A coronavirus pandemic linkfest is unfortunately now a weekly feature here on Abnormal Returns. You can read last week’s edition here. Please be careful, get a flu shot and please stay safe.
Quote of the Day
"From the president to governors to mayors to the public, America has failed on Covid-19 — and only by learning from those mistakes can we ensure they don’t happen again."
(German Lopez)
Chart of the Day

Vaccine news aside, it was another bad week for the pandemic in the U.S.
Vaccines
- The FDA has issued an EUA for the second Covid-19 vaccine, this one from Moderna ($MRNA). (statnews.com)
- There are extra (usable) doses in vials that Pfizer ($PFE) has shipped. (politico.com)
- CureVac has launched a final-stage, large-scale trial for its Covid-19 vaccine. (ft.com)
- The developed world has pre-purchased the early supply of coronavirus vaccines. (nytimes.com)
- Given their outcomes to-date, many Asian countries are not in as big rush to vaccinate. (ft.com)
Vaccine policy
- Why speed is of the essence when rolling out the vaccine. (marginalrevolution.com)
- We are in a months-long vaccine purgatory. (theatlantic.com)
- Why we should lean into the data showing significant immunity after a single shot of the vaccine. (nytimes.com)
- States are trying to find additional funds to help administer Covid vaccines. (wsj.com)
- How to build trust in the new vaccines. (theatlantic.com)
Vaccine tracking
- The U.S. government is going to issue those vaccinate with a paper record. (nbcnews.com)
- There really aren't any safeguards that prevent people from trying to jump the vaccine queue. (politico.com)
- How software will help Americans find their way to a vaccine appointment. (barrons.com)
Vaccine distribution
- How Covid-19 vaccine distribution is different than existing vaccines. (statnews.com)
- How airlines are having to adapt to deliver coronavirus vaccine shipments. (wsj.com)
- Why the vaccine distribution chain is ripe for criminal activity. (ft.com)
Vaccine queues
- Teachers are in some states trying to move up in the vaccine queue. (wsj.com)
- Should companies require the vaccine? Companies are trying to figure it out. (nytimes.com)
- The case for inoculating prisoners early on. (washingtonpost.com)
Vaccine administration
- What to expect when you get the Covid-19 vaccine. (theatlantic.com)
- Who can't get the Pfizer ($PFE)-BioNTech ($BNTX) vaccine for medical reasons. (statnews.com)
- Some first hand accounts of the side effects from getting a coronavirus vaccine. (wsj.com)
- Do people who get the vaccine need to avoid alcohol consumption? (newscientist.com)
- Should you care which Covid-19 vaccine you get? (fivethirtyeight.com)
Testing
- The first, fully at-home Covid test is finally here. (washingtonpost.com)
- Studies of wearables show they could identify Covid-19 cases before symptom onset. (statnews.com)
Data
- More evidence that the Biogen conference in February was a super-spreader event. (science.sciencemag.org)
- Yes, the data show that young people are dying of Covid. (nytimes.com)
- Could gargling help prevent the spread of the coroanvirus? (wsj.com)
Influenza
- Covid is putting the hurt on the influenza season. (wsj.com)
- The flu season is getting off to a slow start. (bloomberg.com)
Public health
- We now know just how much political meddling there was with the CDC. (nytimes.com)
- 2020 is nearly over and the market for PPE i in the US is nowhere near normal. (ft.com)
- In the end, Sweden didn't have it all figured out. (bloomberg.com)
Earlier on Abnormal Returns
- Coronavirus links: the most effective interventions. (abnormalreturns.com)
- The 'Swiss cheese model' and the importance of avoiding single points of failure in pandemic and life. (abnormalreturns.com)
- Get used to the term 'digital health passport' as the coronavirus vaccine rolls out nationwide. (abnormalreturns.com)
- On the challenge of holding two competing thoughts on the pandemic in your head a the same time. (abnormalreturns.com)