Healthcare

On February 27, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorization for the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine in adults 18 years of age and older. The vaccine is now the third approved for use in the United States, adding another tool to help stymie the Covid-19 pandemic. Because Johnson & Johnson's vaccine doesn't use mRNA—as the previously approved vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech do—the vaccine provides several practical benefits. Only one dose is needed instead of two, which means fewer vaccination appointments for patients and reduced production demands. And the new vaccine doesn't require super-cold storage; it remains stable in regular refrigeration for three months.

Across the country, more than 250 employees at meatpacking plants have died of the coronavirus. Congress has opened an investigation into the outbreaks as the companies try to stem the COVID infections. In North Carolina, one large Tyson Foods poultry plant is making some workplace changes. The Tyson complex is nestled in the center of Wilkesboro. It’s a massive facility, employing around 3,000 people. That’s a lot for this small, rural community. The town manager of Wilkesboro, Ken Noland, says it’s a challenging time for both the region and Tyson. “You put that many people together, you got to have cases. It’s impossible not to and so we all have to realize that," he says. "This community spread right now has really got us very concerned overall.”

People who show up to Maryland's mass coronavirus vaccination clinics will not be turned away for lack of documentation or proof of eligibility - a possible benefit for some of the state's at-risk residents, but also for those exploiting the system, medical ethicists, logistics experts and lawmakers say. Like other states, Maryland relies on an "honor system" at its mass vaccination sites, where those who show up for their shorts without proof of eligibility or photo identification are asked to sign affidavits immunized, according to Dennis R. Schrader, the state's acting health secretary. 

In March 2020, the World Health Organization gave the solution to reducing the impacts of the pandemic in the short term: tests, tests — and more tests. Universities have taken this to heart. Many large state universities have set up testing labs to be able to conduct surveillance testing on campus. N.C. State has joined other institutions in this including Georgia Tech, Penn State, Purdue University, and many more. Recent “gateway” testing on the campuses of Georgia Tech and N.C. State identified about 400 cases on each campus, many of whom were asymptomatic at the time of the test. The individuals testing positive were quarantined from others, and next week surveillance testing will be done again.

Slowly but surely, people are getting vaccinated. As of Thursday, February 25, 6.2% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated, and 14% had received at least one dose. As exciting as this news is, there’s been a lot of controversies as people find ways to skip the line and get it before higher-risk groups. Then there are people who wait in line to see if they can get access to any leftover doses at the end of the day that would otherwise go bad. These people in particular are experiencing “vaccine shaming” and are often accused of being greedy. Fitness instructor and talk show host Amanda Kloots is one of the most public victims of this shaming.

An ongoing study led by North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University focuses on assessing the mental, emotional and physical health of undergraduates during the pandemic – in order to determine how universities can better support their students. The study involves students at NC State, North Carolina A&T State University, University of Iowa, and Duke University. “The pandemic is making us evaluate and reinvent the college experience, at least temporarily,” says Julie Ivy, principal investigator (PI) of the study. “For example, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of social connection. How we can facilitate social connection when every course is online?

Here is a roundup of the latest news concerning the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to announcements from local, state, and federal governments, as well as international channels. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message. Oakland County Has Administered 99%+ of Allotted COVID-19 Vaccines. Oakland County Health Division reports that it has administered more than 99 percent of the 41,350 COVID-19 vaccines distributed to it by the state of Michigan since Dec. 17, 2020. To maintain its ability to vaccinate residents when adequate supply is available, the health division has launched a network of COVID-19 vaccine provider partnerships to whom they will distribute vaccine.

Across the Midwest, the rollout of COVID vaccines has been spotty. Lots of people are having a trouble with online signups. And vaccine demand far exceeds supply. That’s made the process challenging, especially in rural areas. For years, the Girls State Training School in central Iowa has sat mostly empty. But on this day, the main building is buzzing as a local vaccination clinic opens. Rooms labeled for social workers, psychologists and others who once helped delinquent girls are filled with health care workers and elderly residents from the rural area. "It's zooming today. We've noticed that despite our best efforts to say come at your scheduled time, people are coming 10, 15 minutes early," says Shannon Zoffka, executive director of the Tama County Public Health Department.

An ongoing study led by North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University focuses on assessing the mental, emotional and physical health of undergraduates during the pandemic – in order to determine how universities can better support their students. The study involves students at NC State, North Carolina A&T State University, University of Iowa, and Duke University. “The pandemic is making us evaluate and reinvent the college experience, at least temporarily,” says Julie Ivy, principal investigator (PI) of the study. “For example, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of social connection. How we can facilitate social connection when every course is online?

Across the Midwest, the rollout of COVID vaccines has been spotty. Lots of people are having a trouble with online signups. And vaccine demand far exceeds supply. That’s made the process challenging, especially in rural areas. For years, the Girls State Training School in central Iowa has sat mostly empty. But on this day, the main building is buzzing as a local vaccination clinic opens. Rooms labeled for social workers, psychologists and others who once helped delinquent girls are filled with health care workers and elderly residents from the rural area. “It’s zooming today. We’ve noticed that despite our best efforts to say come at your scheduled time, people are coming 10, 15 minutes early,” says Shannon Zoffka, executive director of the Tama County Public Health Department.

Zoffka says the clinic scheduled 110 people for their first doses. They were selected from a waiting list her department started last month.