What do we know about the new B.1.1.529 coronavirus variant and should we be worried?

NPR's David Folkenflik speaks with Harvard epidemiologist Bill Hanage about what scientists know about the new omicron COVID-19 variant.

Does omicron pose a risk to the vaccinated? Too early to tell, epidemiologist says

10.1101/2021.11.24.21266820

We analyze the effectiveness of the first six months of vaccination campaign against SARS-CoV-2 in Italy by using a computational epidemic model which takes into account demographic, mobility, vaccines, as well as estimates of the introduction and spreading of the more transmissible Alpha variant. We consider six sub-national regions and study the effect of vaccines in terms of number of averted deaths, infections, and reduction in the Infection Fatality Rate (IFR) with respect to counterfactual scenarios with the actual non-pharmaceuticals interventions but no vaccine administration. Furthermore, we compare the effectiveness in counterfactual scenarios with different vaccines allocation strategies and vaccination rates. Our results show that, as of 2021/07/05, vaccines averted 29, 350 (IQR: [16, 454 − 42, 826]) deaths and 4, 256, 332 (IQR: [1, 675, 564 − 6, 980, 070]) infections and a new pandemic wave in the country. During the same period, they achieved a −22.2% (IQR: [−31.4%; −13.9%]) reduction in the IFR. We show that a campaign that would have strictly prioritized age groups at higher risk of dying from COVID-19, besides frontline workers, would have implied additional benefits both in terms of avoided fatalities and reduction in the IFR. Strategies targeting the most active age groups would have prevented a higher number of infections but would have been associated with more deaths. Finally, we study the effects of different vaccination intake scenarios by rescaling the number of available doses in the time period under study to those administered in other countries of reference. The modeling framework can be applied to other countries to provide a mechanistic characterization of vaccination campaigns worldwide.

Anatomy of the first six months of COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign in Italy

ZURICH, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The first probable case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in Switzerland, the government said late on Sunday, as the country tightened its entry restrictions to check its spread.

First suspected case of Omicron variant of COVID-19 detected in Switzerland

Ample evidence shows that post-encoding misinformation from others can induce false memories. Here, we demonstrate in two experiments a new, tacit form of socially generated false memories, resulting from interpersonal co-monitoring at encoding without communication of misinformation. Pairs of participants jointly viewed semantically coherent word lists, presented successively in blue, green, or red letters. Each individual was instructed to memorize words presented in one of the colors. One color remained unassigned (control condition). Participants reported more false memories for non-presented words (lures) semantically related to partner-assigned than to control lists, although both list types were equally irrelevant to their own task. Notably, this effect also persisted for particularly rich memories. These findings show for the first time that social induction of false memories, even subjectively rich ones, does not necessarily require communication of deceptive information. This has important implications both theoretically and practically (e.g. in forensic contexts).

10.31234/osf.io/f8eyr

Socially induced false memories in the absence of misinformation

The US has approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for children aged five to 11, clearing the way for millions of young Americans to get vaccinated.

Covid: US approves Pfizer vaccine for children over five

The TGA has announced one vaccine brand could soon be given to Aussie children aged 6 - 11.

TGA grants provisional determination for Moderna jab for children under 12

New York (CNN Business)Twitter has permanently suspended Newsmax White House correspondent Emerald Robinson for repeatedly posting blatant misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines. The ban comes about a week after she was briefly suspended for violating the company's policy.

Newsmax reporter permanently banned from Twitter for posting Covid misinformation

10.31234/osf.io/64v7x

Belonging is a basic human need, with social isolation signaling a threat to biological fitness. Sensitivity to ostracism varies across individuals and the lifespan, peaking in adolescence. Government-imposed restrictions upon social interactions during COVID-19 may therefore be particularly detrimental to young people and those most sensitive to ostracism. Participants (N = 2367; 89.95% female, 11-100 years) from three countries with differing levels of government restrictions (Australia, UK, and USA) were surveyed trice at three-month intervals (May 2020 – April 2021). Young people, and those living under the tightest government restrictions, reported the worst mental health, with these inequalities in mental health remaining constant throughout the study period. Further dissection of these results revealed that young people high on social rejection sensitivity reported the most mental health problems at the final assessment. These findings help account for the greater impact of enforced social isolation on young people’s mental health, and open novel avenues for intervention.

Social Determinants of Mental Health During a Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.1136/jech-2020-216068

Background Previous studies have demonstrated that socioeconomic factors are associated with COVID-19 incidence. In this study, we analysed a broad range of socioeconomic indicators in relation to hospitalised cases in the Paris area.Methods We extracted 303 socioeconomic indicators from French census data for 855 residential units in Paris and assessed their association with COVID-19 hospitalisation risk.Findings The indicators most associated with hospitalisation risk were the third decile of population income (OR=9.10, 95% CI 4.98 to 18.39), followed by the primary residence rate (OR=5.87, 95% CI 3.46 to 10.61), rate of active workers in unskilled occupations (OR=5.04, 95% CI 3.03 to 8.85) and rate of women over 15 years old with no diploma (OR=5.04, 95% CI 3.03 to 8.85). Of note, population demographics were considerably less associated with hospitalisation risk. Among these indicators, the rate of women aged between 45 and 59 years (OR=2.17, 95% CI 1.40 to 3.44) exhibited the greatest level of association, whereas population density was not associated. Overall, 86% of COVID-19 hospitalised cases occurred within the 45% most deprived areas.Interpretation Studying a broad range of socioeconomic indicators using census data and hospitalisation data as a readily available and large resource can provide real-time indirect information on populations with a high incidence of COVID-19.healthcare disparitiescohort studiescommunicable diseasesCOVID-19deprivationThis article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

Low-income neighbourhood was a key determinant of severe COVID-19 incidence during the first wave of the epidemic in Paris

More than 18 months into the coronavirus pandemic, Americans remain in limbo between lives once lived and whatever the post-pandemic future holds. For many, the current reality encompasses a daily web of risk assessment, upended routines and endless news about the state of COVID-19 in the world, America and our individual communities.

Stress and decision-making during the pandemic

Sadly http://gov.uk announced on 10th Oct a child between 5-9 has died with Covid in England. The total now: England 86 Scotland 5 Wales 3 NI 2 UK Total 96 #coronavirus #COVID19 #SARSCoV2

What is already known about this topic? Persons aged 12–18 years are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, data are lacking on real-world vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 hospitalization in adolescents. What is added by this report? Among hospitalized U.S. patients aged 12–18 years, vaccine effectiveness of 2 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 hospitalization during June–September 2021, was 93% (95% confidence interval = 83%–97%). What are the implications for public health practice? This evaluation demonstrated that 2 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were highly effective in preventing COVID-19 hospitalization among persons aged 12–18 years. Findings reinforce the importance of vaccination to protect U.S. youths against severe COVID-19.

Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA Vaccination Against COVID-19 Hospitalization Among Persons Aged 12–18 Years — United States, June–September 2021

UK Health Security Agency monitoring AY.4.2 as daily cases at highest level since late July

Offshoot of Covid Delta variant on the rise in England

10.1038/s41586-021-03944-y

The B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in the state of Maharashtra in late 2020 and spread throughout India, outcompeting pre-existing lineages including B.1.617.1 (Kappa) and B.1.1.7 (Alpha)1. In vitro, B.1.617.2 is sixfold less sensitive to serum neutralizing antibodies from recovered individuals, and eightfold less sensitive to vaccine-elicited antibodies, compared with wild-type Wuhan-1 bearing D614G. Serum neutralizing titres against B.1.617.2 were lower in ChAdOx1 vaccinees than in BNT162b2 vaccinees. B.1.617.2 spike pseudotyped viruses exhibited compromised sensitivity to monoclonal antibodies to the receptor-binding domain and the amino-terminal domain. B.1.617.2 demonstrated higher replication efficiency than B.1.1.7 in both airway organoid and human airway epithelial systems, associated with B.1.617.2 spike being in a predominantly cleaved state compared with B.1.1.7 spike. The B.1.617.2 spike protein was able to mediate highly efficient syncytium formation that was less sensitive to inhibition by neutralizing antibody, compared with that of wild-type spike. We also observed that B.1.617.2 had higher replication and spike-mediated entry than B.1.617.1, potentially explaining the B.1.617.2 dominance. In an analysis of more than 130 SARS-CoV-2-infected health care workers across three centres in India during a period of mixed lineage circulation, we observed reduced ChAdOx1 vaccine effectiveness against B.1.617.2 relative to non-B.1.617.2, with the caveat of possible residual confounding. Compromised vaccine efficacy against the highly fit and immune-evasive B.1.617.2 Delta variant warrants continued infection control measures in the post-vaccination era.

SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 Delta variant replication and immune evasion

is this a backdoor way of closing bars and restaurants

Gov. Abbott says he will pull the liquor license of any restaurant with vaccine requirements. This in a state out of beds in their ICUs.

Again proving that this is only about vaccine passports, not public health.

NEW DELHI: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-Covid-19 National Task Force Joint Monitoring Group dropped the usage of Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) drugs from revised clinical guidelines for the management of adult Covid-19 patients.

ICMR drops Ivermectin, Hydroxychloroquine drugs from Covid treatment

Misinformation flooding some of Alberta's biggest online communities has become a major problem during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to three volunteer Reddit moderators in Edmonton.

Misinformation on Reddit has become unmanageable, Alberta moderators say

Analysis: Experts say it is first time since start of pandemic that sustained decline is recorded out of lockdown

‘A bit of a mystery’: why hospital admissions for Covid in England are going down

I'm interested to hear which COVID studies by psychologists you think have had a measurable positive effect on the world. E.g. a proposed intervention that was actually implemented and affected the spread of the virus, or mitigated indirect (e.g. social) negative consequences.

The South Dakota COVID-19 Family Impact Survey 2021 was conducted from July 31st to August 14th, 2021 by The SDSU Poll, a research group housed in the School of American and Global Studies at South Dakota State University. This survey builds upon similar surveys conducted by The SDSU Poll in October 2020 and April 2021. In this poll, a total of 573 registered voters in South Dakota answered questions about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their daily lives. The margin of error of this survey was +/- 4 %, on par with other state-wide polls.

On Questions of COVID Mitigation Methods, South Dakotans are Sharply Polarized

Employment data shows that very few Maine health care workers have quit their jobs over the recent statewide COVID vaccine mandate, despite a number of lawsuits and ongoing protests organized by anti-vaccine activists, suggesting that opponents of the mandate represent a vocal minority in Maine.

Few health workers actually quitting over vaccine mandate despite ongoing protests

When the highly transmissible delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 hit the United States in July, our levels of vaccination across the country were highly variable. Places like California had just opened up (June 15, 2021) with a 55% full vaccination rate of eligible adults and others (like Missouri) had only one third of their eligible population at that time. These discrepancies in vaccination rates with the onset of delta across the country played out dramatically. Although cases rose throughout the country, the hospitalization to case ratio was much lower in states with high levels of vaccination, a function of the vaccines’ ongoing protection against severe disease.

GANDHI: Vaccine Mandates Are The Only Way To End This Public Health Emergency

Guidelines say health staff can decide whether children receive jab without parental consent, as headteachers fear protests

Covid teams can vaccinate pupils against parents’ wishes, schools told

Trial enrolled over 30,000 adult & elderly participants across 4 continents; 100% of SARS-CoV-2 strains observed in efficacy analysis were variants (Delta was predominant strain)  Primary and secondary efficacy endpoints were successfully met  100% efficacy against severe COVID-19 & hospitalization and 84% efficacy against moderate-to-severe COVID-19 caused by any strain of SARS-CoV-2 in SPECTRA 79% efficacy against COVID-19 of any severity caused by the globally dominant Delta variant  Favorable safety profile; no significant differences in systemic adverse events or severe/serious adverse events compared to placebo  First COVID-19 vaccine to demonstrate significantly reduced risk of COVID-19 disease in previously infected individuals

Clover’s COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Demonstrates 79% Efficacy Against Delta in Global Phase 2/3 SPECTRA Trial Dominated by Variants of Concern and Interest

10.31234/osf.io/psuwq

This brief article presents a spiritually-oriented model of wellbeing: CasMac

You Need CasMac to get Through the COVID-19 Crisis Stronger and Happier

“The J&J results exceed expectations,” Yale Radiology and Public Health Professor @thehowie says about the COVID-19 vaccine. “They continue to point out that the J&J vaccine is highly effective even as a one dose vaccine.”

Dear vaccinated, We did not take your freedom. The government did. We are not holding your freedoms to ransom. The government is. If we are a danger to you, then your vaccine doesn't work. If it does, then you should already be free. The government has lied to you.

10.7326/M21-2721

As of 28 July 2021, 60% of adults in the United States had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and more than 34 million cases had been reported. Given the uncertainty regarding undocumented infections, the population level of immunity against COVID-19 in the United States remains undetermined.Objective:To estimate the population immunity, defined as the proportion of the population that is protected against SARS-CoV-2 infection due to prior infection or vaccination.Design:Statistical and simulation modeling to estimate overall and age-specific population immunity.Setting:United States.Participants:Simulated age-stratified population representing U.S. demographic characteristics.Measurements:The true number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United States was inferred from data on reported deaths using age-specific infection-fatality rates (IFRs). Taking into account the estimates for vaccine effectiveness and protection against reinfection, the overall population immunity was determined as the sum of protection levels in vaccinated persons and those who were previously infected but not vaccinated.Results:Using age-specific IFR estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was estimated that as of 15 July 2021, 114.9 (95% credible interval [CrI], 103.2 to 127.4) million persons had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the United States. The mean overall population immunity was 62.0% (CrI, 58.4% to 66.4%). Adults aged 65 years or older were estimated to have the highest immunity level (77.2% [CrI, 76.2% to 78.6%]), and children younger than 12 years had the lowest immunity level (17.9% [CrI, 14.4% to 21.9%]).Limitation:Publicly reported deaths may underrepresent actual deaths.Conclusion:As of 15 July 2021, the U.S. population immunity against COVID-19 may still have been insufficient to contain the outbreaks and safely revert to prepandemic social behavior.

Population Immunity Against COVID-19 in the United States

Today, President Biden convened heads of state and leaders from international organizations, the private sector, philanthropies, non-government organizations, and other partners for the Global COVID-19 Summit: Ending the Pandemic and Building Back Better, a virtual summit on the margins of the UN General Assembly.

FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Global COVID-⁠19 Summit: Ending the Pandemic and Building Back Better

It looks different in the regions when it comes to the proportion of 16- and 17-year-olds who have been vaccinated before starting school. In the Uppsala Region, just over 70 per cent were vaccinated even on Friday, while the Kronoberg Region vaccinated just under eleven per cent even on Thursday. "We hope that it provides good conditions for upper secondary schools," says Erik Sköldenberg, chief physician in the Uppsala Region.

Large differences in vaccination rate among young people

Here’s a guide to help you separate vaccine fact from fiction

Vax facts: San Diego researchers debunk 7 common COVID-19 vaccine myths

Correcting a statistic I gave at the press conference today, 19 July. About 60% of hospitalisations from covid are not from double vaccinated people, rather 60% of hospitalisations from covid are currently from unvaccinated people.

46 y.o. Brandon Haynes from #Louisiana died from COVID. "I asked him to take the vaccine & he wouldn't. The best way I can honor him is to request friends and family members take the vaccine.” Mom provided a vaccine clinic at his funeral #SoulsLostToCovid

Comparison of window ventilation systems and other ventilation or air purification approaches against the aerosol transmission of COVID-19 and for increased air quality in classrooms.

Window ventilation system for classrooms developed at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry

Israel arrivals who have received a COVID booster shot are exempt from quarantine starting Friday

COVID in Israel: Serious Cases Decline for Fourth Consecutive Day

The illness can still have a big effect on health and daily life, say three people in their 20s, 40s and 50s, who were double-jabbed

What does getting Covid feel like for the fully vaccinated?

NEW: in the last couple of weeks there have a *lot* of new studies out assessing vaccine efficacy, many of which have touched on the question of waning immunity. Unsurprisingly, these have prompted a *lot* of questions. Time for a thread to summarise what we do and don’t know:

Some good news from PHE's Friday Delta tech briefing update: two sublineages of Delta called AY.1 and AY.2 do not seem to be any more worrying that Delta in terms of transmissibility or vax resistance. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1012644/Technical_Briefing_21.pdf