Topline
President Joe Biden received a second booster shot towards Covid-19 on digital camera on Wednesday, after the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention updated its advice for People 50 and older to obtain a second booster.
President Joe Biden receives a second booster shot towards Covid-19 in Washington, D.C., on March … [+]
AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Key Details
Earlier than receiving his second booster, Biden gave a speech on the pandemic, noting that the White Home has launched covid.gov, a one-stop web site that assists People with entry to Covid exams, vaccines, therapies and details about Covid of their space.
Biden additionally called on Congress to go emergency Covid funding value $22.5 billion for Covid exams, vaccines, therapies and analysis, however the request faces opposition from Senate Republicans.
Biden, 79, has acquired two vaccine doses adopted by a Pfizer-BioNTech booster in September.
Biden’s second booster shot got here as some individuals in shut contact with him, together with White Home Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, White Home Press Secretary Jen Psaki and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, have lately examined optimistic for Covid.
The extremely transmissible BA.2 Omicron variant accounted for almost 55 p.c of Covid instances final week, up from 39 p.c within the earlier week, in accordance with CDC knowledge up to date on Tuesday.
Key Background
The Meals and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved Moderna’s and Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine second booster doses for individuals 50 and older after it discovered that safety from a 3rd dose falls after three to 6 months. A second booster needs to be administered at the least 4 months after the primary. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said earlier within the month {that a} third dose is “good” for hospitalizations and deaths however “not that good” for stopping infections. Consultants have stated that the USA is unlikely to expertise a significant surge in Covid instances, and that the BA.2 Omicron variant is much less more likely to trigger extreme illness than different Omicron variants.
Massive Quantity
67.2%. That’s the ratio of People 65 and older, or 32.8 million, who’ve been boosted as of Wednesday, according to the CDC. That age group has the best ratio of People who’ve acquired their third doses.
Additional Studying
Biden to receive 2nd booster as admin launches COVID.GOV (Related Press)
FDA Authorizes Second Covid Booster For People 50 And Older (Forbes)
BA.2 Omicron Variant Turns into Dominant In U.S., CDC Says (Forbes)
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