The New York Times: F.D.A. To Authorize Third Vaccine Dose For People With Weak Immune Systems 
Federal regulators are expected to authorize a third shot of coronavirus vaccine as soon as Thursday for certain people with weakened immune systems, an effort to better protect them as the highly contagious Delta variant sweeps the nation. The decision to expand the emergency use of both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines is meant to help those patients with immune deficiencies who are considered most likely to benefit from an additional shot. It covers people who have had solid organ transplants and others whose immune systems are similarly compromised, according to an official familiar with the plan. (LaFraniere and Weiland, 8/11)

NBC News: FDA Poised To OK 3rd Vaccine Dose For Immunocompromised People
The move would come after a panel of advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention met in Julyand urged action on extra doses for immunocompromised adults. Doctors say it is increasingly clear that many such patients are still vulnerable to Covid following vaccination because they may not mount an effective immune response to the shots. (Edwards and Przybyla, 8/11)

CNN: FDA Expected To Authorize Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Shots For Some Immunocompromised People Within The Next 48 Hours
This would be a third shot of the current two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. That announcement could slide, the source cautioned, but this is the current timing. “The FDA is closely monitoring data as it becomes available from studies administering an additional dose of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines to immunocompromised individuals,” an FDA spokesperson told CNN. “The agency, along with the CDC, is evaluating potential options on this issue, and will share information in the near future.” (Collins and Bonifield, 8/11)

In related news about booster shots —

AP: Study: Extra COVID Shot Helps Protect Transplant Patients
A third dose of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine substantially improved protection for organ transplant recipients whose weak immune systems don’t always rev up enough with the standard two shots, Canadian researchers reported Wednesday. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was small but it’s the most rigorous type of third-dose testing so far for this vulnerable group. (Neergaard, 8/11)

Fox News: Over 1 Million People Given COVID-19 Booster Shots Ahead Of Regulatory OK: Report
More than 1 million people vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna’s COVID-19 shots went back for a third dose ahead of any OK from regulators, according to a report citing estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The 1.1 million estimate cited in an internal agency briefing document, reportedly obtained by ABC News, likely represents an underestimate because it excluded recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine who may have returned for a second unauthorized dose. Florida was reported among states with the largest number of people seeking third shots. Other states listed were Ohio, California, Illinois and Tennessee. (Rivas, 8/11)

AP: CDC Urges COVID Vaccines During Pregnancy As Delta Surges
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged all pregnant women Wednesday to get the COVID-19 vaccine as hospitals in hot spots around the U.S. see disturbing numbers of unvaccinated mothers-to-be seriously ill with the virus. Expectant women run a higher risk of severe illness and pregnancy complications from the coronavirus, including perhaps miscarriages and stillbirths. But their vaccination rates are low, with only about 23% having received at least one dose, according to CDC data. (Tanner and Stobbe, 8/11)

Reuters: CDC Recommends Pregnant Women Get COVID-19 Vaccine
The CDC said it has found no safety concerns for pregnant people in either the new analysis or earlier studies. It said miscarriage rates after vaccination were similar to the expected rate. Pregnant women can receive any of the three vaccines given emergency authorization -- Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. The agency had not previously recommended pregnant women get vaccinated but had said that they should discuss vaccination with their health care providers. (Erman, 8/11)

KHN: Getting A Covid Vaccine During Pregnancy Even More Urgent As ICU Beds Fill Up 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is doubling down on its recommendation that people who are pregnant get the covid-19 vaccine, in light of new data underscoring its safety and effectiveness throughout pregnancy. This recommendation comes at a time when doctors across the country are reporting an uptick in the number of unvaccinated pregnant people getting hospitalized with severe cases of covid. (Lopez, 8/12)

Also —

CIDRAP: Studies Detail COVID Childbirth, Breastmilk Vaccine Antibodies
In line with previous research, two studies published today in JAMA Network Open suggested that pregnant women infected with COVID-19 are more likely to have negative outcomes including death, and that vaccine-produced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are present in breastmilk. Both implications help support the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's announcement today that all pregnant people, or those thinking of becoming pregnant, should get vaccinated. "The vaccines are safe and effective, and it has never been more urgent to increase vaccinations as we face the highly transmissible Delta variant [B1617.2] and see severe outcomes from COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant people," said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, in a CDC press release. (McLernon, 8/11)

BBC News: Covid Vaccine: Fertility And Miscarriage Claims Fact-Checked
Doctors are extremely cautious about what they recommend during pregnancy, so the original advice was to avoid the jab. But now, so much safety data has become available that this advice has changed and the vaccine is now actively encouraged (as getting Covid itself can put a pregnancy at risk). We have looked at some of the more persistent claims - and why they are wrong. (Schraer, 8/11)

USA Today: CDC: COVID Vaccines Don't Cause Miscarriages In Pregnancy, Data Shows
Armed with research showing COVID-19 vaccines haven't been found to increase the risk of miscarriage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doubled down on recommendations Wednesday, urging all pregnant people to get vaccinated amid surging cases driven by the delta variant. The agency had encouraged pregnant people to consider vaccination but had stopped short of a full recommendation. The new guidance applies to those who are nursing or planning to get pregnant. A CDC analysis of safety data on 2,500 women showed no increased risks of miscarriage for those who received at least one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine before 20 weeks of pregnancy. (Rodriguez, 8/11)

Reuters: EU Looking Into New Possible Side-Effects Of MRNA COVID-19 Shots 
Three new conditions reported by a small number of people after vaccination with COVID-19 shots from Pfizer (PFE.N) and Moderna (MRNA.O) are being studied to assess if they may be possible side-effects, Europe's drugs regulator said on Wednesday. Erythema multiforme, a form of allergic skin reaction; glomerulonephritis or kidney inflammation; and nephrotic syndrome, a renal disorder characterised by heavy urinary protein losses, are being studied by the safety committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), according to the regulator. (Aripaka, 8/11)

FiercePharma: Pfizer, Moderna COVID Vaccines Face New Safety Probe In Europe Over Possible Link To Skin Condition, 2 Kidney Disorders
Compared to the problems encountered by makers of adenovirus COVID-19 vaccines, it’s been a relative cakewalk for the overwhelmingly successful mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. But on Wednesday, Europe’s drug regulator revealed that it is investigating a possible link between mRNA vaccines and new conditions reported by a few recipients of the shots.  The European Medicines Agency is trying to determine if the mRNA shots can trigger an allergic skin reaction called erythema multiforme or two kidney disorders. It has requested additional data from Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna. (Dunleavy, 8/11)

In other news about the vaccine rollout —

Bloomberg: McDonald’s To Require Covid Vaccinations For Corporate Workers
McDonald’s Corp. is requiring all of its corporate employees in the U.S. to be vaccinated before they return to the office, joining the growing ranks of major companies imposing strict requirements to combat the spread of Covid-19. The fast-food chain also postponed the reopening date for its offices by about a month to Oct. 11, according to an internal note obtained by Bloomberg News. Staffers must be fully vaccinated by Sept. 27 to ensure they have built up immunity for the recommended 14 days before returning, the company said. Masks are required in offices regardless of vaccination status. (Clough, 8/11)

The Washington Post: Anti-Vaxxers Have Made ‘I Am Legend,’ A Movie About Zombie Vampires, A Part Of The Vaccine Conversation
“I Am Legend,” Francis Lawrence’s post-apocalyptic thriller in which a virus genetically re-engineered to cure cancer instead destroys mankind, is famously not a documentary. You’d be hard-pressed to find people who believe its lead actor, Will Smith, to be an actual virologist for the U.S. Army. And yet as recently as earlier this week, it behooved one of the “I Am Legend” screenwriters to clarify that the 2007 film is, in fact, a work of fiction: “Oh. My. God,” tweeted Akiva Goldsman, who co-wrote the adapted screenplay with Mark Protosevich. “It’s a movie. I made that up. It’s. Not. Real.” (Rao, 8/11)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Atlanta Church Requires COVID Vaccines For Worshippers
The number of employers requiring workers to get vaccinated is growing across the nation. Add to that at least one Georgia church. The 107-year-old Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church in DeKalb now requires worshippers to show proof of full vaccination, take a temperature check and sign a waiver before they are allowed to attend in-person services. They also must register in advance to attend. The Glenwood Avenue church, which has about 3,000 members started asking for proof of vaccination several weeks ago, even before the rise of the delta variant, said the Rev. William E. Flippin Sr., senior pastor. He’s worried about people who are unvaccinated getting sick and also spreading the virus to others. (Poole, 8/11)

The Washington Post: Does Respect For Human Life Mean Vaccine Mandates? Religious And Antiabortion Groups Widely Disagree
At the core of most religious systems is the duty to respect human life, so where do vaccine mandates fit into that? Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a standoff between personal freedoms and bodily integrity on one side and the obligation to protect the health and lives of others on the other. Added to that, there has been a heap of misinformation about the coronavirus and vaccines. (Boorstein, 8/10)

Politico: Cardona Calls For Mandating Covid-19 Vaccines For Educators 
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Wednesday said he supports mandating the Covid-19 vaccine for teachers and other school staff, as districts across the country prepare to begin another school year shaped by the pandemic.“ I would favor the vaccine being required,” Cardona said during a virtual National Press Foundation event, adding that he believes some reluctant adults will change their minds once the FDA fully approves the shots. (Calefati, 8/11)

In other updates on mask and vaccine mandates in K-12 schools —

Yahoo News: 'We Will Find You': Tennessee Parents Protest School Mask Mandate; People In Masks Heckled
Angry protests erupted in Franklin, Tennessee, after a school district reinstated a mask mandate for elementary school students, with some people yelling at and heckling those wearing masks in the parking lot at a meeting about the measure. The Williamson County Board of Education approved the mandate Tuesday night in a special session. It will begin Thursday and run until at least Sept. 12, according to the district. People opposed to the mandate gathered outside the meeting, chanting, "We will not comply." (Madani, 8/11)

Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Schools Could See Universal Masking Into 2022 Under Proposed Regulation
Kentucky's public schools could see required universal masking for the better part of the 2021-22 school year under a proposed regulation. The Kentucky Board of Education will consider an emergency regulation mandating masks for the state's 171 school districts during a specially called meeting Thursday, according to a meeting agenda posted online. If approved, the mandate would be good for up to 270 days — until around the start of May. The state board could end the mandate earlier, if warranted, according to the proposal. The news comes a day after Gov. Andy Beshear announced an executive order mandating masks in schools, pre-Kindergarten classes and child care settings. (Ramsey and Krauth, 8/11)

PBS NewsHour: Tensions Over School Mask Mandates Roil This Mississippi Town
As millions of students prepare to enter the academic year, rates of COVID-19 infection are soaring due to the highly contagious delta variant, and hospitalizations and deaths are making a grim climb upward. That is especially true in parts of the United States with low vaccination rates, such as Mississippi, where 35 percent of residents are fully vaccinated. That state is close to the bottom of the list for COVID vaccinations — neighbor Alabama is currently the least vaccinated state in the nation. Public health experts have urged vaccination rates more than double those seen in much of the South to slow the virus’ spread. (Santhanam, 8/11)

Oklahoman: Santa Fe South Schools First To Defy Oklahoma Mask Mandate Ban
Facing an excessive number of student absences and 21 teachers already under quarantine, Santa Fe South Schools Superintendent Chris Brewster is defying state law and invoking a district-wide mask mandate. The Oklahoma City charter district with nearly 3,500 students is the first of the public schools in the state to openly disregard Senate Bill 658, which prohibits school districts from requiring masks unless the governor issues an emergency declaration for their area. Gov. Kevin Stitt has said he has no plans to issue any emergency orders. (Martinez-Keel, 8/11)

AP: School Starts In New Mexico With Many Masked, Few Vaccinated
The incoming and outgoing New Mexico education secretaries on Wednesday launched the fall semester with appearances at a high school pep rally packed with around 1,000 mask-wearing teenagers as top health officials issued another plea to residents to help limit the spread of COVID-19.Ahead of the rally, students talked and hugged. One friend jumped into another’s arms. (Attanasio and Bryan, 8/11)

Detroit Free Press: Henry Ford Health Pediatrician Supports Masks For Schoolchildren
The interim chair of pediatrics for Henry Ford Health System is encouraging parents of children whose schools don't have mask or social-distancing requirements to speak up and encourage those mandates be put in place for the upcoming school year. "I would encourage families to make a plan as they are going back to school. ... Go to the school. Talk to the principal. Talk to the superintendent. Encourage them to have that mask and social-distancing mandate," Dr. Tisa Johnson-Hooper said during a briefing Wednesday. (Hall, 8/11)

CNN: Does Mask Wearing Harm Children's Development? Experts Weigh In 
For young children, the pandemic comes at a crucial time for developing skills important for empathy, safety and more – a phase that some parents worry will be impaired by mask-wearing. “There are sensitive periods in early childhood development in which language development and emotional development are really rapidly developing for the first few years of life,” said Ashley Ruba, a postdoctoral researcher in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Child Emotion Lab.Being able to use others’ verbal or facial cues to figure out how someone is feeling or pick up on safe or dangerous aspects of environments and people is a critical task for young kids, Ruba added. (Rogers, 8/11)

Also —

AP: 4 Georgia Districts Stop In-Person Classes Due To COVID
Four tiny Georgia public school districts have temporarily shut down in-person instruction within days of starting school, saying high COVID-19 case counts among students and staff makes it unsafe to continue. Other districts have closed individual schools or sent hundreds of students into quarantine after exposure to people with COVID-19. (Amy, 8/11)

AP: Doctor: S Carolina Schools Facing More Virus Cases In Fall
South Carolina schools will undoubtedly face more COVID-19 outbreaks this fall as students return to classrooms amid the delta variant’s rapid spread, a top state health official forecasted Wednesday. Districts could try to keep students and staff safe by implementing widespread masking, social distancing and other public health measures proven to keep virus spread minimal, State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell told reporters. But school outbreaks are unavoidable “with the current track that we’re taking,” Bell said. (Liu, 8/11)

KHN: Reading, ’Rithmetic And Resisting Covid: The New 3 R’s As Kids Head Back To School 
When kids head back to school this fall, for some it will be the first time they’ve been in a real classroom with other students since the pandemic began. Even if they attended classes in person last year, the spread of the highly transmissible delta variant of covid-19 will require a new safety calculation, particularly for parents of kids younger than 12, who can’t yet get a vaccine. “You have a confluence of three unfortunate events,” said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “You have a group of children who are unlikely to have a vaccine available to them when they go back to school; you have the delta variant, which is far more contagious; and you have the winter months, with a cold, dry climate where the virus can spread more easily.” (Andrews, 8/12)

San Francisco Chronicle: Stanford Among First Universities Requiring Weekly Coronavirus Testing - Even For Vaccinated Students
Stanford will test students for the coronavirus every week, regardless of vaccination status, the university announced Wednesday, making it one of only a few campuses in the country to do so. Citing the ongoing threat of the highly contagious delta variant, officials unveiled several new safety measures in an email to students ahead of the university’s planned return to campus beginning Aug. 15. (Vaziri and Asimov, 8/11)

In more news about colleges and universities —

AP: Univ. Of Arkansas Board Votes To Require Masks On Campuses
The University of Arkansas’ governing board voted Wednesday to require masks on its campuses, as dozens of school districts imposed their own mandates following a judge’s decision to block the state’s mask mandate ban. Arkansas’ COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a new high point for the third day in a row, growing by 11 to 1,446 patients in the state’s hospitals. There are only 14 intensive care unit beds available in the state, according to the Department of Health. The state on Monday broke the record it set in January for the most virus hospitalizations since the pandemic began. (DeMillo, 8/11)

Arizona Republic: Arizona State University, NAU, UA To Require Masks In All Classrooms
Arizona State University officials announced Wednesday that they will require face coverings in all classrooms and labs, as well as some other indoor settings, while Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona followed suit shortly after. The universities' updated policies may contradict the state's prohibition on requiring masks for unvaccinated people to receive in-person classroom instruction. That ban was introduced in an executive order from Gov. Doug Ducey in June and later placed into law with the passage of the state budget. (Latch, 8/11)

AP: Tennessee State To Offer $100 To Vaccinated Students
Tennessee State University officials say enrolled students can receive $100 if they can show they’re fully vaccinated. University officials announced this week that students who get vaccinated through one of the campus vaccination sites will also receive a $100 gift card. In addition, vaccinated students living in on-campus housing will be eligible for an additional $50 gift card. The gift cards are available until Aug. 27. (8/12)

USA Today: Fake COVID Vaccine Cards At Colleges: Students Warned Of Consequences
Students who use phony COVID-19 vaccine cards to skirt mandates at U.S. colleges and universities are risking disastrous consequences, according to school officials and other experts. Hundreds of colleges and universities now require proof of COVID-19 inoculations. The process to confirm vaccination at many schools can be as simple as uploading a picture of the vaccine card to the student’s portal. However, an easy click of the mouse could spell a hard road for students’ academic futures – if that card is a fake. (Segarra, 8/11)

AP: Fake COVID-19 Vaccination Cards Worry College Officials
As the delta variant of the coronavirus sweeps across the United States, a growing number of colleges and universities are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for students to attend in-person classes. But the new mandate has opened the door for those opposed to getting the vaccine to cheat the system, according to interviews with students, education and law enforcement officials. Both faculty and students at dozens of schools interviewed by The Associated Press say they are concerned about how easy it is to get fake vaccine cards. (Romero, 8/9)

In other news —

The Boston Globe: Brown University Agrees To Stop Rejecting Students Who Take Mental Health Leave
Brown University is changing its policies on undergraduate student leaves of absence after settling a Justice Department finding that the school violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not allowing students who took medical leave for mental health reasons to return to school -- even though they were ready to return to campus life. The settlement, which was made public Tuesday, protects the rights of students with mental health disabilities to have equal access to Brown’s educational programs, according to the US Attorney’s Office. It’s based on an investigation and compliance review that the Justice Department conducted in response to a student complaint regarding the university’s policies. (Gagosz, 8/11)

Houston Chronicle: Gov. Abbott Moves To Strike Down Mask Mandates Enacted By Defiant Local Officials
Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday filed their first court action to strike down a mask mandate enacted by local officials in defiance of Abbott’s ban on them. Abbott and Paxton asked an appellate court to nullify Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins’ order requiring masks at businesses, schools and county facilities, which Jenkins issued a day after securing a temporary restraining order against Abbott. In a joint statement, the two Republican leaders argued that the sweeping Texas Disaster Act of 1975 “clearly states that the Governor has the power to guide the state through emergencies,” including the COVID-19 pandemic. (Scherer, 8/11)

CBS News: Texas Governor Files Legal Challenge To End Dallas County Mask Mandate
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and state Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday filed a petition to halt a judge's order requiring face masks inside schools and businesses in Dallas County. The order was signed despite Abbott previously banning government entities and officials from implementing mask mandates in Texas. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins on Wednesday signed an order requiring public schools, child care centers and businesses in Dallas County to develop health and safety plans that include, at minimum, face mask requirements for employees and visitors, CBS Dallas-Fort Worth reports. Jenkins cited rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as the reasoning behind the mask mandate. (Freiman, 8/11)

AP: Defiance Of Texas Ban On Mask Mandates Continues To Grow
Defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates continued Wednesday as more Texas school districts and communities announced plans to require students to wear face coverings and another county scored a legal victory in its efforts to issue such mandates amid a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations throughout the state. In the Houston suburb of Spring, the school district’s 33,000 students, along with faculty, staff and visitors will be required to wear masks starting Monday. (Lozano, 8/11)

Dallas Morning News: U.S. Education Secretary Said He Raised Concerns With Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Over COVID Policies
Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education, said he’s spoken with Gov. Greg Abbott and shared his opinion on Texas’ COVID-19 policies. Cardona sat down for a virtual webinar with the National Press Foundation on Wednesday to discuss several topics related to the start of school. Cardona confirmed he had spoken to the governor and relayed his concerns about the state’s policies as schools resume classes and hospitalizations spike in Texas. (Garcia, 8/11)

In related news about the covid surge in Texas —

Houston Chronicle: Texas Children's Identifies 25 Cases Of Kids With Both RSV And COVID; Hospitalizations Rising
Texas Children’s Hospital is faced with an alarming problem: There are approximately 45 COVID-19 pediatric hospitalizations, an all-time high for the health system, and many of those patients also have respiratory syncytial virus. The hospital has identified “25 cases and counting” of children with both RSV and COVID-19 at all three of its campuses, said Dr. James Versalovic, interim pediatrician-in-chief at Texas Children’s Hospital. More than half of those children have been hospitalized. (Wu and Gill, 8/11)

The New York Times: Texas Hospitals Are Already Overloaded. Doctors Are ‘Frightened By What Is Coming.’ 
At least two hospitals in Houston have been so overwhelmed with coronavirus patients this week that officials erected overflow tents outside. In Austin, hospitals were nearly out of beds in their intensive care units. And in San Antonio, a spike in virus cases reached alarming levels not seen in months, with children as young as 2 months old tethered to supplemental oxygen. Across Texas, health officials warned of overloaded, strained hospitals, a growing crisis not seen since early February, when a late winter wave deluged the state’s health care system. More than 10,000 Texans have been hospitalized this week and at least 53 hospitals were at maximum capacity in their intensive care units. (Sandoval and Heyward, 8/11)

AP: Mississippi Opening Field Hospital Amid Surge Of COVID Cases
Mississippi will open a 50-bed field hospital and the federal government will send medical professionals to help treat patients as COVID-19 cases continue surging in a state with one of the lowest vaccination rates in the U.S., officials said Wednesday. Many Mississippi hospitals face a crunch for space and staffing. The state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, expressed frustration Wednesday about people ignoring recommendations to get vaccinated and wear masks to slow the spread of the virus. Masks are required in some schools and optional in others, but some parents say mask mandates infringe on children’s freedom. (Pettus, 8/11)

Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi Hospital System Facing 'Failure' If COVID-19 Cases Keep Going Up
"The rate of testing positive and rate of hospitalizations that we are seeing, if we continue that trajectory within the next 5 to 7 to 10 days I think we're going to see failure of the hospital system of Mississippi," said Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs and COVID-19 clinical response leader at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, on Wednesday. It's not that there are no available beds in Mississippi, Jones said. There just aren't enough health care workers to appropriately staff them, he said. (Haselhorst, 8/11)

In updates from Iowa, Louisiana, California and Florida —

Des Moines Register: Iowa COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations Climb With August Surge
The number of COVID-19 patients in Iowa hospitals is surging, according to federal data. On Wednesday, 328 adults and three children were in Iowa's hospitals with confirmed cases of the disease, an increase of more than 50% over the number of people hospitalized a week ago, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Another 80 adults and eight children were suspected to have the disease, but their infections weren't confirmed, according to the data. (Coltrain and Leys, 8/11)

New Orleans Times-Picayune: Inside Ochsner's COVID Units, 'Rows And Rows' Of Coronavirus Patients Fight To Survive
The sixth floor of Ochsner Medical Center in Old Jefferson was once where patients awaited heart transplants and recovered from heart surgery. Now, in converted negative-pressure rooms that suck air in but don't let aerosolized virus particles out, teams of six yellow-gowned workers flip the sickest coronavirus patients from back to stomach every 12 hours, hoping to relieve some pressure from their strained lungs. In between, monitors beep and nurses give the patients baths and administer medication. Often intubated, paralyzed and sedated, what looks to be a peaceful sleep is actually an eerily quiet struggle to survive. (Woodruff, 8/11)

MediaNews: 28 Coronavirus Deaths Is Los Angeles County’s Highest Daily Toll Since May 1
Coronavirus has claimed 28 more lives in Los Angeles County, officials reported on Wednesday, Aug. 11, the largest daily human toll in the region since May 1. Leaders continued to scramble for mandates that push the entire region and the state toward what has been a thus-far elusive herd immunity. Wednesday’s deaths raised the total lost lives from the virus in the county to 24,833; the 3,498 new daily confirmed cases — most since early February — lifted that total to 1,335,332. After a period of relative latency, the virus has flourished since early July, as the rapid scramble to be vaccinated died down and more people intermingled, experts say. (Carter, 8/11)

Fox News: How Did CDC Botch Florida COVID Numbers? State Deputy Health Secretary Responds
Florida Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Shamarial Roberson reacted to the CDC's inaccurate numbers regarding recent coronavirus cases rising in the state of Florida Wednesday on "Fox News Primetime." On Sunday, Aug. 8, the CDC recorded 28,317 new cases of COVID-19 until Florida Department of Health noticed that was nearly double the actual number in their records, which was close to 15,000. The CDC agreed to meet the department in the middle and revise the number to 19,000, after reportedly rolling several days’ worth of numbers into one. Roberson told Fox News that getting the data right is of grave importance. (Stabile, 8/11)

The Washington Post: Rand Paul Discloses 16 Months Late That His Wife Bought Stock In Company Behind Covid Treatment 
Sen. Rand Paul revealed Wednesday that his wife bought stock in Gilead Sciences — which makes an antiviral drug used to treat covid-19 — on Feb. 26, 2020, before the threat from the coronavirus was fully understood by the public and before it was classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The disclosure, in a filing with the Senate, came 16 months after the 45-day reporting deadline set forth in the Stock Act, which is designed to combat insider trading. Experts in corporate and securities law said the investment, and especially the delayed reporting of it, undermined trust in government and raised questions about whether the Kentucky Republican’s family had sought to profit from nonpublic information about the looming health emergency and plans by the U.S. government to combat it. (Stanley-Becker, 8/11)

CNN: Rand Paul Reveals Wife Bought Stock In Company Behind Remdesivir In Late Financial Disclosure
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky revealed Wednesday that his wife in February 2020 purchased up to $15,000 in stock in Gilead Sciences, the maker of the antiviral drug remdesivir. Remdesivir later became the first drug to be approved for treating Covid-19. Paul’s filing with the Senate shows that between $1,000 and $15,000 of Gilead stock was purchased. The STOCK Act – which was enacted in 2012 to outlaw congressional insider trading, or the use of nonpublic information for one’s financial benefit – requires trade disclosures within 45 days. Paul’s reporting came 16 months late. (Fox and LeBlanc, 8/11)

In case you missed it —

MarketWatch: Sales Of Gilead’s COVID-19 Drug Top $800 Million
Gilead Sciences Inc. late Thursday swung to a quarterly profit and reported rising sales thanks to its COVID-19 drug, but a revenue drop from two of its HIV drugs and ongoing concerns about the pandemic dragged the stock lower. ... The drug maker said its revenue rose 21% to $6.2 billion, mostly on Veklury, the brand name of remdesivir, which is used in the treatment of COVID-19, as well as “higher demand” for drugs treating HIV and hepatitis. (7/29)

In other news about Republican Sen. Rand Paul —

Reuters: Fact Check: Photo Does Not Show Sen. Rand Paul Getting COVID-19 Vaccine
A photograph from 2015, of U.S Republican Senator Rand Paul getting a Hepatitis A booster shot has been mislabeled online to say it shows him being vaccinated against COVID-19. ... Contacted by Reuters, Sen. Paul confirmed that he is choosing not to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at this time and stated that he keeps “an open mind and will continue to monitor the reinfection data.” (8/9) On May 23, 2021, Paul publicly stated that he didn’t plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Salon.Com: Rand Paul Calls For Civil Disobedience Over Vaccines: "They Can't Arrest All Of Us"
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., created a stir on Sunday when he encouraged sympathetic Americans to "resist" the Centers for Disease Control's public health guidance amid a recent surge in COVID-19 cases – even in his own home state. "No-one should follow the CDC's anti-science mask mandates," Paul pleaded in a video posted to Twitter. "They can't arrest all of us. They can't keep all of your kids home from school. They can't keep every government building closed – although I've got a long list of ones they might keep closed, or might oughta (sic) keep closed." (Skolnik, 8/10)

PolitiFact: Examining The False Claims That Got Rand Paul, Marjorie Taylor Greene Suspended On YouTube, Twitter
In the video, which remains on alternative platforms, [Rand] Paul said, "Most of the masks you get over the counter don’t work. They don’t prevent infection." He later claimed "cloth masks don’t work." The Republican lawmakers responded by criticizing the platforms for taking action against their posts, with Paul calling his ban a "badge of honor." But public health experts told PolitiFact that the claims that earned them their respective suspensions strayed far from the truth. University of Minnesota Medical School’s Dr. Mark Schleiss told PolitiFact Greene and Paul were "promoting dangerous behaviors that will cost lives." (McCarthy, 8/11)

The Washington Examiner: GOP Lawmaker Seeks Honorable Discharge Designation For Soldiers Who Refuse COVID-19 Vaccine
One GOP lawmaker is looking to get members of the military who refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes mandatory honorably discharged. Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday that his office is preparing a resolution that would force the military to give honorable discharges to any soldier who refuses to get the coronavirus vaccine for a reason that does not qualify for an exemption, such as religion or a preexisting medical condition. (Brest, 8/11)

In other news on how the GOP is taking a stand against covid mandates —

AP: Republicans Take To Mask Wars As Virus Surges In Red States
Top Republicans are battling school districts in their own states’ urban, heavily Democratic areas over whether students should be required to mask up as they head back to school — reigniting ideological divides over mandates even as the latest coronavirus surge ravages the reddest, most unvaccinated parts of the nation. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has issued an executive order threatening to cut funding from school districts that defy a statewide ban on classroom mask mandates. He’s now suggesting his office could direct officials to withhold pay from superintendents who impose such rules anyway. (Weissert, 8/12)

CNN: Republicans Are Seizing On Backlash To New Mask And Vaccine Mandates
Republicans have found a new boogeyman in the battle for the House: the nation’s top public health agency. As Republicans head back to their districts for the August recess, they are hammering the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and seizing on the backlash to new mask and vaccine mandates – part of a GOP-wide effort to use the fears and frustrations of Americans worried about another round of school closures and lockdowns as cudgels against their Democratic opponents. (Zanona, 8/11)

The Washington Post: Ted Cruz Calls For ‘Zero’ Covid Mandates, While Rand Paul Urges Defiance Amid Delta Surge 
As a resurgent coronavirus is forcing states to address soaring cases and hospitalizations, Republican Sens. Ted Cruz (Tex.) and Rand Paul (Ky.) denounced health mandates against the virus at a time when the nation recorded its highest single-day number of new cases since January. The United States reported nearly 160,000 cases on Monday, pushing the seven-day average to almost 115,000 daily, according to data compiled by The Washington Post. It was the most severe day for new cases in the country since Jan. 29, when coronavirus vaccines were not widely available. Hospitalizations are also up to nearly 70,000 as businesses and schools grapple with mandates for vaccinations and masks during the fourth wave of the pandemic. (Bella, 8/10)

The Washington Post: Republicans Risk Becoming Face Of Delta Surge As Key GOP Governors Oppose Anti-Covid Measures 
“They’re making a political bet on the lives of the people they serve,” said former Republican National Committee chairman Michael S. Steele, who has been sharply critical of former president Donald Trump and has formed an exploratory committee for a potential 2022 Maryland gubernatorial bid. “The party leadership has gone so far out on this limb that there they stand with a saw in their hand and they’re sawing it off.” (Sonmez and Knowles, 8/11)

In related news from California —

AP: California Justices Won't Limit Governor's Emergency Powers
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to consider reining in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic, leaving in place a lower court’s ruling that the governor acted within his authority. The justices unanimously denied the petition for review filed by Republican Assemblymen James Gallagher and Kevin Kiley, without giving an explanation beyond the one-line order. (Thompson, 8/12)

Modern Healthcare: U.S. Sets New Record For Drug Overdose Deaths At 95,000
Overdose deaths skyrocketed during the pandemic reaching a record 95,000 last year, new federal projections show. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the ongoing opioid crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed in a report Wednesday. Overdose deaths increased 31% from January 2020 to January 2021 compared to the previous 12-month period, which took place prior to the coronavirus pandemic. The findings are provisional and may be revised. (Ross Johnson, 8/11)

The Washington Post: Naloxone Supply Issues Threaten Worsening Drug Overdose Crisis 
An affordable antidote for opioid overdoses has become more difficult to obtain amid a fatal epidemic, in what advocates have called a “perfect storm” with deadly consequences. After a manufacturing issue halted Pfizer’s production of the single-dose injectable naloxone in April, groups that distribute a significant amount of the lifesaving medicine say they are facing an unprecedented obstacle to reverse drug overdoses as they reach an all-time high. Organizers say the insufficient supply has been felt unequally across the country. (Kornfield, 8/11)

AP: OxyContin Maker's Settlement Goes To Judge For Confirmation
Purdue Pharma’s quest to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of OxyContin and its other prescription opioid painkillers is entering its final phase with the grudging support of most of those who have claims against the company. Nearly two years after seeking bankruptcy protection, the company is scheduled to appear before a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge to ask for approval of its plan to reorganize into a new entity no longer controlled by members of the wealthy Sackler family, and with profits dedicated to abating the opioid crisis. (Mulvihill, 8/12)

In other pharmaceutical industry news —

Bloomberg: FDA Objects To CBD As Diet Supplement, Extending Uncertainty
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration objected to an application from Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. for a CBD product to be sold as a dietary ingredient, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over the booming industry for the cannabis-derived substance. The company’s bid to sell its full-spectrum hemp extract with CBD as a dietary supplement won’t be considered because of the FDA’s own prior decision to treat CBD as a drug, according to a letter posted on the agency’s website Wednesday. This shouldn’t disrupt the business of Charlotte’s Web or prevent other companies from continuing to sell such products, which already exist in a gray area without the agency’s oversight. (Kary, 8/11)

KHN: National Academies’ Report Took Pharma-Friendly Stance After Millions In Gifts From Drugmakers
To several U.S. senators, it looked wasteful, even outrageous. Every year, taxpayers pay for at least $750 million worth of expensive pharmaceuticals that are simply thrown away. Companies ship many of the drugs in “Costco”-size vials, one lawmaker said, that once opened usually cannot be resealed or saved for other patients. Yet pharma gets paid for every drop. So Congress turned to the prestigious National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine for advice, given its reputation for “independent, objective reports” on such matters. The national academies’ influential report, released in February, struck physicians who’ve tracked the issue as distinctly friendly to Big Pharma. It advised against an effort to recoup millions for the discarded drugs. It concluded that Medicare should stop tracking the cost of the drug waste altogether. (Jewett, 8/12)

Modern Healthcare: CVS Health Launches Virtual Primary Care For Aetna Members
Aetna will begin providing virtual primary care to some policyholders, parent company CVS Health announced Tuesday. The new service, Aetna Virtual Primary Care, is available under self-funded employer plans and provides eligible members with remote and in-person healthcare. "Aetna Virtual Primary Care gives our members the power of choice and convenience, making it easier for people to get and stay healthy, even when balancing the demands of work and life," Aetna President Dan Finke said in a news release. (Christ, 6/11)

Modern Healthcare: Scripps Health Cyberattack Cost The Company $113 Million
Scripps Health estimates the spring malware attack that temporarily took a portion of its network offline has cost the company almost $113 million so far. The San Diego-based health system said the $113 million loss through mid-year covers revenue lost and incremental expenses from responding to the crisis, which included shutting down many of its systems, launching an investigation, instituting emergency downtime procedures and notifying federal law enforcement agencies. (Bannow, 8/11)

KHN: Apple Aims To Push More Patient Data To Doctors. But Who Can Gauge Its Impact On Health?
Soon, Apple announced recently, it will enable doctors to monitor health data from their patients’ phones and watches between visits, part of the push into health care that Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, has declared will constitute the company’s greatest contribution to mankind. Since 2014, health systems around the country have partnered with Apple to tap into the mountains of data the company’s devices generate from patients. But most are still experimenting with these tools. While some doctors appreciate seeing records of home-monitored blood pressure, exercise and the like between visits, for others the data is more of a burden than an asset. (Kwon, 8/12)

Also —

Modern Healthcare: Demographics Impact Survival Rate For Liver Transplant Patients
Black patients have lower liver transplant survival rates than white or Hispanic patients, and researchers are concerned that the survival rate disparity between these groups has only widened over time. On average between 2002 and 2018, Black patients had a 15% higher chance of dying after a liver transplant than white or Hispanic patients, according to a study by Keck Medicine of USC. While researchers assumed outcomes for Black liver transplant recipients would improve in the years following a 2002 landmark study detailing the disparity, Brian Lee, a study author and liver transplant specialist with Keck Medicine, said he was surprised to find that the opposite was true. (Devereaux, 8/11)

AP: Northwest Sizzles As Heat Wave Hits Many Parts Of US
Volunteers and county employees set up cots and stacked hundreds of bottles of water in an air-conditioned cooling center in a vacant building in Portland, Oregon, one of many such places being set up as the Northwest sees another stretch of sizzling temperatures. Scorching weather also hit other parts of the country this week. The weather service said heat advisories and warnings would be in effect from the Midwest to the Northeast and mid-Atlantic through at least Friday. (Flaccus, 8/12)

AP: Heat Wave Hits Northwest, Sending People To Cooling Centers
People headed to cooling centers Wednesday as the Pacific Northwest began sweltering under another major, multiday heat wave just over a month after record-shattering hot weather killed hundreds of the region’s most vulnerable people. Temperatures soared to 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36.1 Celsius) by the evening in Portland, Oregon. In a “worst-case scenario,” the temperature could reach as high as 111 F (44 C) in some parts of western Oregon this week before a weekend cooldown, the National Weather Service said. It’s more likely temperatures will rise to 100 F (38 C) or above for three consecutive days, peaking around 105 F (40.5 C) on Thursday. (Flaccus, 8/12)

The New York Times: Hidden Toll Of The Northwest Heat Wave: Hundreds Of Extra Deaths 
During the deadly heat wave that blanketed Oregon and Washington in late June, about 600 more people died than would have been typical, a review of mortality data for the week of the crisis shows. The number is three times as high as the states’ official estimates of heat-related deaths so far. It suggests that the true toll of the heat wave, which affected states and provinces across the Pacific Northwest, may be much larger than previously reported. This week, the region is once again steeling itself for extreme heat. (Popovich and Choi-Schagrin, 8/11)

In other news about heat-related illness —

The New York Times: High School Coaches Charged With Murder in Teen’s Heat-Related Death
Two high school basketball coaches in Georgia have been charged with murder in connection with the death of a teenager who collapsed after running drills during a practice held in nearly 100-degree heat and later died. On Wednesday morning, days before the second anniversary of the death of the teenager, 16-year-old Imani Bell, lawyers for the Bell family announced the charges in a news conference in Atlanta. (Murphy, 8/11)

And Californians are warned of poor air quality —

San Francisco Chronicle: Bay Area Air Quality Advisory Issued For Thursday As Wildfire Smoke Drifts South
Smoke drifting from wildfires burning in Northern California and southern Oregon will trigger an air quality advisory for the Bay Area on Thursday, though officials stopped short of issuing a Spare the Air alert. Skies could be smoky and hazy across the region Thursday as winds push the smoke billowing from wildfires south, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. (Fracassa, 8/11)

NPR: U.S. Kids Get Majority Of Their Calories From Ultra-Processed Junk Foods
Kids and teens in the U.S. get the majority of their calories from ultra-processed foods like frozen pizza, microwavable meals, chips and cookies, a new study has found. Two-thirds — or 67% — of calories consumed by children and adolescents in 2018 came from ultra-processed foods, a jump from 61% in 1999, according to a peer-reviewed study published in the medical journal JAMA. The research, which analyzed the diets of 33,795 youths age 2 to 19 across the U.S., noted the "overall poorer nutrient profile" of the ultra-processed foods. (Nuñez, 8/11)

Science Alert: US Kids Are Eating More Ultra-Processed Food Than Ever Before, Startling Data Reveals
The biggest jump – from 2.2 percent to 11.2 percent of calories – came from ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat dishes including frozen pizza, burgers, and takeouts. The second biggest rise in calories was from sweets and snacks: 10.6 percent to 12.9 percent. ... Of course, not all processed foods are equally problematic when it comes to negative health impacts. "Some whole grain breads and dairy foods are ultra-processed, and they're healthier than other ultra-processed foods," says cancer epidemiologist Fang Fang Zhang, from Tufts University. "Processing can keep food fresher longer, allows for food fortification and enrichment, and enhances consumer convenience. (Nield, 8/12)

In other public health news —

AP: Mosquitoes Carrying West Nile Virus Found In Louisville
Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been found in four Louisville zip codes, health officials said. Fogging operations are planned Thursday in specific neighborhoods if the weather permits, the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness said in a statement. (8/12)

CIDRAP: Eleven More Sick In Breaded Chicken Salmonella Outbreak
In an investigation update on a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to frozen and breaded stuffed chicken products, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported 11 more illnesses and 2 more affected states. The newly reported infections raise the total to 28 cases from 8 states. Patient ages range from 3 to 84. Among 24 people with available information, 11 were hospitalized. No deaths were reported. The latest illness onset was Jun 28. (8/11)

The Washington Post: Airlines See Drop In Travel Demand As Covid Cases Rise 
A surge in coronavirus caseloads across the nation is starting to dampen the enthusiasm of leisure travelers, with one major airline warning Wednesday that the more contagious delta variant could darken the outlook through fall. Southwest Airlines, the nation’s fourth-largest domestic carrier, said it is seeing weaker bookings this month amid a jump in coronavirus infections. The airline said if caseloads remain elevated, that downward demand trend is likely to extend into September. (Lazo, 8/11)

Houston Chronicle: Texas Declares Gender-Affirming Surgery A Form Of Child Abuse, Per Gov. Abbott's Request
Gender-reaffirming surgery, a procedure to alter a person’s genitalia to match their gender identity that has long been a target of Texas Republicans, will now be considered a form of child abuse, the Texas Department for Family and Protective Services on Wednesday declared. The state agency made the determination after Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday directed the agency, tasked with protecting children from abuse, to “please issue a determination of whether genital mutilation of a child for purposes of gender transitioning through reassignment surgery constitutes child abuse.” (Zong, 8/11)

Fox News: Virginia School Board Approves Controversial Transgender Policy
A northern Virginia school board voted Wednesday evening to approve a new policy expanding the rights of transgender students. In what was seen as a victory for LGBTQ advocates, the Loudoun County School Board approved the policy by a 7-to-2 vote following hours of debate and after minor amendments were made. "LCPS’ number one priority is to foster the success of all students and ensure they feel safe, secure, accepted, and ready to learn at school," Loudoun County Public Schools said in a statement. "The school division will continue to do its due diligence in creating that environment and remaining open and transparent with all LCPS partners, community members, and stakeholders." (Aaro, 8/12)

In other news from Maryland and Louisiana —

The Washington Post: Family Of U-Md. Student Who Died Of Adenovirus Sues University, Former Officials
The family of a University of Maryland freshman who died in 2018 of complications from adenovirus says the university and two former officials were responsible, according to a multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed Wednesday in Prince George’s County. The suit, which also names former university president Wallace D. Loh and former Health Center director David R. McBride, claims U-Md. failed to inform students that the adenovirus was present on campus until Olivia Paregol, 18, died of complications in November. The delay in communication left students such as Paregol, who had a weakened immune system, particularly vulnerable, the suit says. (Lumpkin, 8/11)

The Advocate: Louisiana Cuts Off Jobless Benefits Early For 150,000 Residents Amid Worst COVID Surge
This week, Louisiana stopped issuing unemployment checks to nearly 150,000 residents, or about 1 of every 30 state residents. The move marks the end of the state’s participation in several federal aid programs five weeks ahead of their official expiration date. Gov. John Bel Edwards agreed to a July 31 cutoff for the enhanced unemployment benefits back in June, when the pandemic was at a standstill and business owners were complaining that the payments were encouraging workers to stay home. (Paterson, 8/11)

The Washington Post: Millions Of Coronavirus Vaccine Doses Around The World Face Expiration 
In Israel, 80,000 expiring Pfizer-BioNTech doses were set to be tossed at the end of July; 73,000 doses from various manufacturers have been disposed of in Poland; and 160,000 Sputnik V doses nearing expiration were returned from Slovakia to Russia, their final status unknown. In the United States, North Carolina alone is estimated to have 800,000 doses soon to expire. According to data compiled by the World Health Organization, approximately 469,868 doses from various manufacturers had expired in Africa as of Aug. 9. (Taylor and Paquette, 8/11)

In other global covid developments —

AP: Australian Capital Locks Down After 1 Infection
Australia’s capital will go into lockdown for a week from Thursday after a single case of COVID-19 was detected and the virus was found in wastewater. Canberra joins Sydney, Melbourne and several cities in New South Wales state that are locked down due to the delta variant. (8/12)

The Washington Post: ‘Fortress New Zealand’ Could Welcome Back International Travelers Next Year — But Only If They’re Vaccinated
New Zealand, one of the last countries successfully pursuing a zero-tolerance approach to the novel coronavirus, said Thursday it could open its borders for quarantine-free travel early next year. But only the vaccinated need apply. The island nation sealed its borders about 1½ years ago and requires two-week stays in quarantine facilities for returning nationals. Only the odd American billionaire, some Pacific Islanders and residents of neighboring Australia have made it in to what has been called “Fortress New Zealand” in recent times. (Pannett, 8/12)

Bloomberg: Mexico Covid Cases Rise By Record As Pandemic Surges Anew
Mexico saw a record rise in Covid-19 cases Wednesday as the spread of the pandemic accelerates after several months of relief from the virus. Cases rose 22,711 to 3,020,596, according to Health Ministry data. Deaths increased by 727. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has reiterated that while cases are increasing, the proportion of severe illness that leads to death is lower than it was during the winter peak. At a morning press conference, the president touted the vaccine campaign and encouraged people to get a shot. (Quinn, 8/11)

Reuters: Coronavirus Surge Pushes Cuba's Healthcare System To Brink
Cuba is bringing back hundreds of doctors working abroad and converting hotels into isolation centers and hospitals in order to battle a COVID-19 crisis that is overwhelming healthcare and mortuary services in parts of the Caribbean island. The country, which managed to contain infections for most of last year, is now facing one of the worst outbreaks worldwide, fueled by the spread of the more-infectious Delta variant, even as it races to vaccinate its population. (Marsh, 8/11)

AP: Puerto Rico Requires Vaccinations In Food, Drink Sector
Puerto Rico’s governor announced Wednesday that employees of restaurants or other enclosed places that serve food or drinks will have to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, and customers will have to show a vaccination card or a negative virus test. The new rules, which take effect Aug. 23, come as the U.S. territory faces a spike in coronavirus infections blamed largely on the delta variant. Those who do not comply face up to six months in jail or up to a $5,000 fine. (Coto, 8/11)

Also —

NPR: Nurse In Germany Allegedly Gave People Saline Instead Of COVID-19 Vaccine
A nurse in northern Germany is suspected of having duped thousands of people into receiving a shot of saline rather than a COVID-19 vaccine. Authorities say that a Red Cross nurse working at a vaccination site in Friesland is believed to have given out the fake shot to residents during March and April, Reuters reported. Around 8,600 people could have received the saline solution instead of the vaccine, Sven Ambrosy, a district administrator of Friesland, said on Facebook. "I'm totally shocked by the incident," Ambrosy said. "The district of Friesland will do everything possible to ensure that the affected people receive their vaccination protection as soon as possible." (Pruitt-Young, 8/11)

The Wall Street Journal: Covid-19 Vaccine Scammers Target Authorities In Dozens Of Countries Including Italy And Colombia 
Criminal organizations and individuals claiming access to Covid-19 vaccines have contacted authorities in dozens of countries hoping they will sign illegitimate contracts for millions of dollars, according to documents and people familiar with the attempts. Countries whose national, regional or tribal governments were approached include the Netherlands, Latvia, France, Israel, the Czech Republic, Austria, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Canada and Spain, according to the people familiar with the matter. (Hopkins, Mackrael and Legorano, 8/12)

Fox News: Researchers Find 'Clue' Behind Rare, Coronavirus-Linked Inflammatory Illness In Kids
A team of researchers from Mount Sinai claimed to have discovered an "important clue" behind a rare, potentially serious coronavirus-related inflammatory illness in children, called MIS-C. MIS-C, which typically arises several weeks after a COVID-19 illness or contact with someone with COVID-19, can lead to organ damage due to a hyperinflammatory response. MIS-C can cause inflammation in one or more organ systems, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, brain and/or skin. The cause of MIS-C is unknown, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states on its webpage. As of July 30, the CDC noted over 4,400 reported cases of MIS-C, and at least 37 deaths. (Rivas, 8/11)

CIDRAP: Studies Look At Clotting, Myocarditis Tied To COVID-19 Vaccines 
Two studies published by JAMA Cardiology today discuss adverse effects associated with COVID-19 vaccines. The first describes vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (VITT with CVST) linked to the AstraZeneca/Oxford and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The second is a case series looking at 15 adolescents who experienced myocarditis after receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Despite these risks, both research teams continue to advocate for COVID-19 vaccines as the health risks from the virus are far greater than those linked to the vaccine. For instance, the VITT study researchers say that CVST risk from COVID-19 infection is 60- to 230-fold higher than the risk derived from COVID-19 vaccination. (McLernon, 8/10)

CIDRAP: Corticosteroid Tied To Shorter Recovery In Non-Severe COVID-19
Inhaled budesonide, a corticosteroid often used for Crohn's disease, was tied to a shorter recovery time in COVID-19 patients who were at a higher risk of severe infection, according to a study published in The Lancet yesterday. The researchers used UK residents 65 or older or who were 50 and older with comorbidities who were enrolled in the larger PRINCIPLE trial. Patients were unwell with suspected COVID-19 for up to 14 days (median, 6 days), and were randomized to budesonide from Nov 27, 2020, to Mar 31, 2021. In the primary analysis group, 787 received budesonide and usual care, 1,069 received usual care, and 974 were part of other treatment groups. None were hospitalized prior to assignment. (8/11)

New England Journal of Medicine: Subcutaneous REGEN-COV Antibody Combination To Prevent Covid-19
Subcutaneous REGEN-COV prevented symptomatic Covid-19 and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in previously uninfected household contacts of infected persons. Among the participants who became infected, REGEN-COV reduced the duration of symptomatic disease and the duration of a high viral load. (O'Brien et al, 8/4)

JAMA Network: Association Between Prison Crowding And COVID-19 Incidence Rates In Massachusetts Prisons, April 2020-January 2021 
Is prison crowding associated with the risk of COVID-19 among incarcerated persons? Findings  In this longitudinal ecological study including all incarcerated persons in 14 Massachusetts state prisons from April 2020 to January 2021, on average 6876 persons, COVID-19 incidence was significantly higher in prisons operating at a higher percentage of their design capacity and was significantly lower in prisons where a higher proportion of incarcerated people were housed in single-cell units. (Leibowitz et al, 8/9)

Also —

ScienceDaily: Eating More Plant Foods May Lower Heart Disease Risk In Young Adults, Older Women 
Eating a plant-centered diet during young adulthood is associated with a lower risk of heart disease in middle age, according to a long-term study with about 30 years of follow-up. A separate study with about 15 years of follow-up found that eating more plant-based foods that have been shown to lower cholesterol, called the 'Portfolio Diet', is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. (American Heart Association, 8/4)

The Washington Post: Is Your Long-Lasting Makeup Toxic? Study Raises Concerns About PFAS In Cosmetics
In recent weeks, the House passed the PFAS Action Act, which would require the Environmental Protection Agency to establish national drinking water standards for these so-called “forever chemicals.” A bipartisan Senate bill seeking to ban PFAS in cosmetics was introduced in June by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn). ... The personal care industry commonly uses more than a dozen PFAS. They are added to make lotions, cosmetics and hair products more water-resistant, durable and spreadable. And small amounts not listed on ingredient labels can be found in many more products, acknowledges the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC).

Bloomberg: Delta Straussians Know How To Live With Covid 
As the delta variants spread, and as the number of vaccinations continues to rise, a new Covid stance is evolving: Namely, we should not look too closely at the new situation for fear of being spooked by high case numbers. (Tyler Cowen, 8/10)

Los Angeles Times: Doctors Like Me Have A Lot Of Anger About This New COVID Surge 
There was the muscled firefighter who said he was afraid of needles. And the newly pregnant patient who had worried that the vaccine would make her infertile. And the young man who had partied hard at a weekend bachelor getaway, then lied about his vaccination status to the check-in nurse when he turned up at the hospital. Welcome to the new Pandemic of the Unvaccinated: the patients we love to hate. (Mark Morocco, 8/12)

NBC News: Covid Vaccines Won't Provide Herd Immunity. We Need To Look For Additional Treatments
Is it a quick-pick lotto ticket — 70, 80, 85, 90 — or just the ever-changing goal posts on the population percentage necessary to reach herd immunity against Covid-19? From the pandemic's beginning to today, there has been a seemingly endless discussion by epidemiologists, virologists and pundits predicting various vaccination thresholds to eradicate or at least contain the virus. (Dr. Kevin Tracey, 8/11)

Chicago Tribune: As COVID Cases Surge, The Unvaccinated-By-Choice Should Know They’re Being Judged Harshly 
As COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths rise again across the country, there rests, on the tips of many vaccinated Americans’ tongues, an exasperated rant waiting to be set free. It’s a rant those who have followed the rules, the science and common sense wish to direct at those willfully refusing the safe and effective coronavirus vaccines that can largely halt the aforementioned infections, hospitalizations and deaths. (Rex Huppke, 8/12)

Kansas City Star: COVID Far More Deadly Than Polio Yet Many Resist New Vaccine 
I got my first polio vaccine in the early 1960s. It came in a sugar cube. Like millions of baby boomers, I lined up for the dose at a local clinic, with my parents and hundreds of other kids. We didn’t know what polio was. We knew polio was sometimes called “infantile paralysis,” which would have been scary if we’d known what “infantile” meant. We collected dimes in a special card at school, to help pay for research into the disease. That was about it. (Dave Helling, 8/12)

The Washington Post: The Pandemic Has Become More Dangerous For Children. Here’s How To Help Keep Them Safe. 
Unvaccinated children will soon be starting school during what might be the most dangerous moment in the pandemic for them. In the week ending Aug. 5, more than 93,000 children tested positive for the coronavirus, a nearly 400 percent increase from just three weeks earlier, due in large part to the extremely contagious delta variant. Though most infected children experience mild symptoms, reports abound of previously healthy kids becoming critically ill. Every day, more than 200 children under the age of 18 are hospitalized in the United States because of covid-19. (Leana S. Wen, 8/11)

USA Today: COVID Tests Are Hard To Find For Kids Under 12. Families Need Help
Some of the most humbling moments for physicians like me are when we become health care users rather than providers. Earlier this month, more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, I was shocked to find that it took me nearly four hours to locate testing for my 10-month-old daughter. (Dr. Scott Hadland, 8/12)

The Atlantic: Texas Coronavirus Politics Are Dangerously Broken 
A year and a half into the pandemic, Texas is running out of hospital beds. The Texas Tribune reported Tuesday that nearly 10,000 COVID-19 patients are in intensive care units, some in areas where hospitals are close to capacity. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order asking hospitals to delay elective procedures and authorizing local facilities to seek out-of-state medical staff to help with the coronavirus surge, which is approaching levels not seen since winter. Despite the desperate situation, Texas’s case rate is not even the worst in the nation—Louisiana and Florida have more cases per capita. (Adam Serwer, 8/12)

The New York Times: Yes, Nurses Are Heroes. Let’s Treat Them Like It
The Covid-19 pandemic exposed strengths in the nation’s health care system — one of the greatest being our awesome nurses. But it also exposed many weaknesses, foremost among them being chronic nurse understaffing in hospitals, nursing homes and schools. (Linda H. Aiken, 8/12)

Stat: Congress: Fix Accelerated Approval For The Next 30 Years 
The Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm has sparked a broader debate on the merits and limitations of the FDA’s accelerated approval program. This debate — and its timing — are important. The FDA issued its accelerated approval regulation nearly 30 years ago, and has since applied this approach for more than 200 new drug indications. This program allows for faster approval of drugs for severe conditions based on markers predicting clinical benefit, on the rationale that patients with no alternatives need options sooner, not later. (Keith Flanagan, 8/12)

San Diego Union-Tribune: Why Are Overdoses Up? Many Factors Work Against Recovery And There Are No Sure-Fire Solutions
Last year, Father Joe’s Villages’ security officers saved the lives of 42 individuals who were experiencing an overdose by administering naloxone, a medicine that reverses an opioid overdose. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing and save the life of a person who is overdosing on opioids. While I’m deeply proud of my team for saving the lives of people in need, it’s disheartening to see their heroic actions needed so frequently. (Jim Vargas, 8/11)

Stat: Clinical Research Must Reflect The Diversity Of Patients 
In the journey from lab to label for a new and promising treatment, clinical research conducted under controlled, laboratory conditions must transition to a tangible medicine that exists within the complex and unpredictable conditions of real life. For scientists and innovators, the challenge is to ensure they’ve done their best to model that complexity in the clinical setting and thoroughly test treatments to not only understand if they work but how they work for the broad spectrum of people who may one day need them. (Clare Grace, 8/12)