01.04.21 (wired.com)
| Experts share their 2021 Covid predictions, US officials consider halving Moderna doses, and India approves two vaccines. Here’s what you should know: Researchers warn that 2021 will look a lot like 2020 2020 is over and thousands of people are getting vaccinated every day. But we’re not out of the woods yet. Researchers stress that it will be awhile before the vaccine brings widespread immunity, especially as new cases and deaths continue to increase every day. And just as the virus peaked in different states at different times, the whole country won’t reach herd immunity at once. Until then, it’s critical that we continue to behave as though everyone is vulnerable to this virus. US officials weigh administering half doses of Moderna’s vaccine to speed up immunization On Sunday, top Operation Warp Speed adviser Moncef Slaoui said the government is talking to Moderna about giving half the shot’s recommended dose to people between 18 and 55 to speed up immunization. So far, vaccine distribution has been slower than expected, and officials say around 80 percent of the population will need to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity. The same day, Anthony Fauci warned that the government shouldn’t deviate from the doses used in clinical trials but must distribute shots more efficiently. Indian regulators approve two vaccines and begin drive to inoculate 300 million people Regulators in India have green-lit two vaccines: Oxford and AstraZeneca’s, and one made by local firm Bharat Biotech. The country—which has the second-highest number of infections in the world—plans to inoculate around 300 million people by July. Though the regulatory body in charge of drug approval said both manufacturers submitted sufficient safety data, some politicians and experts are skeptical. Bharat Biotech’s vaccine in particular has not yet been through large-scale trials. |