Reuters: In Boost For COVID-19 Battle, Pfizer Vaccine Found 94% Effective In Real World 
The first big real-world study of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to be independently reviewed shows the shot is highly effective at preventing COVID-19, in a potentially landmark moment for countries desperate to end lockdowns and reopen economies. Up until now, most data on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines has come under controlled conditions in clinical trials, leaving an element of uncertainty over how results would translate into the real world with its unpredictable variables. (Lubell and Rabinovitch, 2/24)

CIDRAP: Real-World Trial Of Pfizer COVID Vaccine Finds High 2-Dose, Good 1-Dose Protection 
Among the 596,618 patients 16 years and older vaccinated, the first dose was 46% effective against COVID-19 infection 14 to 20 days later and 92% effective 7 or more days after the second dose. Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic illness was 57% after the first dose and 94% after the second, while it was 74% and 87% effective, respectively, at preventing hospitalization. Efficacy was 62% and 92%, respectively, at preventing severe illness and 72% at preventing death 14 to 20 days after the first dose. (Van Beusekom, 2/24)

AP: Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Works Well In Big 'Real World' Test
Wednesday’s published results, from a mass vaccination campaign in Israel, give strong reassurance that the benefits seen in smaller, limited testing persisted when the vaccine was used much more widely in a general population with various ages and health conditions. ... It seemed as effective in folks over 70 as in younger people. “This is immensely reassuring ... better than I would have guessed,” said the Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Gregory Poland. Vanderbilt University’s Dr. Buddy Creech agreed: “Even after one dose we can see very high effectiveness in prevention of death,” he said. (Marchione, 2/24)

Bloomberg: Pfizer-BioNTech Shot Could Help End Pandemic, Israel Study Shows
The researchers matched each vaccinated person with someone who hadn’t gotten a shot, enabling the best analysis yet of whether extremely good results from an earlier clinical trial would hold up in the real world. The Pfizer-BioNTech shot cleared every hurdle. It was so effective, in fact, that outside experts said that with broad enough use it may be possible to halt the pandemic. “This is the kind of vaccine that gives us hope that herd immunity may be possible,” said Raina MacIntyre, a professor of biosecurity at the University of New South Wales in Sydney who wasn’t involved with the study. (Kresge and Gale, 2/24)

In other news about Pfizer's covid vaccine —

FiercePharma: Pfizer Eyes Higher Prices For COVID-19 Vaccine After The Pandemic Wanes: Exec, Analyst
Amid the high-stakes fight against COVID-19, a company at the forefront of the vaccine effort is laying plans to hike prices after the crisis. A top Pfizer exec said the drugmaker aims to charge more after the "pandemic pricing environment," and an influential analyst says the company could be eying prices 3 to 4 times higher. On an earnings call earlier this month, Chief Financial Officer Frank D’Amelio said that “obviously,” the company is “going to get more on price” after the “pandemic pricing environment." He was speaking in response to Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Jason Zemansky, who asked the management team about how profit margins for the program could change over time. (Sagonowsky, 2/23)

The Hill: White House To Ship 3 Million To 4 Million Doses Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine To States 
The Biden administration is planning to send states, pharmacies and community health centers 3 million to 4 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine as early as next week, a White House official said Wednesday. (Weixel, 2/24)

CIDRAP: US Ready To Distribute J&J COVID Vaccine, White House Says 
"We are doing the work so if the EUA is granted we will waste no time in getting life-saving vaccines into the arms of Americans," said Jeff Zients, the Biden administration's COVID-19 czar during today’s press conference on response efforts. Zients said governors have received information about how to possibly distribute the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which, unlike the current approved and in-use vaccines, requires only one shot and standard refrigeration. (Soucheray, 2/24)

CNN: 5 Questions Answered About Johnson & Johnson's Vaccine 
The US is one step closer to having a third Covid-19 vaccine and it can't come soon enough. With people clamoring for a shot, it was welcome news that the US Food and Drug Administration's analysis Johnson & Johnson's trial data showed its vaccine is safe and effective. Here's what that could mean for you. (Christensen, 2/24)

The Baltimore Sun: Johnson & Johnson COVD Vaccine FAQ: What To Know As Approval Seems Likely 
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to grant emergency use authorization to Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine this week, a move that would ease the nationwide supply constraints and bring America one step closer to combating the coronavirus pandemic. Data suggests the vaccine, made by Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, is safe and effective, especially at preventing severe disease, scientists and medical experts say. (Miller and Cohn, 2/25)

CNBC: Moderna To Begin Trials Of Covid Vaccine Booster Shots For Variant From South Africa
Moderna said Wednesday it has shipped to the National Institutes of Health doses of a new Covid-19 vaccine designed to provide better protection against the highly contagious coronavirus variant spreading in South Africa. The vaccine – which Moderna is calling mRNA-1273.351 – is ready to be tested in an early stage clinical trial to determine if it can be used as a booster shot against the South African strain, also known as B.1.351, the company said. Moderna has found its current two-dose regimen generates a weaker immune response against the strain from South Africa, though the company said antibodies in patients remain above levels that are expected to be protective against the virus. (Lovelace Jr., 2/24)

USA Today: Moderna To Begin Trial Of New COVID Vaccine To Address Virus Variant First Found In South Africa
Any change to address variants, which other vaccine makers also are working on, would need to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In a study published last week, Moderna showed that blood from people who received the current vaccine includes neutralizing antibodies against the major known variants. But only one-sixth of their antibodies were protective against the B.1.351 variant of the virus, which originated in South Africa, and which is the target of its new vaccine. (Weintraub, 2/24)

Stat: Moderna Ready To Test Version Of Covid Vaccine Aimed At Worrisome Variant
It will test the boosters in patients who have already received its vaccine in clinical trials, using a dose of 50 micrograms, which is half the strength of its existing Covid-19 vaccine. It also plans to test both the vaccine targeted at the variant and the combination vaccine in volunteers who have not yet been vaccinated. (Garde and Herper, 2/24)

Also —

Yahoo Finance: Moderna Expands Vaccine Production, Sets 2022 Target Of 1.4B Doses
Moderna (MRNA) is expanding both its in-house and partner COVID-19 vaccine production capabilities, putting its 2022 production target at 1.4 billion doses. The new goal, announced Wednesday, is nearly triple the original half-billion goal it set last year. The company has increased its 2021 target to 700 million, but hopes it can produce as many as 1 billion doses this year. Moderna also recently said it would double its output for the U.S. government by April, noting that it has already shipped 55 million doses to date. (Khemlani, 2/24)

The New York Times: Coronavirus Vaccine Finder Aims To Help Americans Get Shots
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hoping to make it easier for Americans to find Covid-19 vaccines, is backing the test of a centralized online portal where the public can search for nearby vaccination locations with doses on hand. The website, called VaccineFinder, is run by Boston Children’s Hospital with the help of several collaborators. It grew out of the H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009 and has been used for years to coordinate the distribution of flu and childhood vaccines. It expanded on Wednesday to include the availability of coronavirus vaccines at more than 20,000 locations, concentrated in several states. (Robbins and Stolberg, 2/24)

Stat: CDC Launches VaccineFinder Tool To Locate Covid-19 Vaccine Providers
On Wednesday, federal officials quietly opened up access to VaccineFinder, a site that allows the U.S. public to search nationwide for approved Covid-19 vaccine providers. On vaccinefinder.org, users can enter an address or ZIP code and select a search area — say, within 10 miles — and get a list of providers with contact information, eligibility criteria, and, when available, a link to a vaccine scheduler. Critically, users will also be able to see whether each provider has doses available. (Palmer, 2/24)

NPR: CDC Launches Web Tool To Help Americans Find COVID-19 Vaccines
The scramble to secure a COVID-19 vaccine appointment is chaotic and fierce. There are not yet enough doses for everyone who's eligible and wants to get vaccinated. As frustration rises, the federal government hasn't offered much besides assurances that things will get better and appeals for calm. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in partnership with Boston Children's Hospital and Castlight Health, is launching a new tool which allows Americans to search for COVID-19 vaccine providers with stock of vaccine where they live. The tool, which builds on the existing VaccineFinder.org platform, will capture inventory data from vaccine providers around the country. (Simmons-Duffin, 2/24)

In related news about vaccine websites —

KHN: Covid Vaccine Websites Violate Disability Laws, Create Inequity For The Blind
Many covid vaccination registration and information websites at the federal, state and local levels violate disability rights laws, hindering the ability of blind people to sign up for a potentially lifesaving vaccine, a KHN investigation has found. Across the country, people who use special software to make the web accessible have been unable to sign up for the vaccines or obtain vital information about covid-19 because many government websites lack required accessibility features. At least 7.6 million people in the U.S. over age 16 have a visual disability. (Weber and Recht, 2/25)

KHN: In Search Of The Shot 
Too little covid vaccine and too great a demand: That’s what KHN readers from around the country detail in their often exasperating quest to snag a shot, although they are often clearly eligible under their local guidelines and priority system. Public health officials say the supply is growing and will meet demand in several months, but, for now, readers’ experiences show how access is limited. Some savvy readers report no problem getting in line for the vaccine, but others say that balky application processes and lack of information have stymied their efforts. Their unedited reports are a good snapshot of the mixed situation around the country. (2/24)

NPR: Biden Administration To Deliver 25 Million Masks To Health Centers And Food Banks
The Biden administration will distribute millions of face coverings to thousands of community health centers and food banks in an effort to help vulnerable Americans more easily mask up, officials said on Wednesday. The federal government will distribute some 25 million masks to more than 1,300 community health centers and 60,000 food pantries and soup kitchens across the country, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said at a briefing. The White House said in a press release that the masks will be available between March and May, and are expected to benefit some 12 to 15 million Americans. (Treisman, 2/24)

CNN: Biden Administration To Send 25 Million Masks To Community Health Centers And Food Pantries 
The Biden administration said Wednesday it would send more than 25 million masks to community health centers, food pantries and soup kitchens across the country in order to reach some of the nation's most vulnerable populations. "While masks are widely available in many different shapes and sizes, many low-income Americans still lack affordable access to this basic protection. That's why we're taking this important action to keep Americans safe," President Joe Biden's Covid-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients said at a White House briefing. (Sullivan, 2/24)

And the White House launches an advertising campaign —

The Washington Post: ‘It’s Up To You’ Ad Campaign Encourages Hesitant Americans To Get Coronavirus Vaccine 
For tens of millions of Americans still unsure about taking coronavirus vaccine shots, advertising industry experts and government scientists have a new message: “It’s Up to You.” That message and accompanying ad campaign — shaped by months of consumer research and backed by more than $50 million in donated funds — is to be unveiled Thursday across TV and digital video, social media and audio platforms like Pandora and Spotify. It also will include messaging tailored toward Black and Hispanic communities, where studies have found a lack of trust about the coronavirus vaccines and their long-term effects. The ads and related events will feature celebrities, scientists and members of the faith community. (Diamond, 2/25)

In related news from the Biden administration —

NBC News: Biden Signs Executive Order Targeting America's Supply Chains In Critical Areas
President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday requiring a review of the global supply chains in key industries in an effort to boost domestic production and avoid shortages in critical goods amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Clark, 2/24)

Becker's Hospital Review: Biden Adds Vaccine Consultant To COVID-19 Team
Lauren Silvis, who served as chief of staff for former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, was chosen as a vaccine consultant to President Joe Biden's COVID-19 response team, her current employer confirmed to Becker's Hospital Review Feb. 24. Ms. Silvis serves as senior vice president of external affairs at Tempus, a genomics-based diagnostic company headquartered in Chicago. (Gooch, 2/24)

AP: Jill Biden Says Health Inequities Have Lasted 'Far Too Long'
During a visit to a cancer center Wednesday, first lady Jill Biden said health disparities have hurt communities of color “for far too long” and “it’s about time” the country got serious about ending those inequities. Jill Biden’s visit to Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center in Richmond was her first public trip outside Washington since her husband’s inauguration last month. (Lavoie, 2/24)

Los Angeles Times: Becerra Confirmation As Health Secretary Looking Likely After Smooth Hearings
California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra appeared headed toward confirmation as the nation’s first Latino secretary of Health and Human Services after a pivotal hearing passed Wednesday with few fireworks and no serious blows inflicted by Republicans hoping to derail him. Members of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday pointed to the COVID-19 crisis in opposing or backing him as the right choice to lead the nation’s health agency, and Republicans expressed concern with his record of support for abortion rights. But even Republicans acknowledged that Becerra will probably be confirmed. (Wire, 2/24)

The Hill: Becerra Says He Wants To 'Build On' ObamaCare When Pressed On Medicare For All 
Health and Human Services secretary nominee Xavier Becerra pointed to President Biden's opposition to "Medicare for All" on Wednesday when pressed on his own support for the idea, saying he would follow the lead of the White House. (Sullivan, 2/24)

Roll Call: Abortion Emerges As Key Division In Becerra’s Finance Hearing 
President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, told the Senate Finance Committee in some of the most tense exchanges in two days of confirmation hearings that he would follow the law on abortion. Finance Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., did not say when the committee, the only panel that will vote on the nomination, would do so. (McIntire, 2/24)

Politico: 4 Takeaways From Xavier Becerra’s Confirmation Hearings
Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Xavier Becerra appears to be on a smooth path to Senate confirmation. But two days of generally collegial hearings in the Senate HELP and Finance committees exposed fault lines that could shape President Joe Biden's post-pandemic agenda and will define health policy debates leading into the midterm elections. Here are four key takeaways. (Miranda Ollstein, 2/24)

PBS NewsHour: WATCH: HHS Secretary Nominee Xavier Becerra Testifies During Senate Confirmation Hearing
Biden’s Health and Human Services secretary nominee Xavier Becerra testified during a Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday. If he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Becerra would be the first Latino to serve as HHS secretary. (2/24)

AP: GOP Rallies Solidly Against Democrats' Virus Relief Package
Republicans rallied solidly against Democrats’ proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill as lawmakers awaited a decision by the Senate’s parliamentarian that could bolster or potentially kill a pivotal provision hiking the federal minimum wage. Despite their paper-thin congressional majorities, Democratic leaders were poised to push the sweeping package through the House on Friday. They were hoping the Senate, where changes seem likely, would follow quickly enough to have legislation on President Joe Biden’s desk by mid-March. (Fram, 2/25)

Politico: Democrats' $1.9T Covid Aid Bill Faces The Senate Chopping Block
Hiking the minimum wage to $15 an hour is on the docket, in addition to pension issues and subsidies meant to help laid-off workers remain on their health insurance plans. Democrats are hopeful for favorable rulings — and some are determined to retool their proposals if they fall short, eager to get the biggest possible bill under budget rules that allow it to evade a Senate filibuster. But time to sort through potential pitfalls is running short, with House Democrats aiming to pass the package by the end of the week and congressional leaders hoping to send it to Biden’s desk before unemployment benefits expire in mid-March. (Emma and Levine, 2/24)

Roll Call: Senate Parliamentarian Hears Arguments On Coronavirus Relief Bill 
Democratic and Republican aides completed arguments before the Senate rules referee this morning over whether a minimum wage boost and other matters can be included in the emerging $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package under budget reconciliation procedures. Senate Finance Committee staff met with the chamber's parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, on Tuesday night, according to sources familiar with the discussions. (Krawzak, 2/24)

Newsweek: Schumer Calls Biden's Stimulus Bill 'Overwhelmingly Popular,' McConnell Says Plan Works 'Backwards'
Senate party leaders disagreed over the effectiveness of President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan in their opening remarks on the Senate floor on Wednesday. While Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill "overwhelmingly popular" among Americans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell accused congressional Democrats of "working backwards" on the coronavirus relief package. (Fung, 2/25)

USA Today: 'The Need Is Real': GOP Mayors Embrace Biden's COVID-19 Relief Plan Even As Republican Lawmakers Pan It
As Biden's relief package heads for a vote Friday in the Democrat-controlled House – where it is expected to pass with perhaps no Republican support – cash-strained city halls are some of the legislation's biggest boosters. That includes Republican mayors seeking federal assistance to replenish tax revenue shortages. (Garrison, 2/25)

In other financial news —

AP: BLM Launches Survival Fund Amid Federal COVID-19 Relief Wait
The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation is formally expanding a $3 million financial relief fund that it quietly launched earlier this month, to help people struggling to make ends meet during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The foundation, which grew out of the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement nearly eight years ago, said Thursday that it plans to make up to 3,000 microgrants of $1,000 each to people who it believes need it most. The BLM foundation has already begun asking recipients to apply for the Survival Fund grants as it builds out its philanthropic arm. (Morrison, 2/25)

CNBC: Covid Variants Could ‘Undermine All Of Our Efforts’ If Virus Spreads Globally, CDC Director Says
New, highly transmissible Covid-19 variants “stand to reverse” the nation’s control of the pandemic and could “undermine all of our efforts” against the disease if the virus is left to proliferate in different parts of the globe, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. Top U.S. health officials have warned in recent weeks that the emergence of highly contagious variants, particularly the B.1.1.7 strain that emerged in the U.K., could reverse the current downward trajectory in infections in the U.S. and delay the nation’s recovery from the pandemic. (Higgins-Dunn, 2/24)

CNN: Despite US Covid-19 Cases Dropping, Infections Are Still Staggeringly High. Here's What Has Experts Worried 
A new ensemble forecast published Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests the daily Covid-19 death rate will slow in the coming weeks -- good news following more than a month of declining case and hospitalization numbers. But now is no time to let up on safety measures -- for several reasons -- according to experts. (Maxouris, 2/25)

Also —

KHN: Have A Case Of A Covid Variant? No One Is Going To Tell You
Covid-19 infections from variant strains are quickly spreading across the U.S., but there’s one big problem: Lab officials say they can’t tell patients or their doctors whether someone has been infected by a variant. Federal rules around who can be told about the variant cases are so confusing that public health officials may merely know the county where a case has emerged but can’t do the kind of investigation and deliver the notifications needed to slow the spread, according to Janet Hamilton, executive director of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. (Jewett, Aleccia and Pradhan, 2/25)

In related news from California, New York and Idaho —

Los Angeles Times: California Tops 50,000 COVID-19 Deaths Amid Fears Of New Variants
California has surpassed 50,000 COVID-19 deaths, a tally that came as Los Angeles County reported a backlog of more than 800 deaths over the autumn-and-winter surge. The count comes as daily coronavirus cases and COVID-19 deaths have dropped considerably in recent weeks, although some scientists remain concerned about the potential spread of mutant variants that are more contagious and possibly more lethal. While California has the largest number of COVID-19 deaths of any state in the nation, it ranks 32nd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for COVID-19 deaths per capita. (Lin II and Healy, 2/24)

San Francisco Chronicle: California Coronavirus Variant Is Resistant To Antibodies, But Vaccines Should Still Work
Early studies show the coronavirus variant that’s spreading widely across California is somewhat resistant to antibodies that fight off infection, but the vaccines still should offer plenty of protection, infectious disease experts say. Antibodies generated by the vaccines, or by previous coronavirus infection, were two to four times stronger against earlier versions of the virus compared to the new variant, scientists at UCSF found in laboratory studies. They released preliminary results this week. (Allday, 2/24)

New York Times: A New COVID-19 Variant Is Spreading In New York, Researchers Report
A new form of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in New York City, and it carries a worrisome mutation that may weaken the effectiveness of vaccines, two teams of researchers have found. The new variant, called B.1.526, first appeared in samples collected in the city in November. By the middle of this month, it accounted for about one in four viral sequences appearing in a database shared by scientists. One study of the new variant, led by a group at Caltech, was posted online Tuesday. The other, by researchers at Columbia University, has been submitted to a preprint server but is not yet public. (Mandavilli, 2/25)

AP: Health Officials Report First UK COVID-19 Variant In Idaho
Public health officials have confirmed two more cases of Idaho residents infected with COVID-19 variants, including the first known case of a resident infected with the United Kingdom variant of the coronavirus. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced Wednesday that the person with the UK variant infection lives in Ada County and recently traveled out of state. Officials believe she was exposed during her travels, and are working to identify people she had close contact with who may have been exposed. (2/25)

USA Today: Dr. Anthony Fauci Aims To Answer 'A Lot Of Important Questions' About 'COVID Long-Haulers' In New Nationwide Initiative
The U.S. government is launching a nationwide initiative to study COVID-19 patients who suffer from residual symptoms months after recovery, commonly known as "COVID long-haulers," Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a White House briefing Wednesday. The nation's leading infectious diseases expert also revealed a scientific name for the new syndrome – Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) –  further legitimizing the suffering population. "(There are) a lot of important questions that are now unanswered that we hope with this series of initiatives we will ultimately answer," Fauci said. (Rodriguez, 2/24)

ABC7 Los Angeles: Fauci: NIH To Study 'Long-Haul' COVID-19 Symptoms, Like Brain Fog, Breathing Problems 
The National Institutes of Health is launching research to understand the causes and consequences of the lingering brain fog, breathing problems and malaise reported by many recovering COVID-19 patients. Dr. Anthony Fauci says some studies have shown up to 30% of patients report symptoms that can endure for months, complicating their return to normal routines and work, and plunging many recovering patients into depression. (2/24)

In other news related to covid research and testing —

CIDRAP: COVID-19 Antibodies May Offer At Least Partial Protection
Americans with COVID-19 antibodies displayed 10-fold increased protection against infection 90 days after testing compared with those who had no antibodies, according to a study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine. The study tracked more than 50% of the commercial antibody and diagnostic tests administered in the United States from Jan 8 to Aug 23, 2020, covering 3,257,478 people. At the index test, 88.3% had a negative antibody test, 11.6% were positive, and 0.1% were excluded because of uncertain results. (2/24)

Becker's Hospital Review: Walgreens To Sell At-Home Saliva COVID-19 Test
An at-home saliva-based PCR COVID-19 test made by Clinical Reference Laboratory will now be available through Walgreens, the retail pharmacy giant said Feb. 24. The test, which received emergency use authorization from the FDA, will be available through Walgreens Find Care, a digital health platform on Walgreens' mobile app. The test reported 100 percent sensitivity and specificity in its emergency use authorization filing, Walgreens said in a news release. (Anderson, 2/24)

360Dx: Mistakes Were Made In Regulation Of Coronavirus Serology Tests, FDA Officials Acknowledge
Factors including a flawed regulatory approach and false marketing by test developers led to a troubled roll-out of SARS-CoV-2 serology testing this spring, officials at the US Food and Drug Administration have acknowledged. In a recent commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine, Jeffrey Shuren, director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) at FDA, and Timothy Stenzel, director of the FDA's Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health, recounted the agency's decisions around SARS-CoV-2 serology testing and how an overly lax regulatory stance led to test misuse and confusion within the medical community and population at large. (Bonislawski, 2/24)

The Star Tribune: Students, Families Asked To Take COVID Tests Every 2 Weeks
Minnesota health officials recommended Wednesday that schoolchildren and their families get tested for COVID-19 every two weeks as more students return to classrooms. "This is not a requirement," said Dan Huff, an assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Health. "COVID-19 testing remains an important tool for limiting disease impacts and ending the pandemic as quickly as possible." (Howatt, 2/25)

AP: Classroom Doors Swing Back Open At NYC Public Middle Schools
Tens of thousands of New York City middle school students will return to their school buildings on Thursday for the first time since city schools were closed in November amid a surge in coronavirus infections. Classroom doors are opening for the 62,000 students in grades 6 through 8 whose parents chose a mix of in-person and remote learning for their children. There are about 196,000 students in those grades in the city’s public schools. (2/25)

Chicago Tribune: Chicago Public Schools Could Require Teachers To Get COVID-19 Vaccines 
Chicago Public Schools plans to require its teachers and other workers to show proof that they’ve received COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of employment. But the Chicago Teachers Union said it expects to have a say in such a plan and lamented the lack of an opportunity for union input before the Board of Education unanimously approved the interim policy on Wednesday. (Yin, 2/24)

The Hill: Georgia Teachers To Be Next In Line In State For Coronavirus Vaccine 
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) will announce on Thursday the beginning of a new coronavirus vaccination tier that will include teachers, a spokesperson said. “Throughout vaccine distribution, the governor has prioritized protecting the most vulnerable and returning Georgians to normal,” Mallory Blount said Wednesday, according to The Associated Press. “Further details will be announced tomorrow.” (Budryk, 2/24)

The Hill: Poll: Majority Say Teachers Should Be Vaccinated Before Reopening Schools 
A majority of adults, 59 percent, support waiting to reopen K-12 schools until all teachers who want a coronavirus vaccine have received a dose, according to a report from the Pew Research Center released on Wednesday. Forty percent of respondents to Pew's surveyed questions were in favor of reopening as soon as possible regardless of whether or not teachers who want the vaccine have received it. (Choi, 2/24)

In related news about children and their mental health —

Boston Globe: Reopening Schools Will Help, But Won’t End Mass. Child Mental Health Crisis, Experts Say
Child health care experts say that a return to full-time in-person learning, which Governor Charlie Baker moved to mandate this week, will help alleviate some of the pressures placed on children’s mental health over the past year but will not be a silver bullet. In pushing the state Board of Education to force elementary and middle schools to reopen, Baker cited one of the more troubling outcomes of the pandemic on kids — the dramatic increase in mental health problems among students. Nationwide, the average share of emergency room visits related to mental health among children rose 44 percent from mid-March through October last year, compared to the same period in 2019, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Martin, 2/24)

The New York Times: For Some Teens, It’s Been A Year Of Anxiety And Trips To The E.R. 
Surveys and statistics show that for young people who are anxious by nature, or feeling emotionally fragile already, the pandemic and its isolation have pushed them to the brink. Rates of suicidal thinking and behavior are up by 25 percent or more from similar periods in 2019, according to a just-published analysis of surveys of young patients coming into the emergency room. (Carey, 2/23)

The Washington Post: The Pandemic Put A Light On Mental Health Issues For Young Athletes — And Started A Dialogue 
Around the country, high school athletes said they’ve experienced depression and anxiety since sports in their states were canceled — losing the structure, identity and stress relief they’ve relied on much of their lives. In response, high schools have taken extra measures to provide resources and combat the stigma. Many young athletes are now discussing their mental health for the first time. (Melnick, 2/24)

AP: Military Begins Delivering Vaccines In Texas, New York
The U.S. military on Wednesday began delivering shots at coronavirus vaccination centers in Texas and New York and announced that service members will start staffing four centers in Florida and one in Philadelphia next week. The expanded vaccination effort came as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with military commanders overseeing the COVID-19 response effort. He also visited the vaccination center in Los Angeles, the first staffed by the new active-duty military teams that are being developed. (Baldor, 2/25)

In other updates on the vaccine rollout —

CNN: The Florida Official Who Set Up A Vaccine Site For Affluent ZIP Codes And Created A VIP List Is Under Investigation, Sheriff's Office Says 
A Florida sheriff's office is investigating whether a Manatee County official broke the law when she organized a Covid-19 vaccine drive limited to two of the county's most affluent ZIP codes. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said it has launched the investigation after a citizen watchdog filed a complaint regarding County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who last week admitted she chose the ZIP codes herself and also selected some people for the vaccination list, so she and others could access the Covid-19 vaccine. (Flores, Weisfeldt and Andrew, 2/24)

The Hill: Pennsylvania Health Network Prioritized Vaccines For Employees' Relatives 
One of Pennsylvania’s largest health networks gave special access for coronavirus vaccines to employees' relatives, prompting criticism from health officials who said that other groups should have been prioritized. (Castronuovo, 2/24)

Chicago Tribune: Illinois COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Expands To People With Health Conditions 
Illinois is expanding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to people under age 65 with health conditions Thursday, but it likely will be difficult for Chicago-area residents to find shots in coming days. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Feb. 10 that he planned to expand vaccination phase 1b — which includes seniors and front-line essential workers — to include younger people with certain health issues, starting Feb. 25. (Schencker, 2/24)

Boston Globe: Massachusetts Hospitals To Resume Offering COVID-19 Vaccine
A week and a half after abruptly cutting off new supplies of COVID-19 vaccine to hospitals, Massachusetts officials have reached an agreement with hospitals and health systems allowing them to rejoin the massive state effort to vaccinate all residents. Under the plan, vaccine doses will be allocated to certain organizations willing to inoculate any eligible Massachusetts resident. Additionally, two health systems with large numbers of patients spread over a wide geographic area — Mass General Brigham and Beth Israel Lahey Health — can offer the vaccine exclusively to their patients. (Dayal McCluskey and Freyer, 2/24)

Houston Chronicle: Want A Vaccine At NRG Park's Super Site? Show Up With Wheels.
The region’s largest COVID vaccine site — created to cater to vulnerable communities — is drive-thru-only, a process that frustrated some observers as health officials work to balance better access to shots, huge demand and the need to inoculate as many people as fast as possible. Opened Wednesday, the vaccination site at NRG Park is accessible only by automobile, Harris County officials said. “We want to operate at full speed — 6,000 vaccines a day — and the only way to reach that number safely in the very limited amount of time we’ve had to set up the site is via drive-thru,” said Rafael Lemaitre, spokesman for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “Unfortunately, a walk-up option at that particular site would significantly cut into the number of people we’re able to provide vaccines for overall.” (Begley, 2/24)

Charlotte Observer: NC Doctor’s Office Feels Excluded In COVID Vaccine Rollout 
Charlotte’s largest independent doctor’s office, Tryon Medical Partners, finally will receive its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines this week — between 100 and 200 doses. But that’s not enough, according to Tryon Medical CEO Dr. Dale Owen. Primary care physicians have been left out of the state’s vaccine rollout from the beginning, he said. (Smoot, 2/25)

Also —

Axios: Republicans Are Least Likely To Want The Coronavirus Vaccine 
Americans of all ages, education levels, genders, races and political parties say they're more likely than not to get the coronavirus vaccine — except Republicans. ... By the numbers: 41% of Republicans say they don't plan to get a vaccine if it's available to them. Only 33% say they do plan to get vaccinated. (Owens, 2/25)

PBS NewsHour: For Americans Of Color Considering The COVID-19 Vaccine, Here’s Why Trust Is So Important
Memories of historical atrocities run long and suspicions high when it comes to medical care. Black Americans are more likely than white Americans to say they do not trust their health care provider, rooted in both contemporary experiences — like that of Dr. Susan Moore, a Black physician who died of COVID-19 after posting on social media that her pain and calls for help were not taken seriously — and other painfully recent history. From 1932 to 1972, federal researchers examined the effects of syphilis on Black men when left untreated. None of the 623 participants in the United States Public Health Service Syphilis Study were told what was happening, and, in one of the worst examples of unethical medical research in modern U.S. history, researchers secured no one’s consent. They were told they had “bad blood,” but researchers withheld actual treatment from them, even after penicillin was discovered as an effective, affordable and readily available therapy for the disease. (Santhanam, 2/24)

The Washington Post: Doctors And Nurses Face Endless Covid Misinformation Battle
Atul Nakhasi couldn’t stop thinking about Dodger Stadium. The storied ballpark-turned-coronavirus-vaccination-site just 10 minutes from his apartment in downtown Los Angeles had been briefly shut down by anti-vaccine protesters, and Nakhasi, a doctor, was horrified. To him, the nearly hour-long delay amounted to an act of “public harm” and served as a chilling example of how far people who oppose vaccines are willing to go to make their point. He had to do something to respond, but what? (Chiu, 2/24)

Los Angeles Times: Disney California Adventure Park To Reopen For Food And Shopping Event
About a year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of theme parks statewide, Disney California Adventure park plans to reopen starting March 18 at limited capacity, welcoming visitors who buy tickets to stroll through the park and purchase food, drinks and merchandise. Months ago, Disney reopened its park-adjacent Downtown Disney shopping and dining area, as well as parts of the food- and retail-centric Buena Vista Street in California Adventure. But the “A Touch of Disney” event will mark the first time in nearly a year that guests can explore the entire park, including Cars Land and Pixar Pier, albeit without jumping on the attractions. (Martin, 2/24)

Charlotte Observer: NC Loosens COVID-19 Rules, Lets Bars Serve Inside Drinks 
Charlotte bars and restaurants are feeling major relief Wednesday, following Gov. Roy Cooper’s announcement he is allowing bars to start serving people inside again and extending late-night alcohol sales. Other groups are exulting as well, with Cooper easing restrictions on outdoor amphitheaters and concert venues as well as high school, college and pro sports sites. (Muccigrosso, Marusak and Getzenberg, 2/24)

AP: Tennessee Lifts Restrictions On Nursing Home Visits
Tennessee’s Department of Health announced Wednesday that it will soon lift its state-specific visitation restrictions for long-term care facilities. According to a news release, nursing homes and other facilities should use the federal guidance provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services starting Feb. 28. (2/25)

New York Post: Tourists Accused Of Breaking Hawaii COVID Quarantine Rules
A California couple has been accused of trying to break quarantine rules in Hawaii by pretending to be locals, prosecutors said. Miriam Rosas, 22, and Abel Rosas, 34, of Fresno tried to check into a hotel after arriving last week to the state without providing a negative coronavirus test, the Hawaii General Attorney’s Office said. After being told they needed to quarantine, they refused to check in and left the premises, prosecutors said. The pair then checked into another hotel on the pretense of being Hawaii residents, officials said. (Salo, 2/23)

In other news from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Oklahoma and Montana —

Philadelphia Inquirer: For The First Time, Legal Weed Gets Republican Senate Support In Pa.
For years, Democrats in Pennsylvania’s legislature have introduced bills to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use. But without any Republican support, those bills were dead on arrival. On Wednesday, the landscape shifted. State Sen. Dan Laughlin, a Republican from Erie, proposed new legalization legislation — but with a conservative stamp. Laughlin’s measure would set up a cannabis industry that encourages small businesses and includes language to render moot a federal rule that supposedly bars marijuana users from buying guns. (Wood, 2/24)

Georgia Health News: How COVID And Poverty Have Ravaged Rural Georgia 
It’s not just the actual infections that have altered the medical landscape in Cook County. The COVID-19 pandemic has produced many more people with depression and anxiety, says Dr. Jairaj Goberdhan, a family physician in the South Georgia county. (Miller, 2/24)

Modern Healthcare: Aetna Challenges Exclusion From Oklahoma's New Medicaid Managed-Care Program
Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma has filed a protest against the state's healthcare agency, alleging the group's "fatally flawed" process for awarding contracts for its $2.1 billion Medicaid managed-care system lacked legal authority and violated open records laws. The Hartford, Conn.-based insurer's protest comes just weeks after the state's medical agency filed an injunction to the Oklahoma Supreme Court that aims to stop the privatization of the service for low-income residents. (Tepper, 2/24)

KHN: With GOP Back At Helm, Montana Renews Push To Sniff Out Welfare Fraud
Montana is considering becoming the latest state to intensify its hunt for welfare overpayments and fraud, a move expected to remove more than 1,500 enrollees from low-income health coverage at a time when the pandemic has left more people needing help. With Republicans now controlling both chambers of the Montana legislature and the governor’s office, a lawmaker is reviving an effort to both broaden and increase the frequency of eligibility checks to search for welfare fraud, waste and abuse. Proponents say it’s about what’s fair — weeding out people who don’t qualify, protecting safety nets for those who do, and saving the state millions. But advocates for low-income people who rely on such services and some policy analysts say such changes would unfairly drop eligible people who need the aid. (Houghton, 2/25)

Chicago Tribune: Report: Chicago Gym Spurred COVID-19 Outbreak After Indoor Workouts 
A Chicago gym spurred an outbreak of at least 55 COVID-19 cases over the summer after infected people attended indoor high-intensity exercise classes — including several who had already tested positive for the virus, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Wednesday. (Leventis Lourgos, 2/24)

Hawaii News Now: Study Found Social Distancing Wasn’t Enough To Stop COVID’s Spread In Hawaii Gyms
Masks might be your most important accessory at the gym. That’s the message of a new report that looked at what triggered a large cluster of COVID cases last summer that were linked to three Hawaii gyms. The study, conducted by a team led by acting state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble, found the clusters started when an asymptomatic fitness instructor taught a cycle class. At the time, face masks were not required in fitness centers on Oahu. Researchers said one of the participants of the original cycle class was a fitness instructor who did not display symptoms and unknowingly transmitted the virus to participants during personal training sessions and kick-boxing lessons at another fitness center. (2/24)

Nature: Superspreading Drives The COVID Pandemic — And Could Help To Tame It
Experts say that we already know enough about the main factors of superspreading to use this phenomenon to our advantage. They are calling on policymakers to harness this knowledge to target control measures that will slow — or even stamp out — the pandemic. One of the most basic steps is closing crowded, indoor hotspots to prevent superspreading events. Researchers also recommend following Japan’s lead, by using backwards contact tracing to uncover superspreading events. (Lewis, 2/23)

Fox News: Cases Of Rare Coronavirus-Linked Inflammatory Illness In Children Reported In Virginia: Officials
Five more cases of a rare but potentially serious coronavirus-related inflammatory condition in children have been reported in Virginia, health officials there said. Officials with the Virginia Department of Health said Monday that the five cases have all been reported in the Richmond area, noting that the increase in what is known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) "coincides with the surge in cases of COVID-19 in the metro area." "Other states have also reported increases in MIS-C concurrent with increases in COVID-19 cases," they added. (Farber, 2/24)

The Hill: DC Surpasses 1,000 COVID-19 Deaths 
Washington, D.C.'s mayor proclaimed a day of remembrance Wednesday for residents who have died from COVID-19 as the city's death toll passed 1,000. Muriel Bowser (D) called on houses of worship in the District to observe the tragic milestone with a period of mourning at 6 p.m., while encouraging the city's residents to continue following masking and social distancing guidelines. (Bowden, 2/24)

Also —

Politico: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Sister Dies From Covid As City Passes 1,000 Deaths
The sister of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser died on Wednesday from complications related to Covid-19, the same day the city passed 1,000 deaths from the disease. “Mercia was loved immensely and will be missed greatly, as she joins the legion of angels who have gone home too soon due to the pandemic,” Bowser wrote in a statement. (Choi, 2/24)

Axios: Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy Tests Positive For COVID 
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday and is isolating at home with mild symptoms, his office announced. Details: Dunleavy originally got tested after being identified as a close contact to someone who contracted the virus and returned a negative result Sunday morning, per a statement. He still went into quarantine in his home in Wasilla, just north of Anchorage. (Falconer, 2/24)

CNN: Tobacco Smoke Exposure Could Increase Children's Blood Pressure, Study Finds 
Children who are exposed to tobacco smoke have a greater chance of having high blood pressure, a new study has found. Researchers found 6% of children who were exposed to tobacco smoke had high blood pressure compared to 4% in children who weren't exposed, according to a study published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open. (Marples, 2/25)

The New York Times: Annie’s Pledges To Purge A Class Of Chemicals From Its Mac And Cheese 
Nearly four years after traces of chemicals believed to cause health problems in children and reproductive issues in adults were found in mass-market macaroni and cheese packets, Annie’s Homegrown has begun working with its suppliers to eliminate the offending material from their food processing equipment. The presence of the chemicals, called ortho-phthalates, rattled consumers who rely on the food staple, especially parents. Phthalates make rigid plastic more flexible material and are commonly used in tubing and conveyor belts found at food manufacturing plants and in food packaging. (Corkery, 2/19)

The Washington Post: Antimicrobial Paint Can Kill Bacteria On Your Walls. But You Probably Don’t Need It To
You can’t turn on the TV, open a paper, surf the Internet or enter the grocery store these days without hearing or reading something about antimicrobial this or antibacterial that. Soaps, sprays, wipes, food containers and fabrics are just some of the items that promise germ-fighting superpowers. Now there is another product to add to the list: paint. ... As promising as these paints sound, there are critics, including those who say that regardless of the paint’s ability to kill bacteria, it could focus people’s energy in the wrong direction. “I don’t think antimicrobial paints are the key to preventing the spread of disease,” says Erica Marie Hartmann, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern University. “Specifically, in the context of covid-19, evidence points to viruses in the air being the main way the disease spreads. Paints won’t help with that.” (Mayhew, 2/24)

Axios: A New Book Blames Chemicals For A Drop In Global Sperm Counts 
A new book makes the case that sperm counts have been falling for decades — and a major reason is chemicals in the environment that disrupt the body's hormonal system. ... What's happening: In 2017, Mt. Sinai Medical School epidemiologist Shanna Swan co-authored a sweeping meta-analysis that came to a startling conclusion: Total sperm count in the Western world had fallen 59% between 1973 and 2011. (Walsh, 2/24)

The New York Times: Will Tiger Woods Play Golf Again? Doctors Predict A Difficult Recovery 
The serious lower leg injuries Tiger Woods sustained in a car crash on Tuesday typically lead to a long and perilous recovery, calling into question his ability to play professional golf again, according to medical experts who have treated similar injuries. Athletes with severe leg injuries thought to doom their careers have managed to come back — the quarterback Alex Smith returned to playing football last season after a gruesome leg break, and the golfer Ben Hogan returned decades ago after a car accident. (Kolata, 2/24)

In mental health news —

CIDRAP: Empathetic Calls Associated With Better Mental Health During Pandemic
An empathy-focused telephone program was associated with reduced loneliness, depression, and anxiety in 120 Meals on Wheels Central Texas clients, according to a study published yesterday in JAMA Psychiatry. From Jul 6 to Sep 24, 2020, the researchers had 120 people receive daily telephone calls for the first 5 days and then, depending on preference, at least twice a week for a total of 4 weeks. After the first 5 days, 58.3% of the intervention group chose to continue the daily calls, followed by 22.5% choosing twice a week. The 120 people in the control group received no calls. (2/24)

The New York Times: Can Zapping Our Brains Really Cure Depression?
The brain is an electrical organ. Everything that goes on in there is a result of millivolts zipping from one neuron to another in particular patterns. This raises the tantalizing possibility that, should we ever decode those patterns, we could electrically adjust them to treat neurological dysfunction — from Alzheimer’s to schizophrenia — or even optimize desirable qualities like intelligence and resilience. Of course, the brain is so complex, and so difficult to access, that this is much easier to imagine than to do. A pair of studies published in January in the journal Nature Medicine, however, demonstrate that electrical stimulation can address obsessive-compulsive urges and symptoms of depression with surprising speed and precision. (Tingley, 2/24)

Modern Healthcare: COVID-19 Could Dent Hospital Revenue By At Least $53 Billion In 2021, AHA Says
Revenues across U.S. hospitals could be at least $53 billion lower in 2021 compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new study commissioned by the American Hospital Association as it asks lawmakers to boost COVID-19 relief funding. Regional health systems are still dealing with the fallout from delaying non-urgent procedures, depressed volumes, higher expenses as well as the physical and mental health toll of COVID-19 on their staff, provider executives said on a call with reporters Wednesday. Hospitals could experience a $53 billion decline in revenue this year if the vaccine is distributed effectively, volumes recover quickly and if COVID-19 cases continue to decline; those estimates rise to $122 billion in the worst-case scenario, according to Kaufman Hall's analysis. (Kacik, 2/24)

FierceHealthcare: Kaufman Hall: Hospitals Could Lose Between $53B And $122B This Year Due To Pandemic
Hospitals could lose between $53 billion and $122 billion due to the lingering effects of COVID-19, depending on the speed of vaccine distribution and complete recovery of patient volumes, according to a new report from Kaufman Hall. The report, released Wednesday and commissioned by the American Hospital Association (AHA), details several factors that will continue to depress hospital finances this year. The report comes as the AHA is pressing Congress to include more money for the provider relief fund in its next package. (King, 2/24)

In other health care industry news —

Modern Healthcare: Healthcare Construction Primed To Rebound Faster Than Other Sectors
While nonresidential construction is expected to continue to lag through much of 2021, healthcare is projected to fare better than other sectors like office and manufacturing, according to a new report. Nonresidential building construction starts were down 24% in 2020 compared to 2019, which is expected to drag overall construction spending in 2021, according to a new report from commercial real estate firm JLL that projects a 5% to 8% spending dip this year. While many long-term healthcare capital projects were put on hold last year, JLL expects those to resume by the end of the year. (Kacik, 2/24)

Chicago Tribune: Chicago Hospital Cited By Feds For COVID-19-Related Safety Issues 
Community First Medical Center in Portage Park is contesting a citation and $13,494 penalty issued by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration in December related to COVID-19 safety. OSHA inspectors found that the hospital did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program in the time period they were examining. They also found that the hospital did not perform tests from June 9 to July 28 to make sure all the types of respirators that employees used on the job correctly fit their faces. (Schencker, 2/24)

Stat: Hospital Chaplains Balance Covid Safety With Patients’ Spiritual Needs
Infection fears have never slowed down Rev. Moneka Thompson. For more than 10 years, she’s visited patients hospitalized at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with tuberculosis, chickenpox, and any myriad of other contagious diseases. Last March she began to pull on a mask and other personal protective equipment before meeting her first patient diagnosed with a then novel virus. But a nurse barred her from going inside. (Huff, 2/25)

Stat: Once Again, The Credit Outlook For The Pharmaceutical Industry Is Negative
For the eighth consecutive year, the credit outlook for the pharmaceutical industry is negative and more drug makers should expect that their credit ratings may fall this year, according to a new forecast from S&P Global Ratings. (Silverman, 2/24)

FiercePharma: Johnson & Johnson Tots Up A Potential $4B Talc Bill As Tens Of Thousands Of Lawsuits Pile Up 
In an annual filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), J&J said its multibillion-dollar 2020 litigation expense is “primarily associated with talc related reserves and certain settlements” worth $3.9 billion. The company faces 25,000 lawsuits alleging the household products cause cancer, and it's still in the process of appealing a massive verdict out of Missouri.  (Sagonowsky, 2/23)

The Wall Street Journal: A Theranos Database Is Useless. What Happened? 
Theranos Inc. founder Elizabeth Holmes is sparring with federal prosecutors over an inaccessible database recording millions of the company’s blood tests, arguing the government can’t prove the test results were unreliable without the database’s information. If Ms. Holmes’s argument is successful, prosecutors could be blocked at her criminal trial in July from presenting testimony from patients who government lawyers say received inaccurate test results from the company. Without broader Theranos results from the database, the witness testimony would be anecdotal and irrelevant, her attorneys said in court filings Tuesday, because prosecutors can’t show that the firm’s blood tests were less accurate than those from other companies. (Randazzo, 2/24)

Stat: With Genome-Editing Stock Booming, Beam Seizes Its Moment
Beam Therapeutics, a company focused on genome editing, is in a strange situation. The firm’s stock price has roughly quadrupled since the fall, and not because of pivotal data or an affirmational partnership but rather because of a broad and quite likely temporary boom for companies involved in editing DNA. But unlike some of its contemporaries, Beam isn’t letting its moment go to waste. (Garde, 2/24)

In pharmaceutical research news —

CIDRAP: FDA Accepts Priority Review For Pfizer’s Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccine
Yesterday the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted priority review of TicoVac, Pfizer's tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine. If approved, TicoVac could be used to prevent active infections in people 1 year and older. "For many years, our TBE vaccine has helped protect millions of people in Europe from this potentially serious disease. We are proud that today's U.S. FDA Priority Review acceptance acknowledges the potential value that our vaccine candidate can bring," said Nanette Cocero, PhD, the global president of vaccines for Pfizer, in a company press release. "If approved in the U.S., we hope this vaccine will help protect those traveling to or residing temporarily in at-risk locations, potentially including military personnel who are serving overseas." (2/24)

NPR: Vitamin C Fails Again As Treatment For Sepsis
Though attention has understandably been on COVID-19 over the last year, nearly as many people in the hospital have died with a different condition: sepsis. A study now casts doubt on a once-promising treatment for this disease. In 2017, scientists thought they had found a remarkable advance. A researcher in Norfolk, Va., reported that a treatment involving intravenous vitamin C, thiamine, and steroids sharply reduced the risk of death in his sepsis patients. Sepsis, which is sometimes called blood poisoning, is essentially the body's overreaction to an infection. COVID-19 can trigger a similar reaction, known as a cytokine storm. (Harris, 2/24)

Stat: Patients Report No Difference In Muscle Pain When Taking A Statin Or Placebo
Statins — among the most successful drugs ever developed — prevent deaths from heart attacks and strokes but have long been dogged by the notion that they also cause muscle pain in some people. Now that belief has been called into question by a new study. (Cooney, 2/24)

Stat: Scientists Reveal A Precise Structure In C. Elegans' Tangled Brain 
Using Facebook-like algorithms, a bespoke microscope, and hefty doses of patience, a team of scientists has determined the brain structure of one of biology’s most powerful model organisms, the transparent, millimeter-long nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. (McFarling, 2/24)

CIDRAP: Seasonal Coronavirus Antibodies Correlate With Lower COVID-19 Severity
Patients critically ill with COVID-19 infections had significantly lower levels of antibodies against seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoVs) OV43 and HKU1 than those with mild to severe infections, according to a German study published yesterday in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. The researchers say the results could indicate that prior infections from seasonal coronaviruses, which frequently present as mild pediatric respiratory tract infections, may help prevent severe COVID-19 illness. (2/23)

New England Journal of Medicine: Video: Emergency Intubation In Covid-19 
The video “Emergency Intubation in Covid-19” is intended for health care personnel involved in performing emergency endotracheal intubation in patients with suspected or proven infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the respiratory illness coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).1 Endotracheal intubation in patients with Covid-19 poses a risk of infection for the health care personnel involved in the procedure. Meticulous planning and preparation and the use of practice drills can minimize the risk of contagion and enhance safety. The use of a printed checklist that includes each step involved in emergency intubation in patients presumed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 is strongly encouraged (Figure 1).2 The techniques used may vary depending on institutional guidelines and the available equipment. (Shrestha et al, 2/18)

JAMA Network: Association Of SARS-CoV-2 Seropositive Antibody Test With Risk Of Future Infection 
Can observational clinical data from commercial laboratories be used to evaluate the comparative risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection for individuals who are antibody positive vs those who are antibody negative? In this cohort study of more than 3.2 million US patients with a SARS-CoV-2 antibody test, 0.3% of those indexed with positive test results had evidence of a positive nucleic acid amplification test beyond 90 days after index, compared with 3.0% indexed with negative antibody test results. (Harvey, 2/24)

CIDRAP: Study Supports Fluoroquinolone-Sparing Treatment For Diverticulitis 
An analysis of two separate cohorts of adults who received antibiotics for diverticulitis indicates that amoxicillin-clavulanate is a safe and effective treatment and may reduce the risk of fluoroquinolone-related harms, US researchers reported today in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Using two large insurance claims databases, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill compared the outcomes for diverticulitis patients treated with the two most commonly prescribed antibiotic regimens for diverticulitis—metronidazole combined with a fluoroquinolone or amoxicillin-clavulanate alone—and found no differences in the 1-year risk of hospital admission or urgent surgery, or the long-term risk of elective surgery. Furthermore, older patients treated with metronidazole-with-fluoroquinolone had an increased risk of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). (Dall, 2/23)

New England Journal of Medicine: Treatment Of Uterine Fibroid Symptoms With Relugolix Combination Therapy
Uterine fibroids are a common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding and pain. Treatment with the combination of relugolix (an oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone-receptor antagonist), estradiol, and norethindrone acetate, administered once daily, may have efficacy in women with uterine fibroids and heavy bleeding while avoiding hypoestrogenic effects. (Al-Hendy et al, 2/18)

CIDRAP: Study Finds Herbicides Increase Antibiotic Resistance Genes In Soil
New research by scientists from China and the United Kingdom shows that three widely used herbicides increase the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in soil bacteria, along with the mobile genetic elements that enable those genes to move between bacteria. The research appeared yesterday in Molecular Biology and Evolution. In a series of experiments, the scientists showed that application of the herbicides glyphosate, glufosinate, and dicamba to soil microcosms over 60 days significantly increased the total abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in soil bacteria, with glyphosate showing a ninefold increase in antibiotic resistance genes compared with control soil samples. In addition, glufosinate and glyphosate significantly increased total abundances of mobile genetic elements, with glyphosate and glufosinate having more of an impact than dicamba. (2/17)

JAMA Network: Assessment Of Coverage In England Of Cancer Drugs Qualifying For US Food And Drug Administration Accelerated Approval
Are cancer drugs granted accelerated approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended for funding through the National Health Service (NHS) in England? (Cherla, 2/24)

The Washington Post: Tokyo Olympics Chiefs Say No Cheering Or Shouting At Torch Relay But Clapping Is Okay 
With the Olympic flame at its heart, the role of the torch relay is "to arouse joy and excitement for the Games" across the host nation. That's the message Tokyo 2020 officials put out on Thursday. But, they warned, be careful how you express your joy — and definitely don't get too excited. "We ask that spectators refrain from cheering and shouting,” Yukihiko Nunomura, a senior member of organizing committee, said at a news conference, explaining that spectators will be expected to wear masks. “Please cheer by clapping your hands,” he added. (Denyer, 2/25)

AP: Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay Plans To Kick Off In One Month
The torch relay for the postponed Tokyo Olympics is to start in a month, which should be a sign that the troubled Olympics are on track to begin on July 23.It was at this stage at the start of the torch relay just under a year ago — just after the Olympic flame arrived from Greece — that the Olympics were postponed because of the coronavirus. (Wade, 2/25)

In other global news —

Reuters: India's Health Workers Balk At Taking Homegrown COVID-19 Vaccine
India is struggling to convince its health and front-line workers to take a homegrown COVID-19 vaccine controversially approved without late-stage efficacy data, government data showed dashboard.cowin.gov.in on Thursday, days ahead of a wider roll-out. The country has the world’s second-highest number of COVID-19 infections after the United States, with cases recently surging as mask wearing declines and states have eased social distancing measures. A lack of confidence in a homegrown vaccine country could prevent India from meeting its target of vaccinating 300 million of its 1.35 billion people by August. (Das and Mitra, 2/24)

Bloomberg: French Regulator Lambasts Health Firms Over Mass Data Leak
France’s privacy watchdog said it’s investigating the leak of sensitive health data on half a million people and said the companies involved could face heavy penalties if they don’t come forward with details of the breaches. The leaks were of “particularly significant magnitude and severity,” the CNIL said in a statement. Hackers may have infiltrated software made by Dedalus France that was used by medical testing laboratories, according to press reports. The privacy watchdog cited media reporting on the incidents and said the companies should have notified it of the breaches within 72 hours. It said the individuals affected should also be informed. It was unclear if the victims had been informed as the CNIL reacted to the leaks. (Fouquet, 2/24)

Stat: Access To Heart Drugs Improves In Middle-Income Countries, But Still Lags
Middle-income countries have gained greater access to a variety of needed cardiovascular medicines, but remain unable to close the gap with wealthy nations, according to a recent analysis of sales data in dozens of countries. (Silverman, 2/23)

The New York Times: Ready To Nag About Gun Control?
You may be wondering how we’re doing on gun control. Joe Biden promised to tackle it on “my first day in office,” which he didn’t. Give the man a break — he’s got to get his Covid relief bill through Congress, and you can appreciate that he’s rather distracted. But absolutely no reason we shouldn’t start to nag. (Gail Collins, 2/24)

The Wall Street Journal: Supersizing ObamaCare Subsidies
We’ve been telling readers about the progressive policy priorities hitching a ride on Congress’s “Covid relief” bill. That includes shoveling billions into the Affordable Care Act, with the goal of making government insurance a middle-class entitlement on the way to Medicare for All. (2/24)

Stat: CDC Estimated A One-Year Decline In Life Expectancy. Try Five Days 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made headlines last week when it announced that Covid-19 had reduced the average life expectancy of Americans in 2020 by a full year. The news seemed to starkly illustrate the devastation wrought by our nation’s worst public health crisis in 100 years. But there was a problem. (Peter B. Bach, 2/25)

Los Angeles Times: A Historic Bill For LGBTQ Rights, But Will The Pendulum Swing Again?
The year is 2021. Watches record our steps, cars park themselves, helicopters fly on Mars. Yet, despite all of these advancements, when it comes to human decency, the nation still reeks of the Dark Ages. This week the House is expected to vote on the Equality Act, a bill that would make it illegal to discriminate based on someone’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Believe it or not, it is still legal to fire or refuse housing to someone simply for being LGBTQ in 27 states. The bill was also introduced in the Senate this week and if passed, President Biden is expected to sign it into law. (Lz Granderson, 2/25) N

Stat: Three Steps Can Help Companies Speed FDA Drug Approval 
Drug developers see Food and Drug Administration approval as a difficult uphill climb, requiring large investments of resources and time. But when it comes to new drug applications and biologics license applications, it’s usually not the FDA that slows down the process. The main reason for delays and extensions is that sponsors submit their applications too soon. (William Feehery and Julie Bullock, 2/24)

The Washington Post: More Vaccines Are Coming. We Need A National Campaign To Persuade Those Hesitant To Take Them. 
Vaccine-makers reassured Congress on Tuesday they will boost production and provide an additional 140 million doses in the next five weeks, overcoming the production bottlenecks that have crimped the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The next hurdle is vaccine hesitancy. Opinion surveys show the United States is drawing closer to the goal of broad public acceptance, but there is a ways to go. Every effort must be made to administer the vaccines as widely as possible. A pair of polls by Gallup and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research show that from a low point last autumn, more Americans intend to get vaccinated or already have been. (2/24)

New England Journal of Medicine: The Real-World Effectiveness Of Covid-19 Vaccination
The continuing spread of SARS-CoV-2 remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. What physicians need to know about transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of Covid-19 is the subject of ongoing updates from infectious disease experts at the Journal. In this audio interview conducted on February 23, 2021, the editors discuss a new study from Israel that assesses the effectiveness of large-scale vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. (Eric J. Rubin, Lindsey R. Baden, and Stephen Morrissey, 2/25)

The Washington Post: Wealthy Nations Must Act To Prevent A Global ‘Vaccine Apartheid’
The world faces two possible futures: one in which all nations band together to bring covid-19 under control, and another in which the wealthiest countries emerge from the pandemic but developing nations do not. In this second scenario, two classes emerge — a vaccinated class and an unvaccinated class. The choices wealthy countries make now will determine which future takes hold. (Melissa Fleming and John Whyte, 2/24)

The New York Times: What Are The Vaccine Roadblocks Where You Live?
Two months into the largest vaccination campaign in American history, results are very mixed. Some 45 million Americans have received at least their first dose of a Covid vaccine, but those shots have not been equitably distributed. Black people in Mississippi accounted for 40 percent of Covid deaths but only 22 percent of vaccinations, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. And in New York City, wealthier, whiter neighborhoods have far higher vaccination rates than poorer communities of color that have been much harder hit by the pandemic. The differences have sparked a debate over why it’s difficult to reach everyone who needs a vaccine: Is it caused by a lack of demand or by poor access to health care? (Jeneen Interlandi and Yaryna Serkez, 2/25)

The New York Times: America’s Nursing Crisis 
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit New York this spring, Jessica Fink wanted to help. She’s been a nurse for 15 years, and she moved from Delaware to serve at Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island. Ms. Fink told me she was “ready to contribute,” to care for Covid patients. But once she got to Stony Brook, where she worked in the I.C.U., she “felt very alone.” “We were so overloaded,” Ms. Fink said, that the hospital “couldn’t meet the demands.” (Theresa Brown, 2/25)

The Washington Post: Both Sides Of The School Reopening Debate Have It Wrong
Both sides of the school reopening debate have it wrong. We shouldn’t be debating whether schools are safe to reopen. Instead, we should ask whether in-person schooling is essential. If it is — as many Americans, including President Biden, insist — then we should treat schools as we do hospitals. That means doing everything possible to them make safer, starting with vaccinating teachers. The Biden administration has said that teachers should get priority for vaccinations, but leaves the decision up to the states. This is a mistake. If Biden’s 100-day goal is to get most K-8 schools open five days a week, he must make protecting teachers his top priority. (Leana S. Wen, 2/24)

CNN: What Covid Can Teach Us About Cancer
Over the last year, people have made so many sacrifices to protect their health, from taking care of kids amid school closures to staying isolated from our elderly loved ones. Concerns about family health have driven many of us to great lengths to ensure we stay safe during this public health crisis. We turned fear into action and that is worth applauding. The question is, can we take that pandemic mindset and apply it to other grave risks to our health? (Kathy Giusti, 2/24)